Charitable Gift Giving

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

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CharityBuzz: gifts for the person who has everything

January 21st, 2009 · Uncategorized

Some people are easy to shop for, but what do you get for the person who really does have everything?

CharityBuzz.Com is a fantastic auction site that has a huge number of one-of-a-kind items donated by A-list celebrities and luxury brands. All proceeds from all of the auctions goes to help a worthy cause, either large well-established charities or charities which celebrities themselves have created.  

As of the time I’m writing this post, some of the more intriguing auctions include:

  • Attend a personal swimming clinic with Michael Phelps to support Albert Schweitzer’s Leadership for Life.
  • Own Bruce Springsteen’s Harley to support The Andre Agassi Charitable Foundation.
  • Spend a day on the set of TV shows like “Wizards of Waverly Place” or “Entourage” to support Rosie’s Gala or the Felix Organization.
  • Get a Fender Guitar autographed by Phil Collins, a set of boxing gloves autographed by Muhammed Ali, or a framed theatrical contract signed by Elvis Presley to support Pattaya Orphanage.

And there are hundreds more, changing all the time.

Proceeds from every auction goes to help a great cause. The price tags are high, but then again, if you know someone who’s a fan of these celebrities, you’ll give them a thrill of a lifetime, as well as help a fantastic cause.

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Tide "Loads of Hope" T-Shirts

January 18th, 2009 · Uncategorized

tide t-shirtThis T-shirt features the Tide bull’s eye on the front and “Loads of Hope” on the back. The “Loads of Hope” cause is a neat one–in devastated areas such as the areas affected by hurricane Katrina and the Southern California wildfires, Proctor and Gamble sets up mobile laundry stations where people can do laundry for free. Having clean clothes and bedsheets is something we all take for granted, but it’s one of the little ways that Tide brings hope to areas that are devastated.

This vintage T-shirt comes in one of four colors and is made of soft cotton. It’s a limited edition that shows not just your sense of style, but that you care–all profits from sales of this shirt will go towards rebuilding efforts for families affected by the Southern California Wildfires and Hurricane Katrina.

You can buy a Tide T-Shirt here.

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In the Kitchen With Stars – An Extraordinary Celebrity Cookbook

January 15th, 2009 · Amazon

In The Kitchen With Stars (French and Italian Edition) is not your ordinary celebrity cookbook. This is a beautiful, hardcover first edition that’s belongs as much in an honored place in your library of fine cultural books as it does in the kitchen. The book is beautifully photographed and designed by Sacha Sosno, one of the artistic founders of the School of Nice (one commentator noted that the photographs alone are worth collecting).

There is an interesting set of 37 entrees, desserts, salads, appetizers and even cocktails, each written in English, French, and Italian, and features stories and recipes from everyone from Prince Albert II of Monaco to Tommy Hilfiger to Sir Roger Moore to the late Luciano Pavarotti.

A significant portion of the proceeds from every sale of In the Kitchen with the Stars goes to Mission Enfance. Mission Enfance is an humanitarian organization based in Monaco that has for over a decade provided assistance to children who are in distress and suffering throughout the world.  

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What's Michelle Obama Wearing?

January 12th, 2009 · White House Black Market

In just a week, on January 20, our country is going to enter a new stage in its history when President Obama is sworn in as the 44th President of the United States. People are already comparing Obama’s family with JFK’s Camelot, with a young and well-articulated president, two adorable kids, and all eyes on what the First Lady will be wearing.

The First Lady-elect already showed the world her hip-yet-down-to-earth fashion sense when she visited The View last year for her first major media introduction to the country. That’s when she wore the black-and-white sundress you see to the right. This actual dress is still available for purchase at White House Black Market (From now until 2/1/2009, enter code 8782 for $20 off). To find this dress, just click on the link above and the type the words “Tank Leaf Print Dress” into the search box.

Buying this dress won’t go to charity, but perhaps inspired by Michelle Obama’s inadvertent plug of them in her TV debut, the company that designed this dress, White House Black Market, created a number of Presidential Inauguration Gowns, and is auctioning them off at the great charity site Clothes Off Our Back. The four one-of-a-kind gowns are inspired by Michelle Obama and four former first ladies.

Clothes Off Our Back is a charity site that sells clothes donated by and inspired by celebrities. Proceeds benefit a wide range of charities including Feeding America (formerly America’s Second Harvest), The Art of Elysium, Hope North and H.E.L.P. Malawi.

If you’re visiting the Washington D.C. area January 9 – January 20, visit the White House Black Market boutique in Union Station to view the four gowns. Bid on this auction to help some great causes and possibly own a piece of history.

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Premium Orchid, Vanilla, and Black Loose Leaf Tea which donates to City Harvest

January 9th, 2009 · Amazon, City Harvest

This City Harvest Black loose tea is a wonderful combination of Orchid, Vanilla & Black Tea leaves from serendipiTea, a certified organic tea company based in New York. 20% of the proceeds of this purchase are donated to City Harvest!

serenipiTea is a company that was formed to respond to the growing appreciation of tea in the United States. While in the past, fine tea was available only to those who were willing to pay money for expensive imported tea, this company aims to make fine tea available to all people without sacrificing quality and taste. They select the finest organic tea, working closely with tea experts around the world. They organic farms, all-natural products, and Earth-friendly packaging.

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Yoga Non-slip Mats that help a good cause

January 6th, 2009 · Drugstore.com

So, you’ve made a New Year’s resolution to start exercising. You have a beautiful new yoga mat. But when you try out all your cool yoga moves, you just end up slipping and sliding all over the floor.

Your worries are over! Pictured above is a SKIDLESS premium mat-size yoga towel. Combine it with a standard rubber yoga mat, and it’ll keeps you from slipping as well as provide a hygenic barrier between you and your yoga mat. It’s a 80/20 polyester-nylon blend towel which is super absorbent, machine-washable and dryer safe. It measures 24 x 68 inches to match standard yoga mats.

The towel is one of many innovative products made by Yogitoes, a company that designs yoga and fitness products. A portion of proceeds goes to the yogitoes fund which contributes to programs bringing love and awareness around the world.

Yogitoes products are sold at Drugstore.Com. Buy any Yogitoes product, get a free headband! Offer good until 2/28/2009 or while supplies last.

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Great 2009 Christmas Clearance Gifts that benefit St Jude's Children's Hospital

January 4th, 2009 · Children's Charities, St. Jude's

st judes christmas catalogLooking for post-Christmas deals that help charity? Check out the Hope Gift Book from St. Jude’s Chilren’s Hospital. This is a collection of stylish gifts that St. Jude’s sold throughout the 2009 Christmas season. How stylish? There are high quality clothes from from Juicy Couture, children’s toys from Melissa and Doug, bags from Liz Claiborne, and dozens of other high quality gifts from jewelry to bags to cookies provided to St. Jude’s from some of the best companies around.

They’re normally priced much below what you’d pay in a store like Zappos or Bloomingdales, and now that Christmas is over, they’re priced even lower (the robe pictured here, for example, retails easily for $125, but is available at a fraction of that). Plus, use promotion code STJG20PO for yet another 20% off. All profits, of course, still benefit children at the hospital.

But hurry, these aren’t going to last long!

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Plush Turtles that project a peaceful, starry night and helps endangered animals

January 3rd, 2009 · Amazon, Conservation

This Twilight Turtle AND Sea-Turtle Constellation Nightlight by Cloud B is an adorable and innovative way to give your little children assurance against the things that go “bump” in the night.

These are two adorable plush turtles whose beautiful shells illuminate and also project a starry night sky on your walls and ceilings, making nighttimes not so scary and providing a magical, tranquil environment so that your children can sleep in peace (a 45-minute sleep timer is built in).

It comes with a Storybook which teaches children about endangered sea animals, a helpful Star Guide and an adoption certificate. A portion of the proceeds from Twilight Sea Turtle will be donated to an international conservation organization.

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Paint Your Own Polo Shirt

December 30th, 2008 · Macys

paint your own poloHere’s a great idea for kids from Ralph Lauren and Macys that helps a really great cause. But hurry-this item will almost certainly not be available for munch longer.

Visit Macys.Com and type into the Search Box the words “Paint Your Own Polo“.

If it’s still in stock, you’ll see a product that Macys sold for Christmas. It’s an authentic white polo shirt (complete with horsie) for boys or girls with a difference. It comes in a Ralph Lauren paint can with the shirt, six 1 oz. tubes of fabric paint (medium gold, silver, evergreen, deep blue, black and country red), six 1” sponge brushes, one sponge tool, a griffon stamp, a skull-and-crossbones stamp, and complete instructions

It’s a guaranteed fun gift for any child, as he or she gets to be creative and design his or her own polo shirt. The cotton shirt, once designed, is completely machine washable.

100 percent of net proceeds from this sale will be donated to the Pink Pony Fund for Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center’s Pediatric Art Therapy Program.

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The Aflac Duck Stuffed Animal…who quacks! Get him while you can at Macys.

December 28th, 2008 · Children's Charities, Macys

We all know him and love him, the Aflac duck. This past holiday season, Macy’s had this little gem for sale.

It’s the Aflac Large Holiday Duck, 10″, a 10 inch plush version of your favorite duck that pays bills, orders Chinese food, and confuses Yogi Berra’s barber. It’s an adorable cute stuffed animal that is dressed in his own puffy jacket, a knit sweater, and of course, who quacks the word “Aflac!”

And what’s cool about it is that 100% of the proceeds get donated from Macys and Aflac to support cancer research and treatment at children’s hospitals around the country.

I’ve seen Aflac ducks from past years, but never one as cute as this one. And it’s very rare to see these still in stock after Christmas, so pounce on him while you can!

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