get involved: Subscribe today! Visit our subscription page and choose a charity (Animal Rescue League of Iowa, Variety-The Children's Charity, or Greater Des Moines Habitat for Humanity) you’d like to donate to when you subscribe. share! Know an organization that is making a difference? Let us know at Editorial@WelcomeHomeDesMoines.com

a few months ago we introduced a new feature in Welcome Home Des Moines: Giving Back. The idea was to highlight a charitable organization, individual or event focused on giving back to others in our community. This month, though, we’re turning the lens on ourselves—and introducing a year-long commitment to give back on behalf of our readers. With every subscription sold over the next year, Welcome Home Des Moines will donate $10 to one of the local charities featured here. “All of these organizations are serving our community in different ways,” says Sherry Failor, Welcome Home Des Moines publisher, “so readers can choose the charity that’s closest to their hearts. And this gives us the opportunity to partner with them to help each of these groups do even more.” By purchasing a $24.95 subscription to the magazine, you receive eight issues of Welcome Home Des Moines and the charity you select receives $10. Use the subscription card enclosed on page 22 or go online to place your order through PayPal at our subscription page here. For Animals Founded in 1926, the Animal Rescue League of Iowa (ARL) now serves over 19,000 animals each year. Its mission—“to promote animal welfare, the human bond, and to prevent the overpopulation of pets”—is served through programs ranging from pet adoptions, humane education, pet behavior training, and cruelty intervention. In 2008 alone, nearly 2,000 families were able to retrieve lost pets thanks to the ARL. And more than 10,000 strays were brought in from across the Midwest. With the new, larger facility, the ARL is able to offer year-round training classes and host educational presentations for students and tour groups. For more information on the ARL or to volunteer, check out its Web site, ARL-Iowa.org. For Kids Variety-The Children's Charity has raised over $60 million since 1975 for various children’s programs across the state. Some of the most recognized are the Sunshine Coach Program (which provides transportation for underprivileged and special needs kids) and the Sunshine Trolley (a 32-seat trolley dedicated to transporting children for field trips and other educational activities). Variety is probably best known for its annual spring fund-raising telethon, which provides the resources for Variety to grant money to over 80 charities annually. These charities benefit families with hospitalized children, premature babies, or those with other physical or financial needs. Visit VarietyIowa.com for details about other programs. For Families Greater Des Moines Habitat for Humanity (GDM Habitat) is part of the national Habitat for Humanity organization, which builds “simple, decent housing which strengthens families and transforms neighborhoods through homeownership.” This year, volunteers built or renovated more than 20 homes in the metro area, benefiting families who had been living in substandard housing. Recipients, known as partner families, are given an interest-free 20-year mortgage and must volunteer at least 400 hours of work toward the completion of their home. In addition to serving local families, all Habitat organizations share a portion of their resources with Habitat for Humanity International, which assists foreign cities in the construction of affordable housing. GDM Habitat provided funds for 21 houses in El Salvador during fiscal year 2008. You can learn more about each of these organizations at GDMHabitat.org.