Unsure of what gifts to buy for your loved ones this season? Our partners have got your back! If you are familiar with the event management space, you know that it is not uncommon for us to offer gifts to our VIPs. When choosing our partners, we ensure that we work with a myriad of unique individuals driven by a passion that is on a mission to donate or give back to the community in the ways that matter to them. We believe that gift-giving is the most fun and exciting way to show someone how much they mean to you. So, we thought, “how much more valuable would that gift be if we knew that with this purchase, we were also giving back?”
Nevertheless, gift-giving can begin to feel a bit stressful when accompanied by holiday event planning. As an event management company, we understand that feeling very well, and we don’t believe that gift-giving should be any burden. To help make things a bit easier on you this year, we put together an intentional gift guide so that you can spend less time worrying and more time making memories with those you hold closest to your heart. These gifts were thoughtfully chosen with two goals in mind- for you to focus on the ones you love while also giving back. After all, that is what the holiday season is all about.
A gift that may seem simple on the surface comes with deep sentiment.
To download the guide, click the image above
The Wynwood Walls Coloring Book: This unique project combines art, mindfulness, education, and giving back. You can color intricate murals from neighborhoods such as Brooklyn, Wynwood, Paris, Canada, Jordan, and many more. In addition to being a fun hobby, coloring is a creative and healthy way to relieve stress, calm the brain, and help your body relax. In turn, you can improve your sleep and decrease your heart rate and feelings of depression and anxiety. Everybody can use a bit of that during the holidays. When you purchase one of their coloring books, you also help someone else access education. A free educational textbook is donated to children and schools in need from around the world with each purchase. This collaboration with over 100 top street artists and muralists worldwide has turned into an opportunity to advance a social cause. Legendary artists Kenny Scharf, D*Face, Vhils, Ron English, Cryptik, Fin DAK, Sego, and many others participated in this limited-edition coloring book.
Gideon's Bakehouse: This bakehouse invites you to become a part of its history when you sink your teeth into one of its award-winning, almost half-pound cookies or a giant slice of cake. They provide a unique Victorian-like experience to enjoy a world-class dessert. What began as a small business operating out of less than 300-square-foot bakery, with one beloved employee, quickly took on the title of the Best Cookie in Orlando, Florida. Gifting these treats invites them to become a food critic with the rest of the United States, to decide whether this is the best chocolate chip cookie of the century. If you are an adventurer, you can try out unique cookies like their Coffee Cake, Banana Bread Chocolate Chip, Pumpkin Bread Chocolate Crumb, or many others!
Packed with Purpose: In an effort to create social impact while recognizing the importance of fostering meaningful relationships, Leeatt discovered a way to embed the act of doing good into gifts. These gifts create a deep societal impact from empowering women in need of a second chance to supporting sustainability efforts all while strengthening human connections. Every gift creates an impact because of the products sourced. For example, we sell rich chocolates to provide job training to survivors of abuse, notebooks that are made from sustainably sourced wood that drives reforestation efforts, crisp granola that provides employment to those who were formerly incarcerated, and the list goes on. Your recipients will not only receive a thoughtful gift but also the experience of discovering incredible organizations across the U.S. and the world that are doing good while making quality products. Since 2016 they have been uplifting and delighting with their purposefully curated gift collections. Talk about the gift that keeps on giving!
Sam and Friends: A little gift shop in downtown Waconia that offers many handmade and local products seeks to employ differently-abled individuals from their community. As a parent of a special needs child, Jen worried about what her son's, Sam, future will hold. She created Sam and Friends to create a safe space for Sam and his "friends" to work 2-hour shifts to learn about financial interactions, how to stock inventory, order fulfillment, and social interaction in a professional setting. One of their goals is to give back to their schools' Unified program that pairs special needs and mainstream youth in social and sports activities. You can visit their location or order from their online store to support their mission to help them grow the business and bring on many more 'friends' to join them and feel proud to have a job!
La Cocina: If you are shopping for someone who loves unique global recipes while supporting organizations that make a difference, we have selected the perfect gift! This cultural cookbook contains over 100 recipes from the United States, Brazil, Japan, Mexico, Senegal, Vietnam, and more. Initially, La Cocina began as a grassroots organization in the Mission District of San Francisco that supported businesses by providing an affordable commercial kitchen space, industry-specific technical assistance, and access to market opportunities. Currently, La Cocina is a home for almost 40 up-and-coming businesses. Overall, their focus is on small business incubation, with a vision to increase inclusivity in the food industry by offering equitable opportunities for living-wage workers and asset generation for low-income + immigrant women entrepreneurs.
Alchinme Candle Co.: Allyson Lee fell in love with emotional and spiritual alchemy and transformation when she learned that all healing begins from within. As she battles with a rare neurological disease called intracranial hypertension fibromyalgia + chronic pain, she finds peace in her business which allows her to dive into her passion for healing and share it with us all. She creates fragrance mists, candles, oil perfume rollers, and more. Each candle is created with intention and made out of 100% organic soy wax, sourced from the US, and does not contain phthalates, parabens, or any cali65 ingredients. Some of her products include an “1111” candle infused with florals and a reiki-charged amethyst point, a “between the sheets” candle that is a blend of amber, white musk with a floral heart and sultry sandalwood + vetiver, and a succulent oasis crystal candle. Immerse yourself in an olfactory experience fueled by transformative healing.
San Diego Hat Company: Spice up your family’s winter wardrobe with fashionable and functional headwear or accessories. Each season, they update their core brand collections, including their signature ribbon line, stylish fedoras, cozy knits, and sun protection. They understand that fashion doesn’t mean it needs to break the bank. The recent launch of Four Buttons, a value-priced line of on-trend styles, and Bay Sky, an accessory collective including bags, scarves, and sunnies to make fashion more affordable. Additionally, they work with Klarna to offer custom payment options that best suit their budget and alleviate some of the financial burdens of holiday shopping.
ONEHOPE: In the heart of Napa Valley, a group of friends who used to work for some of the largest wineries felt an undeniable calling to do good. Luckily for many, they accomplished that goal. ONEHOPE's award-winning wines contain the finest grapes from world-renowned winemaking regions. Initially, they organized wine tastings to raise money for important causes, and now The ONEHOPE Foundation donates to organizations that provide greater access to water, hunger relief, health, and education – while supporting local non-profits across the country. In addition, 10% of every purchase you make gives back to a cause of your choice! Today, ONEHOPE is one of the largest direct-to-consumer wineries in the world and has proudly donated over $8 million to local and global causes.
Salacia Salts: Capture the spirit of the coast with a blend of southern botanicals, fragrances, natural ingredients, and 100% pure Atlantic Dead Sea salts. Salacia salts products are hand-made, free of chemicals, sulfates, colorants, and parabens, and cruelty-free. They offer a DIY workshop at their location to blend your fragrance, customize a clay mask, or hand mix your scrub. This woman-owned business values beauty from the inside out, and they donate a portion of its profits to support young women around the globe. The donations are diversified to support multiple causes to serve young girls in rural India. Firstly, they donate $1 from every bar of soap purchased to provide access to safe drinking water, sanitation, hygiene education, and a healthy learning environment. Secondly, they donate bikes to help young girls get to school, offering them safer transportation to encourage them to pursue an education. Finally, they provide a bathroom for these young girls at rural schools for every $10,000 raised. Salacia salts will match every dollar raised through the bar soaps sold on their website.
To download the guide, click the image above
Sam and Friends: A little gift shop in downtown Waconia that offers many handmade and local products seeks to employ differently-abled individuals from their community. As a parent of a special needs child, Jen worried about what her son's, Sam, future will hold. She created Sam and Friends to create a safe space for Sam and his "friends" to work 2-hour shifts to learn about financial interactions, how to stock inventory, order fulfillment, and social interaction in a professional setting. One of their goals is to give back to their schools' Unified program that pairs special needs and mainstream youth in social and sports activities. You can visit their location or order from their online store to support their mission to help them grow the business and bring on many more 'friends' to join them and feel proud to have a job!
Pingree Detriot: A gift from Pingree Detriot comes with the opportunity to support local veterans and a more sustainable future. This SEWF-verified social enterprise uses upcycled ford leather that would otherwise end up in landfills to create wallets, footwear, accessories, bags, and more. Since 2015, their customers have diverted 17 tons of car seats and steering wheel leather from landfills. Each piece they craft is unique and has its character and purpose. Sustainability is their core mission while making their neighborhood stronger by maximizing the well-being of the workforce, customers, and underserved in the community. They empower their local veteran workforce + Detroiters through skills training, career development, and inclusion. To make it even more personal, every item they sell comes with a tag of the person who made it. All shipping materials they use are 100% recycled and compostable. By 2025, they commit to designing products that they source from the Great Lakes region, have zero carbon emissions, and offer military-grade fossil-free plant-based alternatives to leather and plastic.
Grounds & House: At Grounds & Hounds, they believe great coffee can fuel a greater purpose. Their mission warms our hearts as much as a fresh cup of joe! Enjoy one of their organic and eco-friendly 100% arabica specialty coffee sourced from the top growing regions of Peru, Colombia, Sumatra, Papua New Guinea, Ethiopia, Mexico, Guatemala, and Nicaragua. Their product selection includes apparel for you and your pup, holiday blankets, mugs, ornaments, and much more. Some of their delicious seasonal flavors you’ll want to try are their pumpkin spice, snow day winter roast, and “perfect with pie” medium roast with brown sugar, toasted pecan, and caramel notes. Their mission is to focus on supporting rescue initiatives and organizations that provide a second chance for puppies by donating 20% of their profits to fund innovative and impactful rescue programs across the US.
ONEHOPE: In the heart of Napa Valley, a group of friends who used to work for some of the largest wineries felt an undeniable calling to do good. Luckily for many, they accomplished that goal. ONEHOPE's award-winning wines contain the finest grapes from world-renowned winemaking regions. Initially, they organized wine tastings to raise money for important causes, and now The ONEHOPE Foundation donates to organizations that provide greater access to water, hunger relief, health, and education – while supporting local non-profits across the country. In addition, 10% of every purchase you make gives back to a cause of your choice! Today, ONEHOPE is one of the largest direct-to-consumer wineries in the world and has proudly donated over $8 million to local and global causes.
Tea and Spice Exchange: Located in many states across the US, the spice and tea exchange is the go-to spot to find a gift for someone who loves experimenting in the kitchen and experiencing new flavors. They make shopping easy with an assortment of gift boxes that cater to all interests. They have no limits set around enhancing your culinary experience, hand-picking a bourbon lover gift box, a dessert honey trio, all the way to a grill master deluxe crate. If you couldn’t guess by their name, this is also a great gift for a tea enthusiast, as they have everything you need to upgrade your current tea setup. Finally, an entire wellness section is dedicated to holistic healing for those prone to catching a cold once the holidays roll around.
Planterday: Maybe this season, you should consider becoming a plant parent. If you already own a bunch, you will want to add one of these to your collection. This brick-and-mortar shop has unique plants and planters to keep your thumb green and your life interesting. Plants are not the only option here as they also offer painted artwork and surrealist art stickers and host local vendors to pop up at their shop. This mission-driven plant shop is dedicated to destigmatizing mental health and promoting mental health resources. As official sponsors of crisis support services, they donate a portion of their monthly proceeds to suicide prevention.
Sudz: If you are looking for a few reasons to shop small, Sudz can offer us more than a few. This small business prides itself on handcrafted, local, and natural products. This line of bath and body essentials looks beautiful in your home and creates many unique scents and product options. They offer hand soaps, lotions, candles, wax melts, cleansers, spray, and a section for men. Their story began in the heart of St. Cloud, FL, when a high schooler with a passion for skin care and the environment decided to create her bath bombs. As her small business began to flourish, her mom stepped in to help, and this mother-daughter duo took it one step further by registering as an LLC and making it their mission. They opened their doors for the first time in 2021, continuing to do what they love. Their story inspires young women everywhere, proving that success stories begin at any age and that there is nothing a mother and daughter cannot accomplish together when they put their minds to it.
Packed with Purpose: In an effort to create social impact while recognizing the importance of fostering meaningful relationships, Leeatt discovered a way to embed the act of doing good into gifts. These gifts create a deep societal impact from empowering women in need of a second chance to supporting sustainability efforts all while strengthening human connections. Every gift creates an impact because of the products sourced. For example, we sell rich chocolates to provide job training to survivors of abuse, notebooks that are made from sustainably sourced wood that drives reforestation efforts, crisp granola that provides employment to those who were formerly incarcerated, and the list goes on. Your recipients will not only receive a thoughtful gift but also the experience of discovering incredible organizations across the U.S. and the world that are doing good while making quality products. Since 2016 they have been uplifting and delighting with their purposefully curated gift collections. Talk about the gift that keeps on giving!
BOMBAS: There isn’t a man alive in the professional workforce who couldn’t benefit from an extra pair of dress socks. Subsequently, many others in the world can benefit from you purchasing a pair from Bombas! Once you make a purchase, you spark a donation. They provide socks, underwear, and t-shirts to those who need them most. Unbeknownst to many, socks are one of the most requested items in shelters that support homelessness across the US, with more than 500,000 individuals experiencing homelessness every night. These aren’t just any socks. These socks have an antimicrobial treatment to extend wearability between washes and unique collections to meet specific functional needs. Dress socks donated to career development programs, hex tec performance running socks donated to organizations that create a community for those to come together and run, and back to school becomes easier for families who need new clothes when colorful and fun clothing items are donated. To take it one step further, they decided to make a difference on a global scale. Bombas has donated over 200,000 pairs of socks and underwear to
support humanitarian relief efforts in Ukraine. This kind of support can permanently impact someone’s life by setting them up for long-term success.
For many, opening gifts on the holidays is a nostalgic experience that never loses its sparkle. Before deciding which gifts to buy this season, imagine how it would feel to share one of these inspiring stories while your loved ones open their present. As you’ve heard before, when it comes to gifts, it’s the thought that counts- and these gifts have had a lot of thought put into them. Each one of these partners inspires the spirit of the holidays within us, which is why we choose to work with them. We hope that they can do the same for you.