Millions For A Cause: Top 10 American Givers

Written by guest blogger Bethany Bowen

The past nine months of economic turmoil has been difficult on all of us. Being in college has spared me a little from the woes of a recession, so when I buy extra clothes to fill my already full closet, I view it as “stimulating the economy” (or when I shop at Uptown Liz I’m stimulating the economy AND supporting worthy causes)! Even in this period of uncertainty and locked spending, a few stars in the world of philanthropy have continued to shine. CEOs and high profile individuals like Bill Gates, co-founder of Microsoft, and William Barron Hilton, co-chairman of the Hilton hotel chains, gave millions of dollars to worthy causes last year.

BusinessWeek recently ran a story, “Top 10 American Givers”, featured on Yahoo. The philanthropists included: Warren Buffet, Bill and Melinda Gates, George Kaiser, George Soros, William Barron Hilton, The Walter Family, Herbert and Marion Sandler, Peter Peterson, Donald Bren, and Michael Bloomberg. In the past year, these individuals gave over $200 million, and nine of them gave more than $100 million!

Warren Buffett, CEO of Berkshire Hathaway, also the world’s second-richest man, gave $40,655 million to charity from 2004-2008. He is a well known supporter of the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, pledging over $31 billion. He also invests in the Susan Thompson Buffett Foundation, the Howard G. Buffett Foundation, and the NoVo Foundation, all of which are family foundations started to support various causes.

This past July, Bill Gates, also widely accepted as the world’s wealthiest man, went from being full-time at Microsoft to full-time at his foundation, the Bill & Melinda Grant Foundation. According to its Web site, their foundation gives grants in order to “help all people lead healthy, productive lives. From 2004-2008, the Gates gave $2,625 million to charity.

Personally, I find it hard to wrap my mind around the grand scale of charitable giving exercised by this leader. After reading the article, if you feel like stimulating the economy while supporting a worthy cause, take a look at Uptown Liz.

Voting For A Cause - CNN Heroes: An All-Star Tribute

Written by guest blogger Bethany Bowen

What defines a hero? Someone who runs into a burning building? Someone who works two jobs to feed his or her children? Or is it someone who finds the cure for a disease? The term “hero” takes on its own unique description depending on the person using the term, and for each of us, the word probably generates a face.

CNN is currently asking for your vote to determine this year’s CNN Hero of the Year. This Thanksgiving night at 9 PM EST, CNN will air its “CNN Heroes: An All-Star Tribute” from the Kodak Theatre in Hollywood. The show will announce the winner of the online voting for CNN’s Heroes. This is the third annual contest that awards heroic people who exhibit extraordinary accomplishments. This year, over 9,000 nominations were received, and a Blue Ribbon Panel narrowed the field down to 10 finalists. The winner will receive a $100,000 grand prize, and the other nine finalists will receive $25,000. From an advocate for child prosthetics, to a cancer survivor mobilizing mammograms, these stories are amazing and are tissue-worthy to say the least.

My vote went to Brad Blauser, a Dallas, Texas native and a Texas A&M graduate. Blauser lives and works in war-torn Baghdad, Iraq, where he runs his non-profit organization, Wheelchairs for Iraqi Kids. An estimated one in seven Iraqi children is disabled due to disease or illness. These children are viewed as liabilities, and many are left immobile or forced to drag themselves on the ground after becoming too big for their parents to carry. Wheelchairs for Iraqi Kids has delivered over 650 wheelchairs to date, and Blauser has yet to cash a pay-check. I may be a little bit biased being a Texas A&M student, but Blauser’s dedication to change and passion for helping is what defines the term hero to me.

To read Blauser’s and the other nine finalists’ stories click here and vote for your 2009 CNN Hero. Voting ends November 19th at 6 AM EST. For ways to support charities or shop for philanthropic products visit Uptown Liz.

Drink for a Cause: American Airlines Serves ONEHOPE Wine

Written by guest blogger Bethany Bowen

Sitting down with a glass of wine is a luxury, a relief, a habit to many people, but now it can also be a way to give back to charity. ONEHOPE Wine gives 50% of all - yes ALL - profits year-round to various worthy causes including Aids, Autism, Breast Cancer, our military and the environment. The company, founded in 2006, began with an idea in a grocery store, when an epiphany hit Jake Kloberdanz, one of ONEHOPE’s eight founders. Six months later, the “idea” was incorporated and the business was born.

Today, ONEHOPE is a proud retailer featured on Uptown Liz and can be purchased online or in various stores and restaurants across the country. The company is dedicated to uniting philanthropists and supporting causes; their Web site states, “Today, we're called ONEHOPE. It's more than a name, it is in every sense a culture, a lifestyle, and an umbrella under which many causes can be served and millions of lives made better.”

ONEHOPE recently partnered with American Airlines; now you can give back while enjoying a glass of wine at 35,000 feet. Each month a different wine is featured on board flights and 50% of the profits will benefit breast cancer research, supporting our troops and reforestation projects to help the environment. During October, order a glass of Chardonnay, in November, drink Zinfandel, and during in December, enjoy a Sauvignon Blanc. Whether you are a wine connoisseur or a party host, pop a cork and support deserving causes.


To see wines offered by ONEHOPE, or other charitable products visit Uptown Liz.

Drive For A Cause: Test Drive A Ford & Benefit Susan G. Komen For The Cure

Written by guest blogger Bethany Bowen

The auto industry has been at the heart of economic discussions throughout the recent recession, but despite the current situation, Ford, the fourth largest auto maker in the world, continues to find a way to give back. Now through December 31st, if you test-drive a Ford vehicle, the company will donate $20 on your behalf to Susan G. Komen for the Cure. To participate in this e one-of-a-kind offer, register online here before going into a dealership. Personally, I recommend test-driving a Mustang; you can’t go wrong with this classic.

For the past 15 years, Ford has been a National Sponsor of the Komen Race for the Cure; they have reached 1.5 million race participants at 115 events annually. Beyond this sponsorship, Ford encourages employees to participate in the race, with an astounding 50,000 plus workers responding to the request, and thousands of Ford dealers supporting local races in their area. To date, the company has donated more than $100 million to the cause.

Warriors in Pink is an initiative started by Ford to encourage survivors, family, and supporters to paint themselves in pink and participate in the Komen Race for the Cure. Symbols of the warriors include a heart, dove, feather and more, which can be found with their meanings on Ford’s Warriors in Pink Web site. The goal of Warriors in Pink is to reach beyond race participants and extend the emotion to non-racers.

I applaud Ford for their philanthropic efforts, especially in a time of economic uncertainty. This is a great opportunity to support breast cancer research and awareness while shopping for your next car, or while taking a thrill ride in a V6 Convertible Mustang. To see the vehicle line-up, visit Ford’s official Web site, and for more ways to shop for a cause, visit Uptown Liz.

Eating for a Cause: Sheryl Crow Shares 8 Family-Friendly, Cancer Fighting Foods

Written by guest blogger Melissa Long

After being diagnosed and surviving breast cancer, singer Sheryl Crow shares some family-friendly foods that help fight cancer and boost your immune system. In fact, the American Institute for Cancer Research recommends that at least two-thirds of your plate should be filled with vegetables, fruit, whole grains and beans. By eating nutritious foods, you live a healthier life. Here is Sheryl’s list of foods that help you beat illness:

1. Whole grains
2. Beans ( kidney, garbanzo, and lentils)
3. Berries (strawberries, blueberries, and raspberries)
4. Tomatoes
5. Cruciferous vegetables (cabbage, cauliflower, and broccoli)
6. Dark green leafy vegetables (spinach and romaine lettuce)
7. Grapes and grape juice
8. Walnuts

For more information on cancer, check out the American Institute for Cancer Research and to find products that benefit cancer research, shop at Uptown Liz.

National Breast Cancer Awareness Month Celebrates 25 Years

Written by guest blogger Bethany Bowen

October means pink: pink ribbons, pink products - even pink products with pink ribbons on them. The use of the pink ribbon began in1991, when the Susan G. Komen for the Cure handed out pink ribbons to participants at a New York City race for breast cancer survivors. Today we recognize this as a symbol for Breast Cancer Awareness, and this is largely due to the efforts of National Breast Cancer Awareness Month (NBCAM).

This year is the 25th anniversary of National Breast Cancer Awareness Month. According to their Web site, NBCAM is a partnership of national public service organizations, professional medical associations, and government agencies working together to promote breast cancer awareness, share information on the disease, and provide greater access to screening services. NBCAM started with founding members American Academy of Family Physicians, AstraZeneca Healthcare Foundation and CancerCare, Inc. They passed out information, spoke to the media, and testified before Congress about the need for wide-spread access to mammography. Their intention for the then week-long event was to fill the information void about breast cancer.

Today, the month of October is full of events sponsoring breast cancer awareness and research. Events include Race for the Cure (currently held in over 100 U.S. cities), Breast Cancer 2 Days, Breast Cancer 3 Days, Ride to Empower, Global Illumination, and Pink days. All events rally supporters, survivors, and activists in an effort to raise funds and awareness. Also, throughout the month of October many products “go pink” to donate money to breast cancer funds. You can find products supporting this worthy cause on Uptown Liz.

Lastly, the National Breast Cancer Awareness Month Web site is a year-round resource for anyone who might need it. They encourage everyone to visit their site regularly as they update information and resources.

For today, let’s put on our pink ribbons, and recognize 25 years of awareness and strides towards a cure.

Lighting for a Cause: Streeter Place Goes Pink in Chicago

Written by guest blogger Bethany Bowen

Streeter Place, Chicago’s brand new residential high-rise, is helping its residents “think pink”. In conjunction with National Breast Cancer Awareness Month, the residential building will be lighting up pink in an effort to literally shine a light on Breast Cancer Awareness. This type of dedication, which is an inspiration for everyone impacted by the disease, towards the promotion of awareness and education is exactly what helps make National Breast Cancer Awareness Month a success!

Golub & Company just recently opened its new rental building, Streeter Place, located at 355 E, in Chicago’s Streeterville neighborhood. The company is partnering with Lynn Stage Cancer Research Foundation to show its support for Breast Cancer Awareness and research by using pink lighting to light the building, walkways, and parking area, throughout the month of October.

For more information about Streeter Place, please go to their Web site at www.streeterplace.com. For more ways to support Breast Cancer Awareness, visit Uptown Liz.

Bring on the pink!