Brides Against Breast Cancer
October 1st, 2007 @ 6:30 pm by Mrs. Bee
As I’m sure many of you are aware, October 1st kicks off the start of Breast Cancer Awareness Month!
One of the many wonderful organizations that supports the cause is Brides Against Breast Cancer, which takes proceeds from selling donated wedding gowns to help grant wishes to women with terminally ill breast cancer.
Last year Mrs. Ant and I volunteered at the New York event. We saw many brides find “the dress”, and felt so lucky to be a part of those special moments. We’ll be there again this Thursday, so if you haven’t yet purchased your dress, this is a great opportunity to purchase a designer dress at well below cost while contributing to a fantastic cause. Many of the dresses are brand new!
A Gift That Literally Keeps on Giving
September 14th, 2007 @ 5:01 pm by Mrs. Radish
We had a hard time thinking of what kind of gifts to give to some of our wedding party and to our parents, and then I remembered an episode of Frontline World that I saw on PBS a few months back that featured a non-profit microlending organization called Kiva. Then it struck me, what a perfect gift idea!
What is microlending, you ask? Well, it’s a system in which you give a small loan directly to a poor person in a developing country who is trying to start their own business, or improve an existing small business. The idea is that these loans will help the borrowers improve their lives and will help them to break the cycle of poverty. I would think it also helps the economy of their community because as small businesses grow, they will need to purchase raw materials, etc. from other nearby businesses and often they will begin to employ other people in their village/town/city.
Also, the borrowers almost always pay back these loans in full and on time. My guess is that this is because of the direct relationship between the lender and the borrower, rather than the impersonal relationship one would have with a bank or financial institution. So far, Kiva has a 100% repayment rate. That’s pretty impressive!
Daughters Cambodia in Phnom Penh
August 1st, 2007 @ 2:48 pm by Mrs. Bee
Rebecca recently contacted me because she wanted to bounce some ideas off our readers for a really great cause. She’s travelling to Cambodia for a month this fall and is trying to help a local organization called Daughters Cambodia in Phnom Penh, a day center for girls working in brothels, that provides access to showers, basic hygiene, and some form of vocational training. So she’s been trying to think of something to teach the girls which could lead to a small income, and eventually get them out of these lives and onto better things.
Recently Mrs. Plum posted about her bridesmaids’ silk sashes, and Rebecca thought that this was something simple that the girls could learn to make. She’d donate sewing machines to the facility and they have access to great silk in the local markets. Rebecca would then sell these online at her site, with all the profits going back to the girls. She was also thinking about silk shawls or small silk envelope style handbags.
This is a great cause so it’d be really helpful if you could let her know whether you’d purchase something like this, and how much you’d be willing to pay. Any other feedback or suggestions you have is greatly appreciated. 
Fanfare
July 13th, 2007 @ 1:01 pm by Mrs. Butterscotch
Back when I was first began planning, I decided to dip my toes into the do-it-yourself world. I mean I had plenty of time - I set my game plan and decided to do the cake topper, invitations, programs and menu cards/donation favor. Whoa! How the months have flown by!
But I finally finished my wedding fan favors. I had always planned on doing donation favors but wasn’t sure how I would present it to the guests. We wanted to do something to honor the Butterscotch’s uncles that were no longer with us. I have mentioned that we had record heat in August last year. That’s when I put the idea together to make fan favors. Ta dah…
The paper and punch mimic the same that I used in the invitations. This is the menu side. Yummy….Doesn’t it sound good! (click to enlarge)
I Propose Some Toast
May 29th, 2007 @ 3:53 pm by Mrs. Lovebug
Non-profit, charity-driven websites rock. Especially when they feature toast. Lots and lots of toast.
Your Name On Toast is this really cool site where you can “buy” an actual piece of toast on which the publishers will then write/draw on with a Sharpie anything you like. They’ll put your name, the name of your company, a stick figure–whatever you want–and the toast will act as a link to your website.
The higher your bid, the more prominently your toast will be placed on the site. All proceeds will be going to charities which the users of the site get to decide on. Examples of toast:
Chimp Haven
March 14th, 2007 @ 1:39 pm by Mrs. Kiwi
Ever since I was little, I’ve had a love of primates. Chimps, apes, gorillas, monkeys, orangutans, you name it. This love has led me to a possible favor donation idea.
Chimp Haven is an organization located in Keithsville, Louisiana, whose mission is to provide lifetime care for chimpanzees who are no longer of use as entertainers, research or pets. These animals break my heart, and knowing there are people out there who are trying to make the rest of the chimp’s lives better is amazing.
Chimp Haven provides permanent housing and care of chimps, and are completely non-profit. You may have heard of Chimp Haven on television when one of the chimps gave birth recently- impregnated by an unknown chimp who was supposed to be sterilized!
Teresa and Baby Tracy
For A Good Cause
February 14th, 2007 @ 2:19 pm by Mrs. Butterfly
On Sunday, February 11, 2007, I said goodbye to my wedding dress. Part of me is actually very sad. I loved that dress. I loved the way I felt in it. But my practical part won the battle in the end for these reasons:
- I know that my wedding dress will never be worn again. Well, the chances are it won’t be worn again, and it was taking up valuable NYC closet space.
- It wasn’t a very expensive wedding dress to begin with, so I didn’t feel the need to save it.
- I admit it - I wanted the tax write-off. Although I don’t know how you decide on the fair market value of a wedding dress. It’s just guess work, isnt it?
- I didn’t have to clean the dress before donating it so I saved a few hundred bucks.
- Oh yeah - it’s also for a really good cause.
I kind of wish I had spent more time on Sunday looking over the dress. I did get to see it briefly at the Bridal Garden (where I donated my dress). The lady kept telling me how pretty the dress was, and hoped to sell it that same day.
Charity Begins @ Home
December 1st, 2006 @ 11:32 am by Mrs. Orange
A friend of Mr. Orange recently gave us a gift with a card — a UNICEF card! UNICEF’s online shop has a wide variety of holiday cards, but they also carry a very nice selection of blank cards that can be used in your everyday greetings (like wedding thank you cards!). I was really touched to know that this couple supported such a good cause.
Shop for a Cause - Partners Card
November 2nd, 2006 @ 3:12 pm by Mrs. Plum
The Partners Card formula is simple!
Here’s how it works:
- Purchase a Partners Card for $60.
- Partners Card sponsors/underwrites all administrative and production costs of the promotion.
- Participating Partners Card merchants offer a generous 20% discount to cardholders for the nine day period. (Oct 28-Nov 5th)
- Participating Retailers
Thus 100% of the $60 card purchase goes directly to support The Family Place services. There are TONS of really great retailers on this list - I would’ve posted earlier, but I’ve been too busy shopping for charity!
Brides Against Breast Cancer This Weekend in DC
October 27th, 2006 @ 2:25 pm by Mrs. Raspberry
Ladies,
If you haven’t found your dress yet, here is a great opportunity to support a great cause and get a good deal at the same time. Brides Against Breast Cancer is this weekend in the DC area (just across the bridge in Arlington). Check out the website here.
I already have my dress - but am hoping to go just to check it out and support the cause. Hope to see you there!
Washington DC / Arlington, VA
Friday, October 27, 10 am - 8 pm
Saturday, October 28, 10 am - 6 pm
Doubletree Hotel Crystal City
300 Army Navy Drive, Arlington, VA 22202
Directions: From Ronald Reagan National Airport take Crystal City Exit. Exit Crystal Drive. Take Crystal Drive North approximately one mile. Crystal Drive turns into 12th Street. When you are on 12th Street go under overpass and turn right onto Army Navy Drive. The hotel is on the left.
