Turning WeddingsInto Charitable Affairs (NAPSA)—More couples are saying “I do” to a gift that really matters—a donation to the charity of their choice. Brides and grooms who have furnished their own apartments, lived together or are getting married for the second or third time may not be interested in registering for pots and pans and are really embracing the concept of incorporating charities into their wedding. One newsworthy example is groom Donald Trumpandhis bride Melania Knauss, who wed in early 2005. These trendsetters incorporated charity into their wedding by asking guests to donate to the Tsunami Relief Fund. As socially-conscious couples seek ways to incorporate their values into their wedding celebra- tions, more couples are signing up with a registry that automatically makes a charitable donation for every gift purchased. For example, in the first week that WeddingChannel.com opened its registry service, more than 2,000 couples signed on. Partnering with the I Do Foundation, the site offers a choice of more than 100 charitable associations that provide support to youth and family services, educational programs, community development and health organizations. These charities include The Special Olympics, The Boys & Girls Club of America, Save the Chil- dren, the Susan G. Komen Breast Cancer Foundation, The American CancerSociety and more. “Many engaged couples are Want to do good while saying “1 do”? Someonline registries help couples raise money for worthwhile charities. not only starting a new life and hometogether, they are choosing to begin or extend a tradition of charity and social consciousness,” said Rosanna McCollough, WeddingChannel.com editor-inchief. Couples start by registering at any of WeddingChannel.com’s retail partners and then selecting a charity at the site. Each time a gift is purchased a percentage of the gift’s price goes directly to the charity. While the donation per gift varies there is no limit to the amount of money a couple’s friends and family can generate. The I Do Foundation was created in 2000 by a group of nonprofit leaders dedicated to developing new avenues of support for charitable organizations. To learn more or to join the program,visit www.weddingchannel.com.
