The holiday season is marketed as the most wonderful time of the year. However, it is also the most expensive. According to the National Retail Federation, the average amount spent on gifts from 2016 through 2020 was $629. That does not include additional purchases such as decorations, food, and gift wrap — most of which end up in the trash. Consider this: The amount of money spent on candy gifting over the holidays is greater than the annual budgets of the American Heart Association, American Cancer Society, and Habitat for Humanity combined. TisBest is on a mission to #RedefineGifting this holiday season and invites you to join the movement.

Thousands Join the Movement to #RedefineGifting

Imagine our impact on this world if even a portion of our holiday budget supports those who need it most. In 2020, investor and philanthropist Ray Dalio partnered with TisBest to launch a national movement to #RedefineGifting – by replacing gifts of stuff with gifts of good. Through Ray’s generosity and the support of other donors, including Ashton Kutcher, Mila Kunis, Gayle King, and Arianna Huffington, TisBest gave the public 30,000 FREE Charity Gift Cards. As a result, a total of $2 million was donated to their favorite U.S. charities!

In 2021, Ray Dalio and friends announced another massive #RedefineGifting giveaway! 40,000 recipients have paid forward $2 million to over 5,600 U.S. charities. We are overjoyed with the more than 14,500 thank you emails we received from participants. So, we thought we’d share a few with you!

TisBest Charity Gift Cards Do a World of Good

Be the Change You Wish To See in the World

Not everyone has the means to donate to charity. Your gift gives recipients a chance to experience the power and joy of giving. TisBest Charity Gift Cards work like any other gift card, except 100% of the card’s value goes to the charities of their choice. Unlike store-branded gift cards, TisBest Charity Gift Cards can be custom-designed for a personal touch. You can send a bio-plastic card by mail, print a card at home, or send an e-card to your gift recipient. With more than 1.8 million U.S.-registered charities to choose from, your recipient can easily support the charities that are most meaningful to them. 

Rather than buying stuff people don’t need, #RedefineGifting with a gift that will be well received by all. TisBest Charity Gift Cards are a meaningful gift for your family and friends and a much-needed gift for the charities they hold near and dear to their hearts. With cards starting as low as $10, they’re the perfect gift for everyone on your list.

The post Partnership Sparks National Movement to #RedefineGifting appeared first on TisBest.

Some people shop for the holidays all year round, while others buy last-minute holiday gifts the night before. What’s your shopping pseudonym?

A. My gifts are purchased and wrapped by November 1. (The Mighty Mensch)

B. I snag all the deals from Black Friday through Cyber Monday. (Sleigh the Day)

C. I buy whatever is left on the shelves the day before. (Rudolph the Rebellious Reindeer) 

No matter how organized or spontaneous you are, last-minute holiday gifts inevitably make their way on the list. Make yours the one they’ll remember all season long.

Keep Calm and Holiday On

At last, the gifts are all wrapped. Just as you snuggle up to binge-watch another Hallmark movie, you remember… that you forgot to buy something. Your book club is having a gift exchange – tomorrow. Oh, gingersnap … your co-worker gave you an unexpected gift and you want to reciprocate before she leaves for vacation. Then you realize you still haven’t bought a gift for your holiday dinner host.

You race to the stores and pick up a box of gourmet chocolates but notice that half of them are crumbled. Next, you look online for last-minute deals — only to learn that, even with rush shipping, your package won’t arrive in time. Don’t get your tinsel all tangled, we’ve got last-minute holiday gifts that are meaningful for everyone on your list. In fact, these gifts would even make the Grinch’s heart grow three sizes.

Celebrate the Season of Giving

This holiday season, celebrate the joy of giving and giving back with your family members, friends, and colleagues. With TisBest Charity Gift Cards you choose the amount, and they pay it forward to their favorite charities. Gift recipients can browse the featured charities on the TisBest website or easily search for their favorite national or local nonprofit. 100% of your donation goes directly to the charities they choose.

TisBest Charity Gift Cards are the perfect last-minute holiday gifts as digital and downloadable cards are available immediately after your purchase. We’ll email the charity gift cards directly to your gift recipients or you may download, print, and deliver them yourself. Whether it’s a gift for a close friend, a co-worker, or an unknown recipient at a gift swap party, your gift will be well-received by all — especially the receiving charities.

Give Everyone a December to Remember

Santa and his reindeer tend to steal the spotlight this time of year as 93% of Americans celebrate Christmas. However, there are many other religious and cultural celebrations, including Las Posadas, Hanukkah, Yule, Soyal, and Kwanzaa to name a few. In fact, either you, your friends, or your co-workers may celebrate more than one. Although cultural and religious beliefs may differ, we all share in the joy of gift-giving.

With so many holidays in December, it can be difficult to find an appropriate gift for everyone on your list. TisBest Charity Gift Cards are the perfect last-minute holiday gifts as they allow recipients to give back in a way that is meaningful to them. Plus, you can customize each card with an image that honors their observed holiday — or even upload your own picture to reflect your relationship with the recipient. Celebrate everyone’s diverse holiday traditions while engaging in a shared experience that unites us all – the joy of giving back.

Last-Minute Holiday Gifts That Bring Comfort and Joy

With over 1.8 million U.S.-registered charities on the TisBest website, it can feel impossible to help everyone. However, everyone can help someone. With gift cards starting as low as $10, even small donations make a huge impact. Did you know that one $10 TisBest Charity Gift Card was used by Feeding America to provide 100 meals for people with food insecurity? Your donation matters. In fact, when combined with other people’s donations, it makes a world of difference.

Over the past 15 years, individuals and businesses have paid forward over $54 million to more than 30,000 charities through TisBest. This holiday season, give your loved ones the chance to give back to their favorite cause. Maybe they’ll use their TisBest Charity Gift Card to help provide emergency aid to Ukraine, protect at-risk animals, or create opportunities for people with disabilities. No matter what causes they support, your last-minute holiday gifts will bring joy to your loved ones and the communities their favorite charities support.

Here’s a Bit of Holiday Trivia

Let’s circle back to our holiday shopping quiz at the beginning of this blog. If you answered “C” you’re in good company. Did you know that over half of Americans wait until the last minute to do their holiday shopping? What’s more: 46% feel that they’re bad at giving gifts and 60% always struggle to find the perfect gift. 

The top places to buy those last-minute holiday gifts?

Grocery stores (41%)

Drug stores (33%)

Liquor stores (30%)

Imagine if even a portion of that spending helped your loved ones give back to their favorite charities? Join us on the mission to #RedefineGifting by replacing gifts of stuff with meaningful gifts that give back. You’ll make the holidays a little happier for all and give those in need hope for the New Year.

Order Your TisBest Charity Gift Cards Today!

In a jam for last-minute holiday gifts? We’ve got you covered. If you’re looking for bio-plastic TisBest Charity Gift Cards to arrive in time for your celebration — order via USPS Priority Express 1-2 day shipping. Not enough days left on the calendar? Purchase digital or printable gift cards for instant delivery or download. Order your gift in minutes. Then watch as your heart grows three sizes as you make the holidays a little brighter for others.

The post Last-Minute Holiday Gifts That Feel Good to Give and Receive appeared first on TisBest.

In 2021, nearly 180 million shoppers spent $33.9 billion on in-store and online purchases from Black Friday through Cyber Monday. 2022 projections for the 5-day shopping frenzy total $34.8 billion. Imagine the collective impact we’d make if we all swapped out some of those retail gifts for charitable gifts. Join us in the movement to #RedefineGifting this holiday season starting with these Giving Tuesday ideas.

Let’s Break the Record on Giving Tuesday

Every year Giving Tuesday falls on the Tuesday after Thanksgiving. This year the global day of charitable giving lands on November 29. It’s kind of like having your birthday fall the day after Christmas. It can be difficult for charities to ask for donations after a national shopping spree weekend. This year, give your friends, family, and colleagues the opportunity to surprise their favorite charities through TisBest. With TisBest Charity Gift Cards you choose the amount. Then your friends and family pay it forward to the charities of their choice. 100% of your donation is tax-deductible.

On Giving Tuesday 2021, 1,529 TisBest Charity Gift Cards were purchased totaling more than $87,000. Just like we do for every donation, 100% was given directly to the charities chosen by the gift card recipients. This year we hope to amplify our collective impact on Giving Tuesday. Help us break last year’s record and spread even more holiday cheer to the charities you and your loved ones care about most.

Make #RedefineGifting Your New Mantra

We are not on a mission to completely replace retail gifts. It’s meaningful to give something personal to a dear friend or family member. Our hope is to replace more of the frivolous spending with gifts that give back to those who need it most. Consider this: 58% of Black Friday purchases are impulse buys. As a result, 42% of shoppers end up regretting their purchase. Then, here’s what happens after the holidays.

In 2021, gift recipients returned $500 billion worth of presents back to stores. Sadly, retailers were unable to resell all of those products and many ended up in a landfill. In fact, every year U.S. returns create almost 6 billion pounds of landfill waste. Ouch. Unlike traditional gift cards which are used to buy more stuff, TisBest Charity Gift Cards give the gift of good. Plus, they are available in 3 sustainable formats making the holidays a little merrier for the planet.

A Fun Twist for Your Holiday Gift List

If you’d like to join us in the movement to #RedefineGifting, here are some Giving Tuesday ideas to kick off the giving season:

• On Giving Tuesday, send digital TisBest Charity Gift Cards to your friends and family. All they have to do is enter their gift card code on the TisBest website and select their favorite charities. Then, if so inclined, invite them to buy a card for their friends to keep the momentum going!

• Download and print a card and leave it in your neighbor’s mailbox – or give one to your child’s teacher, your hairstylist, or the person who delivers your mail. Include a note inviting them to pay it forward to the causes that matter to them most.

• Have young kids? Put a TisBest Charity Gift Card on their place setting at dinner. They’ll be excited to learn that they get to decide how to help others. Then, after dinner, show them the featured categories on the TisBest website. After they select which charities to support, ask them why they chose them. You’ll love learning about your budding philanthropists!

• Got teens? Send them a digital charity gift card. They can click on the email link and pay it forward right from their phone.

• Have fun and get creative! Choose from our gallery of card designs or add your own image to personalize your card. Upload a selfie of you and your bestie, a photo from your parents’ wedding anniversary, or a snapshot from a recent vacation. The options are as endless as your imagination.

Giving Tuesday Ideas for Businesses

Over the past 15 years, over 7,000 U.S. businesses have joined us in the movement to #RedefineGifting. Whether you’re a small business owner or you work at a Fortune 500, we’ve got some great Giving Tuesday ideas for your clients and employees.

• Schedule digital TisBest Charity Gift Cards to be delivered to your employees’ or clients’ inboxes on Giving Tuesday. Show your biggest stakeholders your commitment to philanthropy by giving them a say in how to give back.

• Employees may expect an end-of-year gift. Surprise them with an unexpected gift a little earlier this year. Hand out bio-plastic charity gift cards at your team meeting (or email digital cards to your remote colleagues) as employee appreciation gifts.

• Do your clients look forward to your gift basket every year? TisBest Charity Gift Cards make great enhancements to corporate holiday gifts. Thank your clients for their loyalty with a gift for them and a gift for their favorite charities.

• Make it personal. We’ll help you create a custom-branded charity gift card and tailor the card redemption experience for your clients and employees. Some of our clients created their own video greeting from their CEO to include on their branded redemption page! However you decide to personalize the experience, it’s a great way to align your corporate gifts with your ESG efforts.

Power in Numbers

With over 1.8 million U.S.-registered charities on the TisBest website it can feel impossible to help everyone in need. However, everyone can help someone. Even the smallest donations add up to a big impact. Over the past 15 years, TisBest Philanthropy has paid forward more than $54 million to 30,742 charities and counting. We hope our Giving Tuesday ideas will inspire you to keep the momentum going.

Not everyone has the means to give charitable donations – especially during the holidays. Your gift will help someone else share in the joy of giving back. In fact, it’s a gift that will keep on giving long after your holiday decorations are packed away in the attic – and retail stores have processed all those returns.

Order Your TisBest Charity Gift Cards Today!

Together, let’s break the record on Giving Tuesday. Use our Giving Tuesday ideas for inspiration and give your friends, families, and colleagues the joy of giving back to their favorite charities. Order directly for personal and corporate gifts. For companies who wish to tailor the experience for their clients and employees, our gift specialists will help customize and expedite your order.

The post Giving Tuesday Ideas To Inspire New Traditions appeared first on TisBest.

Ah, it’s almost here. We can’t wait to smell the apple pie in the oven as the kids curl up to watch the Macy’s parade. Then we’ll gather around the table to share the most anticipated meal of the year. Thanksgiving is a time to pause and give thanks. For many, it’s also the official start of the holiday shopping season. This year, join us on our mission to #RedefineGifting. Let’s start with Thanksgiving gifts that will truly put your family, friends, colleagues, and clients in the holiday spirit!

How Do You #RedefineGifting?

Something magical happens on November 1st. Retail stores that were once filled with Halloween candy turn into a holiday winter wonderland. Panic starts to set in as commercials, retail store emails, and online ads remind us of the final countdown to Christmas. Deloitte projects holiday sales will total $1.45 to $1.47 trillion during the November to January timeframe. Consider this — in the four weeks leading up to Christmas 2021, consumers spent over $2 billion on holiday candy. That’s greater than the annual donations to the American Heart Association, American Cancer Society, and Habitat for Humanity combined. Imagine if even a portion of that spending was given to your favorite charity.

Buying gifts for loved ones is fun and we enjoy doing that, too. We are not on a mission to replace gift-giving. We simply want to #RedefineGifting by replacing gifts of stuff with meaningful gifts that impact those who need it most. Before the shopping frenzy begins, consider these unique Thanksgiving gifts that give thanks, give back, and celebrate the reason for the season.

Thanksgiving Gifts Sweeter Than Apple Pie

Whether you’re hosting a big feast, a small intimate gathering or you’re an invited guest, these Thanksgiving gifts will spark quite the dinner conversation. TisBest Charity Gift Cards work just like retail gift cards with one meaningful difference. Instead of cashing them in to buy more stuff, your loved ones pay the value forward to their favorite charities. With over 1.8 million U.S.-registered charities on the TisBest website, they can easily search for their favorite local nonprofits, national causes, or choose from our featured categories. 

A Toast to a New Thanksgiving Tradition

This Thanksgiving, while counting your blessings, invite your friends and family to help make the holidays a little brighter for those less fortunate. TisBest Charity Gift Cards are a great way to kick off the holiday giving season. Thanksgiving gifts are unexpected, which makes these gifts even more fun and meaningful. Here are some creative ways to start a new Thanksgiving tradition with all the people for whom you are thankful:

• As the host, place a TisBest Charity Gift Card on each place setting. After the blessing, have everyone open up their envelope to reveal their card. Next, after dinner, invite everyone to redeem their card code on the TisBest website. Then, during dessert, talk about all of the different charities they supported and why.

• TisBest Charity Gift Cards also make a great Thanksgiving host gift. Attach one to a bottle of wine and make a toast to give back to others.

• TisBest Charity Gift Cards are customizable. Choose from our gallery of images or upload your own. Pick a Thanksgiving theme for the cards or customize for each guest. Imagine their surprise when they see a picture of the two of you on the card or a cute snapshot of their four-legged friend!

• Many families share their holiday wish lists on Thanksgiving. Older generations may insist that they don’t need anything. Larger families sometimes opt for a Yankee swap instead of buying for everyone. It’s the perfect opportunity to invite everyone to #RedefineGifting with you this holiday season.

Give Children the Joy of Giving Back

Whether it’s 8 nights by the menorah or one morning under the Christmas tree, we can all agree that the holidays are magical for children. Before they unwrap those presents, consider giving them Thanksgiving gifts that let them experience the joy of giving back. 

We, as adults, get sucked into the consumerism of the holidays. Imagine how impressionable young children feel as they watch TV ads and TikTok videos featuring kids opening up the latest hot toy. It’s super fun watching them tear open their holiday gifts. It’s also heartwarming to watch them give back to others. This year, why not do both?

• This Thanksgiving, give kids and teens a TisBest Charity Gift Card. Then gather around the computer or have them go on their phones. (Let’s face it, they’ll probably be on it anyway.)

• Next, the kids can enter their gift card code on the TisBest website and pick their favorite charities to support. 

• It’s a fun activity for the whole family. They’ll love making the decision on which charities to support. You’ll love learning about the types of causes that are most important to them. 

• Keep the tradition going all year long by placing a charity gift card by the menorah, in their stocking, or attaching one to a birthday gift.

Thanksgiving Gifts for Employees and Clients

During recent years it has been increasingly difficult to find meaningful gifts for employee recognition and client appreciation. With more and more businesses working remotely it can be a challenge to connect with colleagues on a personal level. Some of the most popular 2022 business gifts are food baskets, reusable water bottles, and noise-canceling headphones. While practical, those gifts aren’t necessarily meaningful to your associates. Odds are they’ll either receive them from somebody else, already have them, or can’t consume the sweets or bottle of wine due to dietary restrictions. Even worse, many of these items end up in the landfill. What if you surprised your employees with unique and unexpected Thanksgiving gifts that really spread some holiday cheer?

Engaging your employees and clients in a shared act of kindness creates a sense of community. By replacing traditional corporate holiday gifts with meaningful charitable experiences you’ll foster a deeper connection with your associates, amplify your social impact, and further align your brand with their personal values. Your gift is also 100% tax deductible and the entire card value goes directly to their selected charities. Most importantly, your gift will spread joy to your associates and the causes they care about most.

Even One Gift Makes a World of Difference

Every year we go through the same conundrum. The older generation says they don’t need anything. We spend hours Googling appropriate gifts for coworkers, a child’s teacher, gift exchange, or a hard-to-please relative. This year, start the giving season with Thanksgiving gifts that will be well-received by everyone. Then, make your list, check it twice, and join us in the movement to #RedefineGifting all season long. If every one of us replaced even one traditional gift, holiday decoration, or basket full of candy, imagine the collective impact we’d make!

Order Your TisBest Charity Gift Cards Today!

Whether you celebrate with turkey or tofu, TisBest Charity Gift Cards put the giving back in Thanksgiving. Order soon to receive bio-plastic TisBest Charity Gift Cards in time for Thanksgiving. In a hurry? Our digital and printable gift cards are available immediately after purchase. Order directly for your family, friends, and colleagues, or let our gift specialists customize the experience for your employees and clients.

The post Thanksgiving Gifts That Give Thanks and Give Back appeared first on TisBest.

TisBest Philanthropy is celebrating our 15th anniversary and we couldn’t have done it without you! By joining us on our mission to #RedefineGifting with TisBest Charity Gift Cards, you created a ripple effect of good. To date, you helped pay forward over $54 million to 30,742 of your favorite charities! In gratitude, we’d like to share how your generosity directly impacted at-risk communities, animals, and our planet.

You Help Make the World a Better Place

Whether you’ve given TisBest Charity Gift Cards to your friends, family, or colleagues, or received one as a gift, you’ve helped amplify our collective impact. Donating to charity is a personal decision. Everyone has a story about why they are passionate about a particular cause. As a result, your donations have supported a range of charities from well-known national causes to small, hometown nonprofits. Over the past 15 years, each individual donation added up to millions of dollars in aid.

From Feeding the Hungry to Caring for Cancer Patients

Here are a few of the top receiving charities that used your donations to provide life-changing and life-saving support to communities in need:

Feeding America ($1,247,765): Every dollar donated to Feeding America allows them to secure and distribute at least 12 pounds of food (10 average-sized meals) to communities with food insecurity. To date, you provided over $1.2 million meals!

St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital ($770,783): You helped provide travel, housing, and food for the families of children receiving treatment at St. Jude. Thanks to your support, families never receive a bill so they can focus on caring for their child.

Cancer Prevention + Patient Services ($611,204): Your donations helped the American Cancer Society provide free screenings for underserved communities, as well as rides to treatment, free lodging, and other support services for patients. You also helped many smaller cancer organizations like the Rhode Island Ovarian Cancer Alliance, which provides support, education, and meals for women undergoing treatment.

Even Small Donations Make a Big Difference

If you’ve ever wondered if a small donation would even help your favorite charities, we are thrilled to share it makes a world of difference. There are so many small but mighty U.S. organizations that rely on donations to serve their local communities and even some with international reach. Here’s how your generosity impacted a few of them:

Pencils for Promise, Inc. ($1,440.88): This non-profit organization builds schools and increases educational opportunities in the developing world. To help just one school: $25 provides toothpaste for all students; $75 provides handwashing stations for the school; and $100 provides textbooks for all students in one grade. Your contributions helped children access safe, quality education!

K9s for Warriors ($1,370.15): Your donations helped pair struggling warriors with shelter dogs trained to help Veterans with post-traumatic stress, traumatic brain injury, and/or military sexual trauma. Every donation helps save two lives with one act of kindness.

Washington Trails Association ($1,270.72): Your donations helped this nonprofit advocate for the protection of hiking trails and wilderness, conduct trail maintenance, and promote hiking in Washington state. You also helped provide clothing and equipment for youth and family group outdoor adventures.

Businesses Spread the Wealth

Over the past 15 years, consumers have given 305,515 charity gift cards to their friends and families. However, they’re not the only ones to #RedefineGifting. 7,412 businesses have joined the movement as well. In an effort to engage with employees and clients in a more meaningful way, CEOs, HR managers, and marketing teams have replaced traditional corporate gifts with TisBest Charity Gift Cards. Some businesses gave them as employee recognition, client appreciation, and holiday gifts so associates could pay it forward to their favorite charities. Others replaced company merch at trade shows and conferences with the charitable experience. We are so grateful to the business community for sharing the joy of giving back with your associates.

How We Define #RedefineGifting

Billions of dollars are spent each year on personal and corporate gifts. That’s because it’s fun to give — whether it’s finding the perfect birthday gift for your BFF, a special keepsake for Mother’s Day, or a thank you gift for your employees. We are not on a mission to stop gift-giving. Our goal is to simply replace gifts of stuff with meaningful gifts that give back to those who need it most. Consider this:

In January 2021, an estimated 8.75 million holiday gifts were returned within the span of a few days. Many didn’t make it back into the market — but were sent to landfills. In fact, returns account for 5 billion pounds of waste and 15 million tons of carbon emissions every year in the U.S.

On Valentine’s Day, Americans spent $23.9 billion on flowers, candy, and other gifts for their loved ones.

The amount of money spent on candy gifting over the holidays is greater than the annual budgets of the American Heart Association, American Cancer Society, and Habitat for Humanity combined. 

U.S. corporate gifting is expected to reach $258 billion in 2022 and climb to $312 billion in 2025. 

Imagine if more of that spending was sent to your favorite charities?

The Gift That Keeps on Giving

During TisBest’s first holiday season back in 2007, you paid forward $350,000 to your favorite charities. At that time, there were only around 250 charities featured on the site. Fast forward 15 years later and TisBest Charity Gift Cards recipients can now choose from over 1.8 million U.S.-registered charities. 

The world faces even more challenges today, including the pandemic, the war in Ukraine, and recent natural disasters. Although the world continues to change, our mission remains the same: to inspire others to #RedefineGifting with meaningful gifts of good. To amplify our collective impact, we send 100% of every gift card value to your selected charities. $54 million in 15 years — imagine the impact we’ll make over the next 15 years!

Feeling Inspired?

Let’s keep the momentum going and spread more love in our world. Send a TisBest Charity Gift Card to those close to your heart so they can pay it forward to a charity that is close to theirs. Surprise your employees and clients with a unique holiday gift. Or give a card to a stranger as a random act of kindness. Together, you’ll do a world of good.

The post TisBest Celebrates 15 Years of Impact Through Your Favorite Charities appeared first on TisBest.

TisBest is on a mission to #RedefineGifting by replacing gifts of stuff with gifts of good. In that spirit, we’d like to reflect on the abundance of good celebrated on The Ellen DeGeneres Show. For the show’s final season, the host partnered with TisBest to honor special guests who are making the world a better place. The collaboration also sparked new additions to the show’s digital platform giving fans more reasons to smile. 

On the final episode of The Ellen DeGeneres Show, the host’s closing remarks were, “I feel the love and I send it right back to you.” That perfectly sums up the show’s mission for the past 19 years. It also reflects the host’s inspiration for partnering with TisBest Philanthropy for the show’s final season.

Daytime Talk Show Focuses on the Positive

News media outlets traditionally focus on political strife, local and national tragedies, and, in recent years, the pandemic. Daytime soaps and many talk show programs feature scripted drama. However, The Ellen DeGeneres Show was an anomaly to daytime TV. It always gave viewers a reason to smile, from the comedic opening monologue and dance party with guest host tWitch to celebrity guests, silly games, and audience giveaways. Most importantly, the show gave viewers hope by sharing heartwarming stories that often don’t make the national news. It reminded us that there is a lot of good in the world and we all have the power to create positive change. The Ellen DeGeneres Show used its platform to help others do just that.

Celebrity Partners with NonProfit to Maximize Charitable Impact

Over the years, inspiring guests on The Ellen DeGeneres Show have shared how they overcame adversity or exhibited selfless acts of kindness. In turn, the host surprised them with life-changing gifts or monetary donations that have impacted communities across the globe. For the show’s final season, The Ellen DeGeneres Show partnered with TisBest Philanthropy to honor everyday people who are making a positive impact in their communities.

First, the host gave each featured guest a TisBest check to support their respective causes. The 58 guests received over $245,000 to make an even bigger impact through their acts of kindness. Next, the host gave $175,000 in TisBest Charity Gift Cards for selected guests to pay forward to their favorite charities. Then the host encouraged viewers to experience the power of giving with TisBest Charity Gift Cards. Finally, the host ended every episode with these simple yet powerful words: be kind to one another. A mantra that now lives on through the show’s digital network, ellentube.

The Ellen DeGeneres Show Gives Fans a Daily Dose of Happiness

From September 8, 2003 through May 26, 2022, The Ellen DeGeneres Show aired over 3,200 episodes. Many of those featured ordinary people doing extraordinary things. When The Ellen DeGeneres Show joined forces with TisBest Philanthropy for its final season, the partnership sparked another way to inspire fans long after the final episode. First, they launched a new platform on ellentube called “Smile.” The program highlights heartwarming stories of everyday heroes doing good for others. Although the live show has come to an end, fans can continue to be inspired by these stories. Now, fans have three more reasons to be happy.

The Ellen DeGeneres Show Gives Fans More Reasons to Smile

In the host’s final monologue she shared, “If this show has made you smile, if it has lifted you up, [during] a period of some type of pain, some type of sadness, then I have done my job.” In that spirit, The Ellen DeGeneres Show partnered once again with TisBest Philanthropy to create three spin-off series on the Smile network. The goal is to continue the show’s legacy by giving people a reason to smile every single day.

If You Can Be Anything in This World, Be Kind

To read more about the everyday heroes featured on The Ellen DeGeneres Show, check out our “As Seen on Ellen” blog series. Kindness is contagious and we all have the power to spread it among our communities. In the words of the former talk show host, “Be kind to one another.”

Create More Warm Fuzzies!

Join us in the movement to #RedefineGifting by replacing gifts of stuff with gifts of good. If you feel inspired by this heartwarming story, spread a little more love in our world. Send a TisBest Charity Gift Card to those close to your heart so they can pay it forward to a charity that is close to theirs. Or give a card to a stranger as a random act of kindness. Together, you’ll do a world of good.

Share your giving stories with us on social by tagging your post with #RedefineGifting.

The post The Ellen DeGeneres Show Gives Back Through TisBest appeared first on TisBest.

TisBest is on a mission to #RedefineGifting by replacing gifts of stuff with gifts of good. In that spirit we like to feature heartwarming stories of special people, like Roslyn and Ray Singleton, who are also doing good in this world. We hope it inspires you to spread some kindness and love in your communities.

Husband and wife Roslyn and Ray Singleton truly exemplify the vow in sickness and in health. Just a couple of weeks before their first wedding anniversary Roslyn was diagnosed with brain cancer. She and Ray have remained optimistic throughout her treatment. In turn, their positivity has inspired so many others after a video of Ray serenading Roslyn before surgery went viral. Now the Charlotte, North Carolina couple has people all over the country praying for Roslyn’s recovery.

Brain Tumor Returns After Six-Year Remission

Roslyn Singleton is a navy veteran who was diagnosed with stage three brain cancer in 2013 – several years before she met Ray. She had been experiencing symptoms including migraines and blurred vision, which prompted her to go to the doctor. An MRI revealed a tumor the size of an orange on her brain. The tumor was successfully surgically removed and Roslyn was symptom-free and cancer free.

Roslyn went back for annual scans and got a healthy report for six consecutive years. Then, on October 10, 2019 the cancer returned. During Roslyn’s routine check-up the doctor discovered a new tumor, about the size of a half dollar, in the same spot on her brain. For the next three months, Roslyn went to the doctors three to four times a week for scans, MRIs, and blood work and had to sleep with a device to monitor for seizures or any irregular brain activity. Although Roslyn had faced this diagnosis before, this time she didn’t have to do it alone. She always had her guardian angel by her side. Roslyn and Ray Singleton faced each challenge together, with positivity and love.

Husband Serenades Wife Before Surgery and Inspires Millions

In January 2020 as Roslyn was in the hospital awaiting her second brain surgery in six years, Ray felt helpless and wanted to do anything to make his wife smile. He decided to serenade Roslyn in her hospital bed with a rendition of Daniel Caesar’s “Get You.” He recorded the song on his phone. Then he turned it into a video with pictures of Roslyn’s medical journey to share with his family and friends on social media. To their surprise the video went viral and inspired millions. Roslyn and Ray Singleton received an outpouring of love and prayers from strangers across the country.

Next, one month after Roslyn’s surgery, the couple appeared on The Ellen DeGeneres Show to talk about their unexpected fame. Then the host surprised Roslyn and Ray with a special video greeting from NBA legend Dwyane Wade. Since their appearance on The Ellen DeGeneres Show, Roslyn and Ray have been overwhelmed by the support of fans. In fact, they had to open a P.O. Box to receive the abundance of inspirational letters, postcards, and gift cards.

Roslyn and Ray Singleton Meet NBA Legend Dwyane Wade

In honor of The Ellen DeGeneres Show’s final season, the host invited Roslyn and Ray Singleton back to check in on Roslyn’s progress. The couple was welcomed by guest host tWitch, who had secretly hidden his surprise co-host backstage. When tWitch recalled Dwyane Wade’s video message back in 2020, he said that Dwyane had another message for the couple. However, this time, he wanted to deliver it in person. Then the stage doors opened up to reveal guest co-host Dwyane Wade.

When Dwyane asked Roslyn about her health, she shared that she is still in treatment.  She does three different types of treatment, including IV chemo every two weeks, a pill every six weeks, and for 20 hours every day she wears a headpiece that uses radio waves to help kill the tumor. Roslyn and Ray Singleton remain hopeful. When her treatment ends in December, the couple plan to start a family.

The Ellen DeGeneres Show Helps with Medical Expenses

Due to the ongoing treatments and side effects, Roslyn had to stop working. Ray juggles multiple jobs to help keep up with expenses. Inspired by the couple’s unwavering positive outlook, The Ellen DeGeneres Show partnered with TisBest Philanthropy to offer the couple some financial support. Co-hosts tWitch and Dwyane Wade surprised Roslyn and Ray Singleton with a check for $25,000 to help with medical expenses. All of Roslyn’s and Ray’s positivity and love that they send out in the world is coming right back to them.

Create More Warm Fuzzies!

Join us in the movement to #RedefineGifting by replacing gifts of stuff with gifts of good. If you feel inspired by this heartwarming story, spread a little more love in our world. Send a TisBest Charity Gift Card to those close to your heart so they can pay it forward to a charity that is close to theirs. Or give a card to a stranger as a random act of kindness. Together, you’ll do a world of good.

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TisBest is on a mission to #RedefineGifting by replacing gifts of stuff with gifts of good. In that spirit we like to feature heartwarming stories of special people, like BLK & Bold Co-Founders Pernell Cezar and Rod Johnson, who are also doing good in this world. We hope it inspires you to spread some kindness and love in your communities.

Pernell Cezar and Rod Johnson are the co-founders of BLK & Bold Specialty Beverages, the first nationally distributed black-owned coffee brand. The two childhood friends left their jobs in the corporate world because of an idea that started brewing over a shared cup of coffee.

New Business Idea Percolates Over a Cup of Joe

High school classmates Pernell Cezar and Rod Johnson lived on the same street in Gary, Indiana. They spent their days shooting hoops in Pernell’s backyard court. Both of them were first-generation college graduates and pursued careers in the corporate world. Pernell worked in retail merchandising and Rod was a professional fundraiser for national academic and health care institutions.

The two remained friends and often met up for coffee. They felt unfulfilled in their careers and started discussing ideas for start-up businesses, but none of them stuck. Then they realized that every time they had these brainstorming meetings it was always over a cup of coffee or tea. That’s when Pernell and Rod knew something was brewing.

The Daily Grind

Although the two friends had corporate experience and a mutual love of coffee, they knew nothing about the coffee industry. They set up shop in Pernell’s garage and started researching and experimenting. Using technology to their advantage they watched YouTube videos to figure out how to use the roaster. There was a lot of trial and error. In fact, one of their neighbors was concerned that the garage was on fire due to the burning smell. Fortunately, there wasn’t a fire – just a flaming hot cup of coffee in the making.

Brewing a Brand That Gives Back

Once Pernell and Rod perfected their roast they started discussing how and where to sell it. They wanted a brand that reflected not only their love of coffee but one that fulfilled their other mutual passion – giving back to their community. The two friends had been drinking coffee their entire adult lives. However, they felt that the black community was underrepresented in the coffee business. What’s more, the industry as a whole was not very community focused.

In an interview with Fortune, Rod Johnson shared, “Coffee is the second-highest-consumed beverage in the U.S. (after water), and millions of people partake in daily consumption, all that fall short of making a positive impact back to their communities. We want to ensure that our communities and consumers are being supported and respected via the coffee businesses and retailers that market to us and are located on corners of our communities across the U.S.”

BLK & Bold Serves Up a Cup of Kindness

BLK & Bold Specialty Beverages reflects the products they sell – black coffee and black tea. It also represents the black-owned business and the communities in which it serves. They intentionally do not operate as an independent coffee shop. BLK & Bold, headquartered in Des Moines, IA, is a coffee and tea manufacturer and supplier with a business model based on social impact.

Growing up in Gary, Indiana, Pernell Cezar and Rod Johnson lived in an at-risk community. They know what it’s like to walk in those shoes. They were fortunate enough to overcome obstacles and become successful. Pernell and Rod wanted to find a way to help children in marginalized communities live their best lives. Through their brand, Pernell and Rod give back to their childhood community as well as other at-risk areas across the country. BLK & Bold donates 5% of profits to 15 U.S. organizations that support at-risk youth. Now the co-founders have come full circle from shooting hoops in the backyard to building a business and philanthropic partnership with the NBA!

NBA Matches BLK & Bold Charitable Donations

BLK & Bold features a special collection of NBA-themed coffee. The collection, wittily called The Warm Up, includes teams such as the Los Angeles Lakers, the Chicago Bulls, and the New York Knicks. Each custom-coffee roast is packaged with the BLK & Bold brand and respective team’s colors. To make the partnership even sweeter the NBA matches BLK & Bold’s donation to at-risk communities with every sale of their NBA-licensed coffee products.

Dwyane Wade Tells Pernell and Rod What’s Happening

With each milestone of their success Pernell Cezar and Rod Johnson have had what they call “what’s happening” moments. From their first successful brew to their partnership with the NBA, they just look at each other in awe and say, “What’s happening?” They had the same reaction when former Miami Heat star Dwyane Wade and his wife, actress Gabrielle Union, showed BLK & Bold some love on their social platforms. 

When Pernell and Rod were invited as guests on The Ellen DeGeneres Show they had another “what’s happening” moment. First, they fulfilled their childhood basketball dreams when they met guest host Dwyane Wade. Next, Dwyane announced that The Ellen DeGeneres Show partnered with TisBest Philanthropy to help BLK & Bold with their social impact mission. Dwayne presented Pernell and Rod with a TisBest check for $10,000 for BLK & Bold to give back to at-risk communities! That’s “what’s happening!”

Sip, Relax, and Give Back

BLK & Gold started with a single roaster in Pernell’s garage. Now the company operates from a 20,000 SF commercial facility in Des Moines. In just three years, BLK & Bold has profited nearly $1 million – and continually expands its impact on at-risk communities. If you’d like to support a black-owned business that is giving back, BLK & Bold’s products can be found online, on their website and Amazon, as well as in retail stores such as Target and Whole Foods.

Create More Warm Fuzzies!

Join us in the movement to #RedefineGifting by replacing gifts of stuff with gifts of good. If you feel inspired by this heartwarming story, spread a little more love in our world. Send a TisBest Charity Gift Card to those close to your heart so they can pay it forward to a charity that is close to theirs. Or give a card to a stranger as a random act of kindness. Together, you’ll do a world of good.

Share your giving stories with us on social by tagging your post with #RedefineGifting.

The post BLK & Bold Coffee Has Big Perks for At-Risk Communities appeared first on TisBest.

TisBest is on a mission to #RedefineGifting by replacing gifts of stuff with gifts of good. In that spirit we like to feature heartwarming stories of special people, like the Lucky 13, who are also doing good in this world. We hope it inspires you to spread some kindness and love in your communities.

Twelve strangers became friends while bonding over their shared experiences on The Ellen DeGeneres Show. They were each members of the studio audience whose lives were transformed when the host called them to the stage. The 12 past guests met for the first time when they were invited to the taping of the show’s 2,000th episode, which aired in Season 13. Now, they’ve become lifelong friends who refer to themselves as the Lucky 13.

Talk Show Guests Form Life-Altering Bond

The Ellen DeGeneres Show was known for occasionally calling an unsuspecting studio audience member up to the stage. The Lucky 13 were part of that elite club. The host recognized these guests, individually, for their positive spirit and impact on their communities. Then the host surprised them with gifts such as a new car or cash prizes. What happened next was life-altering.

Over the years the 12 guests viewed each other’s featured episodes from living rooms across the country but never met in person … until November 12, 2015. That was the date they all were in the studio audience for The Ellen DeGeneres Show’s 2000th episode which aired during the show’s 13th season. The 12 past guests bonded that day and continued to stay in touch after the show. Now, the Lucky 13 have become more than lifelong friends. They’ve become family.

The Lucky 13 Remember Lisa Jarmon

Four years after the 2000th episode aired the Lucky 13 reunited on the show once again. This time in remembrance of Lisa Jarmon – one of the members of the group who had recently passed away from breast cancer. Lisa’s zest for life and indomitable spirit landed her a recurring seat next to the host over the years. The show transformed this single-mom’s life with a custom-built home, a new car, and, after her diagnosis, a check to help with medical expenses.

After Lisa lost her battle with breast cancer The Ellen DeGeneres Show invited the Lucky 13 back to the show to celebrate Lisa’s life. Members of the group recalled inspirational conversations they had with Lisa. They reminisced about her infectious positive energy and how she had changed each of their lives for good. To honor Lisa’s legacy the host announced the start of the Lisa Jarmon Fund. The memorial fund provides financial awards for people who exemplify the same qualities as Lisa. Next, the host dedicated a seat in the studio audience with Lisa Jarmon’s name.

The Lucky 13 Honors The Ellen DeGeneres Show by Giving Back

As The Ellen DeGeneres Show aired its 19th and final season, the host welcomed back the Lucky 13 one last time. The group expressed how their experiences on the show – and the friendships they’ve made as a result – have been life-changing. Inspired by the host’s generosity the Lucky 13 have dedicated their lives to giving back to their communities. To help them do just that the host had one final surprise for the Lucky 13. The Ellen DeGeneres Show partnered with TisBest Philanthropy to give each guest a $10,000 TisBest Charity Gift Card. The Lucky 13 will pay it forward to their favorite charities – sprinkling more love and kindness into the world – just as The Ellen DeGeneres Show did for 19 seasons.

Create More Warm Fuzzies!

Join us in the movement to #RedefineGifting by replacing gifts of stuff with gifts of good. If you feel inspired by this heartwarming story, spread a little more love in our world. Send a TisBest Charity Gift Card to those close to your heart so they can pay it forward to a charity that is close to theirs. Or give a card to a stranger as a random act of kindness. Together, you’ll do a world of good.

Share your giving stories with us on social by tagging your post with #RedefineGifting.

The post The Ellen DeGeneres Show Welcomes Back the Lucky 13 appeared first on TisBest.

TisBest is on a mission to #RedefineGifting by replacing gifts of stuff with gifts of good. In that spirit we like to feature heartwarming stories of special people, like Quilen Blackwell of Southside Blooms, who are also doing good in this world. We hope it inspires you to spread some kindness and love in your communities.

Quilen Blackwell is the founder of Chicago Eco House — a nonprofit organization that transforms vacant lots in Chicago into sustainable flower farms. Stemming off that initiative is Southside Blooms, a brick-and-mortar shop that sells the farm-grown arrangements. The mission of both organizations is to alleviate inner city poverty and restore the environment through sustainable farming.

Wisconsin Native Finds True Calling in Chicago

Quilen Blackwell was raised in a dual-income family in Madison, Wisconsin. Blessed with opportunity he graduated from the University of Wisconsin-Madison and went on to serve in the Peace Corps in Thailand. After moving back to the States, he wanted to find his purpose. He volunteered as a tutor at a high school on the South Side of Chicago. That was when he saw, first hand, the extreme poverty in the community. His students were surrounded by gang violence, crime, and drugs. Quilen felt compelled to help these black teens find a path to a brighter future.

Southside Blooms Plant Seeds of Opportunity

According to Chicago Eco House, the overall unemployment rate in Englewood, Chicago is 22 percent and the unemployment rate among black youths (ages 16-24) is 50 percent. The poverty rate is 44 percent. Quilen’s mission is to change these statistics.

As Quilen grew accustomed to city life he noticed that there are hundreds of vacant lots throughout Chicago. In 2014, he became inspired to turn these abandoned lots into a land of opportunity. Through his non-profit organization Chicago Eco House, Quilen started transforming lots into sustainable flower farms that provide jobs for at-risk teens and formerly incarcerated people in the community. First, Quilen created a flower farm in the Englewood neighborhood. Then he transformed several other vacant lots spanning from the South Side to the West Side and even one in Gary, Indiana. Next, in 2019, he launched a brick-and-mortar flower shop in Englewood called Southside Blooms.

Flowers That Empower

Southside Blooms is a farm-to-vase shop that employs 50 youth annually and 300 in after-school programs. The teens plant and harvest flowers, care for the pollinating honey bees, design bouquets, and make corsages and centerpieces to sell at the shop. The youth also package honey from the farms’ hives, make seed paper greeting cards, and pour beeswax candles.

Southside Blooms empowers at-risk teens to work their way out of poverty. In an interview with Forbes Magazine, Quilen shared, “These young people want an opportunity to prove themselves. They want to learn skills, make some money, and provide value to their families and communities. We’re helping them do this with flowers. The name Southside Blooms represents not only the flowers, but also the neighborhoods and the people who live in them, blossoming.”

Inner City Farm Thrives Off the Grid

In addition to keeping kids off the streets, Southside Blooms is taking care of Mother Earth. The commercial floral industry is notoriously known for using herbicides, pesticides, and synthetic fertilizers. Southside Blooms relies solely on natural resources and regenerative farming practices to protect and restore the environment.

Each flower farm is 100% sustainable and solar-powered and pollinated by their own honeybees. The farms divert and capture rainwater from the roofs of adjacent buildings. It is stored in recycled containers and then released into the flower beds. This natural solar and irrigation system eliminates the two major operating expenses in farming – water and power. That allows Southside Blooms to use 100% of its proceeds to pay its workers and create more flower farms throughout the city. The flower farms also compost all the organic material generated on site, and use biodegradable, recyclable, or reusable packaging options wherever possible.

Flower Farm Business is Blooming

Southside Blooms receives about 40% of its revenue from sales. The rest comes from donations and grants from foundations, corporations, and individuals. Every purchase and donation helps create jobs for at-risk youth. 

When The Ellen DeGeneres Show learned of Quilen’s story, they wanted to start another chapter. Guest host Leslie Jones presented Quilen with a $10,000 check from TisBest Philanthropy. Now Quilen’s flower farms are in full bloom with plans to convert more abandoned lots and create more jobs!

Create More Warm Fuzzies!

Join us in the movement to #RedefineGifting by replacing gifts of stuff with gifts of good. If you feel inspired by this heartwarming story, spread a little more love in our world. Send a TisBest Charity Gift Card to those close to your heart so they can pay it forward to a charity that is close to theirs. Or give a card to a stranger as a random act of kindness. Together, you’ll do a world of good.

Share your giving stories with us on social by tagging your post with #RedefineGifting.

The post Southside Blooms Gives At-Risk Teens a Fresh Start appeared first on TisBest.