Giving To Those In Need -- Especially This Year!

Holiday Giving (Reblog from my blog last year)

With the holidays upon us, it's a time to give gifts to our loved ones, friends and customers.

In a volatile economy gift buying could decrease for some. And at the same time there are wonderful groups doing important work whose donations are suffering. Many charities I know could use the help!

This holiday season, rather than buying expensive gifts, I will be making donations to charity in the names of my loved ones, friends and customers. It's like giving twice!

Here is a list of top registered charities you may want to consider:

Alzheimer's Associaton
To eliminate Alzheimer's disease through the advancement of research; to provide and enhance care and support for all affected; and to reduce the risk of dementia through the promotion of brain health.

American Cancer Society
The American Cancer Society is the nationwide community-based voluntary health organization dedicated to eliminating cancer as a major health problem by preventing cancer, saving lives, and diminishing suffering from cancer, through research, education, advocacy, and service.

American Heart Association
Our mission is to build healthier lives, free of cardiovascular diseases and stroke. That single purpose drives all we do.

America's Second Harvest (New name is FEEDING AMERICA)
The nation's leading domestic hunger-relief charity

Brokers Build
Brokers Build is a campaign for real estate brokers to raise $1M to build homes with Habitat For Humanity in New York City
(Full Disclosure - the writer of this blog is a Broker Who Builds)

Darfur - Not On Our Watch
Focusing global attention and resources towards putting an end to mass atrocities around the world.

Elizabeth Glaser Pediatric AIDS
The Elizabeth Glaser Pediatric AIDS Foundation seeks to prevent pediatric HIV infection and to eradicate pediatric AIDS through research, advocacy, and prevention and treatment programs.

Feed The Children
Feed The Children provides food, medicine, clothing, educational materials and other essentials to children and their families domestically and internationally.

Habitat for Humanity
Habitat for Humanity International is a nonprofit, ecumenical Christian housing ministry. HFHI seeks to eliminate poverty housing and homelessness from the world and to make decent shelter a matter of conscience and action.

Juvenile Diabetes Foundation
JDRF is to find a cure for diabetes and its complications through the support of research.

Love Our Children USA
The national nonprofit leader in breaking the cycle of violence against children. It has become the ‘go-to' prevention organization for all forms of violence and neglect against children in the U.S.
(Full Disclosure - the writer of this blog is the founder and chief executive officer of this charity)

March Of Dimes
Dedicated to improving the health of babies by preventing birth defects, premature birth and infant mortality.

MS Society
The MS Society is a collective of passionate individuals who want to do something about MS now-to move together toward a world free of multiple sclerosis. They help each person address the challenges of living with MS by funding cutting-edge research, driving change through advocacy, facilitating professional education, and providing programs and services that help people with MS and their families move their lives forward.

North Shore Animal League
North Shore Animal League America, headquartered in Port Washington, NY, is the largest no-kill animal rescue and adoption organization in the world.

ONE
ONE is Americans of all beliefs and every walk of life - united as ONE - to help make poverty history

St. Jude Children's Research Hospital
St. Jude is unlike any other pediatric treatment and research facility. With research and patient care under one roof, St. Jude is where some of today's most gifted researchers are able to do science more quickly. All patients accepted for treatment at St. Jude are treated without regard to the family's ability to pay.

Stand Up To Cancer
Stand up to cancer raised funds for research in unprecedented effort to end cancer's reign
as a leading cause of death

Starlight Starbright Childrens Foundation
Enhancing the lives of critically and terminally ill children through granting wishes and hospital programs
(Full Disclosure - the writer of this blog is a volunteer with this Starlight Starbright Children's Foundation)

Susan G. Komen For The Cure
The largest grassroot network of people working together to save lives, empower people, ensure quality care, and energize science to find a cure.

UNICEF
Raises funds for programs and increasing awareness of the challenges facing the world's children. The oldest of 37 national committees for UNICEF worldwide, they are part of a global effort to save, protect and improve children's lives.

For other registered charities please visit http://www.guidestar.org/

Tipping in Manhattan Apartment Buildings for the Holidays

The holiday season is here and it's time to start thinking about tipping for services in our apartment buildings.

For those living in Manhattan, holiday tipping is the norm and can seem endless.

While it's important to be generous, it's also important to be realistic about what you can afford. Especially in our current economic climate.

Tips in decent class buildings (not Park and Fifth Avenues) run between $20 and $300 and it's not uncommon for supers to accumulate well into the five figures.

Porters and doormen see anywhere between $2,000 and $10,000, depending on the size of the building.

Holiday tipping is a way to say ‘thank you' for services. And it's a big part of apartment service worker's compensation.

Some Manhattan apartment buildings pool tips so the workers receive one lump sum. Most leave it up to the individual resident.

I hope you will find the information below useful when tipping in your apartment building this holiday season!

Apartment Building Superintendent
$50-200. Tip less if you tip throughout the year.

Apartment Doorman/Concierge
$10-80 or more each, depending upon building. Those who serve you more should get a bigger tip.

Apartment Building Handyman And Porters
$15-40 each

Apartment Building Elevator Operators
$15-40

USPS Mail Carrier
Non-cash gifts with value up to $20. This is for mail carriers that you know and see regularly.*

UPS - Regular Driver
Has no formal policy. Drivers don't expect tips but can accept them.

Fedex
Not allowed to accept anything over the value of $75. No cash gifts accepted.

Newspaper Carrier
Daily - $25 - 50, weekend - $10

Regular Overnight Delivery Person
$10-30

Parking Attendants
$10-30 each

These are suggested tips for Manhattan. Tips will vary throughout the rest of the country. Most importantly -- give what you can. If you are giving less this year, include a postscript saying "Wish it could be more" and your gift will be very appreciated.

During this holiday season, remember to take time for yourself so that you're not frazzled when entertaining.

And keep in mind - if you're planning on putting your apartment on the market, the holidays are a great time to do this. People who look for a home during the Holidays are more serious buyers! Serious buyers have fewer houses to choose from during the Holidays and less competition means more money for you!

Wishing you all the blessings of the holiday season,

Ross Ellis
Licensed Real Estate Agent
Halstead Property, LLC

Ask me about Love Our Children USA and Brokers Build at Habitat For Humanity