It is that time of year again – the time of year when we appreciate everything and everyone positive in our lives. With Thanksgiving around the corner, I start to think about everyone who has been by my side, through thick and thin, over these past few years.
I wouldn’t be where I am today without the respect and encouragement from family, friends, professors, and others. People from all walks of life have taken the time to make my day better. Sometimes we neglect to appreciate the small acts of kindness that come our way, but it is never to late to go back and express how much you care. In turn, we go out of our way to bring those acts of kindness to others!
A professor of mine suggested this morning, we should all find three people who have helped us and write a hand-written or emailed thank you note…. just to take a moment and express our appreciation for their help. I plan on fulfilling this mini quest by thanking three outstanding individuals in my life and I suggest everyone else considers the same. That one expression of gratitude could mean the world to the recipient.
All of this love has me thinking about giving back. ‘Tis the giving season, so when making Black Friday and Christmas purchases consider supporting companies involved with a non-profit. There are many brands that give back to charities with a purchase. The feeling of fulfillment you receive from helping someone in need is like no other.
We’ve all heard of Tom’s shoes and their amazing mission to give back to poverty-stricken countries around the world, but I want to focus on a few small brands you may not have heard of before. I’ve chosen two of my favorite options for everyone on your list!
I am here to share my… Top 10 Gifts that Give Back!
Men
Sword and Plough (http://www.swordandplough.com/)
Mission: Empower veteran employment, reduce waste and strength shared civil-military understanding.
Rugged and Refined certainly describes the beautiful pieces created by 
Sword and Plough. The company was started by college senior Emily who was born into a military family. Their website has a well-written history of how the company began that I encourage everyone to read. Every product is made with recycled and repurposed military gear and 10% of total profits are going to veteran initiatives.
The collection is beautiful and would make for a lovely gift.
Bull + Moose (http://www.bullandmoose.com/)
Mission: Buy a Tie, Help a Guy. We are proud to use our profits to help fund micro loans via Kiva.org for underprivileged men in north America. If you are a Kiva lender please consider joining our Kiva lending team at http://www.kiva.org/
Bull + Moose is a veteran owned business with a purpose. They sell Ties, Bows and Squares for the fashionable men on your list. The products are affordable and come in a variety of styles including formal and camo. When looking for the man on your list, I highly suggest these high quality products.
Women
Ivory Ella (http://ivoryella.com/)
Mission: Let’s all look adorable and trendy by wearing one of these shirts while
also saving one of the world’s most beautiful creatures at the same time!
This company makes shirts designed with adorable elephants and donates 10% of net profits to savetheelephants.org As these are getting increasingly popular, I recommend purchasing one for the young women in your life. Look cute, give back.
Alex and Ani (http://www.alexandani.com)
The Charity by Design bangles help organizations reach their goals by capturing the power of positive energy through innovative, creative designs. A portion of the proceeds are donated directly to each organization, enabling them to contribute to the lives of others and make our world a better place.
Babies + Kids
Everything Happy
(http://www.everythinghappy.com/)
Mission: “One to Love, One to Give” mission was born. Together with his family, David distributes Everything Happy products to children in hospitals and orphanages all over the world.
On this website when you purchase a children’s product and you will receive a unique registration code and then register your product and choose where you would like a duplicate product donated to!
Land of Nod (http://landofnod.com)
Mission: Feeding hungry kids where they live, learn, and play. In 2009, thanks to a lot of team work, we helped provide 4.5 million more meals to needy children.
Land of Nod has a wide variety of products for children including bed
ding, toys, furniture, blankets, clothing, etc.
On their website, there is a section of qualifying items to benefit the No Kid Hungry foundation. 5% of the sale from these items is donated back to the charity. The selection includes adorable toys that can be given for the holidays. Go to: http://www.landofnod.com/play-kitchen-and-play-food/toys-and-gifts/1 to see all of the option. They are affordable and fun!
House Gifts
Rescue Chocolate (http://www.rescuechocolate.com/)
Rescue Chocolate is “the sweetest way to save a life!” From each chocolate purchased, 100% of the net profits are donated to animal rescue organizations around the country.
Charity Wicks (http://www.charitywicks.com/)
Mission: The positive attributes of soy candles, combined with the fact that your purchase benefits your favorite charity, makes Charity Wicks candles the best choice for all of our candle friendly households. 
The perfect household gift? A candle! These candles make the house smell great, make for great decor, and support charities around the country. You can choose the candle based on charity or scent. This is a very unique gift for when you are going to visit relatives over the holidays or just visiting a friend during the season.
Pets
Dog for Dog (http://dogfordog.com/)
Mission: You buy a bag of our food or treats, and we give an
other equal bag to a dog in need. We can’t do it alone!
Know someone who loves their furry friend? Or maybe you give your own dog a gift. This website donates a bag of food or treats for every package sold. They have a variety of flavors and packages for your best friend to enjoy. The dogs love them and you will too!
Good Kitty (http://goodkitty.com)
Mission: Shop with confidence on one of the most-loved Cat 
websites. 5% of all sales are Donated to Cat Rescues.
Do you know a cat lover in your life? Look no further than Good Kitty for their gifts! There are many great options for accessories and treats on this site. The best part is the percentage of purchase that goes to a cat rescue, so more people can adopt and give back.
When shopping for your family and friends this holiday season, be sure to look into companies that sponsor your favorite charities along with those I have highlighted above.
Check out my new collection of items that give back!
I purchased the Alex and Ani Gingerbread Charity by Design bangle in gold. Every one of their bracelets holds a special meaning. This one encompasses [ Magic • Storybook • Nostalgic ] for it’s meaning. 20% of each bracelet purchase goes to Dana Farber Cancer Institute.
Look at the Charity by Design Collection on their website to see if your favorite charity has a bracelet!
Kohl’s Cares is a program that . I purchased the polar bear stuffed animal and book for $5 each. The profit from these goes to the Kohl’s Cares program. It’s a great cause at a great price. Look into purchasing one of the animals from their collection when buying gifts for loved ones. I know I love this little bear!
See that adorable Christmas card? You can go to StJude.org and choose from a selection of e-cards, mail cards, and printable cards. The artwork on each card is designed by a patient at a St.Jude’s hospital. St.Jude’s Research Hospital is helping, healing, and giving back to patients every single day. Help out by purchasing a homemade Christmas card!
More than $275 million has been raised through the program so far
Do you have suggestions for me? Feel free to comment and I’ll look into them for my own holiday purchases.