Portland, OR. The season of giving doesn’t have to end with Christmas; it can continue through AmazonSmile, a program that automatically donates to a nonprofit organization of your choice. The program offers all of the same items, prices, and benefits of online shopping while donating 0.5% of your purchases to the charity of your choice. Some even use AmazonSmile while shopping on their phones, as seen above.
A recent quarterly AmazonSmile notification informed shoppers that the Oregon Food Bank (seen above before the pandemic) recently received a donation of $1,752.15, at no cost to them.
AmazonSmile launched in 2013 and for the past seven years, it has provided a way for customers to support organizations they care about every time they shop. This program comes at no cost to the organizations or customers, and donations could help a wide range of organizations from global humanitarian efforts to local hospitals to school PTA’s.
“Donations from AmazonSmile have resulted in hundreds of thousands of charities expanding their meaningful work across global communities making a difference in people’s lives,” said Llew Mason, Vice President of Consumer Engagement at Amazon. “We are thrilled to have given over $215 million on behalf of customers to the causes they care about most.”
AmazonSmile can be accessed through a web browser and also through the app for iPhones and Android phones. Another way to directly donate items is through the AmazonSmile Charity Lists where the organization will have a list of items of what is needed most.
For first time users, to access the program first visit smile.amazon.com. Then follow the steps below.
Sign in with your Amazon credentials
Choose a charitable organization to receive donations or search the charity of your choice
Then just select the organization and start shopping
Current spotlight organizations include UNCF (United Negro College Fund), Equal Justice Initiative, Feeding America, Save the Children, and Meals On Wheels America. In addition, there are also thousands of organizations to browse and choose from which are sorted into categories such as international or even by state.
When beginning to give back and donate there will be a choice between spotlight charities and searching for an organization.
Organizations can also register for AmazonSmile by visiting: org.amazon.com/signout and follow the steps below.
Click the yellow “Register Now” button
Search for your organization by name or EIN
Click the yellow “Register” button next to your organization’s name
Follow the instructions to complete registration
Tanya Ramos, CEO for Pencils of Promise, explains how the donations with AmazonSmile have helped the organization, “Education is the most powerful tool we can use to change the world. Thanks to the generosity of AmazonSmile customers, Pencils of Promise has helped provide access to quality education for over 100,000 children around the globe.”
From the AmazonSmile Foundation website: The AmazonSmile Foundation is a 501(c)(3) private foundation created by Amazon to administer the AmazonSmile program. All donation amounts generated by the AmazonSmile program are remitted by a subsidiary of Amazon.com, Inc. to the AmazonSmile Foundation. In turn, the AmazonSmile Foundation donates those amounts to the charitable organizations selected by our customers. Amazon pays all expenses of the AmazonSmile Foundation; they are not deducted from the donation amounts generated by purchases on AmazonSmile.
Portland, OR. The Oregon Humane Society (OHS) honored heroic people and pets at the annual Diamond Collar Awards luncheon. The luncheon took place on February 20th at the Multnomah Athletic Club. Pets and people were recognized for their compassion, dedication, and resiliency. Organizers say the inspiring stories represent OHS’s mission of fostering an environment of respect, responsibility, and compassion for all animals. Pictured above is Kevvie the dog and Brian August. Kevvie was abandoned in the woods and suffering from gunshot wounds. OHS caretakers say this resilient dog took months to heal and trust again. Her gentle and forgiving nature allowed her to find her forever home with her new family.
Pictured above is Nancy Tonkin-Zoucha and friends
OHS Diamond Collar – Matt Zaffino and Sharon Harmon
“I am always so inspired by the OHS Diamond Collar Award honorees,” said Sharon Harmon, OHS President, and CEO. “Each of the recipients reminds us of the compassion and kindness in our community.” Harmon hosted the awards with KGW Chief Meteorologist Matt Zaffino.
OHS Diamond Collar – Ilene the kitten and Alanna Lundin
OHS Diamond Collar – George Piter and Squeak
Below are videos featuring the Diamond Collar Heroes:
George Piter: For 13 years, George and his trained therapy cats have dedicated time to visit Salem Hospital and brighten the days of patients and anyone else who may need it.
Ilene the kitten: A tiny but mighty kitten was born without eyes and discarded in the trash in Central California. After being transferred to the Oregon Humane Society for a special surgery, she went on to inspire a family and show the world that anyone can overcome their obstacles with love and determination.Â
Joyce Briggs de la Fuente: Thousands of cats and kittens were entering Oregon shelters every year. Under Joyce’s leadership, she brought together animal welfare leaders, innovative planning, extensive research and data that launched the Spay and Save Program which provides an easy and affordable option to prevent unwanted litters of kittens. With this new program, Portland is now the safest place for homeless felines.
Kevvie the dog: After being abandoned in the woods and suffering from gunshot wounds, this resilient dog took months to heal and trust again. Her gentle and forgiving nature allowed her to find her forever home with her new family.
More about the Oregon Humane Society:
OHS is the largest humane society in the Northwest and adopts more animals from its Portland shelter than any other single-facility shelter on the West Coast. OHS puts no time limits on how long animals remain at the shelter—a pet stays available for adoption for as long as needed to find a loving home. If a pet in the care of OHS needs medical attention, the OHS veterinary hospital provides the pet with the same level of care you would want your own pet to receive.
Founded in 1868 by noted humanitarian Thomas Lamb Eliot, OHS is the fourth-oldest humane society in the nation. Eliot initially established OHS to stop the neglect and abuse of draft animals. The mission expanded to include companion animals and, until 1933, orphaned children.
OHS finds homes for more than 11,000 pets each year. The OHS medical team provides free and low-cost spay and neuter surgeries for thousands of pets owned by low-income families OHS educators reach more than 12,000 youths and about 2,000 adults annually through humane education programs. The OHS Second Chance program brings more than 8,000 pets annually to OHS from other shelters around the region. In the state capitol, OHS is the driving force behind efforts to improve laws that protect animals and punish offenders.Â
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