Gifts that Give back and the CSR Business Values Behind Them

The holiday shopping season is in full swing and many consumers are looking for gifts that give back to those in need. This is a growing trend towards the socially conscious consumer in that people are becoming more aware of the companies they are supporting having shared values as them. Given this trend, retailers are spotlighting their CSR business values to attract shoppers for the holidays and beyond. As a company that is proud of its CSR values, we have featured like-minded businesses who are helping to make your holiday purchases do more like TOMS Marketplace, AmazonSmile and Roma Boots. Companies either make a % donation with each purchase or apply the “One for One” concept made popular by TOMS Shoes and adopted by TOMS Eyewear along with Warby Parker, Moraleyes and BOBS by Skechers. The following companies offer consumers the opportunity to have their purchases give back to various worthy causes:

• Kite - School supply company, Kite, has adopted the “One for One” concept as they donate one package of pencils to a child in need for every package of pencils purchased. Kite donates pencils to kids domestically, in the United States, and abroad. They have partnered with the following programs and schools for their mission: KIPP Ujima Village Academy, Baltimore, MD, Anne K. Taylor Fund/Oloomongi School, Kenya and Uweza Aid Foundation, Kenya. Kite hopes to launch a full line and be able to donate other supplies to kids who need them. School supplies are always a great stocking stuffer and a useful gift, but Kite allows that simple present to have even more meaning.
• SOMB (Shirt Off My Back) – Another company who is working with the “One for One” model is SOMB. Philanthropy is intrinsically tied to this company as their name SOMB – shirt off my back – implies. This California-based business was founded around the idea of providing school uniforms to kids in Africa for every article of clothing they sell. The brand has also partnered with Right to Play. The laid back, street style clothing has become a favorite of celebrities including Britney Spears, Eva Longoria, Nina Dobrev, Floyd Mayweather, Adrian Grenier, Ryan Phillippe, Common, Cuba Gooding Jr., Game, Nelly and many others. They make a full line of clothes including everything from hoodies and t-shirts to sweat pants and yoga pants for both women and men. This is the perfect gift to give anyone who wants to look good while doing good.
• Freewaters - Freewaters, a shoe company, aims to bring clean water to those in need for every pair of shoes purchased. Freewaters believes “that access to clean drinking water is a fundamental human right!” The company makes sandals, shoes and boots for both women and men. As they say each “purchase provides a financial contribution that directly funds our grassroots water projects.” These stylish and comfortable shoes will make for a great give back holiday gift.

You can use a gift as an opportunity to open other people’s eyes to the fact that socially conscious consumerism can be both trendy and fashionable. As you can see there are many companies that are helping consumers make a positive impact in the world not just during the holidays but all year through.

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Miratel Solutions is a Toronto call centre, eBusiness, and letter shop mail house specializing in professional fundraising services including telephone fundraising, online fundraising, lottery services, donation caging, donation processing and other donor management services. We are committed to our CSR business values in all contact centre services and mail house operations and advancing the missions of the nonprofits we proudly serve.