Road Jes Traveled

Whether it’s for the tax deduction or the warm fuzzy feeling giving to others generates, tons of Americans plan to make a charitable donation over the holiday season. In fact, nearly 60 percent of Americans say they’ll donate sometime between Thanksgiving and Christmas, according to a survey reported in the Chronicle of Philanthropy. With so many worthy causes, it's difficult to know where a donation can best be used.   Gifts to the WorldVision Gift Catalog Maximum Impact Fund are used where resources are most desperately needed, to help children and families in struggling communities around the world. With a financial contribution, the gift giver can select one of 36 Maximum Impact items (a few are listed below) that can be given to a loved one and at the same time help a person in need. Please consider the unique, life-changing items from World Vision’s Gift Catalog as you start, continue or even complete of your holiday shopping. Here are a few examples of ...

Charity by Design is a beautiful jewelry collection from  Alex and Ani . They work closely with different charities and organizations to create unique pieces of jewelry that represent the message that each wants to get across. Each piece has a different meaning, purpose, and a slightly different look from the rest. I love that their designs are simple, classy, and can be paired with almost any outfit. These bracelets are a perfect addition to my arm candy obsession! :) PLUS Alex and Ani is an eco-friendly business that uses recycled materials to create their products. Learn more about these priceless pieces and shop at  AlexandAni.com .

"Just as one values the beauty of a print, Give Prints values the beauty of lives changed." Professional photographers and charities from around the globe have come together to form  Give Prints . The process is simple. Buy a photograph, select a charity, done! 50% of the cost of your purchase goes to one of their partner charities. Here are some of my favorite photographs from their online shop: "Thread" by Samantha May: Starting at $25 "US Open Wall" by Ryan Longnecker: Starting at $25 "Red Door" by Kara Marnell: Starting at $25 "Peace" by Jenn Gibello: Starting at $25 Each photo is available in a variety of sizes. View their selections and learn more at  www.giveprints.com .

Specializing in PR & Marketing, I've come to appreciate the efforts involved in maintaining a small business. Additionally, I've gained a great admiration of businesses who give back to their community by hosting events, donating proceeds of their sales to charities, or even businesses that are entirely based off of charitable concepts. That being said, I thought it would be fitting to blog about these businesses that I've become so passionate about. To me, these threads I purchase are priceless. So shop on, my friends. And do it with a purpose.