Xerox, Google, Macy's, PayPal & PetSmart all utilizing charitable programs to celebrate the holidays

It's the day before Christmas Eve and I still have some packages to ship and cards to send. Guess I'm doing the overnight shipping thing. It is also the day that I write on the Lip-sticking blog which I did this morning and now want to include my post here as well. So here it is. Now I have to get that package ready and on it's way. Those UPS folks do an amazing job this time of year, don't they?

Today I wanted to write more about the brands and companies that are using this holiday season to thank their customers and partners by contributing to a charity and giving back to the community. Here are five companies that I've come across with a charitable promotion this year. I'm sure there are many more that could be added to the list, so please do.

Xerox Let's Say Thanks - I think this is the third year that Xerox is supporting this program which provides a way for individuals across the country to recognize U.S. troops stationed overseas. Visitors to this website can send a free personalized postcard greeting to deployed servicemen and women. There are many postcard designs to chose from which are illustrations of patriotic scenes and hometown images that were selected from a pool of entries from children across the country.

So all a person has to do is click on a design and either select a message or create their own personal note. The postcards are then printed on the Xerox iGen3® Digital Production Press and mailed in care packages by military support organization Give2TheTroops.

Google's Happy Holidays  - I actually received an email from Google this morning which said "As we near the end of the year, we wanted to take a moment to thank you for the time, energy, commitment, and trust you've shared with us in 2009. With sharing in mind, this year we've decided to do something a little different. We hope you'll find it fits the spirit of the holiday season."

Google's little something is a $20 million dollar donation which you can see here a list of the current intended charities.

Macy's Believe - Macy's is donating $1 to the Make-A-Wish Foundation for every letter addressed to Santa Claus that was mailed at an official R.H. Macy Santa Mail Letterbox at a Believe station in Macy's stores. They have created a special Believe website in which they hosted a special "Tell us Why You Believe" Contest and the Believe meter that tracks the number of letters received.

They have pledged up to $1 million and as of today they have hit it with the Believe meter reading 1,000,000 letters received. Believe is inspired by a letter written by 8-year old Virginia O'Hanlon back in 1897 asking if there was really a Santa Claus. Journalist Francis P. Church responded with what became a famous essay, "Yes, Virginia there is a Santa Claus".

PetSmart is donating 10 percent of the $5 purchase price of a plush, collectible dog toy named Chance and their Luv-A-Pet holiday ornaments to PetSmart Charities to "help save the lives of homeless pets".

PayPal Re-gift the Fruitcake - Social media was integrated into this promotion where consumers were able to "give the gift no one wants and give the gift everyone needs." The fruitcakes were icons that linked to sites where users could make a donation to one of 25 charities. People created the fruitcakes with a designated charity and sent them to their Facebook friends who then could re-gift them and send to their friends. The program ended yesterday and their website states that they've raised over $22,000.

I already wrote this post on American Express who has partnered with United Way as well as this post on Iams Home 4 the Holidays Program. I received an update from IAMS who told me that 808,147 pets had been adopted as of December 17th! They are definitely on our way to reaching their 1.5MM goal by Jan. 4th.

So I do want to thank you all for reading my posts both on the Lip-sticking blog and here on Donna's Promo Talk. I wish you all a very wonderful Christmas and Happy New Year.

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