Life Rolls On, a subsidiary of the Christopher & Dana Reeve Foundation, is dedicated to improving the quality of life for young people affected by spinal cord injury and utilizes action sports as a platform to inspire infinite possibilities despite paralysis.

Annually over 6,700 youth incur a spinal cord injury. Tens of thousands more currently live with such an injury.

Who Benefits From Our Work?

The individuals listed below are just a few examples of individuals that the Life Rolls On Foundation has impacted through our various programs. Their stories personify a message of pushing the bounds of possibility despite spinal cord injury. Through individual extensions of courage, whether it be surfing, motocross, wakeboarding, skateboarding or dance, these individuals (and hundreds more who have experienced Life Rolls On's programs) are living life to the fullest, shifting paradigms, and leaving a path of change wherever they go.

Who Is LRO?

LRO is the story of able-bodied individuals, working in concert with those with spinal cord injury, to motivate each other with the inspirational message of achievement in the face of extreme adversity. Life Rolls On utilizes action sports through our flagship program, They Will Surf Again, which pushes the boundary of possibility for those with spinal cord injury (SCI).

About EJAF

The Elton John AIDS Foundation (EJAF) was established in the United States in 1992 by Sir Elton John. EJAF's U.S. office is located in New York City. In 1993, Sir Elton also established the Elton John AIDS Foundation (EJAF-UK) in the United Kingdom, headquartered in London. These two organizations function as separate entities with their own distinct grant-making portfolios, but both pursue similar missions - to support innovative HIV prevention programs, efforts to eliminate stigma and discrimination associated with HIV/AIDS, and direct care and support services for people living with HIV/AIDS. Collectively, the two organizations have raised over $220 million since inception in support of projects in 55 countries around the world, including significant funding dedicated to programs in their respective home countries.

EJAF-US awards grants to community-based projects in the Americas and the Caribbean. EJAF-UK focuses its grant-making on programs in Africa, Asia, and Europe. Please visit www.ejaf.com for further information on the UK organization.

EJAF regularly evaluates its grant-making priorities within the context of the ever-changing challenges and needs of the evolving HIV/AIDS epidemic, targeting its grant awards where they will make the greatest impact. This approach has clearly resonated with our donors, and their generous response over the past two years has enabled us to increase EJAF’s grant making by 140%. We have expanded not only the amount of money given but also strategically targeted key populations that are poorly served by current prevention efforts and most at risk of infection including: critically under-funded communities of the Southern United States, the Caribbean, and Latin America; highly marginalized populations such as injection drug users, men who have sex with men, and incarcerated individuals; and underserved populations such as African Americans and young people.

EJAF focuses on supporting community-based prevention programs, harm reduction programs, public education to reduce the stigma of HIV/AIDS, advocacy to improve AIDS-related public policy, and direct services to persons living with HIV/AIDS, especially populations with special needs. Direct services include HIV/AIDS-related medical and mental health treatment, testing and counseling, food distribution, assisted living, social service coordination, and legal aid.

The Foundation’s greatest asset and strength is its Founder and Chairman, Sir Elton John. No mere figurehead, Sir Elton serves as EJAF’s chief fund-raiser – conducting benefit concerts, meeting with major donors, foundations, and corporations, and participating in numerous public events – and also as a highly visible and outspoken advocate – testifying before Congress, appearing at press conferences, writing editorials, and delivering speeches at events and awards ceremonies. His status as an entertainment icon and his many years as a dedicated AIDS activist and philanthropist bring tremendous visibility and credibility to EJAF’s work.

Give a Drop is a partnership between Clean Water Project, Virgin Unite and the Voss Foundation to address the worldwide water problem.

Clean water should be a given. Show you care. Give a drop.

Lack of clean water is a growing global emergency

More than a billion people around the world lack access to clean water and sanitation, causing over two million deaths every year. And, in the coming years, factors such as climate change, population growth, and increasing urbanisation with only exacerbate the crisis.
 

Water affects many aspects of our lives

Lack of clean water not only severely impacts peoples health; it also suppresses economic growth and negatively impacts education, women's advancement, and overall family and community well-being. In many places, water collection [mainly by women and children] takes up many hours of each day that could otherwise be spent earning income, growing food or going to school. The UN estimates that some 40 billion working hours are lost each year in Africa to carrying water! Also, an unbelievable 443 million school days are lost each year due to water-related diseases. Furthermore, many children are forced to quit school to help their families collect water.

Project Clean Water

In 1997, recording artist, author, and philanthropist Jewel founded Project Clean Water. The non-profit charity foundation is working to improve the quality of life for millions of people by helping to provide clean water on a global scale. The foundation targets villages around the world with clean water problems, and works with the communities to find sustainable solutions to provide them with safe drinking water. To date, project clean water has helped more than 30 communities overcome their individual drinking water problems in 13 different countries, on five different continents.

About the True Colors Fund

The True Colors Fund was co-founded by Cyndi Lauper to inspire and engage everyone, especially straight people, to become active participants in the advancement of gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender youth homelessness. 

In April 2010, The True Colors Fund launched the Give a Damn Campaign, a bold web-based education and awareness initiative to inspire straight people to get informed and give a damn about gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender equality. The centerpiece of of the campaign is its website, wegiveadamn.org, and powerful public service announcements. The PSAs have featured such noble celebrities as Whoopi Goldberg, Elton John, Susan Sarandon, Jason Mraz, Ricky Martin, Anna Paquin, Lily Tomlin, Jesse Tyler Ferguson, Wanda Sykes, Idina Medzel, Sharon & Kelly Osbourne, Alan Cumming and Cyndi Lauper. 

There is an epidemic of homelessness in the United Stated and a disproportionate number of youth on the street are gay, lesbian, bisexual or transgender. The True Colors Fund continues to advocate for these young people through the support of the projects like the True Colours Residence. Through the financial support and partnership with The Palette Fund, The True Colors Fund is currently developing a larger scale program to further raise awareness and help bring an end to homelessness among this vulnerable group of young people. This new program will be launched in Summer 2011. 

The True Colors Fund continues to work with The True Colors Tour to raise money and awareness for gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender issues. The True Colors Tour was founded in 2007 by Cyndi Lauper to inspire people through music and comedy to stand up for equality. Since 2007, more than $200,000 has been raised for such organizations as The Human Rights Campaign, CenterLink and PFLAG. 

About

West End's mission is to assist and empower homeless and formerly homeless youth, families and older adults through the provision of comprehensive service programs within safe and supportive transitional and permanent residences.

Founded in 1989, West End Intergenerational Residence is a unique mixed-age housing facility catering to three generations. Since our inception our creative, flexible services and dedicated staff have helped over 2,000 young families secure housing stability and provided a permanent, affordable home with supportive services to low-income older adults.

West End Serves:

• Young homeless mothers age 18-24 with one or two children age 0-7. All families are referred by the New York City Department of Homeless Services.
• Single low-income adults age 55 years and older who are capable of independent living, are free of alcohol/drug dependence and are without severe psychiatric disorders. Applicants may be referred by the New York City Department of Homeless Services or Community Based Organizations.

West End also provides building management and support services for formerly homeless and low-income tenants of Casa Cecilia in Hamilton Heights and Seton Residence in East Harlem.

Construction is underway on West End's True Colors Residence in Central Harlem. True Colors will be the first permanent housing facility with support services for lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender youth in New York State.

Our success depends on the support and contributions of caring people like you. Please join our growing list of supporters today.