It’s been years since I’ve watched an episode of Saturday Night Live all the way through and laughed harder at the last sketch than at the first. Last night’s SNL with Betty White changed all that with the Mother’s Day 2010 episode of SNL. 500,000 Facebook and Twitter users lobbied to get her as a host, and they got this one right. I’m seeing thousands of tweets a minute coming in, all saying what a great show it was. Congratulations to Betty White, Lorne Michaels, and the returning cast members Ana Gasteyer, Molly Shannon, Tina Fey, Amy Poehler, and Maya Rudoph for a great episode.
One great way to show your appreciation to Ms. White for her great legacy of work, from Password to the Mary Tyler Moore Show to The Golden Girls to Boston Legal to yesterday’s Saturday Night Live, is by donating to the charity of whom she is President Emerita and a Trustee: The Morris Animal Foundation. This is a top-rated charity that is the world’s largest nonprofit foundation 501(c)(3) dedicated to research studies to protect, treat and cure animals around the world. From canine cancer to feline leukemia, to the development of vaccines which have saved thousands of pets, this is a great charity that looks out for Man’s best friends.
From their Web site, here are some gifts which you can buy to support the cause:
Cru Vin Dogs
Cru Vin Dogs is a direct to consumer wine company offering
exceptional wines, and founded upon the objective to donate a percentage of all sales to dog charities. Buy wine, find out more about Cru Vin Dog wines, or ask questions at: www.cruvindogs.com.
LuckyPet pet tags
LuckyPet pet tags provide pets with identification tags. Morris Animal Foundation receives $1.00 per pet tag sold. You can also get a special canine cancer dog tag to support our Cure Canine Cancer – MAF’s unprecedented effort to cure canine cancer within a dog’s lifetime.
Joy to the World Collectible Ornaments
Joy to the World Collectibles has created more than 100 ornaments in The Pet Set, 16 in the Wild Side and 16 ornaments in the celebrity/charity line for Morris Animal Foundation, all endorsed by Betty White. Morris Animal Foundation receives 10 percent of sales. For more information or to place your order, call 888.367.5889.
The Truman Collar
25 percent of every Truman Collar purchase will be donated to Morris Animal Foundation to help fund research on Hemolytic Anemia. For more information please visit The Truman Collar.
Global Save
GlobalSave offers outstanding wildlife art. Customers can designate MAF as the recipient of the $2 donation from each purchase. Order at www.globalsave.org.
Tom Sierak Paintings
Artist Tom Sierak is known internationally for his lifelike pastel paintings. He has agreed to give Morris Animal Foundation 50 percent of reproduction purchases made from the Morris Animal Foundation Gallery on his Web site. When placing an order be sure to e-mail your name with “MAF Purchase” in the subject line (or mention MAF when ordering via the phone).
Gulf Coast Pet Designs
Gulf Coast Pet Designs carries unique items for you and your pets. From tropical leashes, stylish carriers, trendy dishes to custom-made beds. Gulf Coast Pet Designs has agreed to give MAF 2 percent of total sales.
Quilt Pattern
Roberta Williams and Diane Gaudynski are selling a beautiful cat quilt pattern, 50 percent of the proceeds from this pattern will go to MAF. The pattern can be purchased on Roberta Williams’ site.
Kindred Spirits Gift Shop
Kindred Spirits Gift Shop specializes in pet-related gift merchandise and “soulful” gift baskets. 25% of the “Angels Among Us” gift basket is donated to the Meisha’s Hope AIHA/IMHA Fund #338 at Morris Animal Foundation. In addition, 5% of any order at the Kindred Spirits Gift Shop is donated to the Meisha’s Hope AIHA/IMHA Fund #338 at Morris Animal Foundation when you click on “Meisha’s Hope” during the checkout process.
HeartGlass
HeartGlass Studio creates beautiful glass art that incorporates the ashes of people or pets, allowing you to honor, remember and have a lasting keepsake of your loved one. HeartGlass has agreed to give MAF 10 percent of total sales.
Ben’s Fund Note cards
Ben Cote was an eight-year old boy who loved animals, but who succumbed to cancer and was never able to realize his dream of becoming a veterinarian. As a tribute to Ben’s birthday earlier this year, his family hosted an Art Show in which his young friends and family members produced paintings with the theme “Ben.” Ben’s family decided to convert the paintings into individual note cards that could be sold to benefit the veterinary scholarship fund in Ben’s name. 100% of the proceeds from the sales are directed to Ben’s Fund at Morris Animal Foundation. To learn more about Ben’s Fund or to order note cards visit http://bensfund.org.
Designing Poet
Designing Poet proudly introduces her new line of doggie note cards. These adorable cards feature Arlene Klein’s best friend Scout, as he reveals all the little things in life that are important to him. Designing Poet generously contributes 5% of total sales to Morris Animal Foundation’s canine health studies. For more information please visit www.designingpoet.com/doggienotecards.html, call 941.374.5749 or e-mail arleneklein@designingpoet.com.
No, the coffee isn’t red. This 
If you don’t know what Novica is, it’s an organization that, in association with National Geographic, sells hand-crafted gifts created from developing areas all over the world. In a world where more and more things are produced with machines or mass produced with cheap labor (on most trips lately, I am shocked to find out that 90% of the souvenirs in any given area are made in China!), it’s a breath of fresh air to get handmade items from artisans in the actual areas where the art originated.
With this sale, Novica is featuring sustainable, natural, recycled, or reclaimed items. Every gift not only has a story, it helps the planet.