Caring Pals USA was established to bring together individuals, groups, and businesses throughout the country to identify, research, promote, and support small non-profit organizations with proven-effective programs helping kids in communities across America. And when a need is discovered that no organization big or small is addressing, the Caring Pals network of volunteers springs to action creating and implementing projects aimed at addressing that need.

Presently, there are more than 1.5 million charities in America. "While this certainly gives potential donors options, it often makes the decision as to which ones to support nearly impossible," says Kimberly Clark, Volunteer Director for Caring Pals USA, a swiftly-growing network of individuals dedicated to helping kids in America.

the local groups doing so much good work, but presently without the resources to 'compete' with the giant corporations, can attract more support, while making it easier for the individual givers whom account for more than 75% of donations to nonprofits.

In fact, potential donors looking to support education in Des Moines, Iowa, have 330 nonprofits to choose from. San Francisco givers who want to help the city's homeless have more than 125 possibilities. Portland, Maine, has more than 450 charities that help children."

Sorting through the maze of nonprofits has become a business in itself, with some for-profit businesses charging fees for viewing financial reports of seemingly endless lists of charities. "Many nonprofits have administrative operations that need and deserve support," explains Clark, "But with so much of the attention going to the larger organizations, the little ones, many doing exemplary things, are often overlooked. Moreover, small organizations, cannot match the ability of the giant ones to garner public attention."

In 2005, donors gave $260.3 billion, a 2.7% increase from the $248.5 billion giving in 2004, this according to the Giving Foundation, with the greatest share going to the major organizations like the United Way, the American Red Cross, and large religious groups.

What needs to happen, say many, is for the smaller nonprofits to begin merging or to otherwise consolidate their operations. Some communities, including Pittsburgh, have offered financial incentives to encourage charities to merge. "In this way," says Clark, "the local groups doing so much good work, but presently without the resources to 'compete' with the giant corporations, can attract more support, while making it easier for the individual givers whom account for more than 75% of donations to nonprofits."

While applauding the efforts and successes of those giant NPOs primarily focused on helping those in other parts of the world, Caring Pals USA was established to bring together individuals, groups, and businesses throughout America to identify, research, promote, and support smaller organizations with proven-effective programs helping kids in communities across this country. And to facilitate cooperation between them.

And what about the needs of some children that are presently unaddressed or not adequately addressed by any organization big or small? "Our network of volunteers springs to action creating and implementing projects aimed at addressing those needs," Clark says with a look of determination and compassion on her face. "We implore everyone to join us in this mission to ensure that every child has the opportunity to grow to be a healthy, happy, educated adult."

For more information, visit http://www.caringpals.org