A GREENER Giving Guide

If you’re sick of waiting in traffic, battling mall-goers, and seeing the spirit of giving ail the planet — and who wouldn’t be? — don’t despair. Holiday giving has its tradeoffs no matter how you shake the snowglobe, but there are ways to do good for the planet in the process. May we humbly suggest sharing the gift of the Center for Biological Diversity and your commitment to endangered species? Not only will your loved ones feel important because you’ve given them something important; they’ll also admire your dedication to the plants and animals of the world.

1. Give the gift of belonging…

... to the Center for Biological Diversity, that is. Wondering what to get for that person on your list who has everything — except the satisfaction of saving the planet? Give the gift that truly keeps on giving — all year long — with an annual gift membership, including a subscription to our chock-full-of-substance quarterly newsletter, Endangered Earth. We’ll turn your gift in the name of your deserving friend or family member into stronger protections for endangered species around the globe.

2. Get the season’s hottest apparel.

It may be cold outside now, but we’re all too aware: Climate change is heating up the planet, and fast. Luckily, we at the Center — the folks behind the original petition to protect the polar bear — are now more focused than ever on fighting climate change and its disastrous effects on species. Show your loved ones you’re doing something to help by checking out our online store and finding all their sizes in our organic cotton T-shirts and cap styles sporting our logo frog.

3. And erase extinction with style.

Trying to think of a gift for that person who has everything? How about an eraser with a message? We bet no one on your list has one of Kikkerland’s endangered species erasers — colorful, oversized erasers realistically shaped like rhinos, gorillas, and polar bears. Every time your loved one erases a mistake on paper, he or she will be reminded of one mega-mistake we’re all working on curbing: the extinction crisis.

4. Got a gear-head on your list? (Outdoors gear, we mean.)

Our friends at Patagonia® sure do know how to keep us warm, dry, cool, comfortable — or just plain spiffy. And they do great work for the Earth, too. There's no need to sign up or install anything; just follow this link to the Patagonia® Web site each time you want to shop there and 7 percent of your purchase amount will go to support the Center’s work.

5. Choices, choices, and more choices.

Want a larger selection of places to find gifts? That’s just where iGive.com comes in. This cyber-mall is much kinder and gentler than the big-box variety (read: you won’t need protective padding to get to the front of the line here!). And your purchases at hundreds of stores will help raise dollars for the Center. Choose from books, arts and crafts, gourmet food, garden tools, gifts for the family pet, and much, much more. Sign up today to support the Center through iGive.com and we'll get a $5 bonus donation when you make your first purchase.

6. Give to the nonhuman needy — endangered wildlife and plants.

Once you’ve found green gifts for all those Homo sapiens on your list, let the Center take care of the planet’s other species with a donation to our cause. Animals and plants may not know the holidays from a hole in the ground, but they sure feel the difference between recovery and teetering on the brink of extinction. Help us help them and you’ll get a warm feeling inside that’s better than spiked eggnog.