Impact

10 GIFTS THAT OFFER DOUBLE DUTY BEAUTY NOW

Redwood Tree. Photo courtesy of the Archangel Tree Project.

Courtesy of Archangel Ancient Tree Archive. Redwood Tree.

Today we are featuring the most beautiful gifts that give back. They offer double-duty beauty. The 2014 holidays are over, but you can keep the spirit of giving going. And you will definitely want to, once you see the wonderful collection we have curated for you.

1. THE GIFT OF CHAMPION TREES CAN HELP SAVE THE EARTH

Give a gift for the planet.

This gift can help save our planet.

Trees make the air that we breathe. They feed and hold the soil that sustains us. Yet over 70% of the trees standing on our planet are dead and more are dying every day as a result of global warming and other human interventions.

Yet there are trees that have survived for thousands of years, despite our planet’s perils. They are Champion Trees. The Archangel Ancient Tree Archive has found a way to clone these trees, with the hopes that their clones possess the same survival abilities.

Imagine a newly planted forest of Champion Trees -- trees that can survive the worst -- trees that can continue to supply us with oxygen and nutrients -- trees that can keep us alive.

The Archangel Ancient Tree Archive is planting these Champion forests now at select locations around the world. For example, they are currently growing Archangel Coast Redwood clones, and their goal is to plant 2,000 trees in the coming year.

Give the gift of a Champion Tree.

2. RESTORE THE EARTH FOUNDATION

Here’s another gift of trees that can restore the Earth.

Did you know that the US has it’s own equivalent of the Amazon rainforest? It is the Mississippi River Basin. And like the Amazon, it has been under siege due to destructive agricultural and logging practices as well as climate change. It has been getting wiped out in massive swaths?

Restore the Earth Foundation is a not-for-profit organization dedicated to large scale forest restoration. Their plan is to restore at least one million acres of the Mississippi River Basin to its natural wetland forest state.

Since 2010, REF has successfully replenished more than 35,000 acres with native trees in eight Mississippi coastal counties and nine Louisiana coastal parishes. Your gifts can help them do even more.

REF has several different gifting programs available. Choose one and the Earth with thank you forever.

3. PUNJAMMIES -- GIFT OF COMFORT & JOY

Punjammies make a great gift for someone you love. They are colorful, comfy, cool, and they help women in need.

Punjammies is a project fostered by the International Princess Project, founded by Shannon Keith, in 2005. The mission is to give Indian women, freed from the chains of prostitution, a chance to rebuild their lives.

Punjammies employs 155 women who have been trafficked for prostitution so that they no longer have to struggle to survive outside of India’s brothels.

The women who sew Punjammies receive a higher than fair-trade wage income, along with housing options, medical care and, where applicable, education for her children. Under the care of IPP, they also become part of a loving, restorative community among other women and children who were formerly trafficked.

4. CUSTOM COLORFUL BOOTS -- GIFT OF HOPE & PRIDE

These beautiful boots are not like any we’ve ever seen before. They are handcrafted by indigenous people in Guatemala. Each pair is unique.

The boots are produced as part of a program initiated by Teysha, a shoe startup company that works directly with Central American artisans. Teysha’s mission is to provide income for indigenous communities in Colombia, Panama, and Guatemala.

Teysha also hopes to keep up the tradition of sewing and shoe making crafts that have been passed down from generation to generation.

Teysha is an eco-friendly business that also donates a portion of its proceeds to the Global Village Initiative.

Give a beautiful pair of boots and you can help these beautiful people. You can create your own shoe design here.

5. KITIGAN ABORIGINAL MOCCASSINS -- GIFT OF NATIVE SPIRIT

These super-plush moccasins are handmade of tan deer hide suede, with beautiful traditional beadwork, topped with real beaver fur trim. They are made by Aboriginal artists native to Ontario, Canada.

These are just one example of a wonderful collection of of artisan items produced in conjunction with Kitigan, a social initiative that provide Aboriginal artists an opportunity to share their art with the world.

Many of these artists don’t have access to the mainstream marketplace due to poverty, remoteness, social exclusion, and inexperience navigating the art marketplace. Kitigan helps them to promote, market, and sell their work.

Give a pair of Kitigan moccassins to spread the beauty and the love.

6. 31 BITS ARTISAN NECKLACES -- GIFT OF KNOWLEDGE & BEAUTY

This gorgeous hand beaded necklace is only one example of the extraordinary designs created by Ugandan women as part of 31 Bits. Its whimsical design features mint paper beads, intricately sewn around gold glass beads.

31 Bits uses fashion and design to empower people to rise above poverty. The artisans in their program are receiving a sustainable income and holistic education, empowering them to rise above poverty.

Give a 31 Bits necklace to a friend so she can look great while doing good.

7. DIAMOND WATER DROP BRACELET -- GIFT TO QUENCH A UNIVERSAL THIRST

This is one of the coolest bracelets of its kinds. Called the Diamond Water Drop, its braided leather band sports a beautiful sterling silver water drop studded with a 0.2 ct diamond.

The bracelet was created by Kwiat Diamonds who has partnered with Charity:Water to help bring safe, clean drinking water to people in developing nations.

100 percent of the proceeds from the sales of the bracelet will go to Charity:Water. In just four years, Charity:Water has developed clean water solutions for more than 1.4 million people in 17 countries across the world.

Give the Diamond Water Drop Bracelet to a friend who will not only appreciate its beautiful style but its beautiful mission as well.

8. GIFT OF SIGHT -- ORBIS

Sight is a gift so enormous in scope and significance that we often take it for granted. We shouldn’t.

Your gift to ORBIS International can help them treat millions of at- risk, blind, and visually impaired people all over the world.

Since 1982, ORBIS International has helped over 23 million people in 92 mostly underdeveloped countries receive quality eye care -- all delivered by a pool of over 500 volunteers.

Give the gift of si ght with a donation to Orbis.

9. GIFT OF FUTURE -- UBUNTU EDUCATION FUND

Give a township a doctor this holiday season.

In Port Elizabeth, South Africa, most of the population is profoundly poor. An enormous number of children are orphaned, having lost parents to HIV/AIDS. With little or no access to education, jobs, health care and support, the people who live there have had little or no chance.

Because people at the Ubuntu Education Fund believe that your birthplace shouldn’t determine your future, they have been working, since 1999, to help the most vulnerable people of this region by offering health and education services and much needed support.

Thanks to the efforts of UEF, over 400,000 people are seeing a happier, healthier present and much brighter future. Now there are children who not only want to be doctors when they grow up, but who are fulfilling their dreams and giving back to the community.

Give the gift of a future. It might just be the most precious gift of all.

10. TOBACCO LEAF VASES -- GIFT OF ENTERPRISE

It’s hard in Haiti, a country long besieged by economic and environmental disaster. But one special initiative is helping a group of Haitian artisans to rise above it all.

Urban Zen, founded by Donna Karan, commissions them to make beautiful objects using native natural materials. They have created a line of gorgeous vases and vessels made out of locally grown tobacco leaves. Large brown tobacco leaves are shaped by hand, to show off their distinctive veining. They make a striking statement both visually and socially. And they make especially beautiful gifts.

The Urban Zen Haiti Artisan Project is dedicated to creating a sustainable model of philanthropy and commerce. It not only supports the artisan communities of Haiti, but it also preserves the country’s rich culture.

Enter your own images and ideas about Beautiful Gifts in this week’s creative Photo Competition. Open for entries now until 11:59 p.m. PT on 12.28.2014. If you are reading this after that date, check out the current BN Creative Competition, and enter!