ZAZZLE LAUNCHES 'COMMUNITY GIVING' CHARITABLE PROGRAM
ZAZZLE LAUNCHES 'COMMUNITY GIVING' CHARITABLE PROGRAM
Katrina Relief, Humane Society of the U.S., Forever Young Foundation and Other Causes Receive Donations
Palo Alto, CA - October 3, 2005 - Zazzle, (www.zazzle.com), the Internet's leading customized products marketplace, today announced its 'Community Giving Program' providing a bridge between charities who want to increase fundraising and awareness, and consumers interested in supporting their favorite cause. Zazzle has created a 'one stop' shop (www.zazzle.com/charity) for communities to rally behind a cause that includes tools for communication and sharing to help raise charity awareness.
Whether giving to the Hurricane Katrina relief efforts, walking for Breast Cancer or rallying to Save the Children, consumers are Zazzling everything from t-shirts to outfit themselves and their teams, to personalized cards and stamps to thank supporters after specific charity events. Charities have the ability to create unique products for fundraising purposes and share their messages with a broader audience. Now Zazzle is making it easier and more rewarding to use its customization tools for the purpose of giving to a good cause.
'The Forever Young Foundation,' founded by NFL legend Steve Young is participating in Zazzle's 'Community Giving Program.' The foundation serves children who face significant physical, emotional, and financial challenges, by providing academic, athletic, and therapeutic opportunities. "We're excited about working with Zazzle not only because of the opportunity for new fundraising but because of the focus on interacting with a new community," said Steve Young. "Zazzle gives consumers a fun and easy way to 'be their own hero' by showing their support for children every time they buy unique products."
The Humane Society of the United States (HSUS), the nation's largest animal protection organization, has also created a Zazzle charity store. "The HSUS puts a priority on the need for disaster preparedness that includes animals, and we've responded to disasters nationwide," said Melissa Rubin, VP of Field and Disaster Services at the HSUS. "Many thousands of animals have been affected and displaced by hurricanes Katrina and Rita alone. We're very pleased to participate in Zazzle's new program that will help raise needed funds and awareness during this critical time."
Zazzle's seller community, which includes thousands of individual artists, photographers, designers and creative consumers, has come together to create a store benefiting Katrina relief efforts. Artists like Robert Dunnica, have contributed unique art work that can be customized and purchased by consumers everywhere, with proceeds going to benefit Katrina victims. "Zazzle has always provided individual artists with a great platform for sharing and generating awareness," said Dunnica. "It's an honor to participate in this new program giving artists the ability to share their creations for a greater good."
Many other charities are participating in Zazzle's Community Giving Program including; Save the Children, Autism Society of America, the National Children's Leukemia Foundation, Operation Second Chance, Cure Autism Now, Friends of Steven, Mercy Ships, The LAM Foundation, Southwest Autism Research and Resource Center and The Armed Forces Foundation.
Zazzle's 'Community Giving Program' allows charities to create a store of products such as stamps, cards, prints and apparel, using images that are relevant to their cause. Charities can receive up to twenty-seven percent of the net proceeds from sales from all products sold within their stores. The donation is comprised of the ten percent typically given to participating sellers who create and sell products within Zazzle's marketplace, Zazzle's matching donation of an additional ten percent of product sales to the participating charities and seven percent for sales referred from a charity's own website. Zazzle handles all production, shipping and customer support and sends monthly donations to the charity. In addition to promoting unique products, a Zazzle store provides charities with tools like message boards and calendaring functionality to help communicate with and grow their community of supporters.
About Zazzle
Zazzle is the leading customized products marketplace for consumer enthusiasts to share and celebrate their interests by creating apparel, posters, cards, stamps and more. Zazzle combines on-demand manufacturing, a robust online community, the largest online collection of customizable digital images and unmatched personalization tools to empower consumers to create their products. In addition, individuals can choose to become sellers by sharing their unique creations in Zazzle's public stores. Within these stores, anyone can browse, comment and connect with others who share their interests. Sellers also earn royalties every time their creations are purchased by others. For anyone who wishes to create, wear, display, sell or celebrate their interests, Zazzle provides a compelling interactive marketplace to a worldwide audience. For more information, please visit www.zazzle.com.
