Google sent out emails to many of their customers and publishers telling them this year they are giving a $40 million charitable donation for the holiday gift.

They started giving charity as a gift in 2009, which did upset people who were use to receiving shwag and cool gifts from Google in the previous years, like they did in 2008, 2007, 2006, and 2005.

Here is a picture of the email sent to me:

This leads to a page at google.com/intl/en/landing/givesback/2011 which everyone can see.

Happy Holidays to everyone and thanks Google.

Forum discussion at Google Webmaster Help.