Shopping ~ it can be a force for good

While most of us aspire to help one another in a meaningful way, the reality is that many of us just don’t have the additional funds to give. But we can shop at companies that utilize our patronage to support worthy causes on our behalf. Next time you’re spending your dollars, check out these companies:

ECHOage

What if you could support a charitable organization just by throwing a birthday party? With ECHOage, families choose a wish list gift or gifts for the birthday child and a charity that they would like to support. They utilize an e-invitation to invite guests and when guests RSVP, they have the option to simply make a donation with half going toward the child’s gift and the other half towards the charity.

For more information, visit ECHOage.com.

UV Skinz

This company protects the entire family from harmful UV rays and makes financial donations every year to nonprofit organizations such as the Melanoma Research Foundation, AIM at Melanoma, and the Collette Coyne Melanoma Awareness Foundation. UV Skinz sun-block clothing blocks out 98 percent of the sun poolside, \biking, hiking, at the amusement park or anywhere the sun’s rays can cover you. Sold in attractive prints and colors in tops, bottoms and hats for the entire family, your entire body can be shielded from the sun.

For more information, visit uvskinz.com.

Tie Society

Tie Society is the original Netflix-style service for neckties and menswear accessories. Professional men can enjoy access to an ever revolving tie closet. Members select what they want and wear it for as long as they want, then send it back and get a different style. There are two great charitable components to Tie Society. Tie Society gives ties they put out of service or can’t use to Career Gear, an organization that helps men with clothing for job interviews. They also partner with the Prostate Cancer Foundation and host a Blue Tie Day event in September and provide donations to the organization during this time.

For more information, visit tiesociety.com.

Box for a Bottle

Who doesn’t love the gift of vino, especially when it also gives back? Wine for a Wedding and its sister company, Box for a Bottle, offer gift-givers a beautiful, custom engraved, made in America, wooden box in which to present their gift of wine. For every box ordered, the companies plant a tree through Trees for the Future.

For more information, visit wineforawedding.com or boxforabottle.com.

Fracture

Nothing feels like home until you are surrounded by pictures of your life and those you love. That’s why Fracture has partnered with Habitat for Humanity to donate their product to families moving into homes that have been built by the nonprofit agency. Fracture is a brand new concept that streamlines the photo printing process by printing your pictures straight to the glass.

For more information, visit Fractureme.com.

Laqa & Co

Starving artists need some help, too! All of Laqa & Co’s make-up is packaged in equally artwork from up and coming young artists who just want their work to be seen. Plus, as a portion of the proceeds from each purchase go directly back to the artists themselves.

For more information, visit laqaandco.com.