By Greg Kelly
Want a good reason to make a charitable donation this holiday season? It’s makes for better health—for you. New research by a University at Albany-SUNY economics professor finds that donors have “a lower probability of suffering health-related problems including high blood pressure, cancer, heart attack, and obesity.”
While Professor Baris Yoruk focused more on the receiving of tax deductions for charitable (an important consideration), he also maintains that “donating to charity may actually improve a giver’s physical and emotional wellbeing.” So why not make yourself and others well this holiday season.
The following Monmouth County-based charitable/volunteer/service organizations (along with some worthy arts groups) give it their all on a daily basis to support and service those less fortunate as well as the community at large. Please remember them kindly this holiday season.
(And keep in mind—a generous donation to your local police, fire, first aid and/or public works department is both a smart and safe contribution.)
Algonquin Arts Theatre – MORE INFO
American Children’s Society – MORE INFO
American Foundation for Suicide Prevention, Central NJ – MORE INFO
American Littoral Society – MORE INFO
American Red Cross (Jersey Coast Chapter) – MORE INFO
Animal Protection League of New Jersey – MORE INFO
ARC of Monmouth County – 
Asbury Park Community Action Network – MORE INFO
Autism New Jersey – MORE INFO
Barnabas Health Foundation – MORE INFO
Big Brothers Big Sisters of Monmouth & Middlesex Counties – MORE INFO
Beauty Foundation of NJ – MORE INFO
Boys & Girls Club of Monmouth County – MORE INFO
Brookdale Community College Foundation – MORE INFO
CASA for Children of Monmouth County – MORE INFO
Catholic Charities, Monmouth – MORE INFO
Center for Vocational Rehabilitation – MORE INFO
Central Jersey Blood Center – MORE INFO
Centrastate Healthcare Foundation – MORE INFO
Child Care Resources of Monmouth County – MORE INFO
Clean Ocean Action – MORE INFO
Coastal Habitat for Humanity – MORE INFO
Community Affairs & Resource Center – MORE INFO
Community WMCA – MORE INFO
Company of Dance Arts – MORE INFO
CONTACT of Ocean & Monmouth Counties – MORE INFO
Count Basie Theatre – MORE INFO
CPC Behavioral Healthcare – MORE INFO
Family & Children’s Service – MORE INFO
Family Promise of Monmouth County – MORE INFO
Family Resources Associates – MORE INFO
First Tee of Monmouth and Ocean Counties – MORE INFO
Foodbank of Monmouth and Ocean Counties – MORE INFO
Freya’s Cat Rescue —MORE INFO
Girl Power 2 Cure – MORE INFO
Girl Scouts of the Jersey Shore – MORE INFO
HABcore – MORE INFO
Hope for Children Foundation, NJ – MORE INFO
Hospice by the Sea – MORE INFO
Hurricane Sandy New Jersey Relief Fund – MORE INFO
InfoAge – MORE INFO
Interfaith Neighbors, Monmouth County – MORE INFO
Jersey Shore Arts Center – MORE INFO
Jersey Shore Boy Scout Council – MORE INFO
Jersey Shore Down Syndrome Association – MORE INFO
Jersey Shore Jazz and Blues Foundation – MORE INFO
Jersey Shore PFLAG – MORE INFO
Jersey Shore Rescue Mission – MORE INFO
Jersey Shore Running Club – MORE INFO
Jewish Family & Children’s Service of Greater Monmouth County – MORE INFO
Jewish Federation of Monmouth County – MORE INFO
Jewish Heritage Museum of Monmouth County – MORE INFO
Junior League of Monmouth County – MORE INFO
Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation – MORE INFO
Keyport Historical Society – MORE INFO
Kortney Rose Foundation – MORE INFO
Literacy Volunteers of Monmouth County – MORE INFO
Living Heart Foundation – MORE INFO
Love INC. —MORE INFO
Lupus Foundation of America, NJ Chapter – MORE INFO
Mary’s Place by the Sea – MORE INFO
Mental Health Association of Monmouth County – MORE INFO
Mercy Center of Asbury Park – MORE INFO
Meridian Health Affiliated Foundations – MORE INFO
Michael’s Feat – MORE INFO
Moms Helping Friends in Need – MORE INFO
MonmouthCares – MORE INFO
MOCEANS Center for Independent Living – MORE INFO
Monmouth Conservation Foundation – MORE INFO
Monmouth County 200 Club-MORE INFO
Monmouth County Arts Council – MORE INFO
Monmouth County Audubon Society – MORE INFO
Monmouth County CHADD – MORE INFO
Monmouth County Family Support Organization – MORE INFO
Monmouth County Historical Association – MORE INFO
Monmouth County’s Meals on Wheels – MORE INFO
Monmouth County SPCA – MORE INFO
Monmouth Family Health Center – MORE INFO
Monmouth Park Charity Fund – MORE INFO
Move for Hunger – MORE INFO
NAMI of Greater Monmouth – MORE INFO
National Guard Militia Museum of NJ – MORE INFO
National Multiple Sclerosis Society, NJ Metro Chapter – MORE INFO
Navesink Arts Center – MORE INFO
NJ Friends of Clearwater – MORE INFO
NJ Sharing Network – MORE INFO
New Jersey Vietnam Veterans Memorial Foundation – MORE INFO
NY/NJ Baykeeper – MORE INFO
Ocean-Monmouth Legal Services – MORE INFO
Ocean Twp. Historical Museum – MORE INFO
Operation Jersey Shore Santa – MORE INFO
Parker Family Health Center – MORE INFO
Parker Homestead – MORE INFO
Pet Adoption Network – MORE INFO
Project Linus NJ – MORE INFO
Prevention First – MORE INFO
RAINE Foundation —MORE INFO
Ronald McDonald House of Long Branch – MORE INFO
Sandy Hook Foundation – MORE INFO
Salvation Army, NJ Division – MORE INFO
Sea Bright Rising – MORE INFO
Shore to Help – MORE INFO
Spring Lake Community House and Theatre – MORE INFO
Surfers’ Environmental Alliance – MORE INFO
Tim McLoone’s Holiday Express – MORE INFO
Toys for Tots, NJ – MORE INFO
Twin Lights Historical Society – MORE INFO
United Way of Monmouth County – MORE INFO
Woman’s Exchange of Monmouth County – MORE INFO
180: The Women’s Center of Monmouth County – MORE INFO
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Monmouth County Fire Departments List – MORE INFO
Monmouth County First Aid Squads List – MORE INFO
Monmouth County Police Departments List – MORE INFO
Monmouth County Historical Societies List – MORE INFO
Monmouth County Churches List – MORE INFO