I don’t watch the Oscars. Not a hater per se, it just doesn’t interest me. I don’t watch much tv or movies and I can’t name one person or movie nominated. Heck, other than Argo, I have no idea who won, including the 9-year-old girl who was insulted. Did she at least win?

Anyway, when stars attend events like these, they get huge swag bags–bags full of unnecessary items, in hopes that they will use/wear these items and be photographed or talked about while doing it. It’s a gamble, because the cost of the marketing may not pay off. This year’s bags cost a total of $47,802 and included plastic surgery and a trip to Hawaii and Australia. “But it’s taxable!” I heard on the tv. Oh boo hoo. That’s just one swag bag, which I’d assume are given out to hundreds of people, people who are already incredibly wealthy and can afford to purchase a trip to Hawaii.

This is where my blood starts to boil, because that’s more than the average teacher salary in this country, and it’s incredibly upside-down of us to hand $47,802 to someone who already has a pile of money–while so many around the world go without. To put it into perspective, I’ve compiled a list, in no particular order.

1. According to PayScale.com, the average teacher salary for a special education teacher in this country ranges from about $41,000 to $45,000. So let’s be generous and call it a wash at $47,802. I can’t find any press on how many bags were given out. But each one would allow a district to add a much needed special education teacher to their district.

1 Oscar Swag Bag=1 year salary for a special education teacher

2. Did you know that here in our country, 1 in 6 kids goes to school hungry every day? Think this stuff just happens overseas? Nope, happens here too, every day. $100 can buy 800 meals.

1 Oscar swag bag=800 meals (roughly 2 a day for 1 year) for 479 people

3. Every 20 seconds, a child dies from a vaccine preventable disease, merely because they do not have access. For $20, you can save a child’s life.

1 Oscar Swag Bag=2390 lives saved

4. Did you know that millions of women around the world miss up to 50 days of work or school each year, just because they are menstruating? It’s true. Many do not have access to sanitary napkins because they cost more than a day’s wages. But the SHE28 campaign is working to change that by supplying these items at low or no cost to developing country. With a $28 donation per woman helped,

1 Oscar swag bag=1707 women helped.

5. You know what else happens every 20 seconds? A child dies from a water-borne illness because they do not have access to clean, potable water. According to WaterAidAmerica.org, it costs about $25 to provide a person in a developing country clean, drinkable water for life.

1 Oscar swag bag=1912 people with a lifetime of clean drinking water

6. We take our technology and access to it for granted. For $199, you can give a laptop to a child, in a developing country or here in the USA, thus giving them access to education and access out of poverty and on to a better life.

1 Oscar swag bag=240 laptops for children

7. Girl Up is a great program developed by the United Nations Foundation to make the world a better, more accessible place for all girls. A donation of $85 includes:

• books, uniforms and school supplies
• access to clean water and sanitation
• solar lamps and safe places (protect against rape and violence)
• leadership and mentorship opportunities
• community plans that involve girls

That’s quite a buy for $85!

1 Oscar swag bag=making the world a better place for 562 girls

I could go on and find 70 more, but I think you get my point.

What are you doing to teach your kids balance? I’d love to hear.