In the wake of the tragic events of September 11, many Americans continue to look for ways to make a difference in their own communities, and to lend a helping hand. Moreover, with so much attention being paid to the charities developed to respond directly to the tragedy, many other organizations have had difficulty raising funds and collecting donations.
THROUGHOUT THE HOLIDAY season, “Today” hosted its most successful toy drive to date, donating $9 million worth of toys and gifts to 400,000 children across the country. On the heels of that success, and in an effort to keep the spirit of giving alive year-round, we sent weatherman Al Roker on a special trip across America (January 21-25), making stops in five cities: Dallas (Monday), Los Angeles (Tuesday), Chicago (Wednesday), Philadelphia (Thursday) and Miami (Friday).
At each location, Al spent time throughout the show at one of the city’s charitable organizations, with the focus being on families and children in need. With help from Sears, “Today” provided many of the items that were on the organization’s “wish list” — everything from computers and refrigerators in some of the shelters to office-appropriate clothing and accessories for women re-entering the workplace. More importantly, the segments brought much-needed national attention to just a few of the many programs in need.
Find out more about each destination and how you can help: