We are an e-commerce business with 5 stores and employ mostly 16-24 year old women. (Check out our About Me and staff pages). We sell jewelry, but we really are in the business of mentoring young women in the art of business. All aspects of our business are managed in-house by our staff (HTML, graphics, advertising, souring, etc). A large part of being a good person and a good business is being conscious of ecological and social issues. The Givingworks program allows us to practice this in everyday business.

I have heard of eBay Givingworks, BUT what is “MissionFish?”

The eBay Givingworks program is backed by the research of MissionFish. MissionFish is a non-profit who’s “Mission” is to aid charities and help them to obtain funding and make the most of their resources. An approved eBay Givingworks charity is one in which MissionFish has background checked and processed the mountains of paperwork needed to accept funding from eBay members. After a sale, MissionFish transfers funds between seller and charity.

What can I do to “Shop for a Cause?”

As a Buyer – On eBay, look for the eBay Givingworks ribbon on Listings. A portion of that particular sale is going to benefit a cause. Searching these items is always benfical to both you and the charity. Raising awareness of these causes may change your life or the life of someone elses.

As a Seller – Sell for YOUR cause! Both eBay Givingwork's and MissionFish's pages can give you more details. It is easy to sign up through the “Sell Your Item” form. Feel free to email us if you have any questions, we are always willing to help other sellers get started!

As a Charity – You can get registered at MissionFish and have people sell to benefit you!

Kwaze-Kwasa, Inc

Kwaze-Kwasa is a unique organization which gives extremely impoverished and AIDS infected individuals the chance to earn a steady income by selling their arts and crafts through the internet and in retail stores. According to their website, "all of the products are made under fair trade contracts, and every worker receives a livable wage above local market rates. 100% of total net profits are returned to the same communities for their non-government grassroots AIDS orphan programs."

Kwaze-Kwasa means "the new dawn" in isiZulu. This charity truly provides those living in these devastating conditions with a new dawn, and a fresh start. By purchasing items through this organization, every sale provides these people with the chance to earn their own money and maintain steady employment. Not only do they feel a sense of fulfillment by being able to have money, they also have the satisfaction in knowing that they created something beautiful that, through this charity, they can share with the rest of the world. This organization does not only look at the issue of poverty in Africa. They also work closely with credible AIDS organizations (already established in those areas) in order to enable home-based hospice care for those living with AIDS, as well as provide children orphaned by the AIDS epidemic with transportation, food, shelter, schooling, and other needs. They believe that by teaming up with organizations that are already working alongside those living in Sub-Saharan Africa, they are better able to see their needs, and can better help them to direct funds where they are needed most.

We believe that this organization's unique approach to helping those who are impoverished and living with AIDS is what makes it so successful. They are not forcing help on those who need it; they are giving them the tools that they need so that they can make their own living, and feel good about providing themselves with a steady income. We love that this organization empowers the people living in these areas by giving them a chance to better their lives through creating beautiful works of art.

Browse items being sold to benefit Kwaze-Kwasa

For breast cancer awareness month our company, is supporting the Elka Best Foundation through eBay Givingworks. This organization is a growing resource for cancer patients looking for an alternative to conventional chemotherapy. According to www.elkabest.org, IPT is a "procedure for administering conventional chemotherapeutic drugs that turns cancer cells' characteristic ability to thrive and survive against themselves." It uses insulin to "stimulate division in cancer cells" as cancer fighting techniques work best when the cells are splitting.

Conventional chemotherapy causes many traumatic side effects such as hair loss, physical and mental fatigue, anorexia as well as strengthened cancer cells. Because the IPT hones in on only malignant cells, side effects are virtually zero. The only recorded side effects are nausea and loss of appetite, which were only mild. Cancer patients turn to IPT in order to maintain their active and healthy lifestyle. The last thing anyone wants to do is stop living their life because of pain. By using IPT, cancer patients can continue to live full and regular lives. The Elka Best Foundation believes that chemotherapy shouldn't get in the way of living your life. They are working to spread the word that there is a better alternative out there, and that there are doctors who practice this procedure all over the world.

We believe in the Elka Best Foundation, and hope that some day IPT will be the top choice of chemotherapy patients. By supporting this cause, we are helping to spread the word around the world that there is a better way to fight cancer, one that doesn't interfere with your body and life. This foundation is a great resource for all cancer patients, and works with you to help find a doctor closest to you who practices this procedure. They want everyone to know about IPT, and so do we. We hope that you'll let someone you know about this great alternative, as well as spread the word about the great work of The Elka Best Foundation.

Shop to Support The Elka Best Foundation!

     The Sports 4 All Foundation is dedicated to helping those with disabilities become active participants in sports. They do this by providing funding, equipment, and support to those who need it..

 Since the beginning of 2007, Sports 4 All Foundation has served:
•1347 people with disabilities through donation of
•231 pieces of gear to
•22 agencies in
•6 states and
•11 counties in the United States

With only 2 full time staff members, the Sports 4 All Foundation truly demonstrates their passion for the cause through these statistics. These two people have helped so many, we are happy to help raise funds to see them keep up the good work, and expand this much needed resource to as many as they can.

Sara Koppelman, one of the two full time employees of Sports 4 All, relayed to us this inspiration story from one of the people they have helped.

“Keke is a recent recipient of hard to find gear made possible through funds donated by generous people. Keke’s dream of participating in the 2008 Special Olympics Winter Games was nearly squashed. After countless frustrating days of combing through thrift shops searching for waterproof snow ski bibs in her size, Keke decided to forget the whole thing. Again, her dream had died and Keke felt left out of the sport. Keke’s unique request for a special size of waterproof snow ski bibs came to Sports 4 All. With funds raised through donation by generous people, Keke received a new pair of warm, waterproof bibs, a reason to believe in her dreams, a sense of value, confidence, and well-being. Keke went on to win a medal at Winter Games. Donations and support from people who believe in the abilities of people with disabilities helps support Sports 4 All’s Mission: improving the quality of life of individuals with disabilities by providing funding, programming and equipment to enable full participation in sports and recreation activities.”

We chose Sports 4 All for eBay’s spotlight because we believe that everyone deserves an equal opportunity to live a happy, healthy life. Thanks to Sports 4 All, those with disabilities are gaining more recognition, and are finally getting the attention they deserve. We hope that by supporting them, we can help them to make a difference. For more info please visit www.s4af.org

Shop to Support the Sports 4 All Foundation!

     One Laptop per Child, founded by Nicholas Negroponte, is an organization that “creates educational opportunities for the world's poorest children by providing each child with a rugged, low-cost, low-power, connected laptop with content and software designed for collaborative, joyful, self-empowered learning.” They are dedicated to providing less fortunate children in developing countries with an opportunity to better themselves with education.

A personal story from our most brilliant employee
"A very wise teacher showed our class the episode of 60 minutes where they investigated Nicholas Negroponte and his vision of a more educated world. The video touched my heart. When I saw the faces of the young Cambodian children light up as they experienced using a computer for the first time, it made me think, how can something as simple as a laptop change a child’s life? Well, it is not the laptop itself that makes a difference for these children; it’s everything the laptop provides. For these children, these laptops mean a chance to better themselves through education, and it gives them the opportunity to have a better life." - Amber Carrier (Html and Graphics Manager at Raefield Designs)

Here at Raefield Designs, we feel One Laptop per Child’s mission is one that should be supported. They are creating an opportunity for children around the world to become educated, which is something we are automatically given in America. We take advantage of education in our country, since it is the norm. For these children, the education that the laptop provides is a unique opportunity since most children don’t make it past the fifth grade. We believe this is a fantastic charity that is doing amazing things for people all over the world, and that by supporting them, we can help to make a difference.
For more information on Negroponte’s Mission or to make a donation to One Laptop Per Child, please visit www.laptop.org

Shop to Support One Laptop Per Child!