Our children have a lot of friends, and every time we turn around, we're out buying gifts for another birthday party. A closet full of excess gifts just doesn't feel like a good way to spend our money, to show our friendship, or to raise our children.

You may have seen a new nonprofit website, www.ChangingThePresent.org. Instead of giving unwanted stuff, it makes it easy to do something to make the world a better place, in the name of a friend. You can choose exactly what you want to accomplish. For just a few dollars, you can protect an acre of the rainforest, make a blind person see, or provide a child with a first book.

With thousands of rewarding opportunities to make a difference from hundreds of leading nonprofits, you'll find just the right gift for everyone on your list.

Let's use these birthdays to do some good and to teach our children about making a difference. What do you say?

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