charity

Giving Back with Cause-Driven Giveaways

Just like we revamped our website for the new year, we’re also approaching how we handle giveaways. Here’s more from Gugu Guru founder, Monica Banks.

You definitely heard Monica correctly: We’re giving back this year by making all of our giveaways cause-driven giveaways! We feel incredibly excited about what cause-driven giveaways will mean for you, for our brands, and for those charities and philanthropies that will benefit from this effort.

As we continue to partner with the best brands for babies, parents, and families, we do so not just to bring you great products but to also give back in various ways. We look to create meaningful partnerships with brands that have a give-back angle already in place or founders who have a passion about giving back to different causes. By approaching our giveaways in this manner, we will help raise awareness for a variety of important causes and give back to the community in the process.

Additionally, you will see a round-up on our shop (in the cart) which features rotating charities receiving donations throughout the year. This feature will allow you to check out causes and charities on your own time as well. We know our Gugu Guru parents feel passionate about philanthropic endeavors. We wanted to make it easy to learn more and give back to ones that pique your interest.

This new approach allows us to continue to feature products while making it less about the “stuff” and more about what we can do, together with you, to benefit those in need. Our approach to giveaways this year is based on parents like you. Be sure to stay tuned for our cause-driven giveaways and how each one will give back to our community. We can’t wait to roll this out and start giving back throughout the year.

Charitable Holiday Gifts

by Christine Swearingen Leave a Comment

Sometimes, you just don’t need any more “stuff”! We rounded up some of our favorite charitable causes for gifting this year from honor gifts, to gift cards, to monetary donations to worthy causes.

Gifts for Moms

The Hunger Project: The mission of The Hunger Project is to end hunger and poverty by pioneering sustainable, grassroots, women-centered strategies and advocating for them in countries throughout the world. They believe that to achieve a sustainable solution to hunger, those living in hunger need access to education and tools to end hunger for good.

Postpartum Support International: Did you know? 1 in 7 Moms and 1 in 10 Dads suffer from postpartum depression. Postpartum Support International is a non-profit organization serving the needs of pregnant, post-loss, and postpartum women and families all over the world, at no cost to women and their families. They provide direct, informed support and resources to families, train professionals, and connect them together.

Every Mother Counts: Every Mother Counts works to make pregnancy and childbirth safe for everyone, everywhere. They work to achieve quality, respectful, and equitable maternity care for all by giving grants and working with partners and thought leaders to increase awareness and mobilize communities to take action.

Heifer International: Heifer International works to end hunger and poverty in partnership with the communities they serve. The programs support entrepreneurs around the world, beginning with a seed investment of livestock or agriculture, followed by mentorship to help project participants build a business, and ultimately to gain access to supply chains and markets. These families are able to earn a living income and continuously lift up their communities as they train the next generation of leaders.

Gifts for Babes

Ferst Readers: Ferst Readers wants every child to have the best start in life, and the key is having books in the home and being read to from birth. Children in the Ferst Readers literacy program receive a bookstore-quality, age-specific book, and resources mailed to them at home every month until their fifth birthday. It’s this access to print that helps create a language-rich environment in the home.

March of Dimes: March of Dimes leads the fight for the health of all moms and babies, with the belief that every baby deserves the best possible start. Today, they educate medical professionals and the public about best practices; support lifesaving research; provide comfort and support to families in NICUs; and advocate for moms and babies. They guide moms through every stage of the pregnancy journey and are fighting for babies and advocating for their health with the tools, technology, and knowledge needed to build a brighter future for all.

National Diaper Bank Network: Did you know that 1 in 3 U.S. families experience diaper need? The NDBN provides the necessities required to build the strong foundations all children, families, and individuals need to thrive. Babies without clean diapers are exposed to more potential health risks. In partnership with diaper banks, allied programs, donors, sponsors, and elected officials, they work to end diaper need and period poverty in the United States.

World Vision: World Vision is a Christian organization working to help communities lift themselves out of poverty. They do this by partnering with children, families, and their communities to tackle the root causes of poverty and injustice through health, education, economic empowerment, and more.

Smile Train: Smile Train is an international children’s charity with a sustainable approach to a single, solvable problem: cleft lip and palate. Children with untreated clefts around the world have difficulty eating, breathing, hearing, and speaking. Cleft treatment is safe, and the impact on the child is immediate. Smile Train has supported more cleft surgeries than all other global charities combined. They partner directly with local hospitals to strengthen health systems and empower local medical professionals to offer surgical services and comprehensive cleft care to children in their own communities.

Cause-Driven Baby Registry: Owlet

by Gugu Guru Leave a Comment

Continuing with our Cause-Driven Registry with Nicole Ryan, this week we feature a different kind of mission with Owlet baby monitors. Owlet aims to create the highest quality product for the value, and ultimately envisions a day where every baby goes home from the hospital with a monitor like Owlet. It’s what they call the “car seat effect”…

40 years ago, nobody used a car seat when driving with their baby. Babies were held in laps. 40 years ago, about 400 babies died each year in car crashes. Obviously, that has totally changed today. You can’t leave the hospital without a car seat. Somebody came up with the idea of an infant safety seat, something convenient that also kept your baby safe.

When we look at babies who pass away due to breathing problems, it’s about 4,000 infants per year. This is 10x more of a problem than car seats ever solved. The occurrences of healthy infants passing away at home in the crib due to breathing issues is far too high, and many of these deaths are preventable.

Owlet is working toward a future where far fewer tragedies are happening to the infants we love so much. The ability to integrate medical technology in a baby sock is going to change that. Owlet wants to create a world where every baby comes home from the hospital with a health monitor like the Owlet sock. It just makes sense. Infant health monitoring will become standard, and Owlet will be a leader in that. Owlet can provide a platform that gathers and collects data of health in the home.

Cause-Driven Baby Registry: Cuddle + Kind

by Gugu Guru Leave a Comment

Cuddle + Kind is known for their adorable stuffed animals, dolls and prints – all of which have a deeper meaning and give back to the larger community. Each of their dolls are ethically produced by artisans in Peru from premium natural cotton. All the dyes are non-toxic, making them a perfect soft toy for babies and toddlers. Each of their dolls and animals are available in two sizes and comes with a cute backstory and birthday. The detail into each little creature is impeccable, not one stitch was overlooked in the process! Each stuffed doll or animal comes with a signature quote which you can purchase in a gorgeous art print; these would make a perfect baby shower gift or nursery decor! The best part about Cuddle + Kind is that for every purchase of a doll, they will donate 10 meals to children in need. Throw in an inspirational quote print and you’ll be donating another 5 meals, as well! Beyond the meals, all of their hand-knit dolls are ethically produced in Peru where they provide incredible artisans with a sustainable, fair trade income.

Cause-Driven Baby Registry: Lorena Canals (+ giveaway!)

by Gugu Guru Leave a Comment

Continuing with our cause-driven registry picks: Lorena Canals rugs, already a favorite, staple brand of European mothers and fathers, are carefully handmade from 100% cotton, safe for any baby’s room. The dyes used are also non-toxic, which is important when you consider you’ll be laying your infant on the rug for tummy-time and as they grow they’ll be crawling around everywhere. The rugs are of the utmost softness, making it comfortable for parents to sit on the floor and little feet to jump and dance.

The best part about Lorena Canals rugs is that you can wash these rugs right at home in your regular laundry machine. Lorena Canals understands that babies and kids can be messy, but you shouldn’t have to sacrifice style and ease! Not only are these rugs practical and safe, they’re also beyond stylish. They come in a plethora of colors and styles; these rugs will match any nursery theme, from polka dots, skulls, angel wings, butterflies, numbers, letters, clouds, stars, flags and more. Lorena Canals rugs will accent your child’s room now, and are guaranteed to become a family heirloom which you use for many, many years.

What’s even more wonderful is that with the purchase of a Lorena Canals rug, a customer helps a child attend school in Northern India through the company’s Sakula project. Lorena Canals believes that education is the key to mobility and vital in breaking the poverty cycle. Their customers not only help children to get an education but also the opportunity to live a better life.

Cause-Driven Baby Registry: Finn + Emma

by Gugu Guru 2 Comments

We continue our cause-driven registry campaign this week with Finn+Emma.

Finn + Emma, is a 100% organic baby clothing, toys, play gyms, and accessories one-stop-shop. Finn + Emma is a blend of classic and contemporary, modern and whimsical, stylish and utilitarian baby items, all of which are free from any toxic chemicals. Finn + Emma believes that beautiful and healthy baby items can be both sustainable and stylish; there is no need to sacrifice style to keep your baby safe from chemicals!

Finn + Emma’s play gyms are made from a 100% birch wood frame finished with non-toxic stains and lacquers (free of lead, phthalate, nickel, mercury, and VOC’s). All of the attached wooden toys are non-toxic, made from all natural untreated indian hardwood buffed with vegetable seed wax. The knit dolls were made with phthalate-free rattles inside and hand knit from organic cotton. All of their clothing is 100% organic cotton and uses eco-friendly dyes, safe for your baby’s skin.

Do–goodies (pictured above) are lovies made from upcycled scraps of Finn + Emma products that are soft, hand-sewn in the U.S.A, and best of all — a portion of the purchase will be donated directly to KaBOOM!, a national non-profit dedicated to giving all kids the childhood they deserve, filled with balanced and active play.

Nicole Ryan’s Cause-Driven Baby Registry

by Gugu Guru Leave a Comment

Gugu Guru is so excited to announce the launch of a baby registry which is close to our hearts. Gugu Guru and popular, nationally renowned Sirius XM Radio Hits 1 Morning Mashup host Nicole Ryan have partnered on a campaign to make thoughtful product choices for Nicole’s second baby due in September 2016. Gugu Guru has handpicked select baby companies and products that are tied to a charitable cause and/or are mission-driven for her Cause Driven Baby Registry.

Each Tuesday on the Sirius XM Radio Hits 1 Morning Mash-Up, tune in to “Tell Us Something Good” segment, where Nicole will introduce a brand on this registry for good and discuss how the company gives back. Gugu Guru is teaming up with Nicole to highlight each of these socially conscious brands over here on our blog, along with a giveaway each week!

Here’s a full list of companies which we’ll be highlighting:

Finn + Emma: Creates baby clothes, toys and gifts made from organic cotton and wood with modern stylish prints and colors. Do-goodies are lovies made from upcycled scraps of Finn + Emma products that are soft, hand-sewn in the U.S.A, and best of all — a portion of the purchase will be donated directly to KaBOOM!, a national non-profit dedicated to giving all kids the childhood they deserve, filled with balanced and active play.

Loyal Hana is a collection of stylish comfortable garments that enables the modern woman to transition from the bump, the boob and beyond. Loyal Hana hearts baby2baby, which helps over 67,000 children a year in the greater Los Angeles area by distributing new and gently used items to over 50 organizations including homeless and domestic violence shelters, Head Start programs and hospitals.

Lorena Canals: Handmade machine-washable rugs that are stylish and practical. With the purchase of a Lorena Canals rug, a customer helps a child attend school in Nothern India through the company’s Sakula project.

Cuddle + Kind: Ethically produced, hand-knit dolls that help feed children in need. With the purchase of one doll, 10 meals are provided to children in need.

Owlet: The occurrences of healthy infants passing away at home in the crib due to breathing issues is far too high, and many of these deaths are preventable. Owlet hopes for a future where far fewer tragedies are happening to the infants we love so much. The ability to integrate medical technology in a baby sock is going to change that.

4Moms: Makes dramatically better baby gear by leveraging robotics, technology, and innovative design to solve parents’ problems. 4moms Cares is the charitable arm of 4moms. Our mission is to dramatically impact the lives of children and families in need through meaningful product donations, hospital discounts, and by supporting our local communities.

Naturepedic: Naturepedic handcrafts certified organic mattresses without questionable chemicals, providing a healthier night’s sleep for the whole family. Naturepedic supports dozens of organizations like the Environmental Working Group and One Percent for the Planet, promoting environmental stewardship and healthful wellbeing.

DockATot: DockATot is a multi-functional lounging, playing, and snuggling dock for baby and tots 0-36 months that was created with love in Sweden. DockATot will be donating $1 for each DockATot sold on our site during the months of June and July to Project Night Night, an organization that helps homeless children (ages 0-12).

TWELVElittle: TWELVElittle creates fashionable and functional diaper bags for the moms and dads who need it all. TWELVElittle dedicated one of their bestsellers – Carry Love Tote to Every Mother Counts, and for every bag sold, are donating 5%. For special occasions and holidays, they dedicate a month to a specific non profit organization for every product sold, donate 5% to the organization.

UPPAbaby: UPPAbaby makes high-quality baby products that fit the needs of your new life as a parent, while appealing to the sense of style you’ve always had. UPPAbaby is committed to giving back and supporting worthy causes and organizations that align with our mission and core company ethos.

Matimati Baby: Matimati Baby designs and makes stylish yet functional baby bandana bibs for all little ones. Through Matimati Baby’s “drooling for a purpose” campaign our brand donates a percentage of all sales to Chain Reaction, a non-profit organization that fights human trafficking in Asia.

Babies4Babies: Creates swaddle blankets with fashion forward prints and colors, made in America. Babies4Babies works with Saving Mothers to help prevent infant deaths in developing countries.

Follow Along!

To follow along week-by-week as Nicole introduces these products and companies, follow her on Twitter, Instagram, and Facebook – and, as always, Gugu Guru will be posting on our Twitter, Instagram, and Facebook, too!

Nicole Ryan's Cause-Driven Baby Registry

by Gugu Guru Leave a Comment

Here’s a full list of companies which we’ll be highlighting:

Cuddle + Kind: Ethically produced, hand-knit dolls that help feed children in need. With the purchase of one doll, 10 meals are provided to children in need.

DockATot: DockATot is a multi-functional lounging, playing, and resting dock for baby and tots 0-36 months that was created with love in Sweden. DockATot will be donating $1 for each DockATot sold on our site during the months of June and July to Project Night Night, an organization that helps homeless children (ages 0-12).

Babies4Babies: Creates swaddle blankets with fashion forward prints and colors, made in America. Babies4Babies works with Saving Mothers to help prevent infant deaths in developing countries.

Follow Along!

charity

Gifts for Moms

Gifts for Babes

Footer

Follow Us:

COME AND GET IT!