» gif t gu id e 20 1 6
It’s Good To Give
When your gifts give back. Here, a few of our favorites.
Stacy Gittleman | Contributing Writer
Garlic Galore
W
Darn Good Yarn
Hope Mirror
hen a mass-produced
Mercier ($25; pictured) to benefit
imported product
the Laura Mercier Ovarian Cancer
from a big-box store
Fund.
simply will not do, several local
Elysa Koppelman White of
and national organizations offer
Huntington Woods got some
gift ideas that will not only please
of her entrepreneurial friends
your friends and loved ones, but
together to host an online and live
also give back to a worthy cause.
fundraising event to benefit Facing
The National Retail Federation
Our Risk of Cancer Empowered
estimates that U.S. households will
(FORCE). The Florida-based non-
spend an average of $935.58 this
profit with offices in Detroit and
holiday season. That translates
Ann Arbor provides counseling
into billions of dollars that can
education and support for those
go a long way to improving our
genetically predisposed to heredi-
Cuddle + Kind dolls
planet in a far-away rainforest
tary breast, ovarian and related
or by helping under-privileged students in our own backyard. Beyond Giving Tuesday,
cancers.
many local stores and crafters are selling products to snuggle up to, bedazzle a neckline
She put the word out to local vendors (listed below). Through Dec. 15, each will
or make your skin glow while also improving the world around us — in the spirit of our
donate 10 percent or more of its earnings to FORCE. Some of the participating compa-
Jewish commandment of tikkun olam.
nies include:
Jillian Berger owns Ruby’s Balm on the Boardwalk in West Bloomfield (facebook.com/
■ ArBonne skincare product consultant Sara Kravitz of West Bloomfield (sarakravitz.
rubysbalm), a boutique selling bath and body products along with a few clothing and
arbonne.com). The botanical-based environmentally friendly beauty-product line
accessory items. She also likes to stock gifts that benefit others and give to causes that
was founded in Switzerland in 1975 and brought to the United States in 1980. It also
support those with cancer. Such products include the Cozy Chic Covered in Prayer
gives grant funding to build the self-esteem of teens through the Arbonne Charitable
Blanket from Barefoot Dreams ($250). All sales from this blanket benefit the Wunder
Foundation. Products include a Pampermint Foot-Care Duo with exfoliating foot scrub,
Project, a colon cancer research charity. Berger also sells the Hope Mirror from Laura
cream and accompanying fuzzy socks ($48).
34 December 8 • 2016