ShopFaithfully.com Launches Virtual Shopping Mall That Helps Churches and Christian Charities Raise Contributions

RJ Note: Now this story has the potential to give Fayette County and all believers new meaning as we "shop til we drop." Or at least until our fingers get all tuckered out!

/PRNewswire/ -- ShopFaithfully.com announced today that it has released the latest on-line "virtual mall" for people who want to support their Church or favorite Christian Charity. During these tough economic times, this site is the answer to a challenge that Churches and Christian Charities continue to experience as direct donations significantly decrease, while individuals see their savings and investment portfolios severely affected by the troubled financial markets. ShopFaithfully.com provides a solution for Christian shoppers to give contributions in addition to their normal tithing.

Working with leading on-line retailers like Wal-Mart, Buy.com, Family Christian Stores, ToysRus.com, Office Depot, Overstock.com, and iTunes, ShopFaithfully.com has created an environment of giving through shopper's everyday on-line purchases. ShopFaithfully.com gives back a percentage of every qualified purchase directly to the shopper's chosen Church or Christian Charity. Shoppers do not have to make a direct donation and pricing is the same or better than if they went directly to the retailers. This provides the shoppers a one-stop shop opportunity that can save consumers time and money in a very charitable way.

Shoppers can allocate their donations to one of the Christian Charitable Partners, or they can submit their own Church or Christian Charity to be added. The site's most popular feature is the capability to submit a Church or Christian Charity for approval. The submittal can be made by the Church, the Christian Charity, or the shopper. Once approved, shoppers can then select that Charitable organization as their charity of choice. Up to 20% of every qualified purchase they make will be donated directly to their chosen charity. This provides an additional revenue stream that supplements their organization's tithes, offerings, donations, and fundraising programs.

Since shoppers are using the web more than ever to do their everyday shopping and to look for gift ideas, ShopFaithfully.com has partnered with hundreds of leading on-line retailers offering over 10 million products to choose from. In an anticipation of strong support by the Christian Community, ShopFaithfully.com has increased the site's capacity and has prepared a migration path that will support future growth. With an estimated 50 million on-line Christian Shoppers and $240 billion spent through on-line shopping annually, ShopFaithfully.com hopes to reach $8 million annually in donations to Churches and Christian Charities within the next 3-5 years.

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Cleavage Creek Cellars Releases New Wines and Donates 10% of Gross Sales to Breast Cancer Research

RJ Note: It's been awhile but I have seen the owner of Cleavage Creek telling his wife's story on a TV program. I am so touched by what this company is doing in her memory and for all women who have been diagnosed with breast cancer. I thought you'd enjoy learning more, too.

24-7 -- The second generation of Cleavage Creek wines produced by owner Budge Brown will be released on October 4th, 2008. Dedicated to fighting breast cancer, Cleavage Creek and Brown continue their commitment to donate 10% of gross wine sales to breast cancer research. Brown lost his wife of 48 years to breast cancer in 2005. He obtained the Cleavage Creek label, and is focusing his efforts on funding research to find an end to the disease.

Cleavage Creek will release 6 varietals on October 4th. This much anticipated release continues a one-of-a-kind philanthropic venture, pairing fine wine and an effort to fund breast cancer research. The six new Cleavage Creek wines include a 2006 Reserve Napa Cabernet Sauvignon, a 2006 Reserve Napa Petite Sirah, a 2006 Reserve Cabernet-Syrah, and a 2007 Reserve Chardonnay, all produced from grapes grown in Budge Brown's own vineyards. A 2006 Secret Red and a 2007 Secret White complete the group. Brown expects a total of 1,600 cases of wine to be available for sale in October 2008.

Each bottle of Cleavage Creek wine honors a breast cancer survivor with their picture on the label. Their story is told on the Cleavage Creek website. Six survivors adorn the bottles of the second release of Budge Brown's Cleavage Creek wines. The breast cancer survivors and their stories are every bit as unique and special as the wine they represent.

Ten percent of the gross dollar amount of this operation will be donated to cutting edge research to fight breast cancer. That's gross, not net - a huge difference when determining the amount of money that will be contributed. These wines will be priced in the $18 - $50 range and are available for purchase via internet and phone. Gift sets of Cleavage Creek wines will be available in 2, 4, and 6 bottle sets.

To date, Cleavage Creek has donated over $37,000 to breast cancer research.

Budge Brown is a successful self-made businessman and farmer. Brown believes that Cleavage Creek wines can make a difference. "The world is full of people who enjoy good wines," says Brown. "When they buy Cleavage Creek, they get a world class wine while helping efforts to find a cure for breast cancer. Everybody wins. When people learn about Cleavage Creek and the motivation behind it, well, if it reminds one person to go for a checkup, do a self-examination, or become more informed, we're accomplishing our goal of saving lives. The cure for breast cancer may not come in my lifetime, but the mere existence of Cleavage Creek could bring it along sooner rather than later. Let's get it done."

Plans for Cleavage Creek vineyards in Napa are in the works, and they are ambitious. A tasting room and wine shop will soon be under construction just steps from the growing vines as the permit has already been approved by local Napa officials. Arlene's Garden, a special meditation flower garden overlooking a lake has been built to honor the late Arlene Brown, Budge Brown's wife and a victim of breast cancer. Her favorite flowers have been planted there, including over 20,000 daffodils, 10,000 iris, thousands of tulips, California poppies, a host of wild flowers, and roses. "I want people to visit Cleavage Creek and celebrate life and health," says Brown. "There's no better way to do that than with a fine wine and the company of those who are a part of the fight." Brown looks forward to hosting events and celebrating survival. "We have to move forward," he asserts. "The focus should be on finding a cure. We want Cleavage Creek to do all it can to help this process."

Budge Brown speaks with great passion about the Cleavage Creek Wine Clubs. There is a special category of the club for those who have conquered breast cancer. Brown believes that not only should those with breast cancer survive, but they should thrive as well.

Brown's goal is simple and his dedication is genuine. "I want to sell great wine, give a portion of our gross to the best sources for a cure, raise awareness, and celebrate survival. Our motto is 'Live to Love Life'."

About Cleavage Creek
Cleavage Creek vineyards are located in Pope Valley, Napa, Calif. Cleavage Creek is dedicated to producing world class wines and funding breast cancer research. For more information, please visit http://www.CleavageCreek.com or phone 1.888.295.1280.

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A better way to give?

Working on the Fayette Front Page and the Georgia Front page I see a large, large number of releases and stories about all the good things people are doing in the world. Turn on the television, especially at this time of year, and you're bound to see a commercial or a story for or about a charity.

I hear huge dollar amounts tossed out. Millions are donated to feed the homeless, cure a disease, right a wrong.

So how come we're not making a dent in things? We're tossing zillions of dollars toward research. Zillions of dollars to rebuild homes. Zillions of dollars to feed people across the world.

Off and on I think about the industry of helping others. It's a huge business. HUGE.

It's not always a business that is a good steward of our donated dollars and time. I remember visiting the Atlanta office a very well known organization fighting a deadly disease. I should be so lucky to sit in an office of similar opulence.

Think about all of the people who make their living fighting diseases. We have managers, vice presidents, presidents, staff workers, accountants, doctors, scientists and untold numbers who would be jobless if they found a cure for the disease they're trying to eradicate. Do away with those who are now in poverty and we'd create a whole new group of out-of-work poverty fighters on the dole because they no longer had a job (no matter how minuscule the pay they're currently getting).

Now, I'm not saying that the people aren't working diligently to cure whatever disease they're fighting. There are many very dedicated individuals out there who would love to lose their job if it meant success.

However, the fighting poverty, fighting disease industry is huge. I remember when there was a big scandal of sorts some years back where charities were attacked for having such huge operating costs. Now everyone is proud to show that ten percent or some small percent is going to operating costs.

Call me skeptical, call me scrooge, but I find it difficult to see all the high dollar amounts going to various organizations and not see any major strides in fighting poverty or illnesses. I'm also smart enough to know that books can be cooked and operating costs can be downplayed by moving things into a different column. Not saying there are any shenanigans going on, just noting that it's possible.

I see our local charities and I can feel the dedication, I can see them helping individuals. I see their crowded offices and know that in many, many cases the space is donated by a local business person. I know they work for meager salaries. I see the impact they make in people's lives. I volunteer, donate, help raise money and know it's going to a good cause and being used wisely.

Take it a step higher and I start to lose a bit of faith. I still help when I can. I donate when possible, help raise money, give of my time. Wondering about something I can't know doesn't stop me from wanting to do whatever I can to stop cancer, heart disease, kidney disease, etc.

But I wonder if there's not a better way sometimes.

Funny. As I was typing this the Georgia Front Page phone rang. I picked it up. It was a charity (calling from Florida) wanting us to make a donation. Great timing...