At Raw Natural Beauty, we put a lot of focus on giving back and so I am always excited when I see other companies making an extra effort.  It truly makes me feel better buying from companies that care!  Even in these tough economic times, it’s great to see the way people and corporations pulled together to support the earthquake victims in Haiti and now sadly, in Chile. Like former Japan soccer captain Hidetoshi Nakata, who auctioned off a pair of soccer boots that raised almost $1.5 million for Haiti disaster relief! (Can you imagine having something so valuable lying around in your closet!?!).  The beauty industry is also stepping up to help, such as hair care trendsetter Alterna.   From now until supplies last, Alterna will donate $2.00 to Haitian Relief Efforts (through the Red Cross) for every purchase of CAVIAR Rapid Repair Spray and HEMP With Organics Spray Shine Bonus Size.  Great products helping to rebuild lives…gotta love it!

Since I’m talking about giving back, I have to mention Aveda, the natural beauty company who I think sets the standard when it comes to sourcing ingredients, responsible packaging, and renewable energy.  A few of their giving campaigns include donating 100% of the proceeds from the sale of their Light the Way™ Candle to Global Greengrants Fund’s water-related projects, and their annual Earth Month, which has raised over $14 million dollars for environmentally-focused nonprofit groups since its start in 1990.

I think one of the most creative initiatives was the rerecording of “We Are the World” that took place almost 25 years to the day since the 1985 hit for African famine relief was recorded.  I can’t make it through the video without getting teary-eyed – it’s so powerful!  The original “We Are the World,” written by Michael Jackson and Lionel Richie raised more than $30 million for African hunger relief and I think this new version will be just as successful!

If you want to help donate, you can buy both the new version of “We Are the World” ($1.29) and the accompanying video ($1.99) on iTunes Proceeds from each download go to the newly formed We Are The World Foundation, a not-for-profit made up of board members Quincy Jones, Lionel Richie, Wyclef Jean, Paul Haggis, Randy Phillips and Ambassador Louis Moreno of the Inter-American Development Bank. All 80+ celebrity artists agreed to forego payment and  iTunes has waived its share of the proceeds for downloads during the first month of the campaign.  Talk about a team effort!

Interested in doing more?  CNN has a roundup list of well regarded organizations and how they will utilize your donations.  I’m going to wrap up with this interesting quote from Albert Einstein, “More and more I come to value charity and love of one’s fellow being above everything else…”

What are you doing to give back?

Tags: beauty, cosmetics, hair care products, Natural & Organic

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