October Shopping for a Cause buying guide

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October Shopping for a Cause

The big push in October is to "think pink"; October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month. October is also Domestic Violence Awareness Month, which has adopted purple as its signature color. There are relatively few products on the market that raise funds for domestic violence awareness, but there is a glut of products on the market to raise money for breast cancer research--everything from cosmetics to home appliances has been dipped in pink. Below are a few picks, plus what you should know about shopping for a cause.

Contents

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1 Breast Cancer Awareness
    1.1 Home and Garden
    1.2 Sports and Outdoors
    1.3 Health and Beauty
    1.4 Miscellaneous
2 Domestic Violence Awareness
3 External Links

Breast Cancer Awareness

Breast cancer awareness has just about taken over the month of October, with pink products lining store shelves everywhere you turn. Some of the top organizations that benefit from these products are listed in the external links section. Here are some great picks.

Home and Garden

Rowenta's pink Focus iron costs about $80, and 100% of the profits go to the BCRF.

KitchenAid's Cook for the Cure line donates 10% of their sales to the Komen Foundation.

Igloo's pink Playmate Pal cooler helps Igloo donate $30,000 to the Komen Foundation.

Several companies offer pink breast cancer awareness bouquets, which often arrive in a pink porcelain vase.

There is also breast cancer awareness stationery. Look for a pale pink, since fuschia is usually a bit much if you're over the age of 10.

Sports and Outdoors

Grizzly makes pink weightlifting gloves which cost about $24. For every sale, $2 goes to the Canadian Breast Cancer Foundation.

Wilson's Hope line includes tennis rackets, balls, bags and accessories. For every sale they make a donation to the BCRF.

New Balance makes Lace Up for the Cure gear, which would look fantastic with your breast cancer awareness socks.

Water bottles are another product that has gone pink. They are available from several companies.

Pink may not be your color, but you can still show your support throughout your daily routine with these Power of Pink hair setters from Conair.

Health and Beauty

Philosophy Shower for the Cure is similar to Philosophy's other 3-in-1 shampoo, bath, shower gel except this time the net profits will be donated to EIF Women's Cancer Research Foundation.

DuWop Power Kiss is cute little kit containing the original DuWop Pink Shimmer Lip Venom and lip plumper. CEW's Cancer and Careers will receive a portion of the proceeds.

C.O. Bigelow has teamed up with cartoonist, author, and cancer survivor Marisa Acocella Marchetto to create the Cancer Vixen Survival Kit. $250,000 will be donated to The Breast Cancer Research Foundation.

Murad's Energizing Pomegranate Lip Therapy is rosy, hydrating and shields your lips from the sun. Not only that but 10% of each sale goes to The Breast Cancer Research Foundation.

OPI Hearts of Pink is a cheery shade of nail polish that is sure to complement any outfit, but even better, its sales guarantee that the Susan G. Komen Foundation will receive a minimum donation of $25,000.

One hundred percent of the profits for Cake's Milk Made Velveteen Hand Cream will go to Rethink Breast Cancer.

Estée Lauder's OJON Revitalizing Mist is a refreshing leave-in conditioner. Also refreshing? 20% of its sales go to The Breast Cancer Research Foundation.

Sales of Origins' best-selling Peace of Mind On-the-Spot Relief help ensure that $35,000 will be donated to The Breast Cancer Research Foundation.

For each $14 sale of Bumble and Bumble Classic Hairspray, $10 will be donated to The Breast Cancer Research Foundation.

A $15,000 donation from sales of Jo Malone Red Roses Cologne and Bath Oil will go to The Breast Cancer Research Foundation.

Miscellaneous

For each Pink Ribbon DS Lite purchased, Nintendo is donating $5.00 to the Susan G. Komen For the Cure fund, with a guaranteed minimum of $100,000.

This cute little Aware the Bear Beanie Baby has a big pink ribbon on her chest.

Jewelry featuring the pink ribbon emblem is widely available. Look for necklaces, bracelets, earrings and pins.

You can also buy various article of clothing featuring the pink ribbon, including t-shirts, tank tops, sweat pants, and socks.

Fiskars has a pair of pink scissors -- proceeds go to the Komen Foundation.

Domestic Violence Awareness

There are far fewer "purple ribbon" products on the market, but there are a few companies that are working to break the cycle of domestic violence.

Liz Claiborne is involved with NCADV through Love is not Abuse. Some of the company's most popular brands are Juicy Couture, Kenneth Cole, and Elisabeth -- you can read a full list here.

Netaya's Sterling Silver Fundraising Heart Lariat necklace helps raise funds against domestic violence, with net proceeds going to the National Teen Dating Abuse Helpline.

Avon uses 100% of the net proceeds for its Speak Out merchandise to support their Speak Out Against Domestic Violence program.

There are a number of pieces of jewelry, mostly bracelets, that show your support for organizations which help women escape abusive partners.

External Links

Breast Cancer Organizations

Breast Cancer Research Foundation -- this link will take you to their home page, while this link will take you to a complete list of their corporate partners.
The Komen Foundation -- and their list of corporate partners.
FindArticles.com -- a comprehensive list of beauty companies that will donate money to the cause.
BeautyBlogNetwork.com -- a helpful resource page on beauty products that support breast cancer awareness and research.
Libby Ross Foundation
Rethink Breast Cancer
CEW's Cancer and Careers
EIF Women's Cancer Research Foundation

Domestic Violence Prevention Organizations


Rowenta's pink Focus iron costs about $80, and 100% of the profits go to the BCRF.	KitchenAid's Cook for the Cure line donates 10% of their sales to the Komen Foundation.	Igloo's pink Playmate Pal cooler helps Igloo donate $30,000 to the Komen Foundation.	Several companies offer pink breast cancer awareness bouquets, which often arrive in a pink porcelain vase.	There is also breast cancer awareness stationery. Look for a pale pink, since fuschia is usually a bit much if you're over the age of 10.


Grizzly makes pink weightlifting gloves which cost about $24. For every sale, $2 goes to the Canadian Breast Cancer Foundation.	Wilson's Hope line includes tennis rackets, balls, bags and accessories. For every sale they make a donation to the BCRF.	New Balance makes Lace Up for the Cure gear, which would look fantastic with your breast cancer awareness socks.	Water bottles are another product that has gone pink. They are available from several companies.	Pink may not be your color, but you can still show your support throughout your daily routine with these Power of Pink hair setters from Conair.


Philosophy Shower for the Cure is similar to Philosophy's other 3-in-1 shampoo, bath, shower gel except this time the net profits will be donated to EIF Women's Cancer Research Foundation.	DuWop Power Kiss is cute little kit containing the original DuWop Pink Shimmer Lip Venom and lip plumper. CEW's Cancer and Careers will receive a portion of the proceeds.	C.O. Bigelow has teamed up with cartoonist, author, and cancer survivor Marisa Acocella Marchetto to create the Cancer Vixen Survival Kit. $250,000 will be donated to The Breast Cancer Research Foundation.	Murad's Energizing Pomegranate Lip Therapy is rosy, hydrating and shields your lips from the sun. Not only that but 10% of each sale goes to The Breast Cancer Research Foundation.	OPI Hearts of Pink is a cheery shade of nail polish that is sure to complement any outfit, but even better, its sales guarantee that the Susan G. Komen Foundation will receive a minimum donation of $25,000.


One hundred percent of the profits for Cake's Milk Made Velveteen Hand Cream will go to Rethink Breast Cancer.	Estée Lauder's OJON Revitalizing Mist is a refreshing leave-in conditioner. Also refreshing? 20% of its sales go to The Breast Cancer Research Foundation.	Sales of Origins' best-selling Peace of Mind On-the-Spot Relief help ensure that $35,000 will be donated to The Breast Cancer Research Foundation.	For each $14 sale of Bumble and Bumble Classic Hairspray, $10 will be donated to The Breast Cancer Research Foundation.	A $15,000 donation from sales of Jo Malone Red Roses Cologne and Bath Oil will go to The Breast Cancer Research Foundation.


For each Pink Ribbon DS Lite purchased, Nintendo is donating $5.00 to the Susan G. Komen For the Cure fund, with a guaranteed minimum of $100,000.	This cute little Aware the Bear Beanie Baby has a big pink ribbon on her chest.	Jewelry featuring the pink ribbon emblem is widely available. Look for necklaces, bracelets, earrings and pins.	You can also buy various article of clothing featuring the pink ribbon, including t-shirts, tank tops, sweat pants, and socks.	Fiskars has a pair of pink scissors -- proceeds go to the Komen Foundation.


Liz Claiborne is involved with NCADV through Love is not Abuse. Some of the company's most popular brands are Juicy Couture, Kenneth Cole, and Elisabeth -- you can read a full list here.	Netaya's Sterling Silver Fundraising Heart Lariat necklace helps raise funds against domestic violence, with net proceeds going to the National Teen Dating Abuse Helpline.	Avon uses 100% of the net proceeds for its Speak Out merchandise to support their Speak Out Against Domestic Violence program.	There are a number of pieces of jewelry, mostly bracelets, that show your support for organizations which help women escape abusive partners.