Two classics have been made new again: The Great Gatsby and Star Trek. If you haven’t seen the movies yet, buy your tickets in advance at Fandango and earn a $0.25 donation to you chosen cause! If you’ve already seen these movies and loved them, check out some of the fantastic merchandise below that can also earn a donation to your favorite nonprofit, charity, organization, or school.

Habitat for Humanity believes that every man, woman, and child deserves to have a decent, safe, and affordable place to live. jcpenney couldn’t agree more, so for this month’s jcp cares initiative, they decided to support the cause.

There are nearly 2 billion people around the world who live in slums, and more than 100 million who are homeless. Without adequate housing, they’re often deprived of simple resources, such as sinks and showers. This puts them at risk for diseases such as tuberculosis, diarrhea, and malaria.

Habitat for Humanity offers home ownership opportunities to individuals and families who are unable to obtain conventional financing for a house. In exchange for Habitat’s generosity, recipients of new homes pay it forward by committing 300 to 500 hours of “sweat equity” on future construction efforts.

Generally, people who receive assistance from Habitat for Humanity are hard-working, but their annual salaries are 30 to 50 percent of the median income in their area. In other cases, people have lost their homes due to natural disasters or war. Regardless of the situation, over 1 million supporters proudly volunteer each year through Habitat for Humanity to help rebuild and change lives of people who need homes.

Michael Graves, a world-renowned architect and designer, will be joining jcpenney in support of Habitat for Humanity. As a long-standing advocate for the disabled, Graves has designed a Habitat for Humanity house that focuses on accessibility and universal design. Habitat for Humanity will use the new design to build homes with low-income families who require accessibly designed houses.

jcp cares allows you to round up your purchase both in stores and online to support this amazing cause. If you decide to participate via jcpenney.com, you’ll find the option to round up your purchase right before you check out. When I checked a few days ago, the total raised for Habitat for Humanity was $538,068. Today, it’s already at $588,304! Together, We-Care.com and jcpenney are proving that micro-donations, just a few cents at a time, can add up to something meaningful.

I don’t think it’s fair to say that one nonprofit is more important than the other, but everyone’s personal beliefs and interests play a huge role in choosing the organization that they want to support. For me, it happens to be mental health.

There are so many causes out there that are capable of doing amazing things, but I think certain ones get more attention and support because their concepts are less taboo. So many of us wouldn’t think twice before we stepped up to help someone else, but we rarely do the same for ourselves. We feel guilty when we don’t appreciate the things we already have. We see those commercials of children crying from hunger, or smiling from the little they have, and we think, “who am I to complain?”

If you’re feeling anxious, depressed, or lonely, it’s important to acknowledge that. No problem is too small, and you deserve to feel comfortable in your own skin. It might sound like I’m stating the obvious, but so many people suffer in silence because they don’t want to admit there’s a problem. Even worse, many people start to isolate themselves when their loved ones just don’t understand “what the big deal is.”

I proudly work for a company that allows our users to support over 700 causes, just by shopping online. We’ve donated millions of dollars to awesome charities such as the ASPCA, Clean Water Action, and Save the Children, but I’d like to take the time to show support for some mental health causes (local and international) that deserve to shine in the spotlight. To learn how this all works, check out We-Care.com.

Fighting Stigmas & Raising Awareness

FERMI
Your purchase through this site helps Foundation for Education & Research on Mental Illness.

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DAMON AND STELLA FOUNDATION FOR MENTAL HEALTH
Your purchase through this site helps The Damon and Stella Foundation for Mental Health increase awareness of mental health issues and the societal stigma against those with mental illness, through awareness campaigns and grants to other mental health nonprofit organizations.

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COMMUNITY FIRST SPORTS FOUNDATION
Your purchase through this site helps Community First Sports Foundation provide an equal opportunity for boys and girls to take part in organized sports and derive the psychological, physiological and sociological benefits of sports participation.

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Providing Hope

ICCD
Your purchase through this site helps ICCD create solutions for people with mental illness. They help communities around the world create ICCD Clubhouses, which are community centers that give people with mental illness hope and opportunities to reach their full potential.

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CARE PLUS FOUNDATION
Your purchase through this site helps Care Plus Foundation build a brighter world for those suffering with mental illness. Your support DIRECTLY helps clients achieve life goals by building better lives for themselves and their families.

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GALAXY COUNSELING CENTER
Your purchase through this site helps Galaxy Counseling Center improve the lives of nearly 2,000 people in their community each year.

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HOPE RECOVERY SERVICES
Your purchase through this site helps Hope Recovery Services help adults, youth, and families move away from life-destructive dependencies and into a life of recovery.

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HOPE FOR YOUTH, INC.
Your purchase through this site helps Hope For Youth, Inc. serve neglected, abused, and abandoned youth with preventive, intervention, and out-patient services.

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THE RELATIONAL CENTER
Your purchase through this site helps The Relational Center provide collaborative counseling, group work, resource coordination, and psychiatric support.

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LAMPION CENTER
Your purchase through this site helps the Lampion Center provide stability and hope for children, families, and individuals through counseling, adoptions services, and community outreach.

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CRISIS CENTER OF TAMPA BAY
Your purchase through this site helps Crisis Center of Tampa Bay offer help, hope and healing to all people experiencing life’s problems and challenges, big and small.

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CHILD MIND INSTITUTE
Your purchase through this site helps Child Mind Institute commitment to improving the mental health of children everywhere.

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MARGARET ANN’S PLACE
Your purchase through this site helps Margaret Ann’s Place provide awareness, education, and support for children and their families when they are grieving a death. We help children regain their ability to function in school, at home, and with peers, and promote positive mental and physical health.

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At-Risk Youth

PANZOU PROJECT
Your purchase through this site helps PanZOu Project save our youth from street gangs and prevent gang violence by offering them a vision of change and the tools they need to make those changes happen in their lives and communities!

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RISE ABOVE FOR YOUTH
Your purchase through this site helps Rise Above for Youth provide much needed services to at-risk youth.

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Child Abuse

CHILD ABUSE PREVENTION PROGRAM
Your purchase through this site helps the Child Abuse Prevention Program teach elementary school children how to recognize, resist and report physical and sexual abuse. Teaching children to recognize, resist and report physical and sexual abuse helps to keep them safe and works to end the cycle of abuse.

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CHILDREN’S ADVOCACY CENTER FOR THE 31ST
Your purchase through this site helps the Children’s Advocacy Center for the 31st Judicial District of Tennessee provide for the future well-being of our children. We serve as a safe, child friendly place where victims of child abuse may come tell their story and receive help to overcome this life-altering event.

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CHILDREN’S TRUST FUND
Your purchase through this site helps Children’s Trust Fund prevent child abuse before it happens. In partnership with over 100 community-based organizations, Children’s Trust Fund leads efforts across the state of Massachusetts to strengthen and support families.

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WHOLE CHILD INTERNATIONAL
Your purchase through this site helps Whole Child International, an organization that is devoted to improving the lives of orphaned, abandoned, abused, and neglected children worldwide. We work to restructure existing children’s institutions to focus on children’s emotional needs, ultimately creating the possibility for healthy integration into society.

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GENESEE COUNTY CASA FOR CHILDREN, INC.
Your purchase through this site helps the Genesee County CASA for Children, Inc. train citizen volunteers to advocate for abused and/or neglected children in the family court system.

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CAMP HORIZON
Your purchase through this site helps Camp Horizon provide no-cost, year-round programs to metro Atlanta’s youth in foster care. We work to restore dignity and hope to children, teens and young adults, who have been abused and neglected — empowering them to make good decisions and lead healthy, productive lives.

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FOREVER HOMES
Your purchase through this site helps Forever Homes help abused, abandoned, and neglected kids find permanent, safe, and loving homes.

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Sexual Abuse

PANDORA’S AQUARIUM, INC.
Your purchase through this site helps Pandora’s Aquarium provide support, education, and resources to rape and sexual abuse survivors and their supporters.

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THE WELLHOUSE
Your purchase through this site helps the WellHouse rescue women and children in human trafficking.

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HIS STORY COACHING AND COUNSELING
Your purchase through this site helps His Story Coaching and Counseling provide counseling services to women who are victims of domestic violence, as well as women who are attempting to get out of the sex trade.

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Substance Abuse

ADA S. MCKINLEY COMMUNITY SERVICES, INC.
Your purchase through this site helps Ada S. McKinley Community Services, Inc. provide a mental health and substance abuse service to those in need on the South Side of Chicago.

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CENTRAL NASSAU GUIDANCE & COUNSELING
Your purchase through this site helps Central Nassau Guidance & Counseling Services help individuals and families struggling with mental health and/or substance abuse issues.

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Disclaimer: The statements made in this post represent my personal views and do not represent the views of We-Care.com.

It’s hard enough for most women to find swimsuits that fit their bodies properly, but for breast cancer survivors, it can be even tougher. Lands’ End wanted every woman to feel confident while she went out in the sun, so they created a custom mastectomy swimwear line that’s entirely dedicated to breast cancer survivors. In addition, many of their other collections, including plus-size and petite, have mastectomy options.

To learn more about this particular collection, we interviewed one of the members of the Lands’ End design team who was involved in the creation of this line.

Here is a piece from a letter we recently received regarding our mastectomy suits:

“I just wanted to send you a quick thank you for providing breast cancer survivors with a fantastic line of mastectomy bathing suits. I am 36 years old and was struggling with finding a suit that fit my prosthetics. It’s difficult in itself to find a suit that fits! Then throw in a person who has had a mastectomy and it becomes almost impossible…Thanks again for providing individuals like me a chance to feel normal. To be able to enjoy the beach and summer months with my children means more than you know!” – HB

Click here to see the Lands’ End mastectomy swimwear collection >>

I graduated college in 2011, so I think it’s fair to say that I know what you’re going through right now. It’s only been two years since I had that whole “what am I going to do with my life?!” meltdown. It’s terrifying, I know!

Instead of thinking about the scary future ahead, you should take the time to congratulate yourself. YOU’VE GRADUATED COLLEGE! All of that hard work has finally paid off! You’ve earned so much more than just a degree — you’ve really grown up. You might not think so, but if you check out that old AIM or Myspace profile, you’ll see the difference.

Right now, don’t worry about feeling lost. Everyone does. As long as you start preparing yourself for the “real world,” you’ll be able to figure it out from there. Now that I’ve got some experience under my belt, I can give you a couple of helpful tips that won’t add to the stress you’re already dealing with. Oh, and one more thing — you’re NOT old, so stop saying that.

1. Get framed.

I’m going to make an educated guess and say that one of your finest-tuned skills from college was the art of procrastination. I’m not going to lecture you and tell you that you can’t pull off procrastinating work in future, but I will say that you really should do something with your graduation pictures now. I had a lot of free time to make intricate scrapbooks before I was employed, but if you don’t have the patience for that, at least get a picture framed. Snapfish has so many options to choose from, ranging from simple prints to creative collages. Just don’t forget to do it as soon as possible, otherwise you’ll never do it. Save your procrastination for another time.

2. Lose the paper.

Learning shouldn’t stop just because you’ve graduated. Keep up with the latest news, read a book, or just flat out take some time to relax (no one is too old for Candy Crush) with a nifty tablet from AT&T. Once you’ve landed a job, you can use the tablet to entertain yourself during the long morning (and evening) commute on the train or bus.

3. Stamp your passport.

There’s a reason why a lot of college graduates decide to go backpacking through Europe after they throw their caps. You’ll find that once you get a “real” job, you’re not going to have as much time to take off and explore the world.

There are plenty of travel sites that can get you to wherever you want to go, but Contiki is one that specifically offers tours for young people (18-35 years old). Feel free to take a friend with you, but if you want to try the “adult thing,” then take a chance and travel alone. More than half of Contiki’s travelers embark on their journey solo, but you can still connect with fellow tour mates before you leave for the trip. All of their tours are reasonably priced, but if you have a specific budget in mind, they allow you to search based on that. You can also sort by date of travel, location, activities, and much more.

After you’ve booked your trip, you’ll want to get one of those huge backpacks so that you can store everything you need while you’re on the go. Bass Pro Shops offers awesome backpacks for traveling, and even has tips to help you figure out which one is best for you, how to pack it, and how to prepare for you trip.

 4. Spiff your space.

Unless you can afford an apartment straight out of college, chances are, you’re going to be living at home again for a little while (especially if you just went backpacking through Europe). You’ll probably want to take down those Britney Spears posters and instead aim for something that’s a bit more mature. Art.com has thousands of breathtaking pieces to choose from. Art isn’t something you can really put into words, so you’ll have to check for yourself, but believe me, there’s something for everyone there. I could spend hours on that site.

5. Lose it.

You know about the “Freshman Fifteen,” but what about the “Graduation Gluttony?” You might’ve gotten away with your Ramen diet in college, but that’s not going to fly anymore. You no longer have a cafeteria to go, a gym in your building, or classes that force you to run around on campus. It’s time to create your own healthy meal plan!

Better World Books has tons of healthy cookbooks that can get you on the right track. They’re one of my favorite bookstores because they offer free shipping every day, and every time you purchase a book, they donate another one to a person in need.

Along with a healthy diet, you’ll want to work out to stay in shape. Beach Body offers fitness programs that can help you burn carbs right in the comfort of your own home. Their dance programs are a lot of fun, and the 10 Minute Trainer workout can help give you better results in less time. Choose what’s best for you, and you’ll feel confident in your swimsuit once the summer comes around.

6. Find love.

Sure, the party scene was fun in college, but if you’d like to have something serious now, you’re not going to find it at a bar. When you’re in a room full of people holding red cups with Nicki Minaj blasting, you’re probably not going to find someone who feels like talking about their dreams, ambitions, beliefs, or really anything of substance. I’m going to make a suggestion that you’ve always considered but never tried: online dating.

If you’re hesitant to try it out because you think it’ll make you “weird,” snap out of that delusion. The reality is that you don’t even know half of your Facebook friends, and some of your Twitter followers probably aren’t even real. How is online dating any weirder than social media? If your old approach to dating hasn’t worked, the only way to change that is to try something new.

There are a lot of dating sites out there, but eHarmony is different. The founder of the website is a clinical psychologist who had spent 35 years counseling couples, so the matching formula has been based on both experience and research. They match partners based on 29 Dimensions of Compatibility, and you can review your matches for free. It’s like window shopping for dating, but instead of awkwardly rejecting someone at a smelly bar (I’ve got my imaginary boyfriend down to a T — I LOVE YOU BRAD!), you can just communicate with the people who you really think you’ll connect with.

7. Job search.

It’s already hard enough to find a job when you know what you want to do, but if you have absolutely no idea, it’s that much tougher! My advice: don’t spend too much time looking for the “perfect” job or internship, but don’t settle for one you know you’ll hate. You’ll be surprised where you end up. I definitely was (and still am).

Before you jump the gun and start your search, there’s something you must do — make that resume shine! Even if you have amazing experience and feel that you’re a perfect fit, that might not matter. If you  put together your resume poorly, it’s going to fall through the cracks. Employers are very busy and have to sort through hundreds (or even thousands) of applicants, and the last thing they want to do is read is a resume that looks like a complicated restaurant menu. You could always rent or buy a book dedicated to resume writing, but I strongly suggest taking a class as well. ed2go has a dedicated Resume Writing Workshop, so you can interact with a trained professional and cater your resume to your own personal needs. If you already have a killer resume, then you might want to check out some of their other classes. They have basic to intermediate level classes for various programs that you might use, such as Illustrator, Dreamweaver, Excel, and much more. They even have a class that’s dedicated to job hunting!

Once you’re well-trained and ready to dive in, check out SnagAJob.com. There are so many different ways to search, so you can try by location, field, company, and much more. It’s free to use, easy to navigate, and even offers career advice.

8. Interview prep.

Regardless of how much you prepare, you’re going to feel some level of nervousness before an interview. The best thing you can do is plan as much as you can in advance. There’s some obvious advice such as “eat a healthy breakfast” and “get enough sleep” before the interview, but you’ll also want to prepare your entire ensemble so that you don’t have to think about it later.

Start off by finding a way to put your hair up or push it back. It will not only make you look older, but it will also prevent you from fiddling with your hair when you’re feeling nervous. Next, pick out a good suit. Looking sharp is important, and feeling comfortable is just as much of a priority. Jos. A. Bank and Banana Republic are two “go-to” stores for affordable interview clothing. While you’re browsing for a suit, consider purchasing some attire for everyday office-wear as well.

9. Decorate the desk.

“Congrats! You’ve got a job!”

Your ears will ring with that magical phrase soon.

In the meantime, why not start getting yourself pumped about your job-to-be with some cool office supplies? Yes, you’re an adult, but that doesn’t mean you’re shunned from expressing yourself. You just have to do it in the right way. Fuzzy notebooks and sparkly pens are both no-nos, but you can purchase the same items in happy, bright colors from Poppin. Or, if you really want to impress your co-workers, consider buying a stapler from Office Depot that supports breast cancer awareness. Every time someone asks to borrow your stapler, they’ll notice the pink ribbon and gain a little more respect for you.

10. Organize the dough.

Mom and dad aren’t going to fork over money to you anymore, so you’ll need to keep track of your finances. It’s one of those things that causes people to fear growing up, but it doesn’t have to be so overwhelming. Sites like LearnVest keep track of your spending, help you budget in the future, and offer professional assistance from humans (robots are only fun in movies).

Remember, every purchase that you make from We-Care.com will earn a donation for your chosen cause, so that pretty much makes you a philanthropist. A mature one. I hope my advice will help make growing up look less scary. If you have any other suggestions, feel free to leave it in the comments below!

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In the final week of the Celebrity Apprentice (our favorite show!), the two finalists, Trace Adkins and Penn Jillette created two original ice cream flavors for DeLish. The flavors, Maple Macadamia Mash Up and Vanilla & Chocolate Magic Swirtle, not only look and sound delicious, but they support two great charities too! Penn and his ice cream support Opportunity Village of Las Vegas, and Trace Adkins supports the Red Cross.

We-Care.com wasn’t going to pass on an opportunity to support two great causes while eating ice cream, and join in the fun of one of our favorite shows. Shortly after the ice cream flavors were released to Walgreen’s and Duane Reade stores, we went out to pick up four pints. We came back to the office, grabbed a few bowls, some spoons, and two ice cream scoops, and we were off! There is no disagreement, both ice creams were delicious and ingeniously crafted. In fact, our taste tests ended in a dead tie, but then again, it may just take two or three tests until we can decide!

Tune in for the finale next week on NBC at 9PM ET, and follow us on Twitter @WeCare for the live tweeting event of the year!

Most people know that they shouldn’t leave their bag unattended in a public place because it’s filled with photos, credit cards, a license, and other types of personal information that could be snatched from a stranger. However, when it comes to browsing the web, many people don’t use the same type of caution. Instead of leaving their bag unattended, they flat out hand over their personal belongings to identity thieves on a silver platter.

Don’t let yourself turn into one of these victims. Educate yourself with these tips from Webroot, and check out their software to ensure the utmost protection.
 
Email Etiquette

• Never send sensitive information over an email, such as passwords.
• Think before you click: many scammers use the names of your contacts to convince you to go to a malicious link. Confirm with your contact that he or she did, in fact, send over something.
• Some thieves may try to make their emails look official with logos, images, and other believable data. Remember — the government, your bank, and other trusted sources know about the risks of cybercriminals. They know not to ask you about personal information via email.

 
 
Password Protection

• Advanced cybercriminals have special programs that can hack into accounts and figure out passwords, but it doesn’t take a genius to figure out the obvious ones such as “password” or “1234.”
• Don’t use the same password for every account you have. If a thief manages to obtain a password from one account, he or she is most likely going to try it on other accounts.

 Secure your Computer AND devices

• Turn on your firewall. If you use a wireless network, make sure that it’s encrypted so that someone lurking outside of your house can’t break in.
• Never log into bank accounts or enter sensitive information while you’re using public WiFi.
• Tablets and cell phones are prone to the same threats that computers are. Make sure that you have the latest protection for these treasured electronics!
• There’s a reason why Webroot releases new versions of computer protection every year. Using an outdated version is not enough — cybercriminals are constantly creating new viruses and looking for new ways to hack into your system. Find the best security for you by clicking here.

When we were children, our parents, teachers, and loved ones taught us some of the most important life lessons: treat others the way you’d like to be treated, take chances, and give to those who are less fortunate. These pieces of advice were so simple, yet they seem to have gotten put on the back burner. As we become increasingly busy in our fast-paced lives, there’s not much time to stop and think about these little things. Businesses are especially prone to forgetting these basic morals. Once they’ve figured out the formula for their success, it’s hard for them to take any risks. They often think they can just throw sales and shiny products into our faces and call it a day. I don’t know about you, but I don’t like to be treated like I’m just one of the masses. I think it’s insulting. I’m not a zombie.

Of course, there are always exceptions, like jcpenney. They were not only founded based on these principles, but also stayed true to them for over 100 years. Now that we’re all grown up and have life experience under our belt, we can look to jcpenney to remind us and inspire us to never forget the important lessons we learned from our childhood role models.

Lession #1: Treat Others the Way You’d Like to Be Treated

jcpenney has created a caring, nonjudgmental, and open-minded environment for employees and customers alike that creates a sense of belonging. The brand cherishes diversity, which, in turn, influences people to respect one another. Their kind spirit has gained recognition from DiversityInc, who has labeled jcpenney as one of the top 50 most diverse companies for two years in a row.

In order for their employees to feel comfortable, and to understand their fellow customers and co-workers, jcpenney offers Associate Resource Teams (ARTs). Each ART meets regularly to discuss common business-related topics. These groups embrace diversity through race (i.e. African American Associate Resource Team, Hispanic Educational & Awareness Team, jcpenney Asian Affinity Group), gender (i.e. Women’s Initiative Networking Group for Success), sexual orientation (i.e. Gay & Lesbian Educational Associate Network), and other diverse backgrounds (i.e. All Generations Engaged for Success, Associates Leading Our Understanding of Disabilities, Volunteer Associate Resource Team, jcpenney C.A.R.E.S. Associate Resource Team, Regional Associate Resource Team).

Lesson #2: Take Chances

We’re constantly being bombarded with advertisements displaying nuclear families, but we have to remember that not every family consists of a husband, wife, son, and daughter. jcpenney‘s welcoming and diverse mindset allowed them to step outside of the traditional advertising approach by letting the rest of the world know that their store is not exclusive to a particular demographic. jcpenney had the courage to reach out to people outside of their traditional audience, and in turn, they’ve gained some new shoppers…including myself.

Lesson #3: Give to Those Who are Less Fortunate

jcpenney has been philanthropic for years, but recently, they have created an organization called “jcp cares.” It allows their customers to support a new nonprofit every month, just by rounding up their purchases up to the nearest dollar. Over the next few weeks, you’ll learn about the causes supported through this program, and how jcpenney’s involvement has made a difference.