Valentine’s Day was created out of love and compassion, so why not embody the spirit of the holiday by harboring love and compassion, not only for your lovers, friends, and family members, but for your fellow human being as well. You can use this day to be a holiday hero and help save a life, save a heart, and make someone less fortunate than you smile.

Everyone deserves to feel loved and appreciated, so go ahead and play a philanthropic Cupid and spread the love!

1. Donate Blood

Do you consider yourself a bleeding heart? If so, you should be a hero and donate your blood to the American Red Cross. Every second of every day someone needs blood. Did you know that each time you donate blood you save 3 lives? Take some time out of your schedule this Valentine’s Day for you and your sweetie to give up some blood to save 6 others. Check out Red Cross Blood to find a blood donation center close to you.

2. Give the Gift of Choice

Give a loved one a charity choice gift certificate. Charity Choice Donation allows recipients to choose a charity to which they would like their funds to go. The site hosts over 150 different charities, listed by category so benefactors can choose a cause that is important to them. Check it out at

3. Send Chocolates for a Cause

What would Valentine’s Day be without the exchange of chocolate? Show your friend, lover, and/or family member you love them by sending them a box of Full Circle Exchange Coffee and Chocolate and they will match Dollar 4 Dollar up to 1million to CARE. Through the “Name Your  Love, Share Your Love“ Valentine’s Day promotion, customers can create a  custom label for their box of chocolates and add a personalized note to those  they love. Each gift box will include a beautiful card highlighting CARE’s work  to empower girls and women all over the world to lift themselves and their  communities out of poverty.

4. This One Goes Out to the One I Love…Donate a Gift

Instead of giving gifts to the object of your affection, make each other heartfelt cards and donate a gift in their honor at Causecast, a website that allows you to put your money towards a project of your choosing. For $20 your Valentine can choose from different causes such as giving clean water to a person in a developing nation for 20 years, give 90-day support for a child with autism, 0r for $32 he or she can provide meal plans to 145 Cambodian children.

5. Host a Valentine’s Day Bake (for Ourselves) Sale

Remember in high school when you sold cupcakes and cookies to raise money for the Prom, well, this Valentine’s Day Gift is a gift in that spirit. Invite your girlfriends over for a baking party. Charge a small entrance fee and send the proceeds to your favorite charity and help bring an end to women suffering around the globe. The bonus with this idea is you will have plenty of yummy treats for you and your pals to indulge in.

Contact Info: Robin@healthtap.com

Charity/Nonprofit beneficiary: Help a Mother Out

Website: http://tapmommies.healthtap.com/diaper-drive/

This holiday season, why not give back to those who need it the most, Mothers.

Vivanista recently sat down with Robin of Healthtap to learn more about the health resources that they provide online, as well as their involvement with the ongoing Diaper Drive in partnership with Help a Mother Out.

What is HealthTap? What is unique about your organization?

HealthTap is a health technology company dedicated to helping people improve their health and well-being, one decision at a time.  What makes us unique is the way we provide health information to people.  Using HealthTap (online or on a mobile device), for the very first time, you’ll be able to find truly personalized health information (health information that’s reliable and actually relevant to you), as well as find people who are similar to you and who have had similar health experiences so that you can learn what’s worked for them. HealthTap isn’t “health search,” it’s a unique and new experience allowing you to “tap into” your health!

How and when was HealthTap inspired and created?

HealthTap was created in 2010 by Ron Gutman, the former CEO and founder of Wellsphere, one of the largest independent health sites online (Wellsphere has helped over 100 million users find reliable health information from experts and health writers).  HealthTap was inspired by the realization that while almost everyone looks for health information online, most people report that what they find is of no use at all (2010 Pew Internet Research study).  In part, this is because health information is organized around symptoms, conditions, and treatments – but not around what’s most important – you!  HealthTap solves this need by providing health information based on expert knowledge and community wisdom and personalizing the health information you see around you.

What is the overall goal of HealthTap? How do you hope to impact change?

HealthTap envisions people everywhere ‘tapping’ into precise, personal health information, at anytime, and from anywhere.  We hope to enable this change by providing people with a safe and secure way to share and receive personalized personal health information.

Tell us about your Diaper Drive in Partnership with Help a Mother Out. How do you hope it will change holiday giving?

Toy drives and similar initiatives are popular organized efforts to make a real difference in the happiness of families in need, and we want to do something to help make a real difference in the health of those families.  Diapers can represent a substantial ongoing expense for families in need, and not changing diapers often is one way to save money.  Unfortunately, this can lead to health problems, and increase baby fussiness and family stress.  Helping to provide diapers, together with basic baby diaper health information, is one small and simple way to promote healthier and happier families.

Tell us about Help A Mother Out. What is their goal, and how has HealthTap aligned with their efforts?

Help a Mother Out (HAMO) is a fiscally sponsored program of Point, a 501(c)(3) organization.  Help A Mother Out’s mission is dedicated to increasing access to diapers for families in need. A grassroots organization, HAMO raises both diapers and awareness, and envisions a day when every baby has an adequate supply of diapers.  HAMO coordinates a network of diaper drive campaigns and facilitates donations through partnerships with diaper banks and social service agencies.  HAMO operates a “diaper bank” in the Greater San Francisco Bay Area, providing diapers to agencies in San Francisco, Alameda, Contra Costa, San Mateo, Santa Clara, and Solano counties.

HealthTap is aligned with the mission of HAMO because we believe in the power of communities to promote and understand the importance of a healthy start to life, and the power of relevant health information delivered to people at the time of need.  By providing mothers with additional health information and assistance with a basic health need for their babies, we’re helping to empower and support peoples’ engagement in their personal health, health education, and the health and comfort of their babies.

Who are your partners or sponsors? Do you work with any other volunteer groups or non-profit organizations?

For this diaper drive, in addition to partnering with Help a Mother Out, we’re working with the Lucile Packard Children’s Hospital to facilitate the distribution of these diapers.  We’re excited to be working with a health care provider because this is a great opportunity to provide basic education and health information in connection with the distribution.

What external resources do you use in your fundraising and outreach efforts (i.e. websites, mentors, social networks etc.)?

As a technology company, we are excited to use the Internet and social media as great ways of getting out the word about this outreach effort.  We have an active and well-connected presence Twitter and Facebook , as well as our company blogs (www.healthtap.com, and tapmommies.healthtap.com), which are all great ways of spreading the word.  However, one of the best ways of sharing what we’re doing is through other online communities of caring and interested people – including mom blogs, other organizations social media presence, and of course, fantastic websites like vivanista.

How can we get involved/help?

Getting involved and helping is easy – first you can give.  We’re registered on multiple diaper sites, where diapers are inexpensive (less than $10), and there are no added charges for delivery.  If you’re local, feel free to drop by our offices (this is a great way for moms who have baby’s who have grown out of diapers to drop off sizes that are too small).  Second – and as importantly, help us spread the word.

While we have a holiday goal for this drive, this is an important initiative and we are helping to build a cause that is present to meet a year round need.  So we’re excited to work with people who share our same passion for continuing these efforts on a year-round basis.

Because working locally is very important to us, we’ve also opened up our offices for walk-in diaper drop offs.  We’re located at 575 High Street, Suite 310 in downtown Palo Alto, California. Everyone is invited to stop by with diapers any time!

1. Seasons Greetings

• Get Electronic with E Cards: According to Creative Citizen, you’ll save five pounds of waste and 1,000 pounds of emissions if you forgo sending 50 paper cards or invites in a year.  We’re big fans of Care 2′s e-cards, which generate donations to nonprofits that support the rainforest and other environmental causes. Other green orgs that offer free e-cards include the Ocean Conservancy, WWF and the Nature Conservancy.

• Looking to raise someone’s holiday spirits? Check out some of these Ho Ho Holarious options by Hipster Cards, JibJab and Someecards. (We like Pingg or good ol’ Evite for party invites.)

• Opt for Post-Consumer and Tree-free Paper: These green beauties by Endoprint are anything but bashful – their bold designs are printed with soy based and non-toxic ink on 100% post-consumer waste paper (certified by the Forest Stewardship Council (FSC)) and are processed Totally Chlorine Free (TCF).

• East Coast humor meets eco-friendly holiday meshugenah (that’s Yiddish for crazy) in the form of 100% post-consumer recycled paper printed using veggie-based inks by Seltzer.

• Use Earth-Friendly Stationary: These little piggies cried “Green green green” all the way to their little shop in Alhambra, California. Pressed using soy ink onto Bristol paper, which contains 30% post consumer recycled fiber, these holiday cards by Two Piglets are jolly green fun. Even their shipping methods are earth-friendly and YDT-approved.

**DIY Tip: If you receive paper holiday cards, there are crafty options for next year like creating placemats or holiday collages. You can also recycle or compost them rather than tossing them in the trash.

2. Let There Be Light

• Use LEDs: They use up to 90% less energy than traditional Christmas lights and can be used both indoors (on a tree) or out. Over one month, keeping a string of traditional holiday lights lit for 6 hours per day can cost up to ten times more than LEDs!*  They’re now available almost everywhere including big retailers like Target or Holidayleds.com, which carries a full selection and will even recycle your current incandescents. Plus its got replacement bulbs and the strings come with a lifetime warranty. Solar LED lights are even more efficient. They use solar power to recharge batteries that glow up to six hours each night.

• Save Energy, Even With Incandescents Woah, Rudolph: Before switching to LEDs, use any working lights you already have. Buying anything new still means creating production and manufacturing waste (watch the Story of Stuff if you have any questions), so you might want to use what you have first.

• Use Moderation: There are additional things you can do to save energy even with traditional twinklies. For starters, don’t leave them on as long; definitely don’t leave them on after everyone has gone to bed. Second, consider downsizing your display. The fewer lights a-shining, the less energy guzzled.

• Proper Waste Disposal: As with all electronics, once you can no longer use your lights, don’t throw them in the trash en route to the landfill. Contact your city or county to find out where your local hazardous waste drop off location is to be sure you dispose of them properly.

3. Tree Time!

• Say No to Fakes: According to The Nature Conservancy, fake trees are chock full of PVC, require electricity to produce and are usually (85% of them anyway) shipped to the U.S. from China.

• Purchasing (or even renting) a traditional tree, however, has environmental benefits that you can feel jolly about, like the fact that they absorb carbon from the atmosphere as they grow. Not to mention for every tree that is cut down at any of the 12,000 Christmas tree farms around the United States, two to three are often replanted in its place (that means a minimum of 24,000 trees may be replanted if just one tree is harvested at each of those farms!).

Here are some suggestions if you go the real route:

• Rent-a-tree: The Living Christmas Company in Southern California rents out trees each holiday season and collects them afterwards to maintain until the next year.

• GYI -Grow Your Own: Wish the holiday season would last year round – who doesn’t? Either GYIor purchase a potted tree from a nursery. After the holidays you can either plant the tree out back or donate it to a local park. (You can also decorate with another living plant you already have—a rosemary bush brings a lovely scent into your home with it.)

• Buy Local: On your quest to find the real deal, look for trees that are grown organically and as locally as possible. Once the holidays are over, be sure to recycle your tree or take it to a tree mulching program .

• Buy Online: Finally, you could opt for a vintage artificial tree on Ebay or Craigslist for some green (silver or even pink) alternatives. While we can’t promise guests will be fooled into thinking your “plant” is the real thing, we can assure you of some tree-riffic second-hand finds!

**DIY Tip: Take the trimmings from the bottom of your Christmas tree and use them to create a holiday wreath.

4. Festive Feasting

• Share the wealth: send guests home with containers full of leftover holiday chow.

• Keep on cookin’: Prolong the holiday cheer with post-big day dishes made with leftovers such as eggnog, stuffing, turkey and many more.

• Give the Gift of Grub :Make To-Go Boxes For the Needy: If you have lots of edible leftovers, consider packing ‘em up and donating them to people in need. Also inquire at your local Food Banks and Soup Kitchens to see if they take these types of donations.

• Happy Composting: Any unwanted scraps that can’t be given away (excluding meat or dairy) should be composted. Here’s how.

5. Wrap It Up The Eco Way

• Create your own: For some, beautiful gift-wrap is just as important as the gift. However when it’s made from virgin trees and chlorine bleached paper it’s not so pretty after all. There are a lot of post consumer recycled paper wraps available on the market, like these from Smock, but why not consider using what you’ve already got, whether it’s old newspaper, magazines, shoe boxes or even gift-wrap you received the year before? There are tons of ways to be creative about how you present your gifts.

• Keep it simple, silly: You can also try thinking small: sometimes a simple holiday ribbon or twine is all you need to wrap a box or a set of books.

• Totes: Double your gift, double your impact: consider wrapping your gift with a reusable tote – not only are you conserving waste, you’re giving the gift of reusing.

• Fab Fabric: That’s a wrap: check to see if you have any old fabric lying around the house, or invest in some of this decorative and chic fabric wrap on Green Eyed Monster that can be given again and again.

6. Gifts That Give Back

• Make a donation in a family member or friend’s name. Some organizations to consider while coming up with your gift list include: Heifer, which supplies animals to families in developing countries; JustGive, which allows your recipient to donate a specified amount to a charity of his or her choice; and/or The Water Project where for every $10 donated, one person is provided with clean water for ten years!

• Reduce, Reuse, Recycle, Re-Gift: You might be able to find things to re-gift. Rummage through your drawers for items you may have received in the past and never had the chance to use, or those that are still in almost brand new condition. You could also host a gift swap – just be sure not to re-gift an item you may have received from any of the attendees. Or create an e-mail list where people sign up to trade items one needs and the other has to offer.

• It’s the cloth that count: Host a clothing swap with friends or co-workers and donate unclaimed items to the Goodwill, Salvation Army or other local organizations. Gift cards can be re-gifted too! Donate them to the charity of your choice.

• Buy Local, Shop Small Stores: If you want to buy something new, support businesses that are environmentally conscious and local if possible. Supporting local establishments not only spurs economic growth near you, but allows these companies to continue to operate with the environment in mind.Etsy is a great resource for handmade items locally made. Feel free to stop by your local flea and Farmers’ Market as well, as many local merchants set up shop there.

**DIY Tip: The best gifts are (waste) free and made by you. Forgo wasteful packaging, a high price tag and large carbon footprint and Do It Yourself. Get in the gift making spirit with some of our “How-to” videos.

*Information based on calculations made using Dominion’s Holiday Lighting Energy Calculator.

Images via Dogwood Christmas Tree Farm and Flickr users mercurialmagpie, marbles333, suzijane, jill_murray and profkarren. Feature photo by Lin Pernille Photography, Flickr.com.

Layne Gray, Founder and CEO:

1. Tiffany evening bag.

Tiffany just launched their Lambertson Truex handbags and my favorite is the cutest little evening bag in Tiffany blue!

2. A year’s worth of foot reflexology.

No, it’s not the Louboutin stilettos I covet.  Rather, after a few decades of wearing sky-high heels all I want for Christmas is a weekly foot reflexology for a year.  Heaven.

3. A jaunt to Paris for a week…or two…or more.

All I want to do is hang out at Cafes watching the people walk by.  Oh, and I want to bring my pugs.

Annie Vranizan, Co-founder

1. Surfboard and warm water…

Like a kid taking off my training wheels, I want to make the jump from a longboard to short. I have always wondered what it would be like to surf without a wetsuit on? if only Rudolph could fly me down south so I could figure it out on a nice warm beach.

2. Photography Classes

I’m surely not a sharp shooter, but I love to snap photos. If Santa could please send me back to the classroom so I can sharpen my skills and learn some new tricks.  It would be great if he threw in Adobe’s lightroom software into the stocking!

3. Cowboy Boots

These boots are made for walking, and that’s just what they’ll do!

Stacy Coleman, Marketing Guru

1. A Rescued English Bulldog.

I’m not sure if Santa has selective reading, or if I’ve been sending my wishlist to the wrong North Pole… But I will continue to ask for an English Bulldog until I get one. Persistence is key.

Oh, and if that’s not enough- maybe this is.

• 1. 25% of pets in shelters are purebred
• 2. Approximately 4 million pets are put to sleep each year due to overpopulation
• 3. Adopting from a shelter or rescue group saves a life.

http://www.adoptapet.com/ (hint hint)

2. Alejandro Ingelmo “Sophia” Platform Pumps.

“Give a girl the right shoes, and she can conquer the world.” – Marilyn Monroe

3. Public Bike

As much as I absolutely adore my daily commute on  the wondrous San Francisco Muni-Bus, I think I’d prefer to travel at my own pace on one of these uber stylish Euro-Inspired street bikes (equipped with a basket and horn, of course).

Lauren Tallerico, Editorial Intern

1. kate spade “Candy Darling Glitter Emanuelle” Clutch

I absolutely adore kate spade handbags and all things sparkly. What’s better than a combination of the two?

2. TOMS “Gilded Herringbone” Shoes

Wearing a pair of TOMS is like walking on a cloud. I love the gold herringbone pattern and for every pair you purchase, TOMS gives a new pair to a child in need through their One for One program.

3. Tickets to Celine Dion at the Colosseum in Las Vegas

She’s back in concert starting March 2011 and I want to be there! Please don’t let me down Santa. I’d love to find tickets for myself and a few friends in my stocking on Christmas morning.

Donna Rabin, Contributing Writer

1. Season tickets to Great Performances series at San Francisco Symphony….

2.  Hiking Trip

3. A year’s worth of weekly flower deliveries.

I’m hopeless at gardening but would love to have fresh flowers.

What’s on Your Wishlist?

The Cause: The evening raised nearly one million dollars for Mo’s Kitchen and GLIDE’s programs. Mo’s Kitchen is an integral part of how GLIDE helps San Francisco’s poorest residents by serving up nearly one million meals peryear.

The Credentials: The evenings festivities featured comedians Robin Williams, W. Kamau Bell, Selene Luna, Johnny Steele, Steven Pearl and the GLIDE Ensemble and Change Band along with GLIDE founders Reverend Cecil Williams and Janice Mirikitani.

See event photos below.

Mario Diaz, Agnes Briones Ubalde

Jill Davis, Janice Mirikitani, Janine Shiota

W. Kamau Bell, Robin Williams, Johnny Steele, Steven Pearl, Selene Luna, Janice Mirikitani, Cecil Williams

Mitali Banerjee, Rodney Williams, Dori Caminong

David Lawrence, Monetta White

Eddie Debarr, Selene Luna.

Brenda Wright, Leona Bridges, Janice Mirikitani, Cecil Williams

Timothy Alan Simon, Kimberly Brandon, Renel Brooks Moon, Tommie Moon

Janice Mirikitani, Tianne Miller Feliciano

Photography by Alain Mclaughlin

The Cause: Fifteen percent of the evening’s proceeds benefited the San Francisco Ballet through ENCORE!, which creates premier social and educational events for young Bay Area men and women, while also enjoying opportunities to experience the world class San Francisco Ballet. ENCORE!’s goal is to offer its 200-plus members opportunities to experience the world class San Francisco Ballet while also enjoying a unique perspective from behind the scenes.

The Credentials: The exclusive holiday event at BCBGMAXAZRIA in San Francisco’s Union Square hosted a cocktail reception for members of San Francisco Ballet ENCORE!, who enjoyed champagne and hors d’oeuvres as they browed the ballet-inspired Holiday 2010 collection. All attendees were entered to win Nutcracker tickets for two, and received an exclusive gift bag.

Also join ENCORE!, at their upcoming events: Nutcracker Date Night on December 16, 2010 and their 2011 Opening Night Gala “La Belle Époque” on January 26th, 2011.

See event photos below.

Elina Kessel, Jimmy Ho, Liz Brusca, Anne Mieling, Robin Farmanfarmaian, Anjelika Deogirikar, Wilson Yan, Back: Karena Akhavein, Niki Lowry, Kristen Marsh

Anjelika Deogirikar, Moanalani Jeffrey

Wilson Yan, Elina Kessel, Anne Mieling, Karena Akhavein, Anjelika Deogirikar, Sara Fanton, Jimmy Ho, Niki Lowry, Kristen Marsh, Front: Robin Farmanfarmaian, Liz Brusca

Robin Farmanfarmaian, Jane Burkhard

Tammy Trung, Anjelika Deogirikar, Robin Farmanfarmaian, Jane Burkhard, Elina Kessel

Wilson Yan, Robin Farmanfarmaian

Anjelika Deogirikar, Tammy Truong

Jalal Akhavein, Karena Akhavein

Liz Brusca, Elina Kessel, Robin Farmanfarmaian, Niki Lowry, Sara Fanton

All photos: Courtesy of Moanalani Jeffrey

The Cause: The Hob Nob was conceived and chaired by the late “Nob Hill Fundraising Diva” Bella Farrow since 1989, following the Loma Prieta Earthquake. More than 400 loyal guests are expected at this black-tie “progressive dinner,” which winds its way through the spectacular Venetian and Gold Ballrooms of San Francisco’s historic Fairmont Hotel. A gift of $300,000 was presented this year by The Bothin Foundation to support Saint Francis Memorial Hospital’s Burn Center’s expansion.

The Credentials:  Holiday Hob Nob on the Hill celebrated the life of Bella Farrow, benefiting the Bothin Burn Center at Saint Francis Memorial Hopsital. The Fairmont Hotel Regional V.P. and General Manager Tom Klein served as Hob Nob Master of Ceremonies, with presenters to include Hob Nob Co-Chair, Susan Gearey, Saint Francis Foundation Chair, Janis MacKenzie, CEO of MacKenzie Communications, Dr. Clyde Ikeda, Medical Director of the Bothin Burn Unit, Dr. H. Hugh Vincent, Medical Director of Anesthesiology and a memorial tribute to Dame Bella Farrow by Former Mayor Willie Brown and Hob Nob Co-Chair, Elizabeth Thieriot.

See event photos below.

Elizabeth Thieriot, Claudia Ross

Steve van Pelt, Susan Gearey

Hugh Vincent, Joan Watson, Susan Gearey, Steve van Pelt

Dr. Michael Taylor, Catherine Taylor, Erling Eide, Thomas Eide

Elizabeth Thieriot, Tom Klein, Barbara Klein

Karen Sutherland, Cynthia Schreuder

Atmosphere

Maria Pitcairn, John Pitairn

Hugh Vincent, Joan Watson

All photos: Courtesy of Drew Altizer

The Cause: Patrons, family, and friends joined Gala chairs and committee members in support of the Conservatory’s youth environmental education program. Monies were raised through patron support, ticket sales, silent auction, a signature Designer Wreath Auction, cash raffle ticket sales, and Fund-A-Frosting.

The Credentials: The warm and festive evening included many things to see and do with yummies to eat and drink. Florals complemented the turquoise, yellow, and tangerine color scheme. Premier caterers, beverage purveyors, and party planners gave guests holiday pizzazz and cheer. Trains chugged through the Golden Gate Park past miniature landmarks of recycled, repurposed materials.

See event photos below.

Conservatory is the oldest wood and glass builidng open to the public. It has 32,000 panes of glass.

William Rothmann, Gala Chair Laine Buckingham

Gala Chair Hazel Kawaja with her four daughters-in-law at the Gala.

Gala Chair Laine Buckingham and Wreath Auction Chair Mary-Margaret Ward

Honorary Committee Member and prominent floral designer Davis Dalbok

Patrons Robert Eldred and Elizabeth Folger

COF Silent Auction bidders

Honorary Chairs Wendy Holcombe and Ann Little Simon

Director of Development Jane Scurich

Tropical florals complement the vibrant color scheme.CCSF Floristry students crafted the floral arrangements with flowers donated by the SF Flower Mart.

A cable car speeds past a Financial District miniature landmark in the GArden RAilway Exhibit.

To the pound of a Drum,
To the Flute of a Fife,
To the Swirl of a Striped Flag…
AMERICA MARCHES ON !

To the Cheers of the Crowd,
To the Trumpets Loud,
To the Whirl of a Bright Baton…
AMERICA MARCHES ON !

Past Veterans of Foreign Wars,
Students sending up Roars,
Children with Lemonade Pours…
AMERICA MARCHES ON !

From the Streets of New York
To the Shores of Maine
To the Mountains of Tennessee…
AMERICA MARCHES FREE !

Long may She march,
Long her Torch shine,
This America of yours and of mine,
Filing past line after line,
Exuberance hard to confine…
AMERICA MARCHES FINE !