Making a Difference + Thrity-One Tote Giveaway

Can you believe Thanksgiving is tomorrow?

I hope you all have a wonderful holiday with your family and friends, eat tons of delicious food and take time to give thanks for all that you have. We will be getting up before the sun comes up tomorrow morning to run the turkey trot in Tennessee where my parents live.  That means I get to eat more, right? 😉 

Today I am taking a break from sharing a recipe to talk about Giving Tuesday which provides an opportunity to make a different in the lives of others by focusing on charitable giving during the holidays.  

Charitable giving has been a big part of my life for some time now.  Before moving to Cleveland in December and leaving my full time job, I was a grant writer for a non-profit organization in Chicago.  I always knew deep inside that I wanted to work in a non-profit organization where I could contribute in some way to the world around me and make a difference in people’s lives.  Volunteering, charitable giving and helping those in need is a priority in my life and one I am working on instilling in my children.

I am excited to be partnering with World Vision and Thirty-One Gifts this year.  On Dec. 1, 2015 – the 4^th annual #GivingTuesday – World Vision will partner with Thirty-One Gifts to help charitable donations make twice the impact.

On #GivingTuesday, every donation made by phone (1-888-511-6588) or online (Worldvisiongifts.org) to World Vision will be matched by Thirty-One Gifts – a direct-selling company offering totes, purses and more {if you don’t own some of these bags they are the best, especially to help you get organized and for those with kids} – with a donation of one of their products, such as a tote bag or blanket, up to a total of $1 million worth of products for women and girls in need around the world. 

 Thirty-One bags, like the one I am giving away today, have been distributed to volunteers in Burundi, who use the totes to carry materials for educating families about malnutrition. Before receiving the totes, volunteers like Renathe Kabageni, pictured below, carried all of their materials and equipment by hand. The simple gift of these tote bags preserves teaching materials and makes it easier for volunteers to visit each home. 

Products donated to World Vision on #GivingTuesday through this partnership will be shared with communities in need so that women like Renathe are able to continue the important education they are providing. 

Since it began in 1996, the World Vision Gift Catalog has grown in popularity as a gift-giving alternative; featuring over 100 ways to improve the lives of children through gifts such as: clean water, food, medicine, education, job training and small business loans, among others. Gifts range in price from $16 to $39,000 and can be made in a loved one’s name.  Last year alone more than 822,000 people were helped through the Catalog.

I am also giving away this Zip-Top Organizing Utility Tote ($35 value) from Thirty-One Gifts with free embroidery ($7 value).  Enter below in the rafflecopter.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

If you don’t know a lot about Thrity-One they were founded on the principle of helping women and is known for their charitable heart. In 2012 they founded a philanthropic initiative called Thirty-One Gives and to-date has donated more than $80 million in cash and products to nonprofit organizations that empower women and girls and support families. The product you are receiving, from the Thirty-One Gives line, gives back as well with a donation of 31 cents from every sale going to a philanthropic fund. It also delivers an inspiring message on the inside with encouraging words for women. For more information, visit their website at www.thirtyonegifts.com. 

Again, to order from World Vision’s Gift Catalog, visit this page, or call 855-WV-GIFTS.

You can learn more about World Vision  by visiting their Facebook page at /WorldVision and Twitter at @WorldVisionNews.