Charitable Gift Giving

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

Charitable Gift Giving header image 1

Give a meaningful gift to the USO and get one back

May 26th, 2008 · USO


Happy Memorial Day!

As you’re enjoying your weekend of barbeques and fireworks and the start of summer, remember to take a few moments to reflect on what made the day necessary.

The commemoration of Memorial Day (then known as Declaration Day) started in 1866 in Waterloo, New York, to remember the Union soldiers who had fallen in the civil war. The name “Memorial Day” became common after World War II, and in 1968 it was moved to Monday and declared a federal holiday.

Is it proper to have fun and to celebrate on Memorial Day? Of course it is–this is precisely what our armed forces fight for. While countries around the world are ravaged by dictatorships and corrupt  governments and oppression and terror, we can enjoy freedom given to us by God and protected by the brave men and women who fight those who would take it away from us.

So this Memorial Day, enjoy the freedom, but remember to give a little back. Click on the banner above to give a donation to the USO, a non-profit organization that’s funded entirely by people like you and me (while they were founded by an act of Congress, contrary to popular opinion, they get zero funding from the government or the military), which supports our troops by providing “morale, welfare and recreation-type services to our men and women in uniform” and “representing the American people by extending a touch of home to the military.”

 In thanks for your contribution, the USO will send you a 3′ x 5′ American Flag, which you can display proudly or give to a young person in your life to remind them that freedom isn’t free.

→ No CommentsTags:

Aluminum Cookware Set

May 23rd, 2008 · Cooking.Com, Weil Foundation

Dr. Andrew Weil from Spring Switzerland 8-pc. Cookware setDr. Andrew Weil is a doctor who has introduced a line of cookware and cooking appliances (partnering with Spring Switzerland) to promote healthy living. All profits from sales of these products go to his non-profit foundation, which supports training, education, and research for integrative medicine and healthier living.

The Dr. Andrew Weil from Spring Switzerland 8-pc. Cookware set is a high-end 8-piece cookware set with all the pots and pans you’ll ever need (literally–they have a lifetime warranty). They are made of 5-ploy bonded stainless steel, with an aluminum core that distributes heat evenly andquickly. The riveted handles stay cool to the touch, and they’re dishwasher safe.

Stay tuned for other great products from this great idea.

→ 1 CommentTags:

Best Rice Cooker

May 20th, 2008 · Cooking.Com, Weil Foundation

Dr. Andrew Weil from Spring Switzerland 10-c. Rice CookerHere’s another product by Dr. Andrew Weil, the best rice cooker I’ve seen in a while–it’s the Dr. Andrew Weil from Spring Switzerland 10-c. Rice Cooker.

Cooking rice on a stove or in a cheap $10 rice cooker yields okay results, but this rice cooker takes it to the next level. Its “fuzzy logic” yields wonderful fluffy rice every time. It has settings for white, brown, or quick rice (jasmine, basmati, sushi), and does things you wouldn’t expect a rice cooker to do: it steams vegetables and dumpings, cooks dried beans and grains, cooks soups, or make a combination meal. The timer lets you put a whole meal in the morning and return home to a fully cooked meal. As if this weren’t enough, a recipe book is included with great recipes.

Profits go to the Weil Foundation, a non-profit organization that focuses on promoting healthy living through education and research.

→ No CommentsTags:

A thoughtful gift for someone who's lost a pet

May 17th, 2008 · Animal Causes, Uncommon Goods


gift for loss of a peticonWhen Martha Stewart was devastated at losing her pet dog Paw Paw last month, of course there were those who didn’t understand what the commotion was about.

But any of us who’ve had a pet we’ve loved for many years, who became part of the family, who is remembered in family photo albums and cherished memories of happy times know how devastating it is to lose a pet.

This Pet Life Celebration Kit is a thoughtful sympathy gift for someone who’s lost a beloved dog or cat. Many people don’t know how to grieve the loss of a pet.  This kit will help the pet owner remember their pet’s memory, and start the healing process. It was designed by an artist, Claire Chew, who herself lost her cherished dog Sophie. Aside from volunteering for local animal rescue groups, Claire has committed a portion of proceeds to be donated to various animal charities.

The Kit contains a keepsake bag for keeping the pet’s collar, ID tag, toy, or another memory. It also contains a memorial candle with a comforting scent, and remembrance cards.  It has a gift card that you can fill out, and a keepsake photo frame. 

 It makes a thoughtful gift for someone in your life who has lost their best friend.

 icon

→ No CommentsTags:

Best kitchen knife set that helps a good cause

May 13th, 2008 · Children's Charities, Cooking.Com, Share Our Strength

Rachael Ray from Furi 4-pc. Rachael Ray Gusto-Grip Trio Cutlery Set with Case

Finding the perfect set of knifes for cooking is not an easy task. But just read the reviews for this knife set on Cooking.Com, and you’ll see how thrilled people are with it.

 The Rachael Ray from Furi 4-pc. Rachael Ray Gusto-Grip Trio Cutlery Set with Case is a set of the knives that Rachael Ray uses on her show. They’re among the sharpest knives you’ll find, made of German CrMoV stainless steel and manufactured by Füritechnics, a producer of professional cooking equipment.

The handle is manufactured in a way that is ergonomically designed, making the grip safe and secure in your hand–the harder you cut, the more the knife locks in your hand, making it extremely safe and easy to control.

The material of the grip is specially manufactured to prevent degradation the handle material over time, something common in other knives. This kit contains three knives: a six-inch utility knife, a five-inch east-west knife (a cook’s knife and chopper), and a 3 1/2 inch paring knife, as well as a carrying box.

As with many of Rachael Ray’s licensed products, a portion of this purchase goes to charity, in this case Share our Strength, a wonderful charity that is committed to ending childhood hunger.

→ No CommentsTags:

Happy Mother's Day 2008!

May 10th, 2008 · Giftback.com

roses for mother's dayWell, hopefully the recommendations on this site over the past few weeks have let you get something nice for Mom today.  If not, you can always try Giftback.com’s Same Day Delivery.

You’ll get delivery from a real florist of a beautiful flower arrangement like the one shown to the left, and as always, 10% of your cost will be donated to the charity of your choice.

 But hurry! What did Mom tell you about putting things off to the last second? 🙂

→ No CommentsTags:

Heart Healthy Betty Crocker Cookbook

May 8th, 2008 · Amazon, Women Heart

Until Mother’s Day on Sunday, May 11, I’ll be focusing on great gifts for Mom. Check back every two days for another fantastic gift.

Here’s a great gift to give to Mom to tell her you love her and want her to stay happy and healthy for a long, long time.

The Betty Crocker Cookbook, Heart Health Edition is like any other Betty Crocker cookbook, with over 1,400 recipes, photos, and illustrations.

In addition, it has a special heart health section, which will teach her all kinds of great advice on how to be good to her heart, including adopting a heart-healthy lifestyle, cooking new heart-healthy recipes, and giving guidance on making heart-healthy meals.

Just release a few months ago, it’s a great gift for anyone you know who may have a family history of heart disease. Prevention of heart problems is the best cure. By giving this very special cookbook, you may be helping do just that.

A portion of proceeds from the sales of this book will go to Women Heart, an organization devoted to helping women combat heart disease, which is the #1 cause of death among American women.

→ No CommentsTags:

Charity Rose Bouquet for Mother's Day

May 6th, 2008 · 1-800-Flowers.com, Carol Baldwin Breast Cancer Research Foundation

Until Mother’s Day on Sunday, May 11, I’ll be focusing on great gifts for Mom. Check back every two days for another fantastic gift.

Mother’s Day is almost here! Show mom she raised you right by sending her this Pink Ribbon Bouquet from 1-800-Flowers, where a portion of proceed will go to the Carol Baldwin Breast Cancer center.

Click on the picture of the roses to the left to visit their site and make a purchase!

Red roses are for romance, yellow roses are for friendship, and pink roses are for mom! But hurry, Mother’s Day is less than a week away!

→ No CommentsTags:

Give the Gift of a Beautiful Smile

May 4th, 2008 · Drugstore.com, Operation Smile

 Until Mother’s Day on Sunday, May 11, I’ll be focusing on great gifts for Mom. Check back every two days for another fantastic gift.

All moms have beautiful smiles. But this gift will be one to literally brighten the lives of mom, dad, or anyone else in your life who might have a smile that’s gone a bit yellow.

The GO SMILE Go All Out Kiticon is a great gift. The Go Smile system was developed by a dentist in New York, and the same kit that used to be available only in dentists’ offices is now available to anyone from Drugstore.Com.

Studies have shown that the simple act of brightening a smile can bring self-confidence, happiness, and success. If you know someone who might not smile as much as they used to because they’re self-conscious of a less-than-white smile, this is a fantastic gift for them.

And a portion of proceeds go towards Operation Smile, a not-for-profit volunteer medical services organization that provides reconstructive facial surgery to disadvantaged children and young adults.

→ No CommentsTags:

Single Silk Rose in a Collectible Lenox Vase

May 2nd, 2008 · 1-800-Flowers.com, Breast Cancer

From today until Mother’s Day on Sunday, May 11, I’ll be focusing on great gifts for Mom. Check back every two days for another fantastic gift.

Here’s a deal that’s probably not going to last very long. 1-800-Flowers is selling a genuine Lenox bud vase, complete with a silk rose, for only $23.99  just reduced to $19.99!.

It makes a great Mother’s Day present. If your Mom has a rose garden, she can even cut a single rose from her garden and keep a fresh rose in the beautiful bud vase all spring and summer long.

And of course, a portion of the proceeds will help a great cause. In this case, you’ll be helping Breastcancer.org, a non-profit organization whose aim is to educate women around the country on early detection and treatment.

→ No CommentsTags: