Charitable Gift Giving

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

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Red Cross Emergency Hand-Crank Radio

December 29th, 2007 · Amazon, American Red Cross

Red Cross Emergency Radio

This Red Cross Emergency Radio makes a great gift for yourself or for anyone who might find themselves in a hurricane, tornado, thunderstorm, flood, or other situation where electricity is not available.

It contains an AM/FM radio, as well as NOAA weather radio and TV bands. In addition, it contains an LED flashlight (bright bulb that doesn’t burn out), a loud siren (get one for the car and one for the house), and even a cell phone charger with several cell phone adapters.

Best thing about it is that it includes a hand-crank that charges the built-in rechargable battery. So even when the lights go out, just turn the crank for a few minutes, and you’ve got access to the radio, siren, and light.

For each radio purchased, the manufacturer will donate to the American Red Cross. So your purchase will not only help you but others as well in need.

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Heavenly Skies and Lullabies

December 27th, 2007 · Amazon, World Vision

Heavenly Skies and LullabiesWhat happens when you put together a Foot and Ankle doctor in New York City with a Manhattan actor and restauranteur?

Only one of the best reviewed and most loved children’s books of 2007.

Dr. Kathy Reilly Fallon and Frank Pellegrino (best known for being the owner of the famous Rao’s restaurant in New York) along with illustrator Becky Kelly, all collaborated on Heavenly Skies and Lullabies, an illustrated song book and CD. 

Dr. Fallon and Mr. Pellegrino provide the beautiful singing voices to 11 beautiful and soothing lullabies on the CD. The book contains lyrics and illustrations to accompany each. The book recently won a bronze medal in the Moonbeam Children’s Book awards honoring the year’s best children’s books, and its illustration won a gold medal.

All net proceeds from this book goes to World Vision to help children who were affected by of Hurricane Katrina.

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Beautiful Christmas Cards Book

December 25th, 2007 · Amazon

Beautiful Christmas CardsAlexandra Adami is an advertising professional in London who for the past 10 years has amassed an amazing collecting of the some of the most beautiful Christmas cards ever made.

Beautiful Christmas Cards is a collection of 60 of those cards, which have been reproduced into this book. The book is a must-have for anyone who loves to send and receive Christmas cards.

Part of the proceeds from this great book is donated to the CLIC Sargent-Caring for Children with Cancer. The Patron of this organization, Lady Helen Taylor, wrote the foreward to the book.

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Making a list…checking it twice…whoops…

December 23rd, 2007 · Giftback.com

gourmet picnic basketIt happens to the best of us…you’ve been so careful in sending out all your Christmas gifts, and lo and behold, you get one from someone you totally forgot about!

If you’re reading this on December 24th, you may be in luck 🙂 Our friends at GiftBack.Com offer same day gift delivery for a large number of great gifts, including my personal favorite, the gourmet picnic basket you see pictured here. You can also get a great selection of flowers and plants.

As long as you order before 2:00 PM eastern time, they can usually get it delivered (by a local florist shop) the same day. So if you order on the 24th, you can get it there on the 24th (same day delivery may or may not be available on the 25th, but if you’re desperate, it might be worth a shot!).

And best thing about it–as always, 10% of every purchase goes to a charity you choose! (You can choose from an extensive list of charities as you add the item to your shopping cart).

Let them know you remember–even if you didn’t! 🙂

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Open a California Pizza Kitchen in Your Dining Room

December 21st, 2007 · Amazon, Children's Charities

California Pizza Kitchen CookbookIf you’re like me, you look forward to every time you get to go to a California Pizza Kitchen. But sometimes the cost and the hassle of eating out keeps you from going as often as you’d like.

Luckily, many of the secret recipes are available in this official California Pizza Kitchen Cookbook written by the founders of CPK, Larry Flax and Rick Rosenfield. In it, you’ll find great recipes for many of their famous pizzas, including BBQ Chicken Pizza, Thai Chicken Pizza, Shrimp Pesto Pizza, Santa Fe Chicken Pizza, and Mixed Grill Vegetarian Pizza.

As a bonus treat, a second cookbook they sell has recipes for their pastas, soups, salads, side dishes, and other non-pizza items you see on their menus, such as Oriental Chicken Salad, Spinach Artichoke Dip, Kung Pao Spaghetti, and much more.

Flax and Rosenfield are donating all royalties and proceeds from sales of the book to children’s charities around the country.

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Food Network Cookbook

December 19th, 2007 · Overstock

Food Network CookbookDo you love to watch the Food Network? You’ll love this Cookbook featuring the Food Network chefs.

It’s a book of the favorite recipes from the personalities on The Food Network, as well as favorite recipes as voted by the users of the Food Network Web site. You’ll enjoy recipes from: Mario Batali, Alton Brown, Michael Chiarello, Paula Deen, Giada De Laurentiis, Bobby Flay, Tyler Florence, Emeril Lagasse, Dave Lieberman, Wolfgang Puck, and Rachael Ray.

A portion of proceeds from the sale of this book will go to a charity chosen by each chef.
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Frosted Glass Platters that Help Charities

December 17th, 2007 · AIDS, Alzheimer's Disease, Habitat for Humanity, Uncommon Goods

Plates with Purpose

These are frosted glass platters sold at Uncommon Goods, each of which goes to help a separate great cause. The platters are all designed and handmade in Pennsylvania and support various great causes in the western Pennsylvania areas. Each reflects the mission of the cause it supports.

Forget Me Not Platter for Alzheimer’s
iconThe illustration of the “forget-me-not” flower illustrates how precious memories are, and the tragedy of those who cannot keep theirs. 10% goes to support the Alzheimer’s Association of Greater Pennsylvania.

Heart Platter for Habitat for Humanity
icon10% of proceeds from this platter benefit Pittsburgh Habitat for Humanity, which organizes volunteers to build houses for low-income families.

Star Platter for AIDS
icon10% of proceeds from this platter go to AIDS service organizations in Pittsburgh.

The Giving Tree Platter for CASA
icon10% of sales of this plate goes to support the Court Appointed Special Advocates of Allegheny County, which organizes community volunteers to serve as advocates for children who are victims of abuse or neglect in western Pennsylvania.

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The OLIVER Book: Stunning Nature Photography

December 15th, 2007 · Arts, Children's Charities, Conservation, DreamYard, The Nature Conservancy, Uncommon Goods

Photographs of J. Oliver LewisThe photos you see to the left were taken by J. Oliver Lewis, an incredible nature and adventure photographer. His story is at the same time heartbreaking and inspiring.

Oliver died in 1998 at age 26, while kayaking and working in Ecuador. But even at such a young age, he had already produced an incredible collection of nature photography that shows his artistry and his love of the natural world. He was taken from the world at much too young an age.

Lewis’s family took the last 18 months of his photographs and compiled them into this book
icon as a celebration of his life and his vision. The images are a beautiful collection of seascapes, forests, close-up photography of nature, mountain grandeur, deserts, sunsets, and adventure photography.

All the profits from the book will go to charity, including The Nature Conservancy and DreamYard/DreamYard LA, an innovative arts-in-education organization.

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NYPD Toy Cars and NYFD Fire Engine

December 13th, 2007 · Amazon, NYFD, NYPD

NYPD Toy CarsSeptember 2001 taught the world what a lot of us who lived in the New Jersey/New York area have known for years. That the New York Police Department really does live up to its name as “New York’s Finest”, and the New York Fire Department does live up to its name as “New York’s Bravest”.

Yes, having lived in this area all my life, I’ve had my run-ins with traffic and parking tickets. On the other hand, when you really need them, they’re always there.

Unlike other police officers in a certain neighboring state, whenever I’ve needed help from a New York City police officer, I’ve always been treated respectfully and courteously. And seeing them on duty in the wee hours of the morning is always a comforting sight.

These NYPD Toy Cars are a great playset for the kids in your life, and as an official licensed product, a portion of the sales go right to the NYPD.

Similarly the NYFD Playset has a great big red fire engine and a terrific fire chief car, all with perfect attention to detail. A portion of the sales go to the NYFD. What better present for the little guy in your life?

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Mercury Glass Ornaments

December 11th, 2007 · Aid to Artisans, Arts, Uncommon Goods

Mercury Glass OrnamentsHere’s another great idea from the good folks at Uncommon Goods: Mercury Glass Ornaments.

“Mercury glass” or “silvered glass” was a popular and beautiful type of glassmaking in Bohemia, England, and the United States from the mid-1800s through the early-1900s. (Contrary to the name, they don’t actually contain mercury).

These ornaments are great examples of the process, where glass is hand-blown and covered with a brilliant silver coating.

What makes these ornaments extra special, aside from their exquisite beauty and the fact that each is individually crafted by hand, is that 10% of the proceeds go to support Aid to Artisans. This is an organization that helps craftspeople around the world, particularly in underdeveloped countries, to develop products, develop business skills, and develop new markets.

It’s a great way to support hard-working craftspeople, while providing a classy and beautiful decoration for your tree.

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