There’s so much that’s special about Mother’s Day gifts! Here are just a few of the things that make them special for most of us:

• We give these gifts our whole lives through: Do you remember creating your first macaroni necklace, cardboard picture frame, or traced handprint? Mothers mean the world to us from day 1, and even as young children, most of us were excited at the opportunity to show mommy our love and gratitude.
• It’s not about the money: A mother’s bond with her child is such that even something as small as a card will be deeply appreciated. Even if you can’t afford to move mom into her own mansion, most moms always receive their gifts with gratitude and appreciation. It’s you they love, after all!
• It’s universal: Not everyone enjoys a smooth relationship with their mother, but people in every culture around the world understand the importance of celebrating their mothers’ extraordinary love and devotion.

These images offer some wonderful ideas for gifts, but let’s not forget that there are many moms out there this year who may be battling extraordinary hardships. To that end, we’d like to share a few leading world charities whose work has a significant positive impact on mothers around the world.

March of Dimes is a mother- and infant-oriented charity based in the US with a strong pedigree. It began in 1938 as a charitable organization established to fight polio, but its mission has since expanded to all sorts of significant health-oriented issues for mothers and infants. You can donate to March of Dimes here.

Save the Children is a child-oriented charity that supports children in humanitarian hotspots around the world. From war zones to natural disasters to impoverished regions, they do a lot of important work to support children and the mothers who raise them. You can donate to Save the Children here.

Ronald McDonald House Charities is a network of local US organizations that help families with children that are facing serious illnesses. Healthcare in the US is expensive, making certain illnesses even harder to deal with for some families. You can donate to RMHC here.