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A few
week’s ago, I wrote about an initiative from World Vision called “Do the Famine.” It appears they’re not the only show in town that’s raising awareness
about world poverty.
With support from celebrities like Ben Affleck,
Josh Groban, Sophia Bush and Debi Mazar, the “Live Below the Line” campaign
asks participants to subsist on just $1.50 a day for five full days to better
understand just how good they’ve got it (and how tough life can be for more
than 1.4 billion people around the world). This one’s not affiliated with any
particular religious group; its roots are actually Australian via the Global Poverty Project.
Help Ben and friends put an end to extreme poverty
by living below the line from April 29 to May 3. Just think of all the money
you’ll save on groceries.
I’ve blogged about
a lot of great iPhone apps, but unfortunately this one’s just for Android
users. Called “One Today,” the app -- offered in a limited pilot test via
Google Play -- encourages users to donate one dollar per day to select nonprofit
organizations.
Every day the app presents users with information about one different charity,
allowing them to choose whether or not they’d like to kick in a buck for the
cause. A few of the projects currently offered on the site include Ashoka, Lewa Wildlife Conservancy, Pencils of Promise, Teach for Health and Trees for the Future.
What a wonderful way to do one good thing today and every day, wherever you are.
Here’s yet another
reason to love Kiehl’s. The cosmetics company is partnering with Recycle Across America to help make recycling more simple and effective (hint: it’s all in the
labels!) in schools across the United States. And they’ve enlisted Alanis
Morisette and Zachary Quinto to help.
The fabulous old school skincare brand (founded 160 years ago) is donating up
to $50,000 from the purchase of its limited edition ultra facial cream
($46.50), which was designed by the aforementioned eco-conscious
artists/celebs. Get schooled at Kiehl’s.
Every
girl understands the transformative power of great make-up. Now, QVC and CEW
(Cosmetic Executive Women, Inc.) are teaming up to prove that a makeover can
make a huge difference for people living with cancer.
During the Beauty With Benefits charitable event (Thursday, April 25, 9:00-11:00 p.m.
Eastern), net proceeds from sales of 15 amazing
brands -- including Clarins, Clinique, Fresh, Josie Maran, philosophy and Tarte
-- will benefit Cancer and Careers, a CEW program that helps people with cancer to thrive in their workplace.
With free shipping and free samples, shopping for that perfect shade of
lipstick never meant more.

While
many blogs out there are talking about how awesome Jennifer Aniston’s legs
looked in those short black shorts she wore to the premiere of Lifetime’s “Call Me Crazy: A Five Film,” I’ll be discussing a slightly more charitable angle.
Starring a slew of talented actors including Melissa Leo, Jennifer Hudson,
Octavia Spencer, Jean Smart, Brittany Snow and
Sarah Hyland, "Call Me Crazy" is actually a compilation of five short
films centered on mental illness.
Each of the shorts -- named after its main characters Lucy, Eddie, Allison,
Grace and Maggie –- shows how powerful relationships built on hope and triumph
result in a new understanding of what happens when a loved one struggles with
mental illness.
Lifetime Television partnered with The National Alliance for Mental Illnesses
(NAMI) for the film, which sheds light on this important cause and reduces the
stigma surrounding those who live with mental illnesses (one in four adults in
the U.S.). Grab a hanky and tune into the world premiere this Saturday, April
20 at 8:00PM ET/PT.
You
always read (or hear) warnings not to trust charities that pop up right after a
tragedy. But surely if two politicians -- Boston mayor Tom Menino and
Massachusetts governor Deval Patrick – announced it themselves, it must be legit, right?
Launched with a $1 million commitment from John
Hancock and support from scores of other individuals and corporations (local
and national), the One Fund Boston was created to raise money to help families impacted by the tragic
events that took place during the Boston Marathon. Your funds will go a long
way to help heal this great American city.
MDG had NO idea
that companies in the United States still test cosmetics on animals. And we
call ourselves civilized?
By contrast, Europe recently came to its senses and ended this barbaric
practice for good (in part due to 40 years of tireless campaigning by the
British Union for the Abolition of Vivisection (BUAV). Now it’s time for the rest of
the world to follow suit.
To get the ball rolling, The Humane Society of the United States has launched
the Be Cruelty-Free campaign, enlisting celebrities including Paul McCartney,
Ricky Gervais and Ke$ha to pressure scientists, cosmetic industry leaders and
Congress to reject this cruel and needless animal experimentation.
You can do your
part to end animal testing for cosmetics products -- which,
appallingly, still happens in 80 percent of the world -- by signing this pledge
from The Body Shop and Cruel Free International, or by supporting the Be
Cruelty-Free initiative. It’s way past time to take the cruelty out of cosmetics.
This post was
originally going to shine a spotlight on the launch of the “Hyatt Thrive Global
Month of Community Service,” during which nearly 100,000 employees/associates
at 480 properties around the world agree to volunteer their time and efforts in
their communities during the month of April. But then, further into the press
release, I learned about Hyatt’s newest nonprofit partner, Clean The World.
Newshound that I am, I knew that was the real story.
Big kudos to CTW for cleaning up the world one tiny toiletry at a time.
I’m
not going to give away my age my admitting exactly many years its been since I
heard John Denver’s “Rocky Mountain High” blasting from my parent’s record
player, but let’s just say it’s been a while. Now, 15 years after his death,
ATO Records is celebrating his life and music with the The Music is You: A Tribute
to John Denver.
With covers from his most popular songs (Leaving on
a Jet Plane, Sunshine on My Shoulder, natch) performed by musicians including
Dave Matthews, Train, and Lucinda Williams, the album will also raise funds for
The Wilderness Society.
Help protect our nation’s wild wildlands with some sweet
folksy music.
MDG has never delved into the religious
arena, but there’s a first for everything, right? Without getting too preachy,
International humanitarian organization World Vision hosts a bi-annual event
called the 30 Hour Famine. During “the Famine,” Christian youths learn about
hunger, raise funds to help the hungry and then go hungry themselves for –- you
guessed it -- 30 hours straight. Since 1992 teens in the United States have raised more than $120 million to
fight hunger through this initiative. Pretty powerful stuff, whatever your faith.
Fight hunger and injustice everywhere by joining in the famine April 26-27.
Just a quick
reminder that this year’s National Park Week happens April 20-28, with gratis
admission April 22-26 only (sequester anyone?). So, unless you live in Delaware
–- the only state without a national park – you can stroll, run, bike or simply
revel at the spectacular scenery for FREE for five full days, courtesy of the
National Park Service and the National Park Foundation. Go to nps.gov to navigate your way to a free park day.
If you’re looking for a way to promote your
upcoming charity run, walk, bike, hike, swim, dance or other athletic event
(hula-hooping anyone?), you’ll be happy to hear that Fundly has your back. The
free philanthropic social network recently announced a few new features – and a
new friend - to help all you movers and shakers achieve even more fundraising
success.
According to its site, Fundly is offering new event registration and ticketing
features that make it a lightning-fast platform for run-walk-bike volunteers
and others looking to organize campaigns. Plus, it just launched a brand new
partnership with Charity Dynamics (they do clever marketing stuff). So go get busy
with fundly.com.
MDG might be a bit too old for her own
Build-A-Bear, but that doesn’t mean she can’t support its awesome partnerships
with charities like Autism Speaks. Their lengthy relationship, which began in
2005, has already helped raise more than $545,000 for children and families
impacted by autism. And, after perusing photos of its new Autism Speaks Bear,
I’m confident they’ll raise thousands more.
During its Light it Up Blue campaign this April, $1
from the sale of each blue beary special teddy ($18) and 50 cents from every AS
bear-sized tee shirt ($7) will be donated to Autism Speaks. Guests can
also donate any dollar amount to the charity when they check out at
Build-A-Bear Workshop stores in the United States or online at buildabear.com. Help
build a better future for kids with autism.