Alexandra's Donor Story: Giving Across Generations

Alexandra shared with us the wonderful story of how she decided to use TisBest Charity Gift Cards to teach her grandkids about giving.  She already sets a positive example for them with her own charitable efforts, but wanted to show them first-hand how great it feels to know you’re doing good for others.

"I was not raised in a family that thought about charity. We were so darn poor growing up, my parents struggled just to put food on the table.  But the older I get the more I realize how blessed I am. Not in material things… but in love and a sense of security because of that love.

"My grandchildren are blessed with a stable loving family and they never want for 'things.' How will they know that there are people in this world who haven’t, for whatever reason, been blessed in that same way?"

Alexandra found TisBest online and says she thinks the gift cards and easy-to-use online database are “brilliant.”  She and her daughter guided the kids through the TisBest website and helped them think through where their gift would go.

"I hope they will carefully look at the charities and see which ones help someone, somewhere, to get a little boost so they can help themselves. 

And here’s the thing. I know right now my grandkids could care less about researching and making an informed decision. But I am planting a seed. It took me a long time to learn the lesson of sharing and the miracle of emptying your cup so it can be filled again. I’m hoping they will learn that lesson a lot earlier.

When I am long gone, I want to think that they will be teaching their grandchildren the fine art of sharing their blessings. Selfishly, that thought brings me great comfort."

Thanks for reading,
The TisBest Team

www.tisbest.org

Giving corporate gifts? Read this amazing post from SkillStorm highlighting their 2009 TisBest Charity Gift Card program

The following is an excerpt from a SkillStorm.com blog post.


As You Begin to Think About Your Holiday Budget for 2010, Consider the Gift that Keeps on Giving

"'Gifts are a part of business culture, but meaningful gifts aren’t easy to find. That’s where the TisBest Charity Gift Card comes in. It’s a meaningful gift you can give to anybody, anytime.' – TisBest

Although the holiday season is several months away, it’s never too early to start considering your holiday budget. How about sharing the gift that keeps on giving – a Charity Gift Card from TisBest! There are many options out there when considering business gifts, but TisBest Gift Cards are unlike any other. Charity gift cards are gaining popularity in the corporate gift giving world. In fact, 40 percent of the charity gift card sales are to businesses who in turn give them to employees, clients, prospects, etc.

Last holiday season, we partnered with TisBest.org to donate $15,000 to charities chosen by our very own employees. To do this, we first sent a survey out to employees at our organization on whether they wanted to receive employee gifts and parties or instead donate monetary donations to charities across the country. When all was said and done, the decision was unanimous: employees elected to forego expensive holiday parties for the benefit of charity..."  Click here to continue reading.

A big "way to go" to the leadership and staff at SkillStorm for leading and fueling the giving movement!

-The TisBest Staff
www.tisbest.org

Our First Homemade Video: Why Charity Gift Cards?

Erik and I wanted to introduce ourselves to you all in person, and at the same time to tell you a little bit about why we do what we do.

Here's a little video we made with Re-Vision Labs - enjoy!



(And hey, if you like the video, would you please share it with your friends and families? We're hoping to really spread the idea of charity gift giving this holiday season. Thank you!!)

-Jon

JUMPING CRACKER BEANS TEAMS WITH TISBEST

TO INTRODUCE NEW GREETING CARDS THAT BENEFIT CHARITIES

San Jose, California, July 28, 2009 – At a time when charitable giving levels have dipped precipitously along with the economy, international Card of the Year winner Jumping Cracker Beans, LLC is teaming with TisBest Philanthropy to make it easy to give a one dollar donation whenever you send a holiday, birthday, thank you or all occasion greeting card. Each greeting card in this new 12-design collection comes printed on textured, core-dyed card stock with an elegant iridescent envelope, and features a one dollar TisBest charity gift card. Card recipients simply go to the TisBest website, www.TisBest.org, and select one of more than 250 charitable organizations to receive their one dollar donation.

Charitable organizations on the TisBest website include such mainstays of charitable giving as the American Red Cross, Habitat for Humanities, UNICEF, Sierra Club, Doctors Without Borders, PBS, and the American Heart Association, as well as numerous other well-known and less well-known organizations working to make a better world.

Many charities can put a single dollar to good use for generic medicines, nails for shelters, food and other basic needs. At the American Humane Association, for example, a single dollar donation can feed a starving, abandoned pet for a day, provide a daily dose of antibiotics to an abused, suffering animal, or supply bandages for a pet hurt in a natural disaster.

Cumulatively, such single dollar donations can add up to create significant support for charitable organizations. One of the new Jumping Cracker Beans charity donation greeting cards features a charity gift card with the image of a drop of water magnifying the tiny veins of a leaf. As the card’s message says: “a single drop …amazing…and with enough you can fill an ocean.”

Jumping Cracker Beans greeting cards are handmade in the U.S. by Goodwill, and all, including these new charity donation greeting cards, retail for $4.95. See them online at www.jumpingcrackerbeans.com, or request a printed wholesale catalog at info@jumpingcrackerbeans.com; or by phone: 408.416.1676; or toll free fax: 866-723-9092.