Colored wristbands to promote a cause are everywhere these days. Here are an armful for child-related charities, along with information on how to make your own.
Cause: Apraxia
Color: Light blue
Message: APRAXIA KIDS DESERVE A VOICE
Benefits: CASANA (The Childhood Apraxia of Speech Association of North America)
Cost: Two with a $20 donation
Cause: Attachment Disorder
Color: Silver
Message: I'M NOT ALONE
Benefits: Attachment Disorder Network
Cost: $4, or $3 for two or more
Cause: Autism
Color: Blue
Message: THINK AUTISM. THINK CURE.
Benefits: National Autism Association
Cost: $2.50
Cause: Autism
Color: Blue
Message: (No words, just colorful puzzle pieces)
Benefits: AutismLink
Cost: $5
Cause: Bipolar disorder
Color: Half yellow, half blue
Message: HOPE • HELP • SUPPORT
Benefits: Depression and Bipolar Support Alliance
Cost: 3 for $9
Cause: Birth defects
Color: Blue and pink tie-dye
Message: SAVING BABIES
Benefits: March of Dimes
Cost: 10 for $10
Cause: Brain injury
Color: Green
Message: Mind Matters!
Benefits: Brain Injury Association of America
Cost: 10 for $10
Cause: Cancer
Color: Green
Message: REACH THE DAY
Benefits: CureSearch National Childhood Cancer Foundation and the Children's Oncology Group
Cost: 10 for $10
Cause: Cardiomyopathy
Color: Red
Message: A CURE FOR TOMORROW
Benefits: Children's Cardiomyopathy Foundation
Cost: $5, or 5 for $20
Cause: Cystic fibrosis
Color: Blue
Message: BREATHE
Benefits: Cystic Fibrosis Foundation
Cost: $2; minimum of 10
Cause: Diabetes
Color: Blue
Message: CURE DIABETES TODAY
Benefits: Naomi Berrie Diabetes Center at Columbia University Medical Center
Cost: One for each $5 donation
Cause: Diabetes
Color: Red
Message: INSULIN IS NOT A CURE
Benefits: Diabetes Research Institute, Education for Children with Diabetes Foundation
Cost: $5 in U.S./$6 Canada/$7 elsewhere
Cause: Diabetes
Color: Orange
Message: MAX-LIFE
Benefits: Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation
Cost: $2
Cause: Epilepsy
Colors: Blue on one side, red on the other
Message: THINK POSITIVE (on blue side)
Benefits: Epilepsy Foundation
Cost: 10 for $10
Cause: Food allergies
Colors: Teal
Message: Food Allergy P.A.L.
Benefits: The Food Allergy & Anaphylaxis Network
Cost: 5 for $10; also available in youth size
Cause: Fragile X
Colors: Blue
Message: Cure Fragile X
Benefits: The Fragile X Research Foundation
Cost: $3
Cause: Meningitis
Colors: Blue-green
Message: MENINGITIS AWARENESS
Benefits: National Meningitis Association
Cost: Starts at 10 for a $12.55 donation
Cause: Neurofibromatosis
Color: Blue
Message: Care (on one side)/NF Inc.org (on the other)
Benefits: Neurofibromatosis, Inc.
Cost: 10 for $10
Cause: Prader-Willi Syndrome
Color: Orange
Message: PRADER-WILLI ON THE MOVE
Benefits: Ontario Prader-Willi Syndrome Association
Cost: $4 Canadian
Cause: Universal Newborn Screening
Colors: Green
Message: UNBS Hunter's Hope
Benefits: Hunter's Hope Universal Newborn Screening Campaign
Cost: 10 for $10
Cause: Camp for kids with cancer and other tough challenges
Color: Blue
Message: COURAGE
Benefits: Camp Good Days
Cost: $4
Cause: Disadvantaged children
Color: Purple
Message: LIFE IS SHORT - LAUGH HARD
Benefits: Mary Beth's Angels
Cost: $2
Cause: Dangers of tobacco use and secondhand smoke
Color: Red
Message: 1200
Benefits: Campaign for Tobacco-Free Kids
Cost: 10 for $10
Don't see your cause? A Better Idea sells bracelets that don't directly benefit a charity, but can be worn to promote awareness or resold to benefit a charity of your choice. Or make your own with Write-On Message Bands, whether to promote awareness or give your child a wearable reminder of your love.
