"The 12 'Ways' of Christmas" to Give Gifts that Give

This Holiday Season, with the spotlight on World Poverty and those still in need after Hurricane Katrina, people are looking differently at possessions. According to retail expert Francey Smith, "gift giving this Christmas and Hanukkah season will be connected to products that give back to worthy causes.

Chicago, IL (PRWEB) November 24, 2006 -- This Holiday Season, with the spotlight on World Poverty and those still in need after Hurricane Katrina, people are looking differently at holiday gift giving.

According to retail expert Francey Smith, "gift giving this Christmas and Hanukkah season will be connected to products that give back to worthy causes. Children will still be getting their biggest dreams fulfilled at the retail level, but adults will be making a shift as our country's conscious is with those in need."

From the natural disasters we have experienced to breast cancer, teen suicide, poverty and domestic violence, Smith, who has held senior marketing positions at Bloomingdale's, Federated Department Stores, Filene's Basement, Kohl's Department Stores, and Saks Fifth Avenue, has compiled a top twelve list of holiday gifts ideas that give back.

1.   Harry Connick Jr's duet with gospel singer Kim Burrell called, "All These People," is about the people Connick saw who were left stranded in the Convention Centre. All proceeds will go to the New Orleans Habitat Musician's Village, a rebuilding project formed by Connick and Branford Marsalis.

2.   George Clooney, Penelope Cruz and Tom Hanks are just a few of the Americans wearing the $10 white ONE bracelet. Available at http://www.one.org, more than three million Americans are also wearing white bands as a show of support for ending extreme poverty and global AIDS.

3.   Join Bono and others in helping to eliminate AIDS in Africa through the Global Fund by buying one of GAP's 'RED' t-shirts for $28 at http://www.gap.com/red. Half of the profits from sales of the Gap (PRODUCT) RED Collection will go to The Global Fund to finance programs that help women and children affected by HIV/AIDS in Africa.

4.   Newman's Own® Organic and U.G.L.Y.'s "Chocolate & Chuckles" is a product combo that will have the family giggling while they enjoy sumptuous chocolate. Featuring Newman's Organic dark chocolate and "Laugh It Off" the contagious laugh track laughter CD, Chocolate and Chuckles is available at http://www.heyugly.org for $18.00. Proceeds from Chocolate and Chuckles benefits the charities Paul Newman supports and Hey U.G.L.Y. which empowers teens with self-esteem building tools, to help them counter challenges such as eating disorders, bullying, violence, substance abuse and suicide.

5.   Salma Hayek and the Avon Foundation are working together to raise funds for Speak Out Against Domestic Violence with a rubber bracelet for $3.00 at http://www.avonfoundation.org where 66% of each purchase supports the cause.

6.   The DVD, "Things You Should Know Before Entering the Hospital," was made to address the alarming news that 2 million people contract infections and 98,000 people die in hospitals each year due to medical errors. The film contains step-by-step advice on how to keep yourself and family members safe if they have to be hospitalized. $2.00 from each DVD sold at http://www.patientsafetyvideo.com is being donated to Consumers Advancing Patient Safety (CAPS). CAPS works with hospitals to stop medical errors.

7.   Jones New York's "In the Classroom" program has created a fundraising T-shirt designed by Ryan McGinness and modeled by Brooke Shields. The T-shirt, available at http://www.jnyintheclassroom.org, is $20 and proceeds aid the organization's mission to improve the quality of education for America's children.

8.   At http://www.polo.com you can buy the "Fashion For Relief" Tee-shirt designed by Ralph Lauren. Fashion For Relief is an initiative organized by Naomi Campbell, and all profits from the sale of this $35.00 t-shirt will be donated to AmeriCares' hurricane relief efforts.

9.   ALDO and YouthAIDS' stylish "Empowerment Dog Tag" necklace helps raise awareness and necessary funds to help save lives around the world. The $5.00 "Empowerment Tags" available at http://www.youthaids.org, are engraved with "Hear", "See", or "Speak" on one tag, and the AIDS ribbon on the other. 100% of net proceeds go towards the education and the protection of vulnerable young people via YouthAIDS, which is run in over 60 countries.

10.   Jessica Alba, Nia Vardalos and Susan Sarandon are all wearing "The Bracelet" to help raise funds for HIV/AIDS services, education and vaccine development. The $25 silver bracelet is available at http://www.until.org and fund go to Until There's A Cure® is a national organization dedicated to eradicating HIV/AIDS by raising awareness and funds to combat this pandemic.

11.   The exclusive $15 "Do More" bracelet and charm is being sported by Sela Ward in the Smart Start® Healthy Heart campaign to fight against women's heart disease. Proceeds are donated to the American Heart Association's Go Red for Women™ movement.

12.   Sweet Grass Farm's Hope, Courage & Faith fragrance set infuses the air with spicy carnation and pink peppercorn. Ten percent of proceeds are being donated to the Susan G. Komen Foundation. The fragrance set is $29.95 available at http://www.sweetgrassonline.com.

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