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With Time Running Short, JustGive Unveils Top 10 Easy Ways
to Make a Difference This Holiday Season
From Adopting a Gorilla to Recycling Your Christmas Tree,
These Easy-to-Implement Ideas Represent True Holiday Spirit
San Francisco, Calif. - December 8, 2004
- To help celebrate the true spirit of the holiday season, JustGive® has compiled a Top 10 list of easy ways to make a difference this year. JustGive (www.justgive.org) is a national nonprofit organization that uses technology to increase overall giving by connecting people with the charities and causes they care about most. For the special customer, client or hard-to-buy-for relative, a gift of goodwill is always appropriate. Helping to protect the environment or provide assistance to the less fortunate are precious gifts that will be appreciated throughout the year.
With the holiday season in full swing, JustGive offers these Top 10 Ways to Make a Difference this year:
- SPONSOR A CHILD, "ADOPT" AN ANIMAL OR PLANT A TREE
By protecting a child, providing sanctuary for an abused animal or planting a tree in the name of a loved one, you will be truly making a positive impact. Alarming numbers of children around the world are suffering from malnutrition, lack of education or war. At the same time, hundreds of animals are facing extinction due to hunting, loss of habitat and other factors. By adopting a marine mammal, snowy owl, whale or gorilla – just to name a few – you will be helping their chances of survival while honoring the delicate ecological balance.
- CHARITY GREETING CARDS
Consider purchasing cards for the holidays and other special occasions from a number of nonprofit organizations such as UNICEF, World Wildlife Fund, Children’s Defense Fund and Farm Sanctuary that use the proceeds to support their programs.
- CHARITY WISH LISTS
Not sure what to ask for this year? Create a JustGive Charity Wish List. Friends and family members can access your list of favorite charities online and make donations in your honor. You can update your list and run donation reports at any time.
- BUY BOOKS OR GIFTS FROM AMAZON.COM
JustGive has compiled a special list of inspiring books and gifts accessible through its website. Using a special link, visitors can make purchases from that recommended list, or choose from any item on Amazon.com. JustGive receives a portion of the sales, which helps the organization continue providing its charitable services.
- HAVE AN EARTH-FRIENDLY HOLIDAY
Seemingly simple things like reusing wrapping paper, gift boxes, bows, packing peanuts and shopping bags; making tree decorations from food or used materials; donating unwanted gifts; putting outside Christmas lights on timers or buying solar-powered lights; and purchasing gifts made of recycled materials will all help reduce waste and protect our environment.
- RECYCLE YOUR CHRISTMAS TREE
Every year, millions of discarded trees take up precious landfill space. This year, consider purchasing an artificial tree or a live potted tree that can be transplanted in the ground. If that doesn’t appeal to you, after taking down your decorations, pledge to put your tree to good use. For example, contact your city or town to ask about its recycling program, or inquire about turning your tree into reusable mulch.
- BUY A TOY FOR A CHILD
In 2003, local coordinators for U.S. Marine Corps Reserve “Toys for Tots” Campaign collected and distributed 15.1 million toys to 6.5 million needy children. Local campaigns were conducted in 456 communities throughout the nation. For more information, visit www.toysfortots.org.
- PURCHASE CHARITY GIFT CERTIFICATES
Looking for a perfect gift for your customers, clients or that person who has everything? Purchase Charity Gift Certificates through JustGive which allow recipients to redeem them in support of their favorite charity, choosing from one million local, national and international nonprofit organizations.
- CHARITY GIFT BASKETS
JustGive’s Charity Gift Baskets can be customized around a cause-related theme, such as homelessness, human rights or the elderly. Each basket features four charities in that common area of concern. These baskets are ideal for those who care about a particular cause but are not necessarily familiar with relevant charities.
- SUPPORT A LOCAL ANIMAL SHELTER
Animal rescuers discourage buying animals as gifts for people as it tends to increase the number of animals brought to shelters because some people just aren’t prepared to care for a new pet. Instead, support your local shelter with a donation, volunteering or by fostering a dog or cat. A list of local shelters is available through www.JustGive.org.
About JustGive
JustGive (www.justgive.org) is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization with a mission to increase charitable giving across the United States by leveraging unique technology to connect people with more than one million 501(c)(3) charities representing the causes they care about most. JustGive offers services such as charity gift certificates, a charity wedding registry and charity wish lists to make giving a part of everyday lives.
JustGive deducts no administrative costs from the gift other than credit card fees. All donations made through JustGive are tax-deductible, donor names are never passed on without permission, and donors have the option of making anonymous donations to charities. Donors can also keep track of donations made through a customizable password-protected account area, a helpful feature around tax time.
For additional information, please contact us.
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