Charitable Gift Giving

We surf the Web to find good products that help out a great cause.

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Torina's World: A Child's Life in Madagascar

June 12th, 2009 · Amazon, Developing Areas


Torina’s World: A Child’s Life in Madagascar is a book that was originally self-published in 1997, but which has been officially released in 2007 with an interesting story of its own.

Parents for centuries have been lecturing their kids about “the hungry kids in Africa”. But those words are usually meaningless.

Photographer Joni Kabana changed all that with this book created in 1997, with photographs of the daily life of a then-eight year old girl named Torina. Her then-nine year old son helped her edit the images into a book and add simple text which showed the struggles of life in a remote mountainous village living in a small hut.  The book was an amazing way to remind kids in developed countries how blessed they are.

Joni returned to see Torina in 2007, still living in the same hut but with seven brothers. The book is being published again, this time with part of the proceeds helping Malagasy charities and funding for educational activities in Madagascar. And the little girl Torina herself whose story was told ten years ago is now on her way to being a doctor.

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My Life with Laura: A Love Story

June 9th, 2009 · Amazon, Breast Cancer

My Life with Laura: A Love Story is a new book by Chad Moutray. Chad Moutray is the Chief Economist and Director of Economic Research at the US. Small Business Administration.

But this book is a very personal one that doesn’t have to do with small business. It’s about his wife Laura. Laura passed away from breast cancer in November 2007, leaving behind Mr. Moutray and their beautiful young daughter Charlotte.

The book, published one year later, is a beautiful tribute to Laura Moutray. In Mr. Moutray’s own words, the book was written so his daughter would better know her mother once we grew up. It’s a beautiful story of the life of a young couple with the world in front of them, shattered by a devastating disease, and the strength and faith of a wife and mother.

A portion of proceeds will go to the Laura Moutray Fund for Women’s Ministries at First Baptist Church of Alexandria VA, as well as to breast cancer research.

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Free Rice dot Com – Feed the Hungry and Your Brain

June 6th, 2009 · World Hunger

If you haven’t heard about freerice.com, you’re in for a treat.

While this isn’t a “gift giving” item, it is a great way to help out a good cause. Here’s how the site works: you’ll be shown a vocabulary word. Just pick the right definition, and 10 grains of rice will be donated to the United Nations World Food Program.

Is this for real? Yes. The site is run by the United Nations World Food Program and the Berkman Center for Internet & Society at Harvard University. It’s paid for by sponsors whose ads you’ll see across the bottom of the screen.

Click on a couple words, and you can learn some vocabulary while helping feed the hungry. There are few better ways to kill time!

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Help Charities with a Discover Card

June 3rd, 2009 · Children's Miracle Network, Junior Achievement, Juvenile Diabetes Foundation, Make-A-Wish Foundation, Operation Homefront


discover card for charityYou probably know about the Discover® More Card (the same card that was once called the Discover Platinum card), “the card that pays you back”. Each month, a full 1% of your purchases are given back to you in the form of “cashback”. And every quarter, you’re able to sign up to receive a full 5% cashback on things like gas, hotel expenses, home improvement stores, restaurants, movies, and more.  The cash you get back is saved for you on the Discover Card site until you “cash it in”.

Most people may not realize that the money you earn from the Discover Card cashback can be donated directly to charity. Specifically, you have options to donate your cashback bonus to:

Children’s Miracle Network
Children’s Miracle Network is a non-profit organization that raises funds for more than 170 children’s hospitals. Sponsor organizations, media partners and countless individuals unite with Children’s Miracle Network hospitals to help sick and injured kids in local communities. Donations to Children’s Miracle Network create miracles by funding medical care, research and education that saves and improves the lives of 17 million children each year. To learn more go to childrensmiraclenetwork.org.

Junior Achievement®
Junior Achievement is the world’s largest organization dedicated to educating young people about business, economics and free enterprise. Volunteers throughout the U.S. and 97 countries bring the real world to students and open their minds to their potential. Your Cashback Bonus helps educate the world’s youth for a brighter tomorrow.

Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation
Support the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation (JDRF) in their fight to find a cure for diabetes and its complications. Use your Cashback Bonus to help fund research and provide support for those in need.

Make-A-Wish Foundation®
The Make-A-Wish Foundation grants the wishes of children with life-threatening illnesses to enrich the human experience with hope, strength, and joy. Use your Cashback Bonus to make a difference in a young person’s life.

Operation Homefront
Operation Homefront provides emergency assistance and morale to U.S. troops, to the families they leave behind, and to wounded warriors when they return home. The organization leads more than 4,000 volunteers in 31 chapters nationwide. Since its inception, Operation Homefront has provided critical assistance to more than 45,000 military families in need.

In fact, Discover will donate an additional amount to the organization listed that gets the most contributions.

Apply for the Discover® More Card today! and earn cash that you can use to help a great cause. In fact, you’ll make more money for your charity than if you had a cause-related card, which typically donates 0.3% to 1%, not 1% to 5%. And unlike with other cause-related cards, the money you donate is fully tax-deductible.

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March of Dimes T-Shirt

May 30th, 2009 · March of Dimes, Uncategorized

For the past month, The March of Dimes has held their March for Babies event throughout the country to support funds to help prevent birth disorders and defects.

If you missed the walk this year (or if you walked and forgot to get a T-Shirt), you can still support the March of Dimes by buying this T-Shirt (or other accessories) at Zazzle.Com.

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Superman statue that benefits the Christopher Reeve Foundation

May 27th, 2009 · Amazon


Here is the perfect collectible for any fan of Superman or of Christopher Reeve. It’s the  Christopher Reeve as Superman Statue.

Available on June 3, 2009, this is a very limited edition collectible depicting Christopher Reeve as Superman from the 1978 movie. It stands 12 1/4 inches tall, and is made of cold-cast porcelain, is hand-painted, and stands on the Superman S-shield base.

The statue is sold from DC Comics Direct, and includes a 4-color Certificate of Authenticity, packaged in a colorful box.

A portion of the proceeds from the sale of this item will be donated to the Christopher and Dana Reeve Foundation.

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Faces of Freedom Book: Profiles of America's Fallen Heroes

May 24th, 2009 · Amazon

This Memorial Day, as the country enjoys its three day weekend, picnics, and sales, take some time to share a gift that brings you back to what it’s really about.

Faces of Freedom Profiles of America’s Fallen Heroes: Iraq and Afghanistan is a moving and inspirational book which tells the story of brave military heroes who lost their lives in the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan. It includes profiles of a soldier from each of the 50 states, Puerto Rico, and Washington DC who gave all for their country.

In today’s world where the military seems nothing more than just a poker chip among politicians of all kinds and something to be exploited by news media, this kind of book brings it all home. No matter what you think of the wars in the Middle East, the one thing that is clear is that these young men and women who serve their country and gave everything fighting against those who would take our freedoms away from us–they deserve to be remembered and honored.

Some of the proceeds from this book will go to Fisher House and Wounded Warrior Project, two exceptional charities that help families of soldiers stationed around the world.

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A children's book about John McCain by daughter Meghan

May 21st, 2009 · Amazon, Intrepid Fallen Heroes Fund

The sad thing about presidential campaigns is that they usually leave the candidates as caricatures of who they really are, after having been demeaned and excoriated by the media and the opposition. I recall sadly Admiral James Stockdale, one of the bravest and finest men who served his country reduced to the butt of jokes after being picked as a Vice Presidental candidate in 1992.

John McCain was a presidential candidate in 2008, and sure enough history repeated itself. This is a man who suffered unspeakable torture for his country and served his country his whole life. He deserved better than to be ripped apart by Democrats and Republicans alike, not to mention the press.

This is why, this Memorial Day, I’m pleased to recommend this gift for purchase for a young person in your life. It’s My Dad, John McCain, a children’s book about McCain’s life written by his own daugher Meghan. And even though the book is a picture book for children, it’s a great insight into the life of this man, from growing up the child of two admirals in the Navy, to his naval career and life as a POW in Vietnam, to his political career.

The book obviously paints a nice picture of McCain (literally–Dan Andreasen painted color-and-sepia-tone art for the book), but in a world where heroes are harder and harder to find, maybe that’s not such a bad thing for someone learning to read in Grades 2-4.

The publisher is donating a portion of proceeds to the Intrepid Fallen Heroes Fund, one of the best-run charities in the country which benefits families of fallen military.

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Reusable Canvas Grocery Bags that Help Charity

May 18th, 2009 · Amazon


One of the most popular gifts on this site since it was introduced has been the FEED Bag Charity Shopping Bags.

The Planet Bag Set of Six (6) 100% Cotton Natural Canvas Grocery Tote Bags is another product that helps the environment, helps make your life easier, and helps charities all at the same time.

The Planet Bag is a heavyweight 100% cotton shopping bag which replaces wasteful plastic or paper bags at the grocery store. It is made of 100% Natural Cotton, which is much more environmentally friendly and natural than plastic or even synthetic cloth bags like nylon.

The Planet Bag also holds a LOT more than grocery bags. The extra long 28″ handles are rugged and woven, so they won’t come apart, even if you use them every day. They are designed for shoulder carrying, and the bag can also be tied for hand carrying. The Planet Bag can even be machine washed.

The bags are made overseas using workers paid under Fair Trade Standards–in fact, the workers are paid more than the fair wage.

Donations are made on behalf of those who buy the bags every month to Environmental and Non-Environmental Charities and Non-Profit Organizations.

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Dog toy that helps rehabiliate dogs who have been deployed overseas

May 15th, 2009 · Amazon, Animal Causes


This Loofa Dog Support Our Troops Plush Dog Toy is a great dog toy from Multipet.

 Multipet produces many colors of Loofa Dogs, which are long, durable toys for dogs, having a regular squeaker and a cool honking squeaker.

This Loofa Dog comes in camoflauged canvas. He is made of a canvas material and sports an olive green military hat, and wears the Yellow Ribbon to Support Our Troops. A portion of the proceeds is donated back to support and rehabilitate dogs who have been deployed overseas.

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