Charitable Gift Giving

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

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Pink Roses: Breast Cancer Awareness Month 2007

October 9th, 2007 · 1-800-Flowers.com, Breast Cancer, Carol Baldwin Breast Cancer Research Foundation

pink roses for breast cancer research1-800-Flowers.com sells these great Pink Roses
icon and contribute 10% of the proceeds to the Carol Baldwin Breast Cancer Research Foundation, a Long Island-based organization which provides grants to researchers, and was founded by Carol Baldwin, the mother of the famous Baldwin family of actors: Alec, Daniel, William, and Stephen.

These flowers are from 1-800-Flowers’s “Fresh From the Growers” collection, which means they come shipped by UPS or Fedex, and are guaranteed to be the freshest flowers you can buy on the Web.

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Pink KitchenAid Mixer for a Breast Cancer Cure

October 7th, 2007 · Breast Cancer, Macys, Susan G. Komen Breast Cancer Foundation

Disclosure: We participate in the eBay Partner Network (EPN) meaning we may earn a commission when users click on links to eBay and make purchases. 

UPDATE: For reasons I’m still not sure of, KitchenAid appears to have discontinued its very long-standing relationship with Susan G. Komen. In 2018 its long-time Cook for the Cure microsite was taken down, and gradually all their pink stand mixers where a portion of proceeds went to cancer charities went out of stock, one by one. Ironically, one of the last press releases on the subject touted how they crossed over the $10 million in funds raised.

If you’re shopping for a pink color Kitchenaid, your best bet will be to go to eBay. The good news is that these things are pretty indestructible, so even a used one will likely last you a very long time (be sure to make sure you’re buying from a reputable seller, of course). You may also be able to find one on Amazon as well. Of course, none of the proceeds will go to cancer, so consider a separate donation to Susan G. Komen. 

Original post follows:

This is personally my favorite pink product for breast cancer research support. It’s a Pink KitchenAid 5 Quart Mixer, part of KitchenAid’s “Cook for the Cure” campaign.

Available at Macy’s or directly from KitchenAid, it is sold for the same price as all of their other mixers, but the best thing about this version–a full $50 of every purchase will go towards the Susan G. Komen Breast Cancer Foundation.

Started in 1982 as a promise from Nancy G. Brinker to her sister, Susan Komen, this is a foundation headquartered in Dallas which today, provides the largest source of nonprofit funds dedicated to breast cancer research in the world. It has raised over $1 billion in funds since it was founded.

If you do any cooking or baking, a KitchenAid mixer is a must-have. It’s one of those things I have no idea what I did without. Whether you’re mixing bread dough, making cookies, baking pies or cakes, making frosting, or whipping cream, creaming butter, or whatever, you’ll be amazed at how much time you save and how much better your recipes come out. In fact, as I cook I keep finding new uses for my KitchenAid mixer that I hadn’t thought of before.

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Pink Hair Straightener: Breast Cancer Awareness Month 2007

October 5th, 2007 · Breast Cancer, Overstock

pink hair straightenerThis Farouk hair straightening package
iconhas gotten rave reviews from users of Overstock.Com. Inventory is running low, so get it while you can!

The package includes a limited edition CHI flat iron, as well as a bottle of CHI iron guard to protect your hair as you’re straightening it, and a bottle of CHI Infusion Hair Serum to provide some shine to your straight hair.

A percentage of all sales of this product go towards researching cures for breast cancer.

Note: the title of this post reads “pink hair straightener”, but just to be clear, this will work great on all colors of hair, from black to brown to blond to pink 😉

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Breast Cancer Awareness T-Shirt: Breast Cancer Awareness Month 2007

October 3rd, 2007 · American Cancer Society, Breast Cancer, Foot Locker

icont-shirt to benefit the American Cancer SocietyThis limited edition T-Shirt
icon, sold by Foot Locker, is being sold to promote Breast Cancer Awareness.

For every shirt sold, Foot Locker will donate $5 to the American Cancer Society, one of the oldest health agencies in the United States with over two million volunteers around the country dedicated to research, education, support for those suffering from all forms of cancer, including breast cancer.

caps for breast cancer awarenessThe shirt is a long-sleeved Tee, black with a striking illustration of a figure made up of a pink ribbon. There is also a matching cap
icon, the purchase of which will also donate $5 to the American Cancer Society.

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Estée Lauder Cosmetics: Breast Cancer Awareness Month 2007

October 1st, 2007 · Breast Cancer, Macys

As of 2007, Breast Cancer continues to be the most common form of cancer among women. Over a woman’s lifetime, there is a 1 in 8 chance of developing invasive breast cancer. This year alone, about 175,000 women in the United States have been diagnosed with the disease. It is still the second leading cause of death, behind lung cancer.

The good news is, with early detection, proper treatment, and greater awareness of the disease, since 1990 the death rates have been dropping. Today, there are over 2.5 million breast cancer survivors in the United States who are living happy, healthy lives. But there is a long way to go.

In 1985, the pharmaceutical company AstraZeneca established Breast Cancer Awareness Month every October  to encourage women to get early detection and mammograms.

In the early 1990s, a woman named Charlotte Haley is widely credited with starting a ribbon campaign to promote breast cancer awareness. The first major corporate sponsor of the idea was the Estee Lauder company, who started handing out ribbons at its retail store locations.

Now, almost 20 years later, the phenomenon has grown. Many major retailers and product manufacturers have created pink-colored products, which donate a portion of proceeds towards breast cancer research and breast cancer awareness. Throughout this month, we’ll be highlighting some of our favorite products which when purchased will donate a portion of the proceeds to various breast cancer awareness and research organizations around the country.

In honor of being first major corporate supporters of the concept, the first products we’ve highlighted are Estee Lauder products.

Cosmetics to benefit breast cancer researchJeweled Pink Ribbon Compact and Brush Seticon

lipstick to suppot breast cancer researchPink Ribbon Pure Color Crystal Lipstickicon.

A portion of all proceeds from both these products will go towards the Breast Cancer Research Foundation.

Of course, while buying a pink product is a great way to show support, build awareness, and fill your house with some pretty cool and stylish products, the more important thing is to donate directly to some of the charities. We’ll be providing links to them, and hope you’ll click through to learn about them and to donate generously.

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Children's Picture Book that Helps a Great Cause

September 29th, 2007 · Amazon, First Book, Literacy

Do you remember reading Harold and the Purple Crayon or Goodnight Moon? If so, this book is for you.

HarperCollins has assembled twelve of the best picture books ever written into one book, the HarperCollins Treasury of Picture Books Classics: A Child’s First Collection. Even though the book is a large volume, the original feel of the books is preserved nicely, and it’s a great book to sit down together with your kids to read.

It’s a great gift for kids aged 4 to 8, who’ll treasure owning a big book just like the ones Mom and Dad have. And they’ll read these stories with you over and over again.

The best thing about this book is that 100% of the royalties will go straight to an organization called First Book. Check them out at www.firstbook.org. They’re a not-for-profit organization whose goal is an amazing one–to give books to children in low-income families so they can read and own their own new books. Every year, they distribute books to hundreds of thousands of kids.

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Whatever It Takes Mug Collection

September 25th, 2007 · Anti-Slavery International, CARE International, Macys, OxFam, Trade plus Aid, UNHCR, UNICEF, WaterAid

Disclosure: We participate in the eBay Partner Network (EPN) meaning we may earn a commission when users click on links to eBay and make purchases. 

UPDATE: The Whatever It Takes Mug Collection is sold out at Target and Amazon, but you can still find most of these mugs for sale on eBay today, many surprisingly not too much more expensive than their original cost of 9.99 British pounds.

Here is a great idea available from Target and Amazon: the Whatever It Takes Mug collection.It’s a collection of mugs, great for drinking tea or coffee. On each one, a famous celebrity sketched and signed a self-portait of himself, herself, or themselves, along with some other doodles, and the whole thing was made into a very high-quality mug. The mug comes in a gift box, and includes a photograph of the celebrity and a personal message. 50% of proceeds to go a charity or charity of the celebrity’s choice.

George Clooney‘s mug is the actor’s sketch of himself.

50% of proceeds go to Anti-Slavery International, CARE International, Oxfam, Save the Children, Trade plus Aid, UNHCR (the UN Refugee Agency), UNICEF and WaterAid.

ColdPlay, the English rock band, features sketches of band members Chris Martin, Jonny Buckland, Guy Berryman, and Will Champion. 50% of proceeds help Trade plus Aid, WaterAid (an organization promoting hygiene and safe drinking water in poor and developing countries) and Oxfam (an organization aimed at fighting poverty and injustice).

Ewan MacGregor‘s mug has a watercolor landscape painted by the actor, along with the message, “Hope this helps, hope it makes a difference. Hope. Hope. Hope.”.50% of proceeds go to Trade plus Aid and UNICEF.

Nicole Kidman‘s mug is a striking red color with a white line art sketch of a peace symbol inside a heart and the words “Make love, not war.” 50% of proceeds go to Trade plus Aid and UNICEF.

David Bowie put together this mug, featuring a painting of his signature lightning-bolt concert tee. It also features a “self portrait” of a stick figure calling for ‘Peace through Art”. 50% of proceeds go to Save the Children and Trade plus Aid.

Minnie Driver‘s mug is a bright pink color with a stick-figure portrait of the actress, some playful sketches of magical creatures, and the phrase “Love Earth Now”.50% of proceeds to go Trade plus Aid and Oxfam.

Donna Karan‘s mug features an elegant sketch of a seated figure by the famous designer, along with the message “Love Forever, Donna Karan”.50% of the pr
oceeds go to Trade plus Aid.

Michael Caine and his wife Shakira Caine drew a very nice sunflower along with the message “Smile today. Life is not a rehearsal.”50% of proceeds go to Trade plus Aid and Anti-Slavery International.

Samuel L. Jackson‘s mug is a striking black color with Pan-African colors. His message reads “a person is a person because of other people”.50% of the proceeds go to Trade plus Aid.

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Cookware to Support Cancer Survivorship

September 24th, 2007 · Amazon, Cancer, Lance Armstrong Foundation

Lance Armstrong HoneypotTo start off the blog, I’d like to talk about a great series of products I saw on Amazon that support The Lance Armstrong Foundation.

The Lance Armstrong Foundation, at Livewell.Org, was founded to support survivors of cancer. Lance Armstrong, seven-time winner of the Tour de France, himself was a survivor of cancer, and established the foundation to help others going through the same challenges in their lives.

Most of us have seen or even owned a yellow LiveWell wristband. These were introduced by the Lance Armstrong Foundation in 2004, and have raised over $60 million for the Foundation.

Chantal, a manufacturer of unique German made cookware, has partnered with the Lance Armstrong Foundation to come up with a great line of yellow cookware, 10% of proceeds which go to help the Foundation. My personal favorite is the Honey Bowl with Dripper. The bright yellow colors are reminiscent of the wristband, but also an attractive color that will look great in any kitchen. If you’re someone like me who likes to purchase honey fresh from the farm, it’s a great container to store and serve your honey in reminiscent of Winnie the Pooh.

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