I first started looking into gifts that give back because of my sister. In the fall of 2009, she announced that Christmas at her house was going to be filled with gifts that benefit charities. It started as a lesson in philanthropy for a couple of adolescent boys, and quickly spread to the entire family.
I love Christmas! I love decorating, making cookies, and shopping for the perfect gift. But I hate how commercial Christmas can get. So this movement really hit me hard. At first, I thought I was going to simply find a lot of “a donation has been made in your name to…” kind of gifts that, as much as we all want to be happy with, it’s just not the traditional, colorfully wrapped gift that we really want to give for the holidays. A quick Google search taught me how wrong I was. I was amazed at the variety of really amazing items available who’s purchase benefited one charity or another. The type of items that I was shopping for for gifts anyway. It turns out I didn’t have to do anything extra to make my gift shopping mean something more. I simply had to choose wisely.
It didn’t take long for me to put this movement in action in my shop as well. The best way to teach is by example, right? So, for the 2009 holiday season, every hoop sale between Thanksgiving and Christmas included one kids hoop donation to Toys For Tots. In the end, 13 hand made hoops went to 13 West Texas kids Christmas morning. You should have seen the look on the Marine’s face when I dropped off that arm load of hoops.
This year, I want to do something different. Because every child should have the opportunity to experience the joy of a hula hoop, 10% of all holiday sales will be donate to St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital. This not only includes hoop sales, but also sales in my new side project, Warmth & Clairity. The drive starts Black Friday (November 26, 2010) and ends Christmas day. Help kids in need while spreading the child-like joy brought by a hula hoop.
Happy hooping, everyone! Let’s make this holiday season count!
Clairity
Looking for more ways to give? Check out these sites.
100% of profits benefit St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital
Funds food for some of the world's neediest people.
Funds preservation of endangered habitat around the world, protecting the Earth and the creatures who live here.
Funds mammograms with each order.
Funds simple and effective medical therapies that protect children around the world from common preventable health problems. Your daily click funds Vitamin A and oral rehydration salts for children in need.
Funds new books for low-income children in the US and around the world.
Funds food for some of the 8 million unwanted animals given to shelters in the US every year.
With every pair you purchase, TOMS will give a pair of new shoes to a child in need. One for One.
Each pair is inspired by a social or environmental cause and 10% of every sale goes to their non-profit partners.
Plus plenty more with a quick internet search!
