(Flickr image courtesy of HckySo)

As much as I love the summer months, I always look forward to the fall.  It’s my favorite season, and (I swear!) it has much more to do with the weather changing than the start of Patriots season.

Here in Boston, fall means apple picking, fleece jackets and crisp air.  At FirstGiving, we also see lots of amazing fall fundraising events happening in the city and around the country, so we wanted to take the opportunity to highlight the national causes for September Awareness Month:

National Sickle Cell Month (Sickle Cell Disease Association of America)

Reye’s Syndrome Awareness Month (National Reye’s Syndrome Foundation)

Gynecologic Cancer Awareness Month- Gynecologic Cancer Foundation (over $41k raised)

Leukemia and Lymphoma Awareness Month- The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society (over $41k raised)

Domestic Violence Awareness Month- Family Violence Prevention Fund

Healthy Aging Month- American Association of Homes and Services for the Aging

Children’s Eye Health and Safety Month- Prevent Blindness America

September 6-12, 2009: Suicide Prevention Week (American Foundation for Suicide Prevention)

September 21, 2009: World Alzheimer’s Day (Alzheimer’s Disease International)

September 25, 2009: Ataxia Awareness Day (Ataxia Telangiectasia Children’s Project)

September 27, 2009: World Heart Day (World Heart Federation)

Are any of these causes close to your heart?  Create a personal fundraising page at FirstGiving, and see if you can raise more money than the points the Patriots score this year!