The Ball that lends Respect! (Giveaway)

by

I grew up with one sister and was never coordinated enough to play any sports that included a ball. Now I have two daughters of my own who are not quite old enough for team sports. That’s why I was shocked and very embarrassed to learn for the first time about the unethical practices involved in sports-ball making. If you were like me, you may not know that the majority of the soccer, volleyball, football, etc. balls available for purchase in first world countries are often made by children as young as six in a third world country. Learning more about the unethical and inhumane conditions under which sports balls are often produced immediately convinced me that I would only ever buy a ball if I knew it was made under fair-labor practices. Thankfully, Fair Trade Sports is an incredible company that guarantees it will provide respect–for the sport, for the environment, for the players, but especially for those that made the ball. They are committed to donate all profits after taxes to children’s charities, both domestic and international (similar to the idea behind Newman’s Own). They make everything from fair trade footballs and fair trade basketballs to a variety of sports and club soccer balls like the one I was given to review.

As I mentioned before, I barely know anything about sports balls but I did know as soon as I saw this ball that I and my daughters would love it. It has fun, colorful flowers spread over 32-panels on a synthetic leather exterior. The latex bladder that contributes to its longevity as a child’s toy also makes this ball bounce and retain its shape. The size 3 training ball is literally the perfect size for my almost-3 year old daughter. Speaking of my daughter, she is obsessed with this ball. I do not think that she has stopped playing it since we received it and pumped it full of air. I love that her new soccer ball not only encourages her to play and learn new skills but it also is contributing in a small way to ensuring respect in the soccer ball trade. If you’re passionate about fair trade products, I highly recommend purchasing a new sports ball from Fair Trade Sports–not only will the child you bought it for be thrilled but children around the world and in your community will benefit, too!

WIN IT!

One of naturalbabygoods.com readers is going to receive a Eco Soccer Ball from Fair Trade Sports.

Contest ends Jul 22, 2011. OPEN to US only!

Mandatory Entries,

1. To enter, Subscribe to my blog via email and leave the comment below saying that you are a subscriber. Don’t forget to confirm your subscription.

2.Visit Fair Trade Sports and leave a comment telling me what else you learned from their website.

These are required and must be done before the extra entries count!

Additional Entries:

3. Enter this giveaway in a giveaway linky on another blog. Be sure to leave me the url to the linky you posted the link to!

4. Blog about the giveaway link back to this post and leave the URL to your post in the comment. (3 entries)

5. Grab my button on your sidebar and leave the URL in your comment. (2 entries)

6. Follow @NaturalBabyGood and @fairtradesports on twitter and Tweet about this giveaway (1x daily).

#Win @fairtradesports Eco Soccer Ball from @naturalbabygood #giveaway Ends 7/22 https://www.naturalbabygoods.com/?p=8099 Leave the URL to your tweet in your comment.

7. Like Natural Baby Goods on Facebook and comment on my wall about why you would like to win it.

8. Follow Natural Baby Goods on Google Friends Connect. (2 entries)

9. Like Fair Trade Sports on Facebook 

**Disclaimer: The product/s mentioned above have been given free of charge from the company or PR firm in exchange for being featured on naturalbabygoods.com. The product features expressed in this post are those of naturalbabygoods.com and have not been influenced in any other way.

63 thoughts on “The Ball that lends Respect! (Giveaway)”

  4. i get your emails and they have an eco football-how cool is that- every company needs to be eco friendly
    tcogbill at live dot com

  5. Email subscriber. I learned that the company donate all profits after taxes to children’s charities.

  15. first line of sports balls for
    soccer, football, basketball (and more!) that are certified green and certified Fair Trade.

  35. I learned

    We are committed to donate all profits after taxes to children’s charities, both domestic and international. Sound familiar? It’s a similar idea to the one behind the Newman’s Own brand you see in the grocery store.

  52. I’m Subscribed to You via Email / Confirmed
    -Email: aliaskys (at) yahoo . com
    THANK YOU!! 🙂

  53. _I learned: They also sell and Eco Football and Eco Basketball. Also, like the Newman’s Own brand, all of their after–tax profits are designated for children’s charities. Their products are Vegan and union made.

    -Email: aliaskys (at) yahoo . com
    THANK YOU!! 🙂

  57. I Follow You Publicly via Google Friend Connect – 1
    ***Google Friend Connect Name: Beauty To Love

    ***[PLEASE NOTE: I *DO* Follow you Publicly in GFC. GFC has been having problems and may not show My User Name in your GFC List, even though I *DO* Follow You Publicly……and it shows that I’m Following You on my end. I’m getting it sorted out with Google right now.]

    aliaskys (at) yahoo . com
    THANK YOU!! 🙂

  58. I Follow You Publicly via Google Friend Connect – 2
    ***Google Friend Connect Name: Beauty To Love

    ***[PLEASE NOTE: I *DO* Follow you Publicly in GFC. GFC has been having problems and may not show My User Name in your GFC List, even though I *DO* Follow You Publicly……and it shows that I’m Following You on my end. I’m getting it sorted out with Google right now.]

    aliaskys (at) yahoo . com
    THANK YOU!! 🙂

  59. i am an email subscriber and at their site i learned that they sell footballs and clothes too.

  60. I’m a subscriber, I learned that The hand-stitching is done at ILO-monitored stitching centers; their manufacturer is in the Top 3 companies with 100% production in ILO-monitored centers.

Comments are closed.