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Helping you help others

There are many online fundraising sites today, but CaringCrowd is distinctive because it is solely dedicated to raising money for global public health causes — from projects helping sick moms in Malawi, to repairing children’s hearts in India. More than $900,000 has been pledged to projects so far.

Any nonprofit organization can submit a campaign idea to CaringCrowd, but unlike other fundraising platforms, CaringCrowd has a set of experts who decide whether each campaign idea is a worthy cause. CaringCrowd works with academic institutions like Columbia University’s Mailman School of Public Health to get guidance on public health priorities.

Once an idea is approved by the experts, it becomes an official project that can receive funding. The CaringCrowd website allows you to look through different projects and choose which one you want to fund. Johnson & Johnson is matching donations — up to $250 per person, per project.

After you donate to a project, you can keep track of the project’s progress by checking what percentage of the project has been funded and how much the project has advanced through a detailed timeline that shows you what stages of the project’s goal have been completed.
www.caringcrowd.org

The Louvre, vicariously

Opened in 1793, the Louvre — the most popular museum in the world — is home to well-known works like the Mona Lisa. But you don’t have to travel to Paris or brave the crowds to enjoy some of its holdings.

A section of the museum’s website titled Selections offers virtual tours on various themes, including Napoleon, the French Revolution, the art of portraiture, and jewelry. Another feature, called A Closer Look, lets art enthusiasts explore multi-media presentations on specific works.
www.louvre.fr/en/selections

Apps

An app for those with Alzheimer’s

MindMate offers a set of interactive games, daily exercises, music and more for individuals living with Alzheimer’s and other forms of dementia or traumatic brain injury.

In addition, users can store and share their memories and life story in the app, along with personal preferences, such as favorite food and music, and reminders of activities and medications.

MindMate also provides physical exercises to try, as well as nutrition information and healthy recipes. For entertainment, the app includes TV shows, movies and music from the 1940s through ‘80s to watch and listen to.

Roger Arellano, one of the app’s three young cofounders, helped care for his grandfather, who had Alzheimer’s. The other founders volunteered in memory care centers, and wanted to develop a tool to improve the quality of life for those with dementia.

MindMate is free for android and iPhones at Apple’s App store and Google Play

Yard sales galore

Are you a bargain hunter who just can’t pass up hunting for Picasso in a pile of mediocre artwork, or acquiring toys for the grandkids at a fraction what they would have cost new?

Apps can now help you locate upcoming yard sales, usually with a “near-me” map. Some can even build a favorites list for a given day and map a route, which lets hardcore shoppers hit multiple sales in one day.

Here are a few yard sale titles to get you started:
Yard Sale Treasure Map
Garage Sales by Map
Varage Sale (that is not a typo), and
5miles.

Most apps are free and available at both the Apple App store and Google Play.