So you say you're not into the whole 'camp out at the Best Buy / circle the mall parking lot for hours' thing this holiday season. Since this is (theoretically) the season for giving, why not give a gift that'll support a good cause? There are several worthwhile comics-centric, non-profit organizations, museums and charities that are offering special gifts, graphic novels and unique experiences in exchange for your (mostly) tax-deductible donations. Whether buy something or make a donation in your name or a client/friend/loved one's name, your gift will help support these worthwhile organizations and causes in the coming year. See my list of 10 worthwhile comics non-profit organizations, museums and benefits, or get started with a few special offers perfect for holiday 2011 giving:
ART FOR HOPE AND SMILE: DIGITAL ART BOOKS FOR JAPAN
It's been several months since the devastating great Tohoku Earthquake and tsunami hit Japan. While it's not front page news anymore, the towns and the people who have been affected by these disasters are still rebuilding their homes and trying to get back to some kind of normalcy, and they still need your help.
San Francisco-based manga publisher VIZ Media has teamed up with graphics software company Autodesk and over 40 contributing artists from around the world to create Art for Hope, a very special digital artbook to benefit reconstruction efforts in Japan. Art for Hope will debut on VIZManga.com on December 1, and will be available for download for $4.99. All of VIZ Media's net proceeds for this eBook for either web-enabled computers/devices or iOS device like the iPad/iPhone/iPod Touch will be donated to support ongoing disaster reconstruction efforts in Japan by Architecture for Humanity.
Select works from Art For Hope will also be on display at the Autodesk University, the annual Autodesk users conference at the Venetian Hotel in Las Vegas from November 29 - December 1, 2011.
In addition to Art for Hope, VIZManga.com also has Smile: Pray for Japan by Takehiko Inoue, a 4-volume collection of inspiring digital sketches created by the creator of Slam Dunk, Vagabond, and Real, in response to the Tohoku Earthquake and tsunami. His images of smiling people, young and old were meant to offer a message of courage and hope to the survivors and to Japan in this time of crisis. Proceeds from the sale of these digital sketchbooks will be donated to the Japanese Red Cross Society.
CARTOON ART MUSEUM: A DAY AT PIXAR AND MORE
Located in San Francisco's South of Market district near the SF Modern Art Museum, The Cartoon Art Museum offers a year-round program of exhibits, lectures, film screenings, classes, cartooning demos and much more. Once a year, CAM teams up with Pixar for a very special day of family-friendly behind-the-scenes fun at Pixar Studios in nearby Emeryville. This year's CAM Benefit at Pixar will be on Saturday, December 10, and word on the street is that there are only a handful of tickets left. Get on it now, before you have to wait until next year to get this rare chance to visit the home of Woody and Buzz Lightyear. Or another great options is a gift memberships to the Cartoon Art Museum, so your Bay Area comics pals can visit all year round.
COMIC BOOK LEGAL DEFENSE FUND: SIGNED AND PERSONALIZED GRAPHIC NOVELS FOR GIVING
The Comic Book Legal Defense Fund offers legal support to comics creators, retailers and readers in some pretty challenging times. With the case of Brandon X looming (the U.S. manga reader who had his laptop searched at the US/Canada border and is now facing possible jail time), the CBLDF needs your support more than ever.
This holiday season, 25 top comics creators are offering to sign and personalize copies of their graphic novels for the perfect gift for the comics reader on your list. Get a copy of Sandman signed by Neil Gaiman, a Walking Dead graphic novel signed by Robert Kirkman, or even Adrian Tomine's charming Scenes from an Impending Marrriage is a great gift for any newlywed or soon-to-be wed friend.
Check out the full list of comics creators and graphic novels at CBLDF's "Spirit of Giving" campaign page. But hurry, you'll need to place your order by December 5, 2011 to get your books in time for holiday giving. As an added bonus, The Will and Ann Eisner Foundation will make a donation for every donation made to CBLDF as a part of this campaign.
See 7 more ways you can give the gift that gives back and supports comics creators, comics museums and non-profit organizations with my list of comics gifts that support good causes.
Did I miss your favorite comics non-profit organization? Give 'em a shout-out below in the comments and I'll add 'em to the list!
Image credits: © Dave Guertin, © Takehiko Inoue © Cartoon Art Museum, ©Adrian Tomine
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