Save the Children Emergency Fund Helps Families Weather Disasters

A successful sales professional and philanthropist, Jed Ladin makes donations to a number of charitable organizations. Jed Ladin has helped Save the Children conduct disaster relief and nutrition programs worldwide.

Save the Children operates in 120 countries and has reached over 125 million people. Noted for its efficiency, the organization uses 89 percent of its budget to pay for programs. The organization deals with both humanitarian crises and challenges with social and economic development, seeking to alleviate suffering and help people achieve their potential.

The Children’s Emergency Fund, designed for rapid response in the face of disasters, pays for the services of relief specialists as well as the acquisition, positioning, and movement of supplies such as food and housing. The fund also helps children rejoin their families after disaster-related separations and provides for play programs and emotional support to take care of their mental health.

Both individuals and corporations donate to the emergency fund. Companies supporting the organization’s disaster relief programs include DreamWorks Animation, Chevron, Walmart, and Bristol-Myers Squibb.

Goodwill Industries Gives Workers a Hand Up

Florida salesman Jed Ladin supports his community and those in need through contributions to a number of charities, including Save the Children, the United Way, and Goodwill Industries. Jed Ladin’s donations to Goodwill Industries has helped the organization fulfill its mission of helping workers gain the skills they need to succeed in the workforce and contribute to their communities.

Goodwill Industries was founded over 100 years ago by Reverend Edgar J. Helms, who developed a different approach to helping those in need. He collected unused items from the wealthy residents of Boston with the idea of reselling those items and allowing the workers who restored the goods to keep the profits. Helms’ method of employing those who might otherwise struggle to find other work continues to this day.

Goodwill Industries not only recycles used goods but also delivers a valuable service for local communities by providing on-the-job training to workers who face barriers to traditional employment. Workers receive such training as English-language courses and additional education. Therefore, when one donates to Goodwill, one is also investing in the future of the people the organization helps.

Researchers Examining Gene Therapies for HIV

Interested in the health sciences industry, Jed Ladin follows developments in holistic medicine and HIV research. Jed Ladin focuses his interest particularly on those developments that may lead to a potential AIDS cure.

While AIDS and HIV research has been ongoing for a number of decades, some recent developments have been particularly encouraging and may one day lead to a cure. This cure would come in the form of gene therapy, and is suggested by recent discoveries regarding HIV replication. According to current understanding, HIV enters a cell by binding to a CD4 receptor and then, typically, to a CCR5 co-receptor.

Recently, geneticists have discovered a mutation to the gene that provides encoding for the CCR5 receptor. Those who inherit this delta-32 mutation from a parent are born with fewer CCR5 receptors and are thus resistant to HIV infection. Those born with two mutations, approximately 1 percent of Europeans, have no CCR5 receptors and are thus functionally immune to HIV.

Researchers are now developing chemical strategies for blocking these receptors and creating immunity in those with otherwise normal CCR5 levels. One such development is the so-called zinc fingers treatment, which modifies T-cells that express the CD4 receptor to introduce the delta-32 mutation. The study has shown promising results, including a 67 percent sustaining of the modification over three months, and suggests further investigation into the possibilities that this technique may present.

Key West Offers Exciting Activities for Travelers

Adventurous spirits such as sales professional Jed Ladin often enjoy visiting Key West, Florida. The island features a warm climate year-round and opportunities to participate in many water-based activities. For an experienced traveler like Jed Ladin, who has also toured Mexico, Key West offers a mix of excitement and relaxation.

Key West features six miles of offshore coral reefs, a perfect destination for snorkelers who want to view sea life. Many visitors also want to take in the spectacular local sunset, and they often witness the multi-hued display from Key West’s Mallory Square or on a sunset sail. Other available activities include trips in glass bottom boats, parasailing, golf, and fishing.

For visitors who want to experience unspoiled scenery, a trip to the nearby Dry Tortugas by sea ferry or sea plane is an excellent choice. The island also teems with restaurants and boasts a lively arts scene, which has attracted many notable artists, including Ernest Hemingway, Elizabeth Bishop, and Winslow Homer.

About Jed Ladin

A former salesman at Golden Opportunities in Florida, Jed Ladin maintains a strong commitment to his local and global community by supporting a number of humanitarian organizations. The charities to which Jed Ladin contributes include United Way Worldwide and Save the Children. Founded in 1887 as an organization for mobilizing a communal effort to solve problems, United Way continues to unify communities around the world for the common good. Today, United Way identifies three primary focus areas: income, education, and health. In 2008, the organization launched a 10-year program for achieving certain goals related to these pursuits. Within the United States, United Way hopes to reduce the number of high school dropouts drastically, increase the financial stability of lower-income families, and spread awareness about healthy behaviors and practices. Through United Way, Jed Ladin also champions the 2-1-1 initiative, which provides a vehicle for individuals to find information on just about anything, from volunteer opportunities to advice for starting a small business. By offering financial assistance to Save the Children, Jed Ladin makes a significant difference in the lives of children worldwide, as well as their families. Whenever disaster devastates an area, Save the Children offers the medical care, education, and food necessary to sustain and rebuild the community. In addition to disaster relief, the organization fights daily against illiteracy, disease, poverty, and hunger, hoping to forge a better future for children worldwide. Last year, Save the Children created literacy and nutrition programs that served more than 21,000 children in rural communities in 14 states, addressing at-risk communities to establish better natural disaster preparedness plans. Jed Ladin dedicates himself to his work and enjoys traveling, especially to Mexico and California’s Bay Area. Recreationally, he studies the history and culture of various regions in Mexico. In addition, Jed Ladin maintains an interest in equestrian activities and hopes to skydive one day.