I am sure that you have heard about the recent bush fires in Australia. As usual, Stampin’ Up has stepped in to help! They recently released this press release on the demonstrator side of their web site:

Stampin’ Up!’s Support for the Fires in Australia
February 20, 2009

With the fires that have recently ravaged southern Australia, this nation has suffered its largest natural disaster in history. Reports from our Australian office have joyfully confirmed that all our demonstrators are safe and accounted for. However, as the tragedy unfolded, we at the corporate office in the US–along with the offices in Australia and New Zealand–felt a compelling need to help and offer support to the survivors.

To respond to this tragedy, we quickly organized a relief effort in Australia and New Zealand designed to donate 50 percent of the sales of a select group of stamps to the Australian Red Cross. This donation will continue throughout the entire month of March.

Demonstrators in Australia and New Zealand have responded with gratitude and a spirit of service. They are actively encouraging their customers to support the relief by purchasing stamp sets. Many demonstrators are also contributing by happily offering a part or all of the commissions they earn from the sales of these sets.

Although the official Stampin’ Up! relief effort is available only to those living in Australia and New Zealand, you are free to contribute to the Australian Red Cross if you would like to.

If you are in Australian or New Zealand, please contact your local demonstrator to help out! The sets included in this offer are:

Looks Like Spring
Priceless
Seeing Spots
Baroque Motifs
The Snowflake Spot
Bodacious Bouquet
Polka Dots & Paisley
G’day Mate
Be Happy
Live Your Dream

If you are here in the United States, I will also be donating my commission from sales of these sets through the end of March. Only the first four sets, in bold, are currently available in the US, the rest are only in Australia (sorry). Please contact me if you have any questions about this.