Marlo's Holiday Message
"In the Family Circle" Thursday morning, The Early Show featured a look at ways to simplify holiday stress while staying true to the season's message of giving, with help from actress Marlo Thomas, who is the national outreach director of St. Jude Children's Research Hospital in Memphis, and Betty Wong, executive editor of Family Circle magazine.
St. Jude, the third largest health-care charity, kicked off its second annual "Thanks & Giving" campaign a week ago, a program that is designed to encourage shoppers to give as they get during the holidays.
And, in the December issue of Family Circle, an article titled "Have Yourself A Simple Little Christmas" gives simple ideas for ways families can come together and maintain tradition.
The Thanks & Giving campaign arranges for shoppers at many stores (including Williams-Sonoma, Pottery Barn, CVS and Nine West) to donate to St. Jude by giving an extra dollar at the cash register or buying a bear, or by buying the special "Thanks & Giving" book and CD. The campaign started the day after Thanksgiving and will continue throughout the holiday season. For more information, go to the St. Jude Web site.
"What we're saying to the consumer is, you're going to be out there shopping and having a great time, spending a lot of money," said Thomas. "Give thanks for the kids in your lives who are healthy and give to the ones who are not. One day, all kids can be healthy."
Thomas said she especially wanted the television audience to know that 84 cents on every dollar donated goes directly to the St. Jude's Children's Hospital.
Co-anchor Harry Smith observed that, too often, "Christmas ends up being about 'gimme, gimme, gimme, get, get, get.' One of the messages in Family Circle magazine is: Bring the level down."
On that topic, editor Wong offered some surprising insight: A completely stress-free Christmas isn't much fun, because when you put in that extra effort and energy, the holiday feels special. But she dies advise that you reach for the stress that translates into that kind of enthusiasm.
Her short list: