(NAPSA)—A dozen A-listers (including four Oscar winners and three Emmy winners) have seized a golden opportunity, designing a piece of gold jewelry that will be auctioned off to benefit such exemplary causes as children’s health, the world’s water supplies and the nation’s hungry. The online bidding for these celebrity-designed pieces of gold jewelry can be viewed at www.Leavesofchange.org. Hollywood legends Christina Applegate, Whoopi Goldberg, Marcia Gay Harden, Samantha Harris, Debra Messing, Chris Noth, Lena Olin, Rachael Ray, Susan Sarandon, Brooke Shields, Eric McCormack and Pauletta and Denzel Washington each designed a piece with a leaf motif, and all the proceeds from the auction of these jewelry items will go to the charity of their choice. “Since the beginning of civilization, gold jewelry has held a powerful emotional place in global culture,” says Duvall O’Steen, spokesperson for World Gold Council. “It’s exciting to capitalize on gold’s profound and enduring emotional significance by supporting so many worthy causes.” Each of the jewelry designers in the program donated time and money to create an exclusive set of three pieces from the celebrity sketch design: one for the celebrity and one auctioned off with proceeds going to the designated charities. The third piece will travel from July to December 2009 to some 16 A stellar collection of Hollywood A-listers has worked with master goldsmiths to design unique jewelry that will benefit charity. U.S. cities at Jared the Galleria of Jewelry stores to further raise awareness of the multiple charities. Working to gether, jewelers and celebrities are creating memorable works of art, which will make a much-needed difference in the lives of the less fortunate. The program is intended to touch the lives of many and bring hope to these challenging times. A changing leaf is considered one of life’s most symbolic and beautiful gifts. Combining this meaningful inspiration of nature with the enduring radiance of gold sends a message of hope to this everchanging world. To learn more about the program, the auction and the charities that benefit or to see pictures of the celebrity-designed jewelry, visit www.leavesofchange.org. (NAPSA)—A vehicle history report from CARFAX can help car buyers avoid becoming victims of “VIN cloning”—a con where criminals use a vehicle identification number (VIN) from a legally registered car to mask the identity of a stolen one. Visit www.carfax.com. *** A recent survey by the American Network of Community Options and Resources clearly illustrates the growing need for increased federal funding for lowwage workers who provide support to people with disabilities. For more information or to contact your legislators, visit www.youneedtoknowme.org. *** The Wells REIT II portfolio includes 83 office and industrial buildings in 23 states and Washington, D.C., covering 20 million square feet. More than $4 billion has been invested in Wells REIT II. For more information on the REIT, visit www.wellsreitII.com or www.wellsref.com. *** The TiVo HD DVR works with HD cable and with HDTV antennae. In addition to recording and searching for shows, the device provides easy access to broadband Internet entertainment, movies and music from companies such as Netflix. Visit www.tivo.com/ota. Screen 4 Campaign To Change Heart Disease Odds (NAPSA)—There’s an e-card you can send the women in your life this year that will not only show you care but also help save lives—and it’s free. Sister to Sister: The Women’s Heart Health Foundation has created Screen 4, a free online campaign that encourages women to get screened for heart disease in teams of four because one in four women dies of heart disease. The campaign uses a buddy system that calls for women to get together, get screened and get going with a plan to address heart disease risk factors—which can be reduced by as much as 82 percent just by making small lifestyle changes. Participation is easy. A woman signs up at www.sister tosister. org/screen4 and forwards an e-card to recruit three others to join her. The site helps each woman identify a location near her home where she can get screened. Women can also be screened by their personal health care providers. Following the screening, each team member returns to the site, punches in her results and is provided with a personalized hearthealth program she can easily implement. Screen 4 participants also have free access to the tools, information and supportive community found on the site. “There is no stronger bond than the bond between women,” said Irene Pollin, M.S.W., Ph.D., a nationally recognized women’s health advocate and founder of Sister to Sister. “Screen 4 is a way to capitalize on that bond by encouraging women to help one another through this process. The sad fact is heart disease is preventable, yet one in four women dies from it. We want to change that statistic.” Pictured: Lynne Brick, BSN One in four women dies of heart disease, yet the disease is mostly preventable. A new campaign hopes to change those odds. Heart disease kills significantly more women than men each year. While awareness has increased in recent years, only a small percentage of women recognize that heart disease is the No. 1 threat to their personal health. “I want women to understand how vital it is that they take charge of their own heart health,” said JoAnne M. Foody, M.D., and associate professor at Harvard Medical School and director of the Cardiovascular Wellness Center at Brigham and Women’s/ Faulkner Hospitals in Boston. “Women are less likely than men to be evaluated by their doctors for cardiovascular risk factors and less likely to receive adequate counseling and treatment for those factors. The Screen 4 campaign is a positive way in which women can make a real change for themselves and others and perhaps save a life.” For more information and to register, visit www.sistertosister.org/ screen4. New Report Illustrates Benefits Of Credit Cards To Small Businesses (NAPSA)—Credit cards can make a big difference for small businesses when used wisely. Credit cards serve as an important financing tool by guaranteeing payments, which can help entrepreneurs and small businesses weather lean economic times. They also help enhance efficiency and eliminate costs that would otherwise fall on small businesses if they had to operate their own credit and billing systems. And because companies accepting cards are more convenient to most customers, credit cards can increase sales. The Small Business & Entrepreneurship Council (SBEC) and Chase recently published these findings and more in a new report that examines the various aspects of the relationship between consumers, small businesses and the credit card industry. The report, “Credit Cards and Small Business: The Benefits, Opportunities and Policy Debate,” also found that increased government regulation of credit cards may eliminate some of these benefits and ultimately hurt small businesses. “Ensuring that small business owners have access to the credit they need when they need it is key to the continued growth of these enterprises,” said Karen Kerrigan, president and CEO of SBEC. “We’re delighted to work with Chase to educate people about the important role credit cards play in helping small businesses across the country manage cash flows and maintain profitability.” The report outlined the top 10 benefits the use of credit/debit cards provides small businesses, including: •C r e d i t c a r d s h e l p s m a l l businesses function even when business lending is tightened. •Credit cards help small businesses manage expenses, track purchases and save time. Credit cards offer consumers convenience and can often help small businesses increase sales. Now, some are voicing concerns that attempts to increase government regulation may lead to higher fees and make credit less available. •C u s t o m e r s u s i n g c r e d i t cards guarantee payment to small businesses. •Credit cards eliminate the need for small businesses to extend credit to customers. “We’re committed to helping small businesses succeed and grow, especially in these tough times, because they are the backbone of our economy,” said John Delaney, president, Business Card, Chase Card Services. “Together with SBEC, we are working to show small business owners that we recognize their contributions to the industry and value them as partners.” Small business owners can visit www.chaseclearandsimple. com for more information and ways they can more effectively put credit to work for their business. The full SBEC report is available at www.sbecouncil.org. Gifts For Grads For Givers On A Budget (NAPSA)—Fleischmann’s Yeast is offering a book with some of cookbook author Nancy Baggett’s easy, tasty and “Kneadlessly Simple” bread recipes. To order a copy for $1 to offset shipping and handling, visit www.breadbreak through.com. *** A recent survey found that most women who diet fall victim to some of the most prevalent diet myths, including the mistaken idea that avoiding high-fructose corn syrup can lead to faster weight loss. For science-based information on sweeteners, visit www.SweetSurprise.com. 15 (NAPSA)—With caps and gowns on the way and diplomas being printed, many proud parents and family members are left with a key question: How do you find an affordable yet memorable gift that the graduate in your life will really use and enjoy? Given the current state of the economy, this may seem like even more of a challenge, but there are indeed a few bargains out there that will be cherished and valued by the recipient. For example, a new smartphone can be a terrific solution for your gift-giving budget and a welcome tool for your recent grad. The Palm Centro, for instance, is one of the most affordable and feature-packed phones available— and is an investment in the new grad’s future that you can feel good about. College and high-school graduates are about to begin a new chapter in their lives, and they need plenty of help to stay organized. This handy phone can help keep grads focused, with a built-in organizer for names, numbers, appointments, notes and to-do’s. It provides features that young adults thrive on, such as e-mail, texting and picture mail, while also allowing the user to tackle academic and workplace tasks, such as editing papers or drafting a report. In addition, there are thousands of useful applications that users A smartphone can be a useful, practical and affordable gift for the new graduate. can download for their Centro. Here are four top applications for any grad (available at Palm’s software store, software.palm.com): • HoliDates—Essential for planning trips back home or keeping track of well-deserved vacation days. • Oxford American Dictionary and Thesaurus for Palm OS— Indispensable for any stressed grad or new employee. • Diet & Exercise Assistant— Keep them healthy and happy. • Advanced Brain Trainer— Keep their minds sharp. New grads are heading out into the big wide world. A thoughtful and affordable gift such as a Centro phone can give them a good start, and help them stay connected with the people most important to them along the way. To learn more, visit the Web site at www.palm.com.