We at The Bead Boutique understand that we are citizens of the world and therefore have a responsibility. We identify and support bead related programs that help people help themselves. Below is a list of programs that we have either created ourselves or that we support.
Fundraiser for Canine Corners at Harry Griffen Park The Canine Corners Dog Park receives no funding from any governmental agency. It is soley supportted by volunteers and donations. The Bead Boutique is now selling dog themed beads and charms and is donating 50% of the sale price to support the dog park.
The Bead Boutique goes Green Bring your own bag and recieve an extra stamp on your Bead-a-holics card! Bring in your seedbead tubes (clean, with lid) and recieve a 2 cent credit for each one. Our bags and tubes are not biodegradable and we don't want to encourage the cutting down of trees therefore; we encourage our customers to bring their own bags and recycle the tubes inorder to help reduce, reuse and recycle!
Awareness Ribbon Charms and Beads
For three years, The Bead Boutique sold awareness ribbon charms and ribbon beads for .99 cents each. Fifty cents of each purchase was donated to the Susan G. Komen Foundation for Breast Cancer Research.
Kazuri Bead Factory, Kenya
Located on the plantation once owned by Karen von Blixen (author of Out of Africa), this Kazuri bead project was started in 1975. (See Bead & Button, April 2005, p. 26) This project now employs approximately 80 women, providing them with a fair & ethical wage. In most cases, this allows their children to attend school rather than work to help support their family. (Kazuri means “small and beautiful” in the Swahili language). Each bead is rolled into the desired shape and painted by hand. These colorful delights are unique and fun to work with. The color combinations are lively and fun, fitting in with current fashion trends. The Bead Boutique is selling these wonderful beads.
Bead for Life, Uganda
Featured in the December 2004 “O” magazine, this women’s project has been developed in Uganda as a result of the civil war which has raged there for 17 years. Many of the tribal people have been driven from their farms and homes and into refugee camps and slums. Some of these refugees have organized into the Bead for Life program which provides employment for women who would otherwise be forced into the quarries to work pounding rocks for $1 a day. The women make the paper beads from recycled magazines (a bonus for the environment), lightly varnish them and then make them into jewelry. They are paid a fair wage and provided with a clean and safe working environment. For information on this life altering program and/or to purchase beads, go to www.beadforlife.com.
Strands for the Stranded
During the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina, The Bead Boutique organized 20 bead stores from all over San Diego County in an effort to raise funds for the Habitat for Humanity rebuilding effort. We sold Mardi Gras beads for a dollar a strand and were able to collectively contribute over $1400.00.
The Craft Emergency Relief Fund (CERF) <http://www.craftemergency.org/> is taking action to respond to the community of craft artists affected by the Southern California Wildfires. We are reaching out to artists, arts organizations, galleries, businesses and others in the affected areas to offer assistance and to locate information about the arts community. While it is still too early to know the extent of damage, we do know that the situation is severe as news reports indicate. We also know that this area of California has a significant population of craft artists. We have already heard from a jeweler who lost both her home and studio and CERF Trustee and clay artist, Lana Wilson, had to be evacuated from her Del Mar home.
Please help us spread the word that CERF is available to offer assistance to craft artists in Southern California by forwarding this information to your contacts or by sending your contact information of craft artists in this region to CERF. Please also be aware that your support of our work during these times is essential so that we can deliver aid quickly and effectively.
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