1. ‘Tis the Season for Charitable Shopping The Giving Tree Series Opportunities to save a life, support worthy causes, and give back to the community. The Giving Tree

2. The Gift of Giving As the holiday shopping season nears, check out these products and companies that give back to the community, the environment, and more. Image Copyright © Jupiterimages

3. Food from the Hood Food From the 'Hood, Inc. (FFTH) in South Central Los Angeles was born in the aftermath of the 1992 riots. Students from Crenshaw High transformed an abandoned lot behind the football field into a two-acre fruit and vegetable garden. They donate 25% of what they grow to people who really need it and the rest they sell for profit. As the organization grew, the students developed three varieties of bottled salad dressings, which are sold in 2,000 stores nationwide and on Amazon.com—Creamy Italian, No Fat Honey Mustard and All-Natural Ranch. Fifty percent of the profits go back into the organization to keep it running and fifty percent is awarded through scholarships to student managers upon high school graduation. To date, over $250,000 in scholarships have been generated. --http://www.certnyc.org/ffth.html

4. Newman’s Own Salad Dressings and More Newman’s Own Inc. distributes all profits after taxes to Newman’s Own Foundation. Profits benefit a broad spectrum of organizations dedicated to educational and charitable purposes. Since 1982, Newman’s Own has donated over 265 million dollars to charity.

5. Laser Monks Printer ink and other items Our Lady of Spring Bank Abbey, a Cistercian monastery in west central Wisconsin. The Abbey's operating costs of about $150,000 a year are covered, the rest of their profits, about $4.5 million, goes to charity. Microsoft ClipArt

6. Yes to Carrots Paraben Free Products for Face, Body, Hands and Hair The Yes To Carrots™ Seed Fund, a U.S. 501(c)3 non-profit organization, is on a mission to make a difference in people's lives by providing under-served communities with the resources to develop and sustain an organic food source and access to healthy nutrition. Together with partner organizations, the Yes To Carrots™ Seed Fund assists these communities by providing donations to help with seeds, plants, equipment, irrigation support and technical know-how.

7. The Body Shop Skincare, Makeup, and More They work directly with over 30 Community Trade suppliers to build businesses in more than 20 countries, helping 25,000 people to earn a sustainable income. Stop Violence in the Home is a global campaign created by The Body Shop 10 years ago to inspire customers and employees to get active against domestic violence. The campaign aims to raise awareness of the issue and generate funds to help those affected.

8. Lush – Charity Pot 100% of the retail price (minus taxes) Charity Pot hand and body cream goes directly to worthy causes. They’ve sold 18,647 pots so far in North America. With the proceeds, LUSH donates to carefully selected charities around the world that support animal rights, environmental protection and humanitarian concerns.

9. Ten Thousand Villages At Ten Thousand Villages, we work with over 130 artisan groups in more than 38 countries in Africa, Asia and Latin America to bring you fair trade jewelry, home decor, gifts and more. As one of the world's oldest and largest fair trade organizations, we build long-term relationships with artisans that are based on mutual understanding and respect. Fair trade enables artisans to earn a fair wage and provides the opportunity for a better quality of life. Houston

10. Toms Shoes TOMS Shoes was founded on a simple premise: With every pair you purchase, TOMS will give a pair of new shoes to a child in need. TOMS has given over 150,000* pairs of shoes to children in need. TOMS plans to give over 300,000 pairs of shoes to children in need around the world in 2009.

11. Box Tops for Education When you join Box Tops, you'll be able to track your school's progress on the way to their earnings goal - all in real time. Buy what you normally buy, but shop through Marketplace and earn 3, 6, even 12 percent for your school on your purchases. Microsoft ClipArt

12. Soldiers’ Angels Soldiers' Angels is a volunteer based, nonprofit organization dedicated to supporting our brave men and women in uniform. Donations go directly to supporting the mission. All donations to Soldiers' Angels are tax deductible to the full extent allowed by law. Please consult your tax advisor. Microsoft ClipArt

13. Habitat for Humanity – ReStores Habitat ReStores are outlets that accept donated goods for resale, most focus on home improvement goods—furniture, home accessories, building materials and appliances. Proceeds from the stores fund the construction of Habitat homes within their communities. Materials sold by Habitat ReStores are usually donated by local retailers, contractors and individuals in the community. Microsoft ClipArt

14. Shop the Cause– Women Thrive Worldwide Shop the Cause is a project of Women Thrive Worldwide (formerly Women's Edge Coalition), a non-profit that fosters economic opportunity for women living in poverty worldwide, including opportunities such as fair wages and working conditions, access to credit, property rights, and protection against violence. Original Good World Shoppe The Amber Chand Collection

15. Reach Unlimited Reach Unlimited is dedicated to providing quality support services to people with intellectual and developmental disabilities. The Reach Store offers unique quality gift items, and with every purchase, you will support Reach artisans and its enterprise program. A 501 (c) (3) non-profit agency. All donations are tax deductible as allowed by law Microsoft ClipArt

16. BeeWell Miles The BeeWell Miles program was created to make it easy to get active, one step at a time. You will find insightful weekly blog posts (Easy Moves with Coach Jenny and Wise Choices with Willow & Stephanie), useful tools to track your activity and nutrition, delicious and simple recipes, fun downloads to keep it all fun, and meet other health-minded participants just waiting to share their tips, stories or recipes. It’s all here for you so you can make the right healthy choices to fit your healthy lifestyle. What’s more, we will donate 15¢ for every mile* you log with the BeeWell Miles program to Breast Cancer Network of Strength® whose mission is to provide immediate emotional relief to anyone affected by breast cancer.

17. Breast Cancer Support Susan G. Komen for the Cure®, the global leader of the breast cancer movement, has invested more than $1 billion since inception in 1982. Thanks to events like the Susan G. Komen Race for the Cure®, and generous contributions from partners, sponsors and fellow supporters, it is the largest source of nonprofit funds dedicated to the fight against breast cancer in the world. 25 percent of your merchandise purchases at ShopKomen.comwill benefit Susan G. Komen for the Cure® in the fight against breast cancer. PinkRibbonShop.commerchandise helps to spread the word and increase awareness about breast cancer. Purchases have helped them donate more than $27,000 to various organizations in an effort to find a cure for cancer, assist cancer patients, and reduce cancer deaths through education initiatives that promote early detection. The Save the ta-tas Foundation exists for the advancement of cancer awareness, education and prevention, and to aid in the fight to find a cure. 5% of all sales of “ta-tas” Brand products will be donated to the Foundation. Shop at Savethetatas.com.

18. Greater Good GreaterGood.org's unique Gifts That Give More™ program allows 100% tax-deductible contributions to pass directly through to nonprofit causes. Upon selection of any Gift That Gives More™ you will be linked in a new browser window to an associated secure store for processing of your donation and checkout. You will receive a receipt from GreaterGood.org in the mail or via e-mail for tax purposes. The GreaterGood Network includes: The Animal Rescue Site The Breast Cancer Site The Child Health Site The Hunger Site The Literacy Site The Rainforest Site Microsoft ClipArt

19. One Stop Shop These sites provide a portal to major retailers, a percentage of your purchases go to charity. iGive.com OneCause.com aGoodCause.com Microsoft ClipArt

20. EthicalShopper.com EthicalShopper has combed the marketplace to tell you who's good and who's not. Join their community of consumers with a conscience. They review and provide information on everything from clothes and toys to finances and food. Microsoft ClipArt

21. Checking the Charity The American Institute of Philanthropy (CharityWatch.org) and Charity Navigator (CharityNavigator.org) each rate charities. The Better Business Bureau (give.org) tracks whether charities meet 20 standards of accountability. Nonprofit groups' tax returns are available for download (with registration) at GuideStar.org, so you can see how much money they have and how they spend it. Double-check the name - Some charities sound similar but earn different ratings. For example, Charity Navigator gives the Children's Cancer Center four stars, the maximum rating, but the Children's Cancer Research Fund merits only two stars. Crunch the numbers - An efficient charity will spend at least 60%, and ideally 75% or more, of your donation on the programs they support, with 40% or less going to solicit more donations. THE HOLIDAY ISSUE; Playing Santa to those in need; If health-themed charitable donations are on your holiday gift list, check these tips for picking wisely. Amber Dance. Los Angeles Times. Los Angeles, Calif.: Dec 15, 2008. pg. F.1

22. Credits All description text and logo/product images are copyright to the respective website reviewed, unless otherwise noted.