Miss Do-Gooder

Build a Burger

2012-01-17T10:36:00.000-08:00

Omaha Steaks is taking to Facebook and urging fans to build their best burger (beef or chicken) to benefit one of four charities: Disabled American Veterans, National Multiple Sclerosis Society, charity: water and St. Jude Children's Research Hospital.

During the OS Ultimate Burger experience – which runs through February 29 – users can get crafty with more than 50 different ingredients including curry sauce, bacon, Worcestershire sauce, sauerkraut and guacamole.

The charity receiving the most virtual burger votes will receive a $25,000 donation, plus all four organizations will take home $25,000 if the Omaha Steaks Facebook fan count reaches 225,000 before the end of the promotion.

There’s already some stiff competition from several burger connoisseurs with concoctions named the Rowdy Reuben, the Glut-Ton, the O-Town Hottie and The Mess. Click here to build your own.

Big Miracle Blog

2012-01-13T10:13:00.000-08:00

To celebrate the inspiring new movie “Big Miracle” with Drew Barrymore and John Krasinki, the folks at Huffington Post Teen Impact (HPTI) are kicking off a contest for teens – ages 14-18 – who are making a difference in the world. If that sounds like you, send HPTI a blog post (maximum 800 words) telling them how your story can possibly top the film’s tale about a group of people coming together to save a family of grey whales (say, for example, you saved a family of blue whales or great white sharks - you'd be golden).

Just kidding: the exact description is to “explain why you should be chosen as the best representative of your generation's unique power to do good." Feel free to jazz up your entry by posting a YouTube video, photo or video.

The grand-prize winner will see $1,000 donated to their charity of choice and win a trip to New York for a special screening of “Big Miracle” with host Arianna Huffington. Share your big story here.

Give Moore This Valentine's Day

2012-01-12T09:01:00.000-08:00

Help save your children the embarrassment of showing up empty handed at school this Valentine’s Day by shopping now for cute cards designed by Julianne Moore and a few of her talented author friends. Of course 100 percent of your purchase – available exclusively from OpenSky – will benefit Save the Children, which provides health, education and literacy programs to the millions of children living in poverty here in the U.S.

It’s Moore’s sixth straight Save the Children’s Valentine’s Day campaign and this year she’s got help from beloved children’s book authors Ian Falconer, Kevin Henkes, LeUyen Pham, Brian Selznick and Mo Willems. Your $25 donation gets you 30 cute cards and envelopes, six from each kid-friendly author/illustrator (including the "Freckleface" author, herself.)

Click here to stock up on cards that share the love.

Resolve to Do Good in 2012

2011-12-27T10:04:00.000-08:00

MDG is not a big believer in the whole New Year’s resolutions concept, but perhaps if I had to make one small change next year, it might be adhering to 52X52.org’s “giving plan.” The super simple site suggests one different charity each and every week for you donate to directly (i.e. they don’t collect any cash themselves).

It doesn’t matter how much you give - $50, $25, or even $5 – the most important thing is that you pledge to keep giving it each week. This week’s spotlight is on The ASPCA; past recommendations have included Nothing but Nets and charity:water.

Smarter Than Your Average Card

2011-12-23T10:14:00.000-08:00

Who wouldn’t want to receive a cute, cuddly Bloomingdale’s bear e-card, especially when they know that for each one sent, the upscale retailer will donate $1 to the Child Mind Institute? Just drag and drop a background (Happy Chanukah, Season’s Greetings, Happy Holidays, etc.), drag and drop a bear (I like the one on its head!), then write a few words of cheer to complete your card.

Oh, and for each e-card sent you’ll be entered for a chance to win a $500 Bloomie’s gift card. Click here to create your furry own card.

Self Awareness

2011-12-20T10:12:00.000-08:00

If you or someone you know happens to be a chick dedicated to doing good - an inspirational kind of gal whose selfless works would be furthered by a bit of publicity - you might want to drop SELF magazine a line.

The popular women's monthly is teaming up with L’Oreal to offer three philanthropic heroines a $10,000 donation to the charity of their choice, plus an all-expenses-paid trip to New York City for a swanky ceremony and a profile in its September issue.

You’ve got oodles of time to enter: this one's open until March 19, 2012.

Big Cheese

2011-12-15T13:04:00.000-08:00

Cheese lovers rejoice! Stonyfield and Organic Valley have teamed up for a dairylicous holiday contest to benefit Wholesome Wave, a nonprofit that creates partnership-based programs that provide fresh, healthy, locally-grown foods to underserved communities.

Feel free to enter once each week at www.celebratewithorganic.com for a chance to win a year’s worth of Stonyfield or Organic Valley products, with one lucky grand prize winner taking home all the dairy he or she can consume in a year, plus a $1,000 gift certificate to Cooking.com. That’s a heck of a lot of lattes.

Both companies are kindly donating 10 cents each to Wholesome Wave for every person who enters (minimum donation is $30,000; maximum is $50,000). There’s no real rush here; you’ve got until the end of January 2012 to milk this one.

In Dogs We Trust

2011-12-13T10:10:00.000-08:00

If you’ve got an active four-legged friend, you’ll be pleased to hear that off-leash dog parks are the fastest-growing category of park in the U.S. - a rather surprising but very welcome fact brought to us by the enduringly awesome Trust for Public Land (TPL).

To celebrate this happy news, TPL is rewarding dog owners who can sit, roll over, and submit a snap of their furry friend at the park on command with some cool TPL swag. The fact that TPL is just about the coolest organization you will ever come across is guaranteed to make the swag even cooler.

Click here to submit your favorite photo by December 24 and show your support for a trusty nonprofit that has, since 1972, gone to ingenious lengths to conserve land for ordinary folk (and sometimes their pets) to enjoy as parks, gardens, rural lands and other natural environments.

Pretty Trashy

2011-12-09T10:15:00.000-08:00

Once you’ve twisted, rolled and squeezed the last bit of toothpaste, soap, shampoo and/or lipstick from its container, you can now “trash it” – in an environmentally-friendly fashion - thanks to TerraCycle’s new Beauty Brigade.

Just collect enough cosmetics/personal care containers to fill a shipping bag or box, print out a prepaid mailing label (or request one by mail) and drop it off at any UPS location. Your waste will then be repurposed or melted down into usable raw materials, rather than taking up space in your local landfill.

But, the best part is that for each and every item you send, you'll be credited two TerraCycle points, which can be redeemed for donations to a charity of your choosing. They accept almost every beauty bottle, jar, case, tube and dispenser you can think of, with the exception of hair spray, nail polish and nail polish remover containers. Those things are just plain hazardous.

Click here to join the Beauty Brigade. P.s. It’s free!

New Music as a Cause

2011-12-08T11:28:00.000-08:00

If your interest in music only extends to predictable, corporate-friendly recording artists, chances are you’re not going to spend much time on the new music-for-charity Web site Cause.fm. But the site is probably just what you're looking for if you get a thrill from being among the first to discover something new - under-exposed acts like, for example, Good Luck Jane, Modern Groove Assembly, Minus Ned and the Bad Cactus Brass Band.

And, better yet, each time you download a song/album from the site, a portion of the sale is donated to the charity of the artist’s choice (they also choose the amount).

The site is brand new, so let’s just say that there aren’t quite as many choices as you'll find on iTunes or Amazon. But if there were, an edgy music lover like you wouldn't be interested, would you?

I'm a Believer

2011-12-07T09:57:00.000-08:00

If you still believe in a plump, jolly, white-bearded man who makes lists and checks them twice, figures out who’s been naughty and nice, works with elves at the North Pole and delivers gifts via reindeer on Christmas Eve – well...anyway - just a reminder that you can post your special letters at Macy’s locations across the country to benefit the Make-A-Wish Foundation. Each letter mailed using Macy’s certified Santa Mail Letterboxes raises $1 for this magical children’s charity.

And, if you mail your letter in store this Friday, December 9 (National Believe Day), Macy’s will double the donation for each and every letter received. Find out more about making wishes come true here.

Toy With Feeling

2011-12-02T10:03:00.000-08:00

It looks like Toys for Tots is in it to win it this holiday season. Not only have they partnered with Kohl’s for a contest (see MDG's previous post), they’ve also teamed up with eBay for the Give-a-Toy Store.

If you’re lucky enough to live in either New York or San Francisco (and you ARE lucky if you do), you can visit this outpost in person and purchase (i.e. donate) gifts simply by scanning items in the window using eBay’s mobile app. Prices range from $2 to $25 and will provide items such as books, toys, games and sports equipment to disadvantaged kids across the country.

If you happen to live elsewhere (sorry), you can still donate a toy - or two - at eBay’s virtual window shop. Click here to spread some joy – and a few toys – for children in need.

Do or Tie

2011-12-01T10:07:00.000-08:00

I’ve long been a supporter of Dress for Success, but until now I had no idea there was a version (for lack of a better word) for guys. Well, it looks like Career Gear has been providing suitable clothing – and counseling - for disadvantaged men looking for employment for a number of years.

In fact, this is the third straight it has hosted a Celebrity Tie Auction to help raise funds for its job retention services. In collaboration with Charity Buzz, they’re auctioning off an impressive list of autographed ties from celebrities including Kevin Spacey, Zach Galifianakis, Jay Leno, Carmelo Anthony, Dwayne Wade, Al Roker, Tim Gunn and David Duchovny.

You’ve got until December 6 to buy a tie for a guy looking for that much needed big break.

A Big Lump of Kohl

2011-11-30T10:14:00.000-08:00

On the face of it, Kohl’s “Love to Give, Happy to Save” holiday promotion is all pretty straightforward. Submit a photo – along with 500 words or less of your most persuasive prose - that shows the positive things that inspire you to give this holiday season (no extra points if you credit your generosity to charity promotions by giant retailers).

Then choose which charity, Toys for Tots or Feeding America, you’d like to support. Keep in mind that your vote will determine which one takes homes a bigger share of a $500,000 pot, courtesy of Kohl’s.

The rules after that become a bit involved, but the gist of it is that 600 winners (200 in each of three rounds) will receive a $100 Kohl’s gift card and a $500 donation to Toys for Tots or Feeding America. Then, one grand prize winner will receive a $2,500 gift card and $25,000 for either charity. The first-place winner (first in a sort of second-place kind of way, apparently) will receive a $1,500 gift card and $15,000 for charity; and the second-place winner (who actually comes in third if you take a moment to really think ... ah, whatever) takes home a $1,000 gift card and $10,000 for charity.

You’ve got until December 23 to figure out who wins what and submit as many inspirational stories and photos as you’d like.

Hip + Shopping + Charity = Happy Holidays!

2011-11-23T10:00:00.000-08:00

How could a blog so consumed by the marriage of social good and retail therapy ignore a new daily deal site called Social Goodies? And what, you might ask, could possibly set this shopping site apart from the rest?

Well, it’s got fresh, new brands that other sites probably haven’t heard of yet, handy gift vouchers called Goodie Bucks, and a cute, funky character called Aunt Goodie (who among us has never yearned for a funky aunt, for crying out loud?). Auntie G, it turns out, is credited on the site as being “the Godmother of good deeds and deals.”

Sign up here to get your own good daily deals (up to 70 percent off retail) that give back 20 percent of every purchase to charities including Children’s Health Fund, Surfrider Foundation and Fisher House. So far their good deals have raised more than $32,000 for great causes.

If This Grosses You Out - Good

2011-11-22T10:27:00.000-08:00

I was going to warn readers that this is an R-rated post, but unfortunately teenagers – and even younger kids - can benefit from the information the most. The Meth Project, a non-profit organization that warns and educates teens about the danger of meth use, has created a highly interactive Web site that pretty much answers every question you’d ever want to know about this evil drug, and a ton more that you wouldn’t. What is meth mouth? What are crank bugs? What is tweaking? How gross can this stuff get before you figure out you shouldn’t go within a hundred miles of it?

You can also watch some awfully alarming but informative videos – three of which are directed by Academy Award nominee Darren Aronofsky - that show teens reflecting on the questions they might have asked before ever trying the drug. Click here to support The Meth Project and help kids stay away from this pitiful crap.

Best Buy for Boys and Girls

2011-11-21T10:06:00.000-08:00

If you’re familiar with what a “Facebook Check-in” is, you might want to give it a whirl at your local Best Buy store between now and November 27. Your visit will result in a $2 contribution to a great charity: Boys & Girls Club of America.

Personally, I think Best Buy should double – or even triple - the donation for each and every brave shopper who checks in on Black Friday, but that’s just me. Click here to find a store near you.

Flip side

2011-11-17T10:07:00.000-08:00

MDG doesn’t get many opportunities to write about wine (or any alcoholic beverages for that matter), so I’m delighted to get a chance to tell you about a fun – and very fitting - promotion between Flipflop Wines and Soles4Souls. Get it?

The curiously named winemaker is partnering with the hugely successful shoe charity for its “Flipflop Wines Give the Gift of Giving"contest.

One lucky winner will win a trip for four to a top-secret international destination to hand out shoes for those in need. And, hopefully, sample lots of wine while doing it.

Entry for this one is easy; all that’s required is for you to provide a bit of info on Flipflop’s Facebook page, Web site or Twitter account. And, of course, you’ll need a valid U.S. passport.

Kropaholic

2011-11-16T10:09:00.000-08:00

If you’ve got children who enjoy digging in the dirt, you might want to let them know about a new grant opportunity (i.e. not a contest) from Katie’s Krops. Green-thumbed kids aged 9 to 16 are invited to send in their most innovative ideas – including ones involving containers and/or rooftops - for starting a vegetable garden to feed people in their community.

The recipient of the grant (i.e. not contest winner) will be awarded a gift card to a garden center in their area (up to $400), support from Katie’s Krops, and a digital camera to document their garden creation and its ensuing harvest. Apparently, it can’t just look good; it has to produce.

Dig into more delicious details here.

Shop Small

2011-11-15T09:15:00.000-08:00

This isn’t technically charity-related, but it’s a great way to support small businesses in your community. Click here take the pledge to shop at local businesses in your area on Saturday, November 26, the day that happens to follow that other big shopping day.

Do your part to help financial minnow American Express make small business BIG business on Small Business Saturday.

Yes, We Can

2011-11-11T20:31:00.000-08:00

The 32,000 members of the Can Manufacturers Institute (CMI) - widely considered the world's most emotionally positive trade group until the formation of the Will Manufacturers Association - are readying to launch their second annual Great American Can Roundup School Challenge this Tuesday, November 15, in honor of America Recycles Day. And it seems that hundreds of K-12 schools are preparing to test their mettle and compete for the title of “Best Recycler.”

Well, I’m not sure if there’s an official title given to the top school recycler. But the CMI will award $1,000 per state to the school recycling the most beverage cans per capita, and an additional $5,000 to the national champion school.

Schools have to register online to take part in the challenge – which runs from November 15 through Earth Day, 2012 (April 22) – before December 15.

The Cute, The Proud, The Creative

2011-11-10T10:10:00.000-08:00

Here’s yet another idea for crafty kids to put their artistic talents to good use this holiday season. The National Museum of the Marine Corps is looking for a few good pieces of children’s art to be displayed at hospitals and rehabilitations centers throughout the world by the Wounded Warrior Regiment.

Artwork should be drawn, colored or painted on an 8 ½ x 11 sheet of paper with your name, hometown and grade level printed proudly on the back. All entries need to be postmarked by December 10 and mailed in a flat, rigid envelope to:

National Museum of the Marine Corps
Attn: Teacher in Residence
18900 Jefferson Davis Highway
Triangle, Virginia 22172

The prize for this one is the big smile you’ll be bringing to the face of someone who was wounded serving our country.

Have a Good Trip

2011-11-09T10:16:00.000-08:00

If you’d like to add a bit charity cheer to your Christmas, Hanukkah or Kwanzaa celebration this year, you might want to check out one of the six inspirational volunteer vacations offered by Hands Up Holidays. The company gets rave reviews for its perfect pairing of luxury travel with a “taste” of philanthropy, and sends do-gooders off to some pretty amazing places.

A few of their holiday itineraries include rescuing animals in Costa Rica, conserving the kiwis in New Zealand, building playgrounds in Morocco and teaching children in India. If you can’t get away this holiday season, don’t despair; they’ve got dozens of other volunteer trips of various lengths, activity and comfort levels.

So, whether you’ve flying solo or with family, are young or young-at heart, or prefer surf over snow, Hands Up will help provide you with an adventure that counts.

Picture Perfect

2011-11-08T10:08:00.000-08:00

You’ve only got a few days left to vote for your favorite ASPCA dog or cat. There are 23 awfully adorable animals to choose from including Summer and Harley from Austin, TX; Kelly and Keiko from Washington, D.C.; Melissa and Mia from Orlando, FL and Jeannine and Puppet from Philadelphia, PA (this might be my favorite!).

The top 15 photos and/or videos will win a $1,000 grant for their corresponding shelters. Cast your vote here before November 11.

Free Bird

2011-11-04T10:01:00.000-07:00

I know that I mentioned Farm Sanctuary not too long ago, but I couldn’t pass up the opportunity to fill you in on its new holiday promotion with Ellen DeGeneres. The comedienne/talk show host/vegan is teaming up with the now famous animal organization for its Adopt-a-Turkey Project, urging fans to go cold turkey on the turkey this Thanksgiving and instead adopt a bird for charity.

For a $30 donation you can choose from a flock of birds with names like “Skip,” “Antoinette,” “Amelinda,” "Anne Boleyn" (just kidding) and “Raphael.” Don’t worry, you’re not going to get an actual bird in the mail - much as a hoot that would be - but you will receive a color photo and fun facts about your rescued turkey, all of whom currently live very nice lives at one of Farm Sanctuary’s shelters.

Join Ellen in her new tradition of adopting a turkey instead of eating one. Visit www.adoptaturkey.org or call the Turkey Adoption Hotline at 1-888-SPONSOR.