Charitable Donations on Mother's Day that Would Have Made Mom Proud

Mother's Day is a bittersweet holiday for those of us whose mothers are among the dear departed. This year marks the 20th anniversary of my mother's death. How do we celebrate when the one we are celebrating is gone?

The best way I have found is to make a donation in memory of mom. There are many organizations to donate to, so how do you choose?

Here are some things to consider:

If your mother suffered from a disease or syndrome, give to an organization that is working to find a cure or a group that serves those who suffer from it. Gifts have been given in memory of my mother to the American Cancer Society, and my mother herself often donated to the American Diabetes Association in memory of her own mother.

Did your mother have a charity she gave to while she was living? A great way to honor her memory would be to continue the charitable work she did while she was alive. My husband's parents were donors to various Christian charities, including our home church, so gifts in memory of them to our church or one of the organizations they sponsored are a good choice.

Did your mother do volunteer work in any area? Remember her by volunteering at or donating to the same organization.

If none of these options seems personal enough, consider going a bit further. Below are some ways that will serve to keep her memory alive in some way as well as allow you to give something back.

Is there a special place where some sort of memorial could be put up? Some examples of this are: donating money for a special piece of furniture or artwork that will be placed in your mother's church, or the hospital where she passed away, or an orphanage where she volunteered. Or consider something outdoors: a special plant or garden decoration on the church grounds, at a country club or public library or even a local park.

Consider purchasing a special planter to decorate the cemetery where your mother is buried. Flowers planted there every year will be enjoyed by everyone visiting the cemetery.

Set up a scholarship fund in your mother's name to help young people who graduate from your mother's school, or fund camp tuition to help kids attend a summer camp that your mother cared about. Give money to help a short-term missionary go to a country that meant a lot to your mother.

If your mother was a sports fan, or if a local school was particularly important to her, consider donating equipment to a local youth sports league or books or educational materials to a local school in her memory.

Was your mom an animal lover or an environmentalist? Plant a tree in her name or donate to the local ASPCA chapter or the local zoo.

Whatever you choose, keeping your mom's memory alive will serve to help others benefit from her giving spirit, and will also help you focus on making something good come from the grief you feel.