LUSH Charity Pot = effective cause-related marketing

Photo credit: LUSH

In 2007 LUSH launched a program called Charity Pot. Since then the charity has been able to raise over $10,000,000 for more than 850 grassroots charities in 42 different countries. LUSH gives 100% of the proceeds to the charity that is indicated on the lid of the pot.

Charities supported by LUSH range from humanitarian to environmental and animal rights. Of you of the charities that have benefited from the charity pot program are:

• Victory Community Development Society
•  Supporting sustainable community building and poverty alleviation in Northern Ethiopia.
• For the Children
• Every student should have school supplies to begin each school year regardless of socio-economic status.
• Equality New Mexico
•  Equality New Mexico is the state's LGBTQ advocacy and civil rights organization.
• Project Coyote
• Promoting compassionate conservation and coexistence between people and wildlife 
• Honor the Earth 
• Honor the Earth: a national environmental Native-led organization protecting our sacred waters, land and relatives.
• Spirit Bear Research Foundation
• Conducting locally relevant, ecosystem-based wildlife research addressing pressing conservation concerns in Canada’s Great Bear Rainforest.

This cause-related marketing is effective because it allows people to buy a useful product (lotion) encased in

Photo credit: LUSH

attractive packaging. Each pot has a picture and description on the lid of the charity that proceeds from the sale will help fund. Purchasers of the charity pot also aren't limited to donating to just one charity as the program has a number of different pots offering support to a wide number of different charities.

LUSH already has other initiatives that make it  a very socially responsible company. All of the companies products are ethically sourced, environmentally friendly and are not tested on animals. The companies ethical efforts is a huge part of it's brand.

The charity pot program has also been tied into some of the companies other intiatives making it an even more attractive buy. Each charity pot includes 7 ingredients from the companies SLush Fund projects around the world. The SLush Fund mandate is: 2% of the amount spent on raw materials and packaging is used to invest in sustainable farming and community projects from scratch.

Charity Pots can be purchased online or in store. Charities that are interested in applying for funding can do so here.

- Thea Ness

KidSport Calgary

What is it and what does it do?

Kid Sport Calgary is a charity that helps children whose financial situation is less than fortunate. Organized sports can be very expensive and many families with little money cannot afford to enroll their children in organized sports. 

I like this charity because I believe that being a part of organized sports is important in a childs life. Playing sports allows kids to have fun and maybe focus on something other than possible negative things going on in their lives. Being part of a team is also a great way for children to make friends which is an important part of childhood.

Kidsport supports to children in order to remove financial barriers that prevent them from playing organized sports. They do this by: 

• Raising funds to provide sport opportunities for kids facing financial barriers.
• Promoting the KidSport mission to other community agencies with a view to creating strategic alliances to support sport participation and physical activity opportunities for kids.
• Advocating the importance of all kids having access to sport programs and advocate the value and benefit of kids playing sport in the pursuit of lifelong health and wellness.
• The values that kidsport hopes to intill in children are:
• Co-operation
•  Team play and friendship
• Commitment to goals
• Personal excellence
• Healthy competition
• Self-esteem
• Respect

How can you get involved?

You can donate by sending a cheque to KidSport Alberta, PO Box 94011 Elbow River, Calgary AB, T2S 0S4. For an idea of what it means to donate to KidSport here is a list of what dollar amounts can buy a child:

•  $50 - a child can learn to swim
• $90 - a child can learn to skate
• $125 - a child can participate in soccer
• $175 - a child can participate in gymnastics or football
•  $500 - a child can join hockey/ringette

If you want to do more than just donate why not volunteer for one of KidSports events. You can get involved by reaching out to Manager of Events and Volunteers, Dayna Hyman at 403-202-0251 or email daynah@kidsportcalgary.ca.

For more information and ways on how to give to KidSport Calgary visit this link: http://kidsportcalgary.ca/

- Thea Ness