As tax season comes is upon us, many of us are thinking of how we can improve our bottom line next year. How can you maximize your deductions? Think about what charities fill your heart. It’s a win-win situation to be able to fill your passion, help those in need and benefit your bottom line.

I support two local charities every year. They both feed my soul and are causes I am emotionally invested in. My favorite all-time charity is called L.A. Love & Leashes, a project through Friends of LA Animal Shelters. L.A. Love & Leashes works with West LA Animal Shelter and has a store front in the Westside Pavilion, matching up shelter dogs and cats with lucky homeowners. This amazing group has saved thousands of animals’ lives, is the first non-profit run “pet store” and have saved 1,157 animals to date. To learn more about L.A. Love & Leashes please visit www.laloveandleashes.com. You can donate monthly, one-time, volunteer, or adopt! Having a direct impact on rescuing animals is very rewarding and I often say that my rescue dog rescued me!

I am also emotionally invested in another cause, the Lynne Cohen Foundation. The Lynne Cohen Foundation strives to improve survival rates and decrease the suffering associated with ovarian and breast cancers and has preventative care programs throughout the country. They have an incredible event every September called “Kickin Cancer”, located in Brentwood, along San Vicente. I grew up with Lynne’s daughters and Lynne was an inspiring woman, mother and wife. She was taken by ovarian cancer at a very young age and her four children created the Lynne Cohen Foundation in her honor. Because of their efforts to focus on the prevention, education, and community, the foundation makes a real difference on early detection of breast and ovarian cancer. To learn more about the Lynne Cohen Foundation, please visit www.lynnecohenfoundation.org.
It brings me great joy to write about these charities and bring awareness to others. What are your favorite local charities?