According to Forbes Magazine’s annual Mother’s Day survey, Americans love their moms to the tune of $15.7 billion. More than 9 out of 10 consumers plan to celebrate Mother’s Day, and on average we’ll each spend $148, up 5% from last year. No one here is doubting that Mom deserves a very serious “thank you” for 9 months of raging hormones, stretch marks, childbirth and a lifetime of ego-boosting and moral support. No. One. In fact, my mom gets a 70% cut of all the profits I make from this blog. (“That can’t possibly be true.” I mean, technically, it’s not false –>profits=0.) However, what if half of those of us planning to celebrate made a donation in honor of our moms and in support of other women struggling with motherhood around the world? That’s $7.85 billion we could invest in health strategies, education systems, and economic opportunities bent on women and motherhood.

To put that in perspective, the U.S. now spends $474 million on the problems faced by women, and the Obama administration’s proposed 2012 budget would add another $372 million for a total $864 mil. That’s 11% of what HALF of American consumers planning to celebrate Mother’s Day will spend, which is just wild.

As Hallmark Holiday consumers, we spend a lot. Collectively, it follows, we could also save a lot.