Gifts That Give Back
WASHINGTON, Dec. 9 /PRNewswire/ -- As communities continue to recover from some of the worst natural disasters in history, more Americans are seeking ways to help others with their holiday dollars this season. The 2005 Cone Holiday Trend Tracker reports that more than half of Americans intend on buying a holiday gift associated with a cause and/or will buy from a retailer that supports a cause.
Recognizing this desire to support charities through purchasing dollars, the American Red Cross has proudly partnered with some of the nation's most well-known companies to provide consumers with the opportunity to purchase popular holiday gifts while helping those in need. Sales of these products result in donations ranging from 25 cents to $15 each -- which will help the Red Cross continue to provide lifesaving aid to thousands of people in the Gulf region and around the world. To view the complete list of items offered by corporate partners to benefit the Red Cross, please visit: http://www.redcross.org/sponsors/howtohelp/dollars.html.
A sampling of some popular gift ideas available this year benefiting the Red Cross, include:
* CDs: * RIAA -- "Hurricane Relief: Come Together Now" -- On behalf of its member companies and all of the participating artists, publishers and songwriters, Recording Industry Association of America will donate 100 percent of its net proceeds -- at least $15 -- from the purchase price of "Hurricane Relief: Come Together Now," a two-disk CD to benefit the American Red Cross, Habitat for Humanity and MusiCares Hurricane Relief Fund. The 35-song collection features new recordings and classic cuts from more than 80 artists, spanning a variety of generations and genres. Learn more at: http://www.hurricanereliefcd.com/. To purchase, visit http://www.amazon.com/. * Starbucks, Rhino and Work Song -- "I Believe To My Soul" -- A new record featuring soul legends Ann Peebles, Billy Preston, Mavis Staples, Irma Thomas and Allen Toussaint. Starbucks, Rhino and Work Song are donating $10 from the price of this CD to the Red Cross Hurricane Katrina relief efforts when purchased at Starbucks or at http://www.hearmusic.com/. * Target -- "Sound Response" -- Target is donating 100 percent of the retail price ($7.99) for every "Sound Response" CD sold. This compilation of hits includes songs by Annie Stela, Ben Folds, Ben Harper, Coldplay, Dave Matthews Band, Goo Goo Dolls, Green Day, Kelly Clarkson, Radiohead, Tori Amos and more. Exclusively available at Target stores nationwide and at http://www.target.com/ while supplies last. * Urban Outfitters and Filter Magazine -- "Give. Listen. Help." -- Urban Outfitters will donate $13.99 (out of $14.99 retail price) to the American Red Cross Disaster Relief Fund for every limited- edition "Give. Listen. Help." compilation CD purchased in stores or at http://www.urbanoutfitters.com/ through Dec. 31, 2005. * Toys & Collectibles: * Hard Rock International -- "Humanity is Instrumental" pin -- You can support Red Cross Katrina relief efforts by purchasing a limited- edition Hard Rock "Humanity is Instrumental" pin in any Hard Rock Cafe retail store or online. Hard Rock International will donate 90 percent of the purchase price from every pin sold to the American Red Cross for Katrina relief efforts. To purchase online, visit http://www.hardrock.com/. * Marriott International, Inc. -- Marriott Bear -- This specially created teddy bear is ultra soft and cuddly and helps the Red Cross too. Marriott will donate $4 for every Marriott Bear sold in its retail stores in participating Marriott Hotel & Resorts throughout the U.S. to support the humanitarian work of the American Red Cross. Contact your local Marriott Hotel & Resort to check on their Marriott Bear availability. Available beginning Dec. 16 at http://www.shopmarriott.com/. * Ty -- Special Edition Beanie Babies -- In support of American Red Cross hurricane relief, Ty has designed three Beanie Babies, representing the states of Alabama, Mississippi and Louisiana. $2 from each item sold online and $1 from each item sold at retail will be donated to the American Red Cross. Available at a Ty retailer near you or at http://www.ty.com/. * Books: * CNN Reports -- "Hurricane Katrina -- State of Emergency" -- CNN will donate to the Red Cross Katrina relief effort 100 percent of CNN's royalties and a matching contribution from Andrews McMeel Publishing, totaling 5-10 percent of the purchase price from the sale of each copy of "CNN Reports: Hurricane Katrina -- State of Emergency." Available in book retailers nationwide and at various online retailers. * Time Magazine -- "Hurricane Katrina: The Storm That Changed America" -- Time Magazine has created this special Hurricane Katrina book and will donate to the American Red Cross 5 percent for every hardcover sold and 25 cents for every soft cover sold through Dec 31, 2005. Available at http://www.barnesandnoble.com/. * Calendars: * Jo-Ann Stores, Inc. -- 2006 Creativity Calendar -- For the third year, sales of this calendar will benefit disaster relief efforts of the American Red Cross. Jo-Ann Stores will donate $3 from the purchase of each $5.99 calendar, guaranteeing a minimum donation of $100,000. The calendar features helpful Red Cross home safety tips and a coupon for Red Cross CPR and first aid training. Currently available in Jo-Ann stores nationwide. To purchase, locate a Jo-Ann Store near you at http://www.jo-ann.com/. * BrownTrout Publishers, Inc. -- 2006 New Orleans Calendar -- This special edition wall calendar showcases that unique New Orleans setting where one experiences peerless jazz music, bona fide Cajun cuisine, old world traditions and a lifestyle that embraces the decadent and unconventional. To help Red Cross disaster relief efforts, BrownTrout Publishers will donate $1 from the sale of each calendar to the American Red Cross Disaster Relief Fund from now until April 30, 2006 with a minimum donation of $100,000. To purchase online, visit http://www.browntrout.com/. Also available in a Barnes & Noble or Borders Books store near you. * Emergency preparedness kit: * Target -- First Aid Emergency Preparedness Starter Kit -- The American Red Cross and Target have partnered to design an affordable, family-friendly kit for four containing essential items needed in the event of an emergency. You can customize it for your family by adding food, water and other personal essentials. The kit is affordably priced at $29.99, of which Target will donate $10 from the purchase of every kit to the Red Cross. Emergency Preparedness Starter Kits are available at Target stores nationwide and online while supplies last. To purchase online, visit http://www.target.com/.
The American Red Cross is where people mobilize to help their neighbors -- across the street, across the country and across the world -- in emergencies. Each year, in communities large and small, victims of some 70,000 disasters turn to neighbors familiar and new -- the nearly 1 million volunteers and 35,000 employees of the Red Cross. Through more than 800 locally supported chapters, more than 15 million people gain the skills they need to prepare for and respond to emergencies in their homes, communities and world. Some 4 million people give blood -- the gift of life -- through the Red Cross, making it the largest supplier of blood and blood products in the United States. The Red Cross helps thousands of U.S. service members separated from their families by military duty stay connected. As part of the International Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement, a global network of more than 180 national societies, the Red Cross helps restore hope and dignity to the world's most vulnerable people. An average of 91 cents of every dollar the Red Cross spends is invested in humanitarian services and programs. The Red Cross is not a government agency; it relies on donations of time, money, and blood to do its work. Marsha J. Evans is the President and CEO of the American Red Cross and Bonnie McElveen-Hunter is Chairman of the American Red Cross.
American Red Cross
CONTACT: Jennifer Klesinger of American Red Cross, +1-202-303-8037,
Cell: +1-202-716-3149, or KlesingerJe@usa.redcross.org
Web site: http://www.redcross.org/
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