Gifts That Give Back

Gifts That Give Back

A Popular Shopping Trend Helps the American Red Cross Continue to Deliver What's Most Important This Holiday Season - Hope

WASHINGTON, Dec. 9 /PRNewswire/ -- As communities continue to recover from some of the worst natural disasters in history, more Americans are seeking ways to help others with their holiday dollars this season. The 2005 Cone Holiday Trend Tracker reports that more than half of Americans intend on buying a holiday gift associated with a cause and/or will buy from a retailer that supports a cause.

Recognizing this desire to support charities through purchasing dollars, the American Red Cross has proudly partnered with some of the nation's most well-known companies to provide consumers with the opportunity to purchase popular holiday gifts while helping those in need. Sales of these products result in donations ranging from 25 cents to $15 each -- which will help the Red Cross continue to provide lifesaving aid to thousands of people in the Gulf region and around the world. To view the complete list of items offered by corporate partners to benefit the Red Cross, please visit: http://www.redcross.org/sponsors/howtohelp/dollars.html.

A sampling of some popular gift ideas available this year benefiting the Red Cross, include:

* CDs:

* RIAA -- "Hurricane Relief: Come Together Now" -- On behalf of its
member companies and all of the participating artists, publishers
and songwriters, Recording Industry Association of America will
donate 100 percent of its net proceeds -- at least $15 -- from the
purchase price of "Hurricane Relief: Come Together Now," a two-disk
CD to benefit the American Red Cross, Habitat for Humanity and
MusiCares Hurricane Relief Fund. The 35-song collection features
new recordings and classic cuts from more than 80 artists, spanning
a variety of generations and genres. Learn more at:
http://www.hurricanereliefcd.com/. To purchase, visit
http://www.amazon.com/.

* Starbucks, Rhino and Work Song -- "I Believe To My Soul" -- A new
record featuring soul legends Ann Peebles, Billy Preston, Mavis
Staples, Irma Thomas and Allen Toussaint. Starbucks, Rhino and Work
Song are donating $10 from the price of this CD to the Red Cross
Hurricane Katrina relief efforts when purchased at Starbucks or at
http://www.hearmusic.com/.

* Target -- "Sound Response" -- Target is donating 100 percent of the
retail price ($7.99) for every "Sound Response" CD sold. This
compilation of hits includes songs by Annie Stela, Ben Folds, Ben
Harper, Coldplay, Dave Matthews Band, Goo Goo Dolls, Green Day,
Kelly Clarkson, Radiohead, Tori Amos and more. Exclusively
available at Target stores nationwide and at http://www.target.com/
while supplies last.

* Urban Outfitters and Filter Magazine -- "Give. Listen. Help." --
Urban Outfitters will donate $13.99 (out of $14.99 retail price) to
the American Red Cross Disaster Relief Fund for every limited-
edition "Give. Listen. Help." compilation CD purchased in stores or
at http://www.urbanoutfitters.com/ through Dec. 31, 2005.

* Toys & Collectibles:

* Hard Rock International -- "Humanity is Instrumental" pin -- You can
support Red Cross Katrina relief efforts by purchasing a limited-
edition Hard Rock "Humanity is Instrumental" pin in any Hard Rock
Cafe retail store or online. Hard Rock International will donate 90
percent of the purchase price from every pin sold to the American
Red Cross for Katrina relief efforts. To purchase online, visit
http://www.hardrock.com/.

* Marriott International, Inc. -- Marriott Bear -- This specially
created teddy bear is ultra soft and cuddly and helps the Red Cross
too. Marriott will donate $4 for every Marriott Bear sold in its
retail stores in participating Marriott Hotel & Resorts throughout
the U.S. to support the humanitarian work of the American Red Cross.
Contact your local Marriott Hotel & Resort to check on their
Marriott Bear availability. Available beginning Dec. 16 at
http://www.shopmarriott.com/.

* Ty -- Special Edition Beanie Babies -- In support of American Red
Cross hurricane relief, Ty has designed three Beanie Babies,
representing the states of Alabama, Mississippi and Louisiana. $2
from each item sold online and $1 from each item sold at retail will
be donated to the American Red Cross. Available at a Ty retailer
near you or at http://www.ty.com/.

* Books:

* CNN Reports -- "Hurricane Katrina -- State of Emergency" -- CNN will
donate to the Red Cross Katrina relief effort 100 percent of CNN's
royalties and a matching contribution from Andrews McMeel
Publishing, totaling 5-10 percent of the purchase price from the
sale of each copy of "CNN Reports: Hurricane Katrina -- State of
Emergency." Available in book retailers nationwide and at various
online retailers.

* Time Magazine -- "Hurricane Katrina: The Storm That Changed
America" -- Time Magazine has created this special Hurricane Katrina
book and will donate to the American Red Cross 5 percent for every
hardcover sold and 25 cents for every soft cover sold through Dec
31, 2005. Available at http://www.barnesandnoble.com/.

* Calendars:

* Jo-Ann Stores, Inc. -- 2006 Creativity Calendar -- For the third
year, sales of this calendar will benefit disaster relief efforts of
the American Red Cross. Jo-Ann Stores will donate $3 from the
purchase of each $5.99 calendar, guaranteeing a minimum donation of
$100,000. The calendar features helpful Red Cross home safety tips
and a coupon for Red Cross CPR and first aid training. Currently
available in Jo-Ann stores nationwide. To purchase, locate a Jo-Ann
Store near you at http://www.jo-ann.com/.

* BrownTrout Publishers, Inc. -- 2006 New Orleans Calendar -- This
special edition wall calendar showcases that unique New Orleans
setting where one experiences peerless jazz music, bona fide Cajun
cuisine, old world traditions and a lifestyle that embraces the
decadent and unconventional. To help Red Cross disaster relief
efforts, BrownTrout Publishers will donate $1 from the sale of each
calendar to the American Red Cross Disaster Relief Fund from now
until April 30, 2006 with a minimum donation of $100,000. To
purchase online, visit http://www.browntrout.com/. Also available in
a Barnes & Noble or Borders Books store near you.

* Emergency preparedness kit:

* Target -- First Aid Emergency Preparedness Starter Kit -- The
American Red Cross and Target have partnered to design an
affordable, family-friendly kit for four containing essential items
needed in the event of an emergency. You can customize it for your
family by adding food, water and other personal essentials. The kit
is affordably priced at $29.99, of which Target will donate $10 from
the purchase of every kit to the Red Cross. Emergency Preparedness
Starter Kits are available at Target stores nationwide and online
while supplies last. To purchase online, visit
http://www.target.com/.

The American Red Cross is where people mobilize to help their neighbors -- across the street, across the country and across the world -- in emergencies. Each year, in communities large and small, victims of some 70,000 disasters turn to neighbors familiar and new -- the nearly 1 million volunteers and 35,000 employees of the Red Cross. Through more than 800 locally supported chapters, more than 15 million people gain the skills they need to prepare for and respond to emergencies in their homes, communities and world. Some 4 million people give blood -- the gift of life -- through the Red Cross, making it the largest supplier of blood and blood products in the United States. The Red Cross helps thousands of U.S. service members separated from their families by military duty stay connected. As part of the International Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement, a global network of more than 180 national societies, the Red Cross helps restore hope and dignity to the world's most vulnerable people. An average of 91 cents of every dollar the Red Cross spends is invested in humanitarian services and programs. The Red Cross is not a government agency; it relies on donations of time, money, and blood to do its work. Marsha J. Evans is the President and CEO of the American Red Cross and Bonnie McElveen-Hunter is Chairman of the American Red Cross.

Source: American Red Cross

CONTACT: Jennifer Klesinger of American Red Cross, +1-202-303-8037,
Cell: +1-202-716-3149, or KlesingerJe@usa.redcross.org

Web site: http://www.redcross.org/

-------
Profile: intent