Charity Summary

A major part of the California Browncoat’s mission is to raise funds for other non-profit charities. In order to choose the charities, we have a tiered selection process. For each event or fund raiser, we try to enlist the help of a celebrity spokesperson/sponsor from the cast or crew of Firefly or Serenity. The spokesperson/sponsor will choose the charity that receives the funds we raise at that event. We will also run a fundraiser at the behest of a cast or crew member of Firefly or Serenity, such as an eBay auction for a special item. If we do not have a spokesperson/sponsor for a specific event, our Board of Directors will select the charity to receive funds from the event. Most events support multiple charities.

Supported Charities

The California Browncoats are proud to have supported the following charities.

• St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital – The mission of St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital is to advance cures, and means of prevention, for pediatric catastrophic diseases through research and treatment. Consistent with the vision of our founder Danny Thomas, no child is denied treatment based on race, religion or a family’s ability to pay.
• Marine Corps – Law Enforcement Foundation – The mission of MCLEF is to encourage the spiritual, moral, intellectual and physical development of children through education. This Foundation was formed in February of 1995 by former Marines and law enforcement personnel who strongly believe that our nation’s most precious resource is its youth.
• The Al Wooten, Jr. Heritage Center – The Al Wooten Jr. Heritage Center is a neighborhood approach to the revitalization and empowerment of a community in crisis. We provide a safe and nurturing environment committed to good citizenship and academic excellence.
• Equality Now – Equality Now works for the protection and promotion of the human rights of women and girls around the world. Working with grassroots women’s and human rights organizations and individual activists since 1992, Equality Now documents violence and discrimination against women and mobilizes international action to support efforts to stop these abuses.
• Kids Need to Read Foundation – Kids Need to Read works to create a culture of reading for children by providing inspiring books to underfunded schools, libraries, and literacy programs across the United States, especially those serving disadvantaged children.
• Waterkeeper Alliance – Waterkeeper Alliance provides a way for communities to stand up for their right to clean water and for the wise and equitable use of water resources, both locally and globally. The vision of the Waterkeeper movement is for fishable, swimmable and drinkable waterways worldwide. Our belief is that the best way to achieve this vision is through the Waterkeeper method of grassroots advocacy.
• Dyslexia Foundation – The Dyslexia Foundation (TDF), a non-profit organization, was established in 1989 to identify and assist children with dyslexia – to establish higher levels of learning through specialized programs promoting better reading.
• Best Friends Animal Society – The mission of Best Friends is to bring about a time when there are no more homeless pets.
• The Young Storytellers Foundation – The Young Storytellers Foundation develops literacy through the art of storytelling. Using group exercises and one-on-one mentoring, we provide underserved children in the public school system an opportunity to write stories and see them brought to life through performance. Our mission is to inspire children to discover the power of their own voice.
• Puppies Behind Bars – A non-profit organization dedicated to training prison inmates to raise puppies to be guide dogs for the blind. Puppies Behind Bars, Inc. formally came into existence in July 1997, and the program was initiated at the Bedford Hills Correctional Facility in November 1997
• Oxfam International – Oxfam is an international confederation of 15 organizations working together in 98 countries and with partners and allies around the world to find lasting solutions to poverty and injustice.
• The Trevor Project – The Trevor Project is the leading national organization providing crisis intervention and suicide prevention services to lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and questioning youth.