Being the Difference

V-Day Gifts That Give Back

Valentine's Day is upon us, and like any other "holiday" that involves giving gifts, it's the perfect opportunity to give a gift that gives back.  So if you're still looking for gift ideas, check out these:

- Valentine's Gifts That Give Back (last year's post)

- Gifts That Give Back (via The Huffington Post)

- Give A Gift That Gives Back (via Case Foundation)

Get some cash for your community project

     Have an idea for a service project you'd like to start in your community?  Or are you currently involved in a community project that could use some additional funding?  If so, Pepsi wants to help!  Starting January 13th, individuals and non-profits can submit their project idea and each month the Pepsi Refresh Project will award up to 1.3 million dollars to the ideas that receive the most votes from the public.
    You can submit your idea to compete for $5,000; $25,000; $50,000; or $250,000.  And if at first you don't succeed, submit your idea again the next month for another chance to have your project funded.  Visit www.refresheverything.com or download the toolkit for more information.

Christmas Gifts That Give Back

     If you're like me, you probably still have a few people to get gifts for but have no idea what to get them.  You may remember that earlier this year I posted a list of Valentine's gifts that give back -- gifts where a portion of the purchase price goes to a charity.  Well that idea seems to have caught on and this holiday season many publications have come up with lists of gifts ideas that help out good causes. 
     Below are some of the lists I especially like.  Remember, when you purchase any of these items you are contributing to a charitable cause.  So buy a gift that gives back and know that your gift will bring a smile to more than one person's face this holiday season.

- Gifts that give back from The Huffington Post

- Gifts for a cause from SheKnows.com

- Give gifts that give back from Forbes

- Christmas gifts from Giftback.com

- Charitable gifts from Marie Claire

Know of any other good gifts that give back?  Add them in the comments.

Rock the Vote

     Earlier this year, Tom's of Maine launched the 50 States for Good initiative to reward non-profit organizations focused on lasting, positive change.  The initiative received project funding proposals from non-profits in all fifty states that work in the areas of environment, community building, and health. 

     Based on the positive impact, achievability and level of community involvement of each project submitted, a panel of judges (myself included) narrowed the list down to fifty finalists. 

     Head over to www.50statesforgood.com, where you can read about some great non-profit project ideas from around the country and vote to determine which five projects will split $100,000 in funding. Voting ends on October 30th and the winners will be announced in November.

Start a kid's school year off right with just $15

      If you subscribe to your local daily newspaper or are a budget-conscious shopper, you're probably familiar with the weekly sales ads from grocery and drug stores.  Some people probably ignore these ads altogether while others look for deals and discounts on items they purchase frequently.  Yesterday, as I was looking through some of these weekly ads in the newspaper I wondered, what if people used the coupons and discounts offered in these ads to purchase commonly needed items for charities?

     With the back-to-school shopping season in full swing, many of the current ads feature deep discounts on school supplies.  I figured that with all the sales and discounts, I could get a good amount of items to donate to a local school supply drive.  So today, I went to the drug store in my neighborhood to see how much I could get for $15 to donate to a school supply drive.

Here's the final rundown of what I purchased and will be donating:

 

• Backpack ($7.49)
• Insulated lunch bag ($3.99)
• Pack of 10 pencils (33 cents)
• Pencil sharpener (50 cents)
• Small notepad (50 cents)
• Three 70-page notebooks (33 cent each)

     It took me less than 10 minutes and I didn't even need to use a coupon because all the sale prices were clearly marked (thanks Rite Aid!).  The total cost was $14.88.

     So if you haven't already donated to a school supply drive this season, now is a great time to do it before the sales end.  You just might be surprised by how much you can get and how big a difference it can make in helping a kid this school year.

A great way to donate to the charity of your choice—without paying a cent

 

   Recently I heard about the new site Better The World.  It’s a great way to give to charity if you don’t have the extra cash or if you are already giving but want to do more.  This month they are also running a contest where members can win a MacBook and have textbooks donated to a school in Africa on their behalf.

      How it works is simple—when you are surfing the internet you are already seeing ads that corporations are paying for you to see.  By joining Better The World and downloading its tools, you still see ads, but now 90% of the revenue from Better The World ads goes to a charity you pick.  And, as an added bonus these ads are all from companies that have social responsibility programs, social products and services, have products of interest to our members, or are non-profits.

By going to www.bettertheworld.com you can immediately start raising money by:

1.      Choosing a charity you are passionate about.
2.      Downloading a sidebar (seamlessly integrates into Microsoft Internet Explorer and Mozilla Firefox).
3.      Surfing the Internet as usual.

      “Books to Better The World” is a contest that runs between May 1, 2009 and May 31, 2009.  The contest is designed to reward the most active members of bettertheworld.com – those that take free and easy online actions to earn points toward their profile and support a charity.  The top 20 point leaders for the month of May will have a chance to win an Apple MacBook.  Contest participants will also have a chance to win an Apple iPod Touch.

      So, for those of you interested in bettering the world, whether you are someone who already contributes but wants to do more, or you just can’t afford to donate to a cause quite yet, Better The World offers an opportunity to help the charity of your choice.  It’s a simple, but highly effective way of combining the power of the Internet and your desire to help make the world a better place.

To sign up today and earn points visit http://www.bettertheworld.com

One Day Without Shoes - April 16th

    The impact of a pair of shoes on a child can be life-changing, and TOMS Shoes knows it.  TOMS Shoes is a company that gives a pair of shoes to a child in need for each pair sold. 

    TOMS was created as a result of founder Blake Mycoskie's trip to Argentina, where he witnessed the debilitating effects of Podoconiosis -- a disease that results from walking barefoot, getting cuts and sores on feet, and those sores and cuts becoming infected by contaminated soil.  Since walking is the most common mode of transportation in the developing world and many people don't own shoes, Podoconiosis is an all too common occurrence although it is 100% preventable by wearing shoes.

    To raise awareness of Podoconiosis and how we can significantly improve the lives of others just by providing shoes, TOMS wants you to go one day without shoes on April 16th.  Take a look at the video below to learn more about Podoconiosis and what you can do to help.  Oh, and you should really buy a pair of TOMS -- they are ridiculously comfortable.

National Volunteer Week: April 19 - 25

     The theme for this year's National Volunteer Week, commemorated April 19-25, is "Celebrating People in Action."  Established in 1974 by former President Richard Nixon, National Volunteer Week has
grown exponentially in scope each year.  Two significant national celebrations fall during National Volunteer Week:

Earth Day, April 22nd
Global Youth Service Day, April 24-26

Check out the toolkit for ideas on how your group or organization can get involved.

Know a young gamechanger?

Nike is partnering with HandsOn Network, to honor five outstanding young people in Atlanta, GA; Hartford, CT; Minneapolis, MN; San Francisco Bay Area; CA, and White Plains, NY who are improving our community through volunteer service and sports.

They are looking for Gamechangers — individuals or groups of volunteers — between the ages of 13 – 25 who are doing something special. Selected winners will be recognized at an awards celebration at their local NikeStore on April 25th and receive a $150 in-store Nike ID experience. In addition, Nike will make a $1,000 contribution in their name to the organization or school where they volunteer in honor of their leadership through service.

Please complete the online nomination form or download the PDF and return it by fax at 202-729-8033.

Don't delay. Nominations are due by Monday, April 6.

Bank of America is looking for a few good heroes

Bank of America is looking for a few good heroes. Heroes who champion causes vital to their communities. Heroes who inspire others to get involved. Heroes who have special and significant impact on individuals, families, or communities.

Do you know a Local Hero? Are you a Local Hero?

For the 5 Local Heroes selected within the 45 markets, Bank of America will:

• Direct a $5,000 contribution (or local market currency equivalent) to an eligible nonprofit/charitable organization of the hero's choice
• Recognize Bank of America Local Heroes at a public awards ceremony in their local community

If you know someone who exemplifies the highest standards in community service, you should nominate that person as a Local Hero. Self-nomination also is encouraged.  Successful nominations demonstrate how a nominee:

• Made a special and significant impact on individuals, families, or the community at large
• Inspired others to volunteer for community service
• Has been a catalyst for new visions, understanding, and change in a community

For more information or to nominate a hero in your community, click here.