‘Tis the season for gifting, although many of you know that I give gifts all year round as the spirit moves me. In the past, we’ve offered suggestions for experiential and subscription gifts that let recipients know that you’re thinking about them beyond the holiday season. As I strive to live by my core values (compassion, generosity, and trust), giving back to others is of paramount importance. This year, I’m considering ways to honor those in my life with a donation to a charity that has meaning to them. Another version of this is gifting through companies that donate a portion or all of the proceeds to charities.

On the Community page of the Dane Austin Design website, you’ll find a list of organizations that we support. Here’s a resource for finding great non-profits! If you don’t know where to begin, here’s one place to start with your philanthropic endeavors.

Fenway Health - We’ve written about FH before and how much good work this organization does within the community.
Habitat for Humanity Boston - With locations throughout the country, Habitat for Humanity builds strength, stability, and self-sufficiency through shelter.
Artists for Humanity - Provides underserved teens keys provides under-resourced teens the keys to self-sufficiency through paid employment in art and design. Bridging economic, racial, and social divisions, AFH enriches urban communities by introducing young people's creativity to the business community.
Heading Home - This organization is one of Boston’s leading providers of emergency shelter, transitional, and permanent housing for extremely low-income families and individuals currently or formerly experiencing homelessness. Our housing-plus-services approach sets clients on a pathway to self-sufficiency.
Tommy’s Place - We participated in designing a room earlier this year at Tommy’s Place on Cape Cod where families can vacation for one week and forget about cancer treatments for their loved ones.
Barakat - Every year Landry & Acari sponsors the NEH 5 Under 40 event, and the charity beneficiary is Barakat. Their mission is helping communities through education, in Afghanistan and Pakistan, particularly young girls and women

One of the holiday gift boxes from Serve Kindness

GIFTING THAT GIVES BACK

Serve Kindness - Artisan glass vases and bowls in colorful hues. It has been fun to consult with the owners Jillian and Melissa on their color choices!
Bombas - With their one purchased, one donated business model, Bombas has donated more than 50 million pairs of socks to shelters and their distribution partners since their founding.
Yoobi - Yoobi partners with the Kids In Need Foundation to donate a school supply to a classroom every time you buy one of its products. We're fans of its sturdy notebooks and weekly calendar planner pads. So far, it's donated supplies to more than 4 million students.
Olivela - A luxury site where purchases count towards chemotherapy and other needed services through the company’s charity partners. Highend fashion and jewelry designer brands like Bvlgari, Gucci, Saint Laurent, Missoni, rag + bone, and more participate.
Warby Parker - First this innovative company disrupted the eyewear industry, now it gives eyeglasses to the underserved.

Otis Bradford, beloved pet of Dane & Josh

FOR OUR BELOVED PETS

The pet industry is booming, especially with the millions of animals adopted during the pandemic. We love supporting companies that give back to the pet-loving community.

Chewy - The leader in online pet shopping, Chewy has a robust charity program.
PetSmart - Pet Smart is so big that they’ve created their own charitable arm: PetSmart Charities that support adoptions, and many organizations that help animals in need.
Animal Rescue League of Boston - A local resource and champion for animals.
New England Aquarium - Not just for whale watches and visiting the adorable penguins, the NEA conducts vital research about ocean life and rescues!
Shelter to Soldier - Their website says “saving lives, two at a time” by matching shelter dogs with post 9/11 veterans. There are other organizations that place retired police and military dogs in family homes.
Humane Rescue Alliance - Washington, DC - A tenacious advocate for animals, building an alliance that can tackle the systemic challenges facing animals in our region and beyond, with the goal of saving more lives.
DC Paws Rescue - Washington, DC - This non-profit organization is committed to rescuing homeless animals from high-kill animal control facilities that are often under-resourced and under-funded. They rely on foster homes to save animals’ lives.

the deCordova Museum & Sculpture park — The deCordova Museum & Sculpture Park in Lincoln, MA

SUPPORTING THE ARTS

We’re always up for art-related gifting. Memberships to any of our wonderful local museums make lovely, thoughtful contributions to support the arts. These institutions also have wonderful gift shops that provide ongoing support. Among our favorites (including Dane’s Alma Mater):