Holiday gift guide: Gifts that give back

Gifts that give back

Love links

This Canadian-made, 10K-gold strand can be broken into a necklace (for mom) and a bracelet (for baby) during difficult moments apart, then reconnected into a single piece after the happy reunion. One hundred per cent of profits go towards Sunnybrook Hospital's Moms and Babies Foundation.

$180, Sleepy Owl Baby.

Charity pot

Lather up with this rich hand-and-body lotion made from butter, glycerine, traces of floral fragrance and rosewood oil. One hundred per cent of its retail price is divided between small grassroots organizations focused on environmmental conservation, animal welfare or human rights (some examples include Not Far From the Tree and Voice for Animals).

$26, Lush.

Hudson's Bay Charity Bear

Meet Maud, this year's cuddly collector's bear. She comes with serious Canadian cred, since she was named after Maud Watt, the only woman ever inducted into Montreal's Beaver Club for her services to the fur trade. One hundred per cent of net profits from each bear goes to the Hudson's Bay Company Foundation, supporting Canadian family, community, and sports organizations.

$20, The Bay.

Kiva card

Go for a gift card that truly pays it forward. Choose a low-income entrepreneur from thousands around the world (all with incredibly inspiring stories) and loan a little cash. After their project gets off the ground, you'll get your money repaid and can loan it to another entrepreneur in need.

$25, Kiva.

Savannah star gift set

Not only does this handcrafted bracelet set support female Kenyan artists, but the proceeds from the bracelets provides clean water for one person for one month.

$28, Me to We.

Love ball

Show family and friends that you love them – really, really love them – with this giant love ball from Vancouver-based artists. At five feet tall, the big one is perfect for parties, but there's also a more manageable baby-sized ball. For each one purchased, $1 is donated to the Trevor Project, Right to Play, and Paws for Hope.

From $50, Big Love Ball.

Keepsakes Viva Glamorous gift set

The two bold lipsticks in this gift set let you go retro (with the red Viva Glam Rihanna) and right now (with the silvery mauve Viva Glam Rihanna II). One hundred per cent of the retail price is put towards the MAC AIDS Fund.

$26, MAC Cosmetics.

Blue Ruby bracelets

This handsome beaded three-bracelet set is made from teak wood, aqua crystal, amazonite, and turquoise, and one hundred per cent of its proceeds are directed to Cause We Care, a Vancouver-based shelter for women.

$75, Blue Ruby.

Moleskine (Product)RED Special Edition planner

Get 2015 sorted with this weekly planner. You'll have your days laid out on one side and all your notes on the other, with a handy pocket tucked at the back. The durable hardcover means it can take abuse in your purse. Five per cent of the retail price also goes to the Global Fund to Fight AIDS.

$26, Moleskine.

Michael Kors Limited Edition

Based on Michael Kors' bestselling Runway watch, this limited edition timepiece comes in both gold-toned and rose gold-toned stainless steel with a map of the world etched on its grey dial. For every watch sold, Michael Kors will donate $28 – enough to buy 100 nutritious meals for children in an impoverished country – to the United Nations World Food Programme.

$255, Michael Kors. 

Breakfast Club bracelet

Decorate their wrist with this dainty, silk bracelet designed by Toronto-based artist Mai Lin. Each coloured gemstone represents a meal donated: for every bracelet purchase, the Breakfast Club of Canada receives $10, enough to provide one Canadian student with breakfast for two weeks.

$20, Breakfast Club of Canada.