For me, travel isn't just about sightseeing.  It's about the people I meet, nature I surround myself in, and the differences I experience in culture across villages, countries, and continents. I hope to leave each place I visit better than before and when I have the opportunity, contribute in a more meaningful, long term way.  I'm particularly focused around women's education in developing countries, LGBT rights globally, women's access to healthcare, supporting diversity in the arts and enacting common sense legislation to reduce gun violence in the US.

If you have any of the same passions and want to learn more or make a contribution of your own, here are the organizations I currently support:

• Gambia Rising-Gambia Rising currently sponsors more than 480 students (3/4 of which are girls).  With the majority of Gambian families living on less than $1/day, Gambia Rising gives the next generation a chance for a different life through education.
• Human Rights Campaign Foundation-The Human Rights Campaign Foundation improves the lives of lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and queer (LGBTQ) people by working to increase understanding and encourage the adoption of LGBTQ-inclusive policies and practices.
• Planned Parenthood-We are a trusted health care provider, an informed educator, a passionate advocate, and a global partner helping similar organizations around the world. Planned Parenthood delivers vital reproductive health care, sex education, and information to millions of women, men, and young people worldwide.
• American Theatre Wing-We Celebrate & Support through awards, grants and programs. We Illuminate & Document the people that create American Theatre. We Engage & Educate the next generation of audiences and practitioners.
• Brady Campaign to Prevent Gun Violence-The mission of the Brady organization and its Million Mom March is to create a safer America by cutting gun deaths in half by 2025.