• ANIMAL BOARD BOOKS Animal Board Books are available at the Children’s Art Project (CAP), located at the University of
Texas M.D. Anderson Cancer Center. All CAP proceeds are invested in pediatric patient
programs, bringing normalcy and promise to young lives interrupted by
cancer. CAP has given over $24.5 million to support ski trips, summer
camps and art classes for pediatric cancer patients. [Ages infant to age 4] $7 Available at retail outlets and at childrensart.org
• RESCUE PET This
puppy supports pet rescue shelters across the U.S. This little pup will
walk or swim to its owner, and encourages kids to be nurturing and
responsible with their Rescue Pet. The toy has been named one of the
top 10 “nurturing pets” by the NPD group, a consumer-goods
clearinghouse. [Ages 3 and up ] $29.99 Target, Wal-Mart, Toys ‘R’ Us
• KOHL’S FOR KIDS All
of the net profits benefit children’s health and education initiatives
nationwide. Since the program’s inception in 2000, Kohl’s has raised
more than $126 million toward that mission. [Ages 3 to 8] $5 each Kohl’s stores or kohls.com
• POLAR CUDDLE CUB A
portion of the proceeds benefits Conservation International, an
organization committed to helping societies adopt a more sustainable approach to development. Sold at Cloud B along with an assortment of other cuddly critters, Polar Cuddle Cub comes with a vibrating heart.
The tactile sensations are designed to nurture and comfort a child as
she gets ready for sleep time. [Ages 3 and up] $29 cloudb.com
HOLIDAY TIP: GIVE A GIFT IN SOMEONE'S NAME You can start by contacting Olive Crest, the organization that supports abused and at-risk children and families. Buy
a specific gift for a specific child: Olive Crest can provide its kids’
wish lists, so that your donation can be targeted to particular
children. They even offer individual wish slips bearing the first name,
age and wish of each child, making the experience more personal for
everyone involved. For example, maybe your dad is a baseball fan, and
10-year-old Johnny from Olive Crest wants a glove for Christmas. What
a perfect match! olivecrest.org