Help Save The World

Original Family was started from wanting to help the community and give others the opportunity to smile or give someone something that provides memories for a lifetime.

Whenever you make a purchase from us, we'll donate to 5 nonprofit organizations that we feel are incredible and some also very personal to us. We help this will help you decide what you would like to donate to during your checkout experience and feel like you're not just making a purchase, but also making a difference.

LIFT was founded by two college students, Kirsten Lodal and Brian Krieter in 1998 after they had been volunteering in different child services and programs. "Helping families break the cycle of poverty" is their slogan, but they don't only focus on a parent or caregiver's financial strength to support their family, but also help build the parents/caregiver's personal well being and social connections. These all provide families the chance to feel more confident and less stressed, less depressed, and less overwhelmed. This, in turn, helps create a strong, stable, and secure family.

LIFT was an easy choice because Original Family is all about showing family members (even your furbabies) and friends that they are important, special, loved and that you're there for them. LIFT helps families in ways where buying a t-shirt or a mug isn't going to help or even be able to happen. They help families thrive in the most important ways.

Read more at:

Zaching Against Cancer

"Zaching Against Cancer" is personal to my boyfriend Chris (a co-founder of Original Family), the state Maryland, and me. While I didn't know Zachary Lederer myself, my boyfriend, and people from Maryland, his home state, did. It's personal to me as I've been to the charity events and after hearing about Zach and what his life was and where it was going, it's close to my heart.

Their Mission Statement is: "The Zaching Against Cancer Foundation (ZACF) improves the quality of life for cancer patients and their caregivers by providing support through direct patient services and programs, scholarships, and grants."

Find out more at:

When I was 15 years old (2005), I was diagnosed with Epilepsy (seizures). There are 65 million people in the world that have Epilepsy. While a lot of people can maybe only think of one or two types of seizures, there are a dozen different types of seizures. For some, depending on the type of seizure they have, someone can get surgery and have a tumor or a small part of the brain taken out so having seizures again will be very unlikely to not at all.

With mine, this wasn't anything possible. The brain is so complex that there hasn't been any type of cure for those with Epilepsy.

The Epilepsy Foundation helps them "connect people to support, remove barriers to care, fund innovative research, and educate the public about epilepsy and seizure first aid."

Their foundation was and has been something that has always been helpful in learning more about Epilepsy to better educate myself on it. 

Check it out:

 

"Big Sister Little Sister is a mentoring program that promotes life skills, self-esteem, trust, and social appropriateness. We strive to make a positive and lasting impact on school campuses, in communities, and in the lives of women and youth."

I had a friend that did this while she was in college and loved it. Big Sister Little Sister is an organization that helps empower women. Female Empowerment and just being a good role model for girls as a woman and to kids, in general, has always been very important to me.

If you would like to read more, here is more information:

 

Since I've been a kid, animals have always had a place in my heart. I grew up having dogs and cats and now Chris and I have two dogs and one cat. They're like our kids!

When I picture our pets being on the street and/or not in good homes, it breaks my heart, as does thinking of all of the other animals that are in that situation now. As much as I wish I could adopt all of the cats and dogs that need a safe and loving place to live, that's simply impossible (or maybe very unlikely 😹  )

So we immediately wanted to choose one that donated to a cause that would help animals that can't be adopted from an animal shelter and since shelters often have to keep their numbers down due to limited space, are put down.

"Best Friends is leading the no-kill movement by running lifesaving programs for dogs and cats, providing support and training for animal shelters and rescue groups, and mobilizing community members on behalf of pets in need across the country."

Kids have always had a special place in my heart. I loved babysitting the kids in my neighborhood for years and becoming their role model. I love making a kid laugh and smile and even answering their consistent silly & intuitive "why" questions. I love how when you are a kid, you live a carefree life. However, I do realize not all kids have a great childhood or grow up in the best situations. Original Family is about supporting all types of families from everywhere. We all were children once and growing up, we have shaped the world in some kind of way. I hate the thought of children being hungry, being taken from their families, or not even having a family. That's why we've decided to add this awesome charity for you to be able to donate to with any purchase. Even if the world may not be absolutely carefree and perfect for children, I hope that it can get very close to them at least being able to grow and succeed, have a loving family, and never be hungry or thirsty. " Save the Children has a bold ambition: we believe in a world in which all children survive, have the chance to learn, and are protected from abuse, neglect and exploitation."

Find out more here:

 

Now decide what YOU want to give back to yourself or a certain product that donates to one of the charities you like!

donate to all by splitting up the donations between all of them!