From video games that help veterans to a pink mixer for breast cancer, 13 gifts that will dazzle your friends and family and spread a little charitable Christmas cheer.
There was a time when these flat, canvas shoes were only available in a limited selection of colors and patterns online. Recently, though, TOMS shoes—the company donates a pair to a child in need for every pair purchased—have become trendy, popping up in a variety of colors, materials, and styles at independent shoe stores as well as Urban Outfitters and Whole Foods. The recent grad in your life is probably familiar with TOMS—she probably even has a pair of the classics already. Show her how hip and thoughtful you are with a pair of the new botas. She’ll appreciate looking good and knowing that somewhere, a child without shoes just got a pair like hers.
You’d have to really love the Nicki Minaj fan in your life to get this gift. If you do, and you have at least $1,000 to spend, you should get to the Beverly Hilton on December 19 where a one-of-a-kind Nicki Minaj Barbie doll will be auctioned off. If it makes you feeling better about spending an exorbitant amount of money on a Barbie doll, the auction’s proceeds will go to Project Angel Food, a charity that provides HIV/AIDS victims with food.
Matt Sayles / AP Photo
Want to win over your teenage cousin? Tell him you’ll buy a few new items for his "Call of Duty Modern Warfare 3" avatar. When his mom gets mad because she thinks she finally got him to quit that violent game (he still plays when she’s not home), you can reassure her that it’s for a good cause. Activision Blizzard, the video game company responsible for the addictive war games has created the Call of Duty Endowment funded by millions of dollars in video game proceeds, to upgrade VA hospitals and help returning soldiers find jobs.
At just $30 each, these signed books by popular authors such as Michael Chabon, Ayelet Waldman, and Darin Strauss will make your favorite reader—and your wallet—happy. You can also feel good knowing that ordering these books from 826 National means that your $30 will go towards a non-profit organization that offers help to students 6-18 years old with their writing skills.
Who doesn’t love rainbows? With this solar powered rainbow maker, you can have any room with a sun-facing window sparkling with color. This gift would be great for a young niece or nephew and the profits will go to the Smithsonian foundation—keeping DC’s museums free to the public.
These, multicolored, mouth-blown goblets are made for a modern kitchen. Any relative who loves to host and considers themselves an aesthete will be glad to know they’ll benefit New York’s Museum of Modern Art.
Joseph A. Rosen / Newscom
A pink mixer may not be exactly what your friend or family member had in mind, but your favorite amateur pastry chef will likely love the color when they realize that the proceeds from this KitchenAid tool will go to breast cancer foundation, Susan G. Komen For the Cure.
Everyone knows at least one NPR lover and this internet radio is a pretty sweet way to get your Terry Gross fix. Sold by National Public Radio (so proceeds go towards keeping the non-profit humming) this portable radio uses wireless internet, allowing listeners to catch Morning Edition, All Things Considered, and all of the favorites in any room of the house. There are also 20,000 other stations available on the radio without an additional subscription or monthly fee.
Pangea Organics skincare products boast the “organic purity” of their ingredients, from essential fatty acids to olive squalane. But in addition to its all-natural credentials, Pangea is in collaboration with Women for Women International, an organization that helps women who’ve survived war and civil strife become self-sufficient and financially stable. Give one of their gift sets to a woman in your life who cares about her skin and helping other women in need.
Joe Grisham and Janet Healey are an animal-loving couple of photographers who volunteer their skills to various animal services organizations in Texas by taking adorable photographs of dogs in need of homes. Adopting a pet as a gift for even the most ardent animal lover is probably a bad idea, but you can keep Grisham and Healey’s work going by buying something like these cute canvas placemats from their Hooray for the Underdog line.
Lush is more than just a fragrant cosmetics producer that you can smell from the street. It’s also a proponent of animal rights, the environment and humanitarian concerns. Purchase a Charity Pot, filled with scented hand and body lotion, and not only will you have a great gift for one of your friends, but 100 percent of the gift’s cost (minus tax) will be donated to one of the many charities Lush works with, including the International Fund for Animal Welfare and the Clean Ocean Action among others.
