RS4GOOD

To celebrate our 15th anniversary, Real Simple is partnering with four stellar organizations that transform lives—by educating kids, housing families, feeding the homebound, and saving animals. Throughout the year, we’ll keep you posted on how you can help, at rslifestylers.com. Meanwhile, learn a little about our esteemed partners.

Written by N. JamiylaChisholm

FOR MORE INFO on how you can get involved, visit realsimple. com/rs4good.

$14

MILLION

The sum the ASPCA provided in grants to animalwelfare organizations across the country last year. Founded in 1866, the venerable agency is not only about finding happy homes for dogs and cats through individual shelters; it also investigates animal cruelty and responds to natural disasters. Are you the happy parent of a rescued animal? Raise awareness by posting a picture of your beloved using #rs4good and #aspca. Want to help more? Find volunteering opportunities near you or donate at aspca.org

9

WEEKS

THE LENGTH OF TIME, ON AVERAGE, IT TAKES FOR A HABITAT FOR HUMANITY TEAM TO BUILD AN ENTIRE HOUSE. SINCE THE NONPROFIT WAS ESTABLISHED, IN 1976, HABITAT HAS HELPED MORE THAN A MILLION FAMILIES. REAL SIMPLE IS WORKING WITH THE FOUNDERS OF ABEAUTIFULMESS. COM TO FURNISH A HOUSE IN SPRINGFIELD, MISSOURI, WHICH THE BLOGGERS WILL DONATE TO HABITAT. YOU’LL SEE THE RESULTS IN OUR AUGUST ISSUE. TO LEARN HOW TO JOIN A HABITAT TEAM NEAR YOU OR TO DONATE, GO TO HABITAT.ORG.

300% 500

POUNDS

The amount of vegetables prepared every day in the kitchen of the New York City nonprofit

GOD’S LOVE WE DELIVER

(GLWD). For almost 30 years, GLWD has been bringing delicious, nutritious food to people who are too sick to shop and cook for themselves. Volunteers—135 each day—help prep and cook handmade meals and drive them to homebound New Yorkers. What started with one woman and a bicycle currently helps about 5,200 people annually. Later this year, Real Simple will host a fund-raiser for the organization in New York City. Learn more about the event at rslifestylers. com. You can donate to God’s Love We Deliver at glwd.org.

How much more likely students in Young Women’s Leadership schools are to graduate from a four-year college than are their peers. The schools, a program of the YOUNG WOMEN’S LEADERSHIP NETWORK (YWLN), currently serve more than 13,000 New York City kids, grades 6 through 12. With affiliates in Texas and Maryland, YWLN is dedicated to breaking the cycle of poverty through education. Last year 83 percent of its high school seniors were accepted into four-year colleges. Real Simple will partner with YWLN on mentoring efforts, holding a career day at the RS offices, and will set up a Real Simple/YWLN college grant. Learn more or donate at ywln.org.

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15 YEARS OF MAKING LIFE EASIER: (SOME OF) OUR ALL-TIME BEST TIPS, TRICKS, SHORTCUTS, AND ADVICE

Photograph by Stephen Lewis