For the Movember Men (and Women) in your life...

The 'Mo', slang for moustache, and November come together each year for Movember to raise awareness of cancers affecting men.  Help change the face of men’s health, in the exceptionally classy “Movember Classics” by TOMS.
Tom's has teamed up with the Movember Foundation to create some Limited Edition TOMS, available for men and women.

Not bad, basic black slip-ons for all those chores you have to do:

Go to http://www.toms.com/ for more information.

Funds raised benefit the Prostate Cancer Foundation and LIVESTRONG.

Gifts for St. Jude

West Elm has some cute holiday gifts that give $5 of every purchase to St. Jude Children's Research Hospital.  Gifts are $25 each with free shipping. 

I really like the sequin animals:

For more information and to order, visit http://www.westelm.com/

Charity Pot

Lush has a lotion that gives 100% back to charity.  It is made with skin-softening cocoa butter and almond oil.  Every penny that you pay for a pot, excluding the tax, goes to grassroots charities all around the world.

For more information, visit http://www.lushusa.com/shop/products/body/hand-body-creams/charity-pot

Philanthropy Is Beautiful

In 2003, Joan B. Hornig, developed a way to combine her passion for jewelry, education and philanthropy through the creation of the Joan B. Hornig Foundation. Her site gives 100% of the profits on each piece of jewelry to the purchaser's charity of choice.  The foundation's mission is to provide support for registered charitable organizations throughout the world.

Check out some of the amazing pieces you can purchase:

 To find out more, visit http://www.joanhornig.com/

Soap for Charity

L'Occitane have shea butter soaps available called the African Tales Soap Set. 100% of the proceeds will be donated to ORBIS, a non-profit organization dedicated to fighting preventable blindness around the world.

These soaps are rich in shea butter, with softening and protective properties, they leave hands clean and delicately scented - all for $12. They also come in nice packaging so they are easy to give! 

For more information, visit http://usa.loccitane.com/FO/ORBIS-Soap-Duo,p960582.htm?cm_vc=SearchRes

Buy a Baby Blanket, Give a Baby Blanket

Ever want to purchase a good baby shower gift and just not know what to buy? If so, you should check out Happy Blankie. Happy Blankie donates a blankie for every blankies purchase to children in need all over the world. You even get to choose where you would like to give a blankie. The most amazing part about this company is that it was developed by a then seven year old boy! 

The current designs are a frog, dog, bear and pig.  Cute for the little one in your life!  I hope soon they will come out with some other designs too.

For more information, visit http://www.happyblankie.com/

Flip for Movember

Flip Video and Cisco are working with Movember to raise awareness and funds for men’s health. In addition to having the Cisco team participate in the campaign, each Movember Flip video camera sold will generate a $10 donation to the Movember Foundation.

To purchase, visit http://www.theflip.com/movember

What is Movember?

Movember is a month-long event involving the growing of moustaches during the month of November.  Since 2004, the Movember Foundation charity has run Movember events to raise awareness and funds for men's health issues, such as prostate cancer and depression, in Australia and New Zealand. Since 2007, events have been launched in Ireland, Canada, Spain, the United Kingdom, and the United States.

For more information, visit http://us.movember.com/

National Shine A Light on Lung Cancer Vigil

There is a new campaign taking place during Lung Cancer Awareness Month. It is the National Shine A Light on Lung Cancer Vigil on the evening of November 4th. The Lung Cancer Alliance's goal is to host 100 vigils nationwide reaching 1 million people! When we last talked, they had almost 70 vigils setup and were adding more every day!

You can learn more by visiting the website: http://www.shinealightonlungcancer.org/. Their philosophy is that the more people they bring together for the lung cancer movement, the more people are educated about the true facts of this disease and help dispel myths and long held stigmas. With this awareness comes understanding and then action and funding.

Do you know of a vigil in your area?  Are you planning to attend?

Bare Escentuals - Unforgettable Eyecolor

Bare Escentuals has created a special edition eyecolor named Unforgettable Eyecolor that gives proceeds to the Lung Cancer Alliance.  For more information, visit http://bareescentuals.com/on/demandware.store/Sites-BareEscentuals-Site/default/Experience-BECareDetail?cgid=CA_BE_BECARES_LCA_UNFORGETTABLE

Lung Cancer Alliance is the only national non-profit organization devoted solely to support and advocacy for all those living with or at risk for lung cancer. For more information, please visit http://www.lungcanceralliance.org/

Sunglasses for the Cure

The KBL and Leroy & Perry sunglass collaboration combines KBL's best selling styles with exclusive neutral colorways mixed with fresh pops of neon color that echo the Leroy & Perry Spring 2011 collection palette.  100% of the proceeds will be donated to Fashion Targets Breast Cancer, an initiative started and operated by the Council of Fashion Designers of America. Both frames are sold with an "upcycled" organic cotton fleece sweatshirt inspired drawstring pouch made from the excess of sweatshirt production.  Ships November 25th.

For more information, visit http://kbleyewear.com/shop/index2.php

Empowered Petites

In an effort to raise awareness and make a difference, Jessica Vartoughian, “the first lady of nails,” is pleased to announce the creation of a new collection designed especially to support the fight against Breast Cancer – the Empowered collection.  45% of the Empowered Petite Kit purchases will be donated to American Institute for Cancer Research. 

To purchase, visit http://www.jessicacosmetics.com/miva/merchant.mvc?Screen=PROD&Product_Code=BC807&Category_Code=

Ann Taylor Loft & Me&Ro Collab

Me&Ro designed a braclet for LOFT.  With each bracelet purchase, a $5 donation will be made to The Breast Cancer Research Foundation.

To purchase, visit http://www.anntaylorloft.com/home.jsp

Ann Taylor/Lisa Axelson Collab

Designer Lisa Axelson has made two pieces of jewlery for Ann Taylor.  She took inspiration from the pink breast cancer awareness ribbon and the iconic charm bracelet to create pieces that can be worn with both endless style and compassion.

Ann Taylor will donate 70% of full-price purchases of the ANN Cares necklace and bracelet to The Breast Cancer Research Foundation.

To purchase, visit http://www.anntaylor.com/home.jsp

Michael Kors - In the Pink

MICHAEL Michael Kors Island Breast Cancer Research Cosmetics Bag is available for $38 and 5% of the proceeds will go to the Breast Cancer Research Foundation.

To purchase, visit http://www.michaelkors.com/store/catalog/prod.jhtml?itemId=prod2260023&parentId=

Kraft Fight Hunger Bowl

The Kraft Fight Hunger Bowl is a post-season college football bowl game that Kraft Foods has became the sponsor of the bowl, which is part of a broader hunger relief program. The game will be known as the "Kraft Fight Hunger Bowl" and will be part of a broader hunger relief program Kraft Foods plans to kick off in September in collaboration with Feeding America, the nation's leading hunger-relief organization.

Tickets range from $40 to $75.  For every ticket sold, Kraft will donate a meal to those in need through Feeding America. Feeding America provides low-income individuals and families with meals. They are the nation's leading domestic hunger-relief charity.  Their network members supply food to more than 37 million Americans each year, including 14 million children and 3 million seniors. Serving the entire United States, more than 200 member food banks support 61,000 agencies that address hunger in all of its forms. For more information, visit http://www.feedingamerica.org.

For more information and tickets, visit http://www.kraftbowl.org

Good Read: Seeing Pink? Some breast cancer awareness products give more back

A Good Read from WKYC in Cleavland, Ohio - (http://www.wkyc.com/news/local/story.aspx?storyid=154215&catid=45)

We're in the heart of Breast Cancer Awareness Month, but it's important to read the fine print on your pink purchase: some brands give more to the cause than others.

Stroll down any isle at your neighborhood grocery store -- paper products, dairy, produce, even pet supplies -- items on the shelf are accessorised with pink.

"When you look at the Velveeta box, you see the pink ribbon," Ashley Carson points out.

Ashley and her sister, Tenika Carson, shopped for groceries at Dave's Supermarket. The sisters support breast cancer awareness, and have noticed more and more companies are doing the same.

"I think it's good because not only does it get the customer's attention, it also shows you how many people and different companies are participating in the cause," said Tenika.

While each product raises awareness about the disease that will afflict more than 200,000 women this year alone, not all products do so in the same way.

"It's a very emotional cause, but not every pink product is necessarily bringing dollars to the cause," said Sophie Sureau.

Sureau is the executive director of the Susan G. Komen for the Cure, Northeast Ohio chapter.

She advises shoppers to look closely at what they're buying.

Some brands are specific about how they support breast cancer awareness.

Yoplait Yogurt, for example, lets shoppers know it will give 10 cents to Komen for every pink lid mailed in; at least a $500,000 gift.

Sureau says Yoplait and General Mills are two of Komen's biggest supporters. She says Komen does not lend its trademark to just any brand: the partnership requires a company pledge of at least $100,000.

Some brands, however, aren't as clear about where the money from a purchase goes.

A bag of Jonny Cat cat litter sports a pink ribbon sticker, but on the back, it says the purchase does not impact the corporate donation, and no charity is named.

A Google search for "Breast Cancer Awareness" pulls up hundreds of product results, from golf club covers to Christmas ornaments to kitchen utensils. Many of the item descriptions specify what kind of donation will be made, but some are pink to simply raise awareness.

"There's no control on how much 'pink noise' there is. We call this the 'pink washing,'" Sureau said.

She says Komen believes there can never be enough pink ribbon awareness, but she does encourage shoppers to be thorough. She says the "good buys" will often name a cause and a donation amount right on the product label.

"Just as we read the labels to see how much fat and sugar are in stuff, we need to be conscious about who it is supporting, what it is supporting," Sureau said.

The Better Business Bureau of Cleveland could not give examples of local organizations that have misleading pink campaigns, but the BBB recommends a few resources to help sift through the pink 'noise.'

CharityNavigator.org provides information on charity giving, and rates a non-profit's community impact.

Susan G. Komen for the Cure, for example, is a four-star rated charity that puts 75 percent of its donations back into the local community, with 25 percent invested in finding a cure.

The Cleveland BBB also has a charity review program that looks closely at the finances of local non-profits, in addition to local for-profits.

The Northern Ohio Breast Cancer Coalition Fund recommends considering products that support the following causes:
Avon Foundation
Susan G. Komen for the Cure
American Cancer Society

Rue La La - Shop for Good

Rue La La, the invitation-only online shopping site with private sale boutiques open for just a brief window of time, has a Shop for the Good boutique open today benefiting The Breast Cancer Research Foundation. They have all pink items on sale from designers and brands like Juicy Couture, Hervé Chapelier, Swarovski, Philosophy, and Betsey Johnson. 

Membership is free. It's also invitation-only. If you would like an invitation, feel free to use my link at http://www.ruelala.com/invite/dogoodgrp. 

Limited Edition Bobbi Brown Pink Shimmer Brick

In support of Breast Cancer Awareness Month, Bobbi Brown created a limited-edition Pink Shimmer Brick Compact. This product also has free standard shipping with purchase of this item the month of October.  This product does not specifically give a portion of the proceeds to a charity, instead, Bobbi Brown is giving $35,000 to the Breast Cancer Research Fund. 

For more information, visit http://www.bobbibrowncosmetics.com/

Jane Iredale for Rise Above with Love

Jane Iredale, mineral makeup specialist, have introduced a new version of their Sugar&Butter Lip Exfoliator and Plumper called Phoenix.  The soft, pink plumper is paired with an organic brown sugar exfoliator.  Jane Iredale will donate $2 from the sale of each Phoenix to Living Beyond Breast Cancer in support of all women who have risen above breast cancer and those who love them.

For more information, visit http://www.janeiredale.com/lips_sb_ph.html