Philanthropy à la mode à la Linus

Do you still recall your favorite childhood blankie that you cherished like your best friend? Well my daughter has her "bubba" specifically for bedtime snuggling; while my son prefers his smaller "hankie." Regardless of one's preference, any child will fall in love with one of these. Admiral Road creates handmade, personalized fleece blankets for babies (US$59) and donates 2.5% of the proceeds of certain blankets (as shown here) to the African Wildlife Foundation. The blankets are made of single layered polyester fleece (29" x 43") and you can add your child's name for no extra charge. These blankets are a hit among the Hollywood babes of Julia Roberts and Debra Messing among others, and have been featured in InStyle and People magazines. The simple, modern graphics à la mode are a welcome departure from the ones you used to carry around à la Linus.

The African Wildlife Foundation (AWF), together with the people of Africa, works to ensure the wildlife and wild lands of Africa will endure forever. Since 1961, AWF is the leading international conservation organization focused on helping newly independent African nations and people conserve their own wildlife. "We believe that protecting Africa’s wildlife and wild landscapes is the key to the future prosperity of Africa and its people... to ensure that Africa’s wild resources endure." AWF has helped ensure the continued existence of many species including the elephant, mountain gorilla, rhinoceros and the lion. In 1998, AWF ushered in a new era in conservation with its African Heartlands Program defining (through research) the most critical landscapes to preserve. "These eight landscapes – or Heartlands (the Congo, Virunga, Samburu, Kilamanjaro, Maasai Steppe, Zambezi, Kazungula, and Limpopo)– are at the heart of everything we do."

Do check out AWF's online store where 60-65% of all purchases support AWF's work. And while you're at it... adopt an animal! For $25 you can adopt one of many animals through their site, and receive a plush toy representing the animal you adopt, a personalized certificate of adoption, a fact sheet featuring your adopted animal and a one-year membership in the AWF. So why not adopt a giraffe or zebra to go with your giraffe or zebra blanket - and start teaching your children about philanthropy and wildlife conservation... now that's a gift you know will endure in your child's life.