It’s the most wonderful time of the year—the time for our second annual “See the Good” Gift Guide! Whether you are doing some last-minute shopping for a friend, relative, or spouse, we've got the gifts that give back. Each item below supports a different charity, including children’s hospitals, cancer research and safe-water initiatives.
Happy “good” gifting!
1. 31 Bits: 31 Bits sells guilt-free glamour in the form of handmade jewelry from Uganda. The company helps empower women to rise above poverty by employing Ugandan women who make everything from 100% recycled paper and other local materials.
2. Lush Charity Pot: I’ll go ahead and embrace the female stereotype: I love chocolate. So for all the cocoa lovers out there, this chocolate-scented lotion with organic cocoa butter from Lush is a great gift. 100% of proceeds (excluding tax) go to grassroots charities around the world.
3. CamelBak Groove Bottle: I lived in an area for a while where the tap water tasted awful. This water bottle would’ve been pretty nice then. Not only does it filter your water, it also provides safe drinking water for people in developing countries.
4. Blue Silk: Help friends get through this winter season with Blue Silk scarves. They come in vibrant colors and are made by Cambodian women living in extreme poverty.
5. Help Ink: Give the gift of art and charity from HelpInk.org. Each one of these beautiful prints goes to support different charities like Heifer International and Malaria No More.
1. Tickets-for-Charity: Relive your concert-going days. Tickets-for-Charity has tickets for music, sports and theatrical events, including Rascal Flatts, the Boston Bruins and Broadway hits.
2. Beats by Dr. Dre: These headphones are a great gift for the music lover. It’s part of the (Product) Red line hoping for an AIDS-free generation by 2015.
3. Proof: I’ve never seen wooden sunglasses like these before. One cool aspect is that no pair is exactly alike because they’re all cut from a different grain of sustainable wood. They stand by their “Look good, do good” tagline by supporting eye clinics in India and replanting trees in Haiti.
4. Livestrong Nike: Help your friends actually accomplish their New Year’s resolution this year while supporting cancer research. The Nike Livestrong Collection has the gear needed to help them keep in (or get back into) shape.
5. Steak Knife Set: For the meat lovers and food connoisseurs on your list, get this stainless steak knife set with wood case. Proceeds help Share Our Strength, which combats child hunger.
1. St. Jude Doctor Dolls: Complete with lab coat and medical accessories, these St. Jude doctor dolls are great for the aspiring doctors and naturally curious. Each doll is named after a St. Jude patient and supports St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital.
2. Hackey Sack: For those kids that just can’t sit still, give them something to do with all that energy. Each of these crocheted kick bags is unique and supports artisans and farmers worldwide.
3. Superhero Supplies: I won’t lie, I would’ve thought these were pretty rad as a kid. Superhero supplies for your crime-fighting imaginative kids also help fight for creative writing and tutoring programs.
4. (Bugaboo) Red: New parents always have their hands full, so a new baby carriage might be a present that really makes a difference. Every product also supports the (Product) Red line aiming for an AIDS-free generation by 2015.
5. The Shelter Pet Project: How many times have your kids brought home a fuzzy creature and asked, “Can we keep him?” Adopting a pet is definitely a committed gift, but it’s one your kids will love for years. Find your own fuzzy creature through The Shelter Pet Project and rescue a pet from a shelter near you.
