Running late in doing this year's SECC (State Employee Charitable Campaign) contributions. I debated not doing it at all this year, but I still prefer to go ahead and do my charitable donations monthly from the paycheck. Easier to remember and not "get out of it" by making excuses. Since its money I never see, I don't miss it anyway. As with last year, I'm doing $50 per month spread to 5 charities, for a total of $120 per year to each. The percentage listed is the percentage of the donation that goes to overhead.

ASPCA: American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals - didn't do last year, but have done in previous years

Staged dog fights to the death. Puppy factories with overcrowded and unsanitary breeding pens. Kittens tortured for amusement. Help stop these acts of animal cruelty. (14.05%)

Planned Parenthood of Houston and Southeast Texas - another regular one

PPHSET provides family planning services, reproductive health care and sexuality education to more than 70,000 women, men, and teens each year at our ten clinic locations. (19%)

Surfrider Foundation - this one is totally new for me

Protects and preserves the world's oceans, waves and beaches through conservation, activism, research and education. Activities include: water quality monitoring, environmental education and grassroots activism. (09.26%)

SpiritHorse Therapeutic Riding Center - another completely new one that I think sounds really really cool! Only such place I've seen that doesn't charge hundreds of dollars for such a needed service!

SpiritHorse, DFW's largest free riding center provides therapeutic horseback riding lessons to 425 children with disabilities, at-risk youth, victims of abuse, FREE of charge. (15.90%)

National Trust for Historic Preservation in the United States - and one more new cause I feel like supporting history this year

Your support will help provide leadership, education, and advocacy to save America's diverse historic places and revitalize communities for the future

I was a little disappointed that there were no charities providing financial planning education that I could pick. Its something Mary Ann and I chatted about the other day, that one of the biggest issues in this country is that many people are not being taught proper financial planning and fiscal responsibility. I think it should be taught in high school, not just randomly in college if a student chooses to take a personal finance course. Maybe if more people had received some basic financial education, folks wouldn't be in the mess they are now with regard to mortgages and what not.