Turning Gift Cards Into Charitable Donations (NAPSA)—Gift cards have become a popular option when shopping for people for special occasions. And thanks to a clever new program, those plastic certificates are also becoming a popular way to support favorite charities. Despite the donor’s best intentions, not all gift cards get used, and many of these items do lose value and/or expire over time. Since most stores and restaurants will not redeem gift cards for their cash value, rather than letting them go to waste, holders can instead donate them. Here’s how it works: Findall the gift cards you want to donate (even partially used cards); Log on to www.GiftCard Donor.com and enter the information for each card; Assign a charity to receive the proceeds. The designated charity will receive 75 percent of the revenueofthe resold cards; Mail in the cards. It’s when the cards are resold that the real magic happens. People interested in purchasing gift cards can go to www.GiftCards Again com, where they can browse through thousands of donated cards and pick them up for up to 20 percent off face value. When donated cards are resold (look for the CH symbol on the Web site), the charity designated by the card’s original owner receives 75 percentof the cost of the card. Clowning Around For Charity To help raise awarenessof this unique endeavor to support charities listed on www.GiftCardDonor. com, Mophe the Clown (rhymes with “loaf”) is riding 1,000 miles around the United States on his unicycle. Heis visiting cities for short rides, riding in parades and performingat charity events, such as races and Mophethe Clownis unicycling in 48 states to raise moneyfor a variety of charities. walks, to rack up his miles. The rides are to help support charities like the March of Dimes Foundation, Operation Smile Inc., The Buckeye Ranch Foundation, Central Ohio Diabetes Association, Western Pennsylvania Humane Society and many more. To learn more about Mophe’s trek, visit www.GiftCardDonor.com/ Mopheor check out Mophe’s Facebook page. And if you see him on his journey, be sure to give Mophe a highfive. Gift Card Donor and Gift Cards Again are run by Shared Progress Inc, a professional fundraiser(a.k.a. a paid solicitor). Learn more at www.GiftCardDonor.com/States or call 1-877-422-8922.
