Global Gift Cards

No one really wants another tie or another set of gift soaps, but everyone wants to help others. For the last decade I have given holiday gifts to charities for the holidays instead of buying things for people I love. I still give gifts on birthdays and throughout the year as I find things as "surprise" gifts", but I no longer give physical gifts when other people give them at the end of the year.

I don't remember exactly how or why I started this tradition; I probably heard of someone else doing it or I was simply too frustrated trying to find parking and gifts when everyone else was trying to do exactly the same thing at the same time. But now my nontraditional tradition has roots and branches as others have adopted this holiday twist over the years.

Some people would like to both give to charity and also have something tangible to give to their loved ones, so Global gift cards may be the perfect solution to provide both a 100% charitable solution for all your gift needs and at the same time providing a physical card you can give people showing your gift in their name to a charity of their choice. You can send an e-card which will be delivered on the date you specify or you can print out your gift at home and insert it into a card or stocking. Depending on the amount of your gift card, Global Giving will also give you a hand crafted scarf from Nepal when you donate $75 or more, and you will get a complimentary copy of the book "Growing Up Global: Raising Children to Be At Home in the World" when you donate $100 or more with the code "GROWNUPS" at checkout.

So for all of you who hate to shop but love doing good for the global family, this is a great way for your recipients to choose the charity they would like to receive this year's holiday cheer.