Charitable is Fashionable

When did it giving to charity become a fashion accessory?

During the last Tour de France, Lance Armstrong and the good people of Nike marketed plastic, yellow, jelly wrist bands sporting the words 'live strong'. The proceeds from the bands went to cancer research and became the "must have" accessory. They became so popular people would volunteer to be on waiting lists for months or offer to buy the one on your wrist just to show they had the accessory.

For years now, The Body Shop, has been selling the 'until there's a cure' silver bracelets for AIDS research and though the original model is still available, they have come out with a trendier version. Yes, a brightly colored jelly bracelet!

The trend however, did not stop there. The next to hit the scene was the pink bracelet for breast cancer; then the cool camo colored ones to support our troops. Even the tsunami would not be left out. At participating gas stations you can pick up the bright blue band to show your support for the survivors. The fad of the jelly wrist band can be found for many different causes and has made philanthropy cool.

There is no doubt these "newer versions" are geared toward the 13 to 30 demographic with their brightly colored hues. In malls all around America, people sport multiple bands at a time. So has the fad of having the wristband overshadowed the real causes the bands were created to raise money and awareness for or is making charity a trend to only way to get the new generation to care?

Well whether you buy it for the fad or to give a little to some very well deserved charities, just be careful. Make sure you buy from a site authorized by the charity, that way you make sure your money is really going to the right place.