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Ever wonder what music Natalie Portman likes and listens to?…

“Natalie has put together Big Change: Songs for FINCA, a $7.99 charity album available through iTunes, mixing together 16 songs from artists like Norah Jones and Antony & the Johnsons, and including exclusive tracks from the likes of M. Ward and Devendra Banhart — even a shiny new Shins remix. Net proceeds from the album — due Oct. 30 — will benefit FINCA (villagebanking.org), an organization that helps alleviate poverty in developing countries; she’s worked with the group since 2003.”

Go to iTunes today to check out the complete set and download it.

Damn she’s fine.

While other music labels are whining about the music industry. Hopeless records is giving money away to causes!

“Sub City record label was created 8 years ago by the newly-prolific punk label Hopeless Records when they reached a point of selling more albums than they needed to support the label itself. Louis Posen - founder and president of Hopeless Records - thought it would be a good idea to start a second label that would be devoted to helping out less-fortunate people through donations and raising awareness. The name Sub City in part describes the subsidies it would provide to non-profit organizations, as well as declaring the underground roots of the music and people who are involved. Today Sub City and Hopeless Records are celebrating their million-dollar-milestone. Between Sub City’s sales proceeds and Hopeless Records’ Take Action Tour, the group have donated more than $1 million USD to more than 50 nonprofit organizations.”

Posen describes the charity structure as such:

“We wanted it to be clear to the fans that when they buy a release, 5 percent of the suggested retail list price is going the charity they see on the back of the record and in the literature in the insert and they know that’s coming from the label and the artist and it’s based on gross, not on profits. So they can be very clear what the donation is, where it’s going and who’s giving it.”

Whining and complaining about your industry doesn’t help anyone. So for all the other labels out there. Take some notes from Hopeless Records.

Via > Music News Culture

Another product release from the (RED) campaign. This (RED) Aqua Table is designed by famous architect Zaha Hadid. Priced @ $49,560,.. it’s probably just a bit out of your (at least my) price range,.. but it’s nice to look and all the profits are going to support the Global Fund.  

“Established & Sons is extremely excited to partner the (RED) campaign founded by Bono and Bobby Shriver in 2002. This global initiative’s primary objective is to engage the private sector in the fight against AIDS in Africa by channeling funds from the sale of (RED) products directly to The Global Fund. The iconic Aqua Table designed by Zaha Hadid has been the most sought after piece from the Established & Sons’ collection; it is sold internationally as both a Limited Edition of 12 and as a production table. Since it’s 2005 debut all edition pieces have been sold, one of the two Limited Edition’s prototypes was sold at a Phillips de Pury’s auction for $296,000 and another is currently being exhibited at the Solomon R Guggenheim Museum as part of the Zaha Hadid retrospective.”

Established and Sons is only going to produce 39 of the (RED) Aqua Tables. They are all signed by both Zaha Hadid and Bono and will be available for purchase directly through Established & Sons web-site.

Via > Trendhunter

Something about this story just happened to catch my eye >

“Playtex has released a line of glow in the dark lingerie to celebrate the 10th anniversary of its Moonwalk Charity. The Moonwalk Charity was born from Nina Barough’s vision.  10 years ago, Nina and 12 of her friends power walked the New York Marathon in their bras to raise money for Breast Cancer Research.  Since the first walk, the charity has raised nearly £27 million.  To further build on this concept, the Playtex Moonlit Marathon takes the concept to a new level.  Roughly 15,000 walkers now charge through the street in decorated bras.”

It all went down this past Saturday as 15,000 ladies took to the streets of London and helped raise over $4million! Nice job ladies.

For more information please visit > Walk the Walk

Via > Trendhunter

While you’re out in the sun this summer soaking up the rays,.. make sure you keep your skin protected with this Sun Safety Kit from Sephora.

“The kit includes eight mini products, including SPF30 face creams, eye creams and lip balms from some great brands like Korres, Bliss and Murad. They come in a adorable sunny yellow zip bag and each one is just big enough to keep you fully protected without weighing down your beach tote. The best part is 100% of the net proceeds from the $22 set will benefit the Skin Cancer Foundation. “

Enjoy the weather!

Via > Beauty Obsession

It’s important to ALWAYS Respect you Mom. And just like you Respect your Mom,.. you should equally Respect Your Mother EARTH! And that’s exactly what you’ll be saying and doing with this tee designed by Local Celebrity.

“ Local Celebrity has teamed up with Hollywood’s favorite non-profit organization, Global Green USA, to bring you this extra flavorful, t-shirt based, environmental campaign.  Money generated from each Respect Your Mother shirt sold is being donated to Global Green USA, specifically targeting issues associated with global warming.  The campaign was officially launched at the Global Green Oscars party in February, generating a huge buzz among some of Hollywood’s finest.  If you’re not driving a gas sipping hybrid car yet(neither am I), then you can at least rock one of these RYM shirts knowing that your money is being used to help this great cause. ”

With yesterday being Earth Day,.. it’s a perfect time to pick up this tee. Show both your MOMS some R-E-S-P-E-C-T!

Printed on 100% organic Cotton > $22.50 Available @ Local Celebrity

“Designers Nicky Hilton and Nicole Miller have created the ultimate fashion accessory -York Mints tins that benefit the Young Survival Coalition (a non-profit dedicated to raising breast cancer awareness and supporting survivors).”

“The chic arty-looking tins contain soft mints that are surrounded by a layer of dark chocolate and a hard-candy shell.”

And what does sister Paris think?.. “it’s HOT!”

The $25 price tag is a bit steap, but 100% of the proceeds benefit the charity. Now that is HOT!

Via > DallasNews

This is by far one of the best water projects I’ve seen! A girl named Katie Harrison along with a small and dedicated voluntary team started an independent, not for profit company called FRANK. Who in the heck is FRANK?

“FRANK Water is an independent bottled spring water company.  FRANK aims to supply the UK’s demand for bottled water in a socially responsible way – by giving the net profits (100%) to technology based clean water projects around the world.

Every one litre of FRANK spring water bought in the UK helps fund 200 litres of clean, safe drinking water for villagers at the FRANK projects in India and Africa.”

Water for Water,.. straight up. How great is that!? Especially considering how serious the worlds water problem is. Can you believe it’s the year 2007 and there is still people in the world who don’t have access to clean water!?!?!

Stop and think about it. WATER. The most basic human right. No access.

While here in America and most developed countries we pay, $1, $2, $3,.. sometimes up to $5+ for a bottle!

Did you know that:

More than a billion (MORE THAN A BILLION!) people in the world today lack access to clean drinking water. The result is that there are more people in the world’s hospitals today suffering from water-borne diseases than any other ailment.

Two million children die every year - 6000 a day - from such infections. Most of them are under the age of five.

The question now is,.. when is FRANK coming to the US? Or when will a not for profit like FRANK be started here? Or better yet,.. when will one of the big brand water companies announce they’re going to do something about this crisis and help?..

While I was writing this,.. I was curious to see how much the big brands were spending on advertising water to us?

I won’t name names,.. but one company I found spent $20million+!!! And in the report it states “Compared to the competition, this budget is about the same” You can read it here.

If a company and their competition can afford $20 million to market & advertise WATER to us,.. imagine how much they’re making off us!?… And imagine how much they could give to help the billion+ humans who have no access to clean water.

Think about it.

Via > Trendhunter

I’ve personally never downloaded a ring tone,.. I prefer to not have everyone around me know my phone is ringing.  Anyway,.. after seeing this story I might think twice about it.

“The Brazilian aid group Cidade Movel is raising money for the Xavante Indians who live in the Amazon rainforest by selling ringtones based on their traditional chants. According to a Reuters article tones like “the hunt song” and “the healing dance” have already garnered tens of thousands of dollars for the impoverished community.”

That’s awesome! Seems like more of this should be going on. Espcially considering how big the ringtone market is —>

“ARC predicts global (ringtone) sales will surpass $5.2 bil by 2008. IDC estimates that by 2007 ringtones will be a $1 bil market in the United States.”

$1b dollar market in the US!? $5.2b worldwide!! Take a percentage of that,.. and well you know the rest of the story. Do something good with it!! 

Via > ALR

Ringtone Stats > IT Facts

Building Letters magazine is finally available after a few years of work. 100% of the proceeds of this ethical design publication go to help victims of the 2004 Asian Tsunami. Previous issues raised funds for children in Africa and India.

The magazine also comes with a disc of 25 free fonts, created specifically for it, as well as another Tsunami fundraiser Fleurons of Hope. To which Noah Scalin of ALRDesign contributed.

Get a copy here

Thanks to Noah over at ALR for the tip.