AIDS Project LA began in 1982 when a group of four friends attended an emergency meeting to help a panicked community deal with a deadly new disease. They raised $7,000 at a Christmas benefit — the seed money to launch AIDS Project Los Angeles, which began with five clients. Today, they serve more than 11,000 with first-rate HIV/AIDS care and prevention programs and fight for smart, effective HIV-related public policy.

Their mission statement: “AIDS Project Los Angeles is dedicated to: improving the lives of people affected by HIV disease; reducing the incidence of HIV infection; and advocating for fair and effective HIV-related public policy.”

This season, if you want to give back, there’s no better organization to donate your money to than APLA. Go here to find out how.