Discussions
BlogCatalog Community Fundraising Event Challenge on May 28th
Posted by TonyB • 5/20/07 • Subscribe to this Discussion [RSS] • Report This Topic
Tags: bloggers for charity, charitable causes, charity
The BlogCatalog buzz experiment started by Mona was a huge success. The real message of the experiment was that the BlogCatalog community can come together & accomplish amazing things.
Since the Buzz Experiment, the BlogCatalog team has looked for a way to pull the community together for a Charitable cause that will benefit Children. It is amazing how challenging it was to find a way for the community to contribute directly to a charity without there being a tax to BlogCatalog and without us having to collect the donations.
Today however we found an organization called DonorsChoose.org that makes it really easy to hold a Community Fundraising Event and we are really excited to announce the NEW BlogCatalog Community Challenge for Public School Teachers and Students
Let's come together on May 28th. and prove that bloggers can do a whole bunch of good and that we aren't limited to chronic complainers, contrarians or people who just want to hear the sound of their own voice.
Let's Prove that a LARGE Group of Bloggers Can Come together For a Lot of Good!
The purpose of the BlogCatalog Community Fundraising Event is to come together and raise money for our public schools. We have set the goal to $25,000. Hopefully we can blow this goal away and raise far more money. If we do we will have set a precedent that will enable our community to do a bunch of good for other causes in the future.
So What Should You Do?
On Monday May 28th, write a blog post asking all your readers to make a donation.
Your Blog post should include:
* Title your post the BlogCatalog Community Fundraising Event Challenge for Public School Teachers & Student (or some variation)
* Explain the importance of raising money for our public schools
* Include some information about the DonorsChoose.org organization (visit their site to learn more)
* MAKE SURE to ADD A LINK to the donation page www.donorschoose.org/donors/viewChallenge.html?id=16793 or add the widget code that is found on that page.
Also spread the word among your blogger friends and have them join in the cause.
If you have any questions please email me at tony@blogcatalog.com
All donations will be shown as charitable contribution directly from you
If you are in and want to use your blog for good then reply to this post along with including your URL.
User Comments
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i love the idea!!!!! im on it!! i just hv a question we r talking about public schools and students from the usa ?? or world wide?? cause if thats a thing only for the usa its gonna be hard to make everyone join in!! anyway im in!! -
Confessing.. the schools are all in the US. This could be a reason for non US bloggers to decide that they won't participate.... However ... the real motivation for this is to bring the community together for a cause. Its a test. If it works.. the next cause we can raise money for can be anywhere in the world. This was the first charitable organization that I found that made it easy for us to move ahead.
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Many of the schools are in New Orleans.
I hope that bloggers will help the schools and teachers in New Orleans out... no matter what part of the world you are from.
Lets prove that bloggers as a community can rock together not just for our own self interest but for something bigger.-
i know SiteProPlus!!! i said u can count me in it!! its a great idea!! and if the main goal is to help new orleans i guess that can be spread easier worldwide!!
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Definitely in:
www.rockstories.blogspot.com
www.whatswrongaroundus.blogspot.com
www.dogstoryblog.blogspot.com
www.catholicinside.blogspot.com
I've just started participating, though I signed up a while ago, and I'm very excited to see something like this going on and hope there is more to come! -
missed the first one, will do this one though -
Here is more info. about DonorsChoose.org
www.donorschoose.org/about/history.html
I too hope that this is the first step in harnessing the power of the blogcatalog community for good. -
That is an awesome idea! i'm always willing to join in that kind of things! donating to charity is extremely important for me, so count me in!
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It doesnt cost anything to post the event on our blogs.
The more bloggers that post about the event the better. Let's use our blogs for good. There are plenty of students and future bloggers in New Orleans that need our help.
Please everyone join in.
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I am definitely in...I may not be able to donate (damn finances are tight) but you better believe your bottom dollar I will do anything I can for this good of a cause.
www.thenhlarenaprogram.blogspot.com -
Great idea, Tony, I am a New Orleans native so this really touches home. Count me in!-
oops.... blog.scottpot.com/
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Excellent.
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Beautifully Done! Bravo! Count me in. -
yah, we're in. we run an education blog.
www.online-degrees-today.com/blog -
Digg It? If you do Act and digg it at:
digg.com/health/Blog_For_Good_Raise_Money_for_Schools_and_Students_in_New_O... -
digged it!!!!!!!!:D
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I'll participate. Thanks for letting me know.
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I will try as this is a week from now my dementia can make me forget if anyone would be kind to remind me please. -
I will take this week to think about what a foreigner that blogs about health can say, but the idea is very good and I am committed to it.
I already digged it.
www.waheedelqalatawy.blogspot.com -
Hello, What a great opportunity to help my neighbors in New Orleans rebuild their public schools, after the devastating effects caused by hurricane Katrina. I'm from Baton Rouge, and certainly will contribute a post for the New Orleans area schools. This is great, count me in-
Ann-Slugger
aniceplaceinthesun.blogspot.com -
I am not sure how much my puny blog will bring in visitors and donations but I must say it sounds like a fantastic idea something worth blogging about!
Please do send a reminder on the 27th!
marc.weiersmuller.org/ -
Marco...every blog counts. It's the cumulative impact of having many bloggers coming together as a community for good.
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By all means, count me in on this. -
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Gimme a day's time 2 post it.
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I am already drafting a post for the 28th so I don't forget...Jude-
Good Idea. Could even timestamp the post, so that it gets published automatically
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I'm in! Education is our best power to justice and peace!
Most of the schools are in New Orleans, sounds like a perfect idea! Let's rebuild New Orleans' education future
Count me in.
www.realm-of-reema.blogspot.com
Peace and love. -
Count me in. Digged it...
Peace,
Charlie~
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Love the idea. I'm in.
http:www.ADDmoms.com -
Same here...I am drafting a post to be released on the 28th...I am really happy to see a project like this and am proud to help in any way I can.
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Good idea, I do whenever I can. -
Will try to help!
philipharris.blogspot.com -
I think this is a great idea, doesn't matter if you are not from the USA, I'm from the UK but the whole point of being part of a community is that there are common things that bring us together rather than divide us. We're more alike than we think and we all have issues with funding of non-private (of fee paying) schools. (In the UK public schools are for people with lots of money)
Already dugg it and will be posting on the 28th! -
Count me in. I will prepare something to post on the 28th May. -
Great idea! You can count me in!
See you
Fred -
I'll really want to help, since I was born in Brazil and barelly could go to school when I was a lil kid,I know what is being poor... When I get some money I'll do my part at the same time I was working in a project to help poor kids in Brazil, that has no money even for food, they end in to gangs or drug deallers. The world is all of this kind of people...My project is really bigger and don't think 10k or 20k will be sufficient. If anyone here want to join or colaborate in some way or with some ideas I will be very thank full, from the bottom on my heart. Thanks. gizmobozz.blogspot.com/ -
I'm in, Art Ambrosia at Photofiend.blogspot.com -
I am in also... -
Here is mu url
nimrodjo.com
home-based-product.blogspot.com
In! All the way! Blogger united for good cause! -
Not mu url...my URL...sorry for the typo..
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Great idea, i'm in too!!
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Fantastic Idea,count me in
www.squidoo.com/ashokartgallery -
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Great Idea, I will ready for the date with maldiveslive.blogspot.com -
join me too agrinev.blogspot.com -
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I'm also in -I think there are countries who need the money better, but funds going to public schools in any country have my support
silviasfiles-2.blogspot.com -
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I may not be able to donate, but I'd definitely write the post!! I'm INTO it and UP for it!!! -
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Great Idea! I'm in for sure!
webzads.blogspot.com -
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Hi great idea but I'm from Oz....how would a similar idea work for fundraising for conservation that we do here in Western Australia?
www.yelvertonbrook.com.au -
It's agood idea! Let us try or best to raise the fund for a Good reason.
http:/www.blogs.ibibo.com/kunnel -
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Count me in. Great idea to start with.
www.talentshakes.com -
Pleased to accept the challenge. "Even the most ordinary man can make a difference, he just has to believe he can."
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Awesome! Glad you made it on Memorial Day, I have that day off. At least I have something worth doing that day Not a big time blogger but I'm in.. why wouldn't I be?
www.anothermaria.com -
WoW Gold Guide has a great posting about the BlogCatalog Community Fundraising Challenge for Public Schools... wowgoldguide.wordpress.com/
In particular this is something good to focus on in our postings:
"Katrina. Please make a donation to help children in Louisiana get computers, a/v equipment and books, among other things. It doesnt matter if its a large or small donation - if I we all just give what we can afford there will be more than enough to go around". -
It's a good idea, I'm in
www.milkoleporis.com -
My post is ready, scheduled to be published on the 28th
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good idea, nice to know, will attend. yes later it can be extended to world wide -
sure, why not ... be sure, somebody, to send out reminders or something.
mostbloggers.blogspot.com
peac4d.
amos -
hi therer,
read ur message and i have to say that as i am a non us citizen i may not really participate in this.if u had a similar thing for say "old aged people" i would love to particiapte.but as such for this i am not so sure.but i'll think about it and let you know later! -
On Monday we will be joining together to raise money for a great cause. Here is a copy of the press release describing this Blogger Event. Feel free to use any part of it in your blog on Monday.
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BlogCatalog.com Employs Social Media
To Raise Funds For Non-Profits
BlogCatalog.com, one of the fastest-growing social blog directories on the Internet, will launch a social awareness campaign to benefit DonorsChoose.org on May 28. The campaign asks directory members (bloggers) to write about wwww.DonorsChoose.org and raise funds for the non-profit organization.
DonorsChoose.org is a non-profit Web site that brings teachers and donors together to fund specific student projects that range from "Magical Math Centers" ($200) to "Cooking Across the Curriculum" ($1,100). Any individual can search teacher proposals and fund specific projects, which are tax deductible.
Internet social networks from MySpace to Facebook are receiving a ton of
media and Internet attention, but we have yet to see an online social community come together to raise funds for a good cause, said Antony Berkman, president of BlogCatalog.com. We see this as an opportunity to empower and recognize bloggers to collectively focus their blogs for good.
Berkmans idea is to challenge directory members to draw attention to and raise funds for this underserved non-profit organization. BlogCatalog.com has set a goal to raise at least $25,000 for DonorsChoose.org, which is a member of the Omidyar Network. The Omidyar Network is a mission-based organization established by eBay founder Pierre Omidyar and his wife, Pam.
Weve asked our directory members to provide a specific link in their post so we can track the success of our program, but anyone can participate, says Berkman. All they have to do is include our challenge link in any post they write about DonorsChoose.org on May 28 and the importance of raising money for our schools and theyll help us raise awareness about this organization and contribute funds to teachers across the country.
The link is www.donorschoose.org/donors/viewChallenge.html?id=16793 .
Berkman said depending on the success of the challenge, BlogCatalog.com will develop a community service page to host and promote more blog events in the near future. All donations made to DonorsChoose.Org will credit the blogger.
Weve seen social media can be used to bring people together for all sorts of reasons; I really hope we can bring people together to do good, said Berkman. Even better, this is a chance to find common interests within BlogCatalog.com and across the Web.
BlogCatalog.com is the first social network directory to organize its members to raise funds for a specific non-profit organization. DonorsChoose.org benefits school systems in Alabama, Indiana, Louisiana, Mississippi, New York, North Carolina, South Carolina, Texas, and Washington, D.C. Donors can also choose school districts in Chicago, Los Angeles, and San Francisco.
For more information, visit www.blogcatalog.com/discuss/entry/blogcatalog-community-fundraising-event-c...-
Is the full press release posted on the site somewhere that we can link back to?
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Help Public School Kids by Funding by Participating in a DonorsChoose Challenge -
Although I think BlogCatalog had good intentions in setting up this event, I am very upset that it has chosen a charity that discriminates in who it will serve. If the mission of DonorsChoose.org is to allow potential philanthropists to find worthy projects that will benefit the education of needy students, why do they discriminate against students enrolled in non-government schools?
Are they suggesting that all private, parochial, and home schooled students are affluent and therefore not in need of the type of assistance provided by DonorsChoose.org?
Nothing could be further from the truth as private, parochial, and home schools serve children from all walks of life.
Or are they trying to make some sort of political statement against true educational choice for students???????
I will NOT be participating in this event and have blogged about it in the hopes of getting the word out to other parents who support true educational choice!-
CrimsonWife... perhaps blog about your thoughts? There is always room for healthy dialogue.
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Every charity discriminates. Anyone who has worked in non-profits knows that there are always more worthy causes and people/projects in need than there are funds to go around. They have to have parameters, and those parameters don't mean that they find any other cause less worthy, simply that it's not the one they serve.
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I did blog about my concerns here . I also sent an email to the CEO of DonorsChoose.org expressing my disappointment and asking him to reconsider their decision to bar non-government schools from participating.
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I don't know why the link didn't show up? The URL of my post is here: bendingthetwigs.blogspot.com/2007/05/why-im-not-participating-in-blogcatalo...
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Oops.. I forgot to put in my url
acquirewisdom.blogspot.com -
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Hello!
Check out my blog!
missolibrary.blogspot.com/
I have a donorschoose challenge link up on the top side! It is a great organization. -
If you have doubts about whether DonorsChoose.org is a good organization to be involved with here is some of the awards and recognition they have received:
National media such as Oprah Winfrey and The New York Times have hailed DonorsChoose as "the future of philanthropy." In 2004, DonorsChoose received a Technology Laureate, and in 2005, DonorsChoose surpassed 1,000 other organizations to win the Nonprofit Innovation Award conferred by Stanford Business School and Amazon.com. -
I don't doubt that DonorsChoose.org has done some good work; what upsets me is their exclusion of needy students in non-government schools. I read a statistic the other day that 44,000 of the 107,000 students served by Catholic schools in New York City come from families below the poverty line. I'm certain that there are plenty of worthy projects that could benefit their education, but DonorsChoose.org does not allow them to participate. Why should they be excluded simply because they attend a non-government school? The type of school should not matter, just the legitimate financial need!
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maybe because it's a religious school and giving grant to a religious school is mixing the state with religion which is strictly forbidden in the constitution. and religious excludes students based on their non belief which makes it prejudicial in the first place. Communities of religious sect can raise money if they feel that the school lacks funds but charity or funds that's given by believers and non-believers should go to a school that allows all students to attend regardless of their religious beliefs
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I sort of agree with you CrimsonWife,
but on the other hand, - even the dogs eat the crumbs that fall from their masters table. -
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AngeldaVinci: where did you find this DoonersChoose banner? I was looking for something like this to link back to me post from all my blogs?
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Kids at the schools say >
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thanks AngeldaVinci neat.
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Welcome Marco
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Scott...is ConnectedIn one of yours?
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I write for connectedinternet, Tony, it actually belongs to EB out in the UK. I asked EB if I could do a post and he said dfinitely!
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oh, I fogot the link
thereyoucome.blogspot.com.
have published it, because it's my monday now:) hope it's in the right format. -
Good luck tomorrow everyone!
I also want to add if anyone is still wondering... The Omidyar Network is one of the most discriminating foundations around (Omidyar/founders of Ebay). They would not have highlighted DonorsChoose if they had not checked them out. -
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Siteproplus, thanks for remind me to this event.
here is my post:
worldofsolution.blogspot.com/2007/05/fundraising-for-schools-blogcatalog.ht...
and I have an idea to exchange Digg and stumbleupon our post about this event, so we can tell the world faster, the details is in this new discussion:
www.blogcatalog.com/discuss/entry/lets-digg-and-stumble-the-post-about-blog...
best for all,
Goonie
worldofsolution.blogspot.com -
okie dokie kids...here's my blog...just posted it...
40ssingleness.blogspot.com/2007/05/blogcatalog-raises-money-for-kids-you.ht... -
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smartwealthyrich.com/donorschooseorg-blogcatalog-raises-the-bar-with-blogge...
Here's mine! Oh and please go read it, I have a little something for you blogcatalogers (bloggers love links huh?) Oh and you can stumble my post if you'd like, i would be really happy, and I'm already stumbling everybody's posts! -
Jon... fantastic post. Links are the currency of the net Great incentive.
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I Stumbled the Press Release as well as my post and Digged it too.. here's my Digg if anyone else wants to Digg in Also.
www.digg.com/offbeat_news/BlogCatalog_com_Employs_Social_Media_To_Raise_Fun...-
done
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OK guys.... 5 to go.
Who's next?
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Hey, I'm done!
www.donorschoose.org/donors/proposal.html?id=49563&sindex=0
aniceplaceinthesun.blogspot.com/
Ann-Slugger -
I wish I could donate...I just sent a friend of mine a pretty expensive care package (she is battling ovarian cancer)...but here is my blog...
thenhlarenaprogram.blogspot.com/2007/05/blogcatalog-community-fundraising-e...-
I'm so sorry about your friend, I bet she loved that!
I just wanted to say I think a post counts as a donation.
Ann-Slugger
P.s.-I posted a story-
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Hi, here is my post for today:
www.milkoleporis.com/BlogCatalog-Community-Fundraising-Event-Challenge-for-... -
Mine is simple and very brief...
healthy-lifestyle.most-effective-solution.com/2007/05/28/public-school-teac... -
Keep them coming angeldavinci2.squarespace.com/
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here's mine kids...
40ssingleness.blogspot.com/2007/05/blogcatalog-raises-money-for-kids-you.ht...
don't forget to go to pledgebank and sign the pledge!
www.pledgebank.com/helpkids -
da forgot to drop my post link on the forum:
marc.weiersmuller.org/2007/05/breaking-news-blogcatalog-to-support.html -
Thanks to confessing7girl, RTCARTCA, crkiancrkian and dharmagypsy7 for digging my post.
I went and digged the related post visible on your profile if any.
Cheers for that.
Marc. -
hmmm...i just realised... DonorsChoose cannot accept donations from non-U.S. citizens.
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Hello!
People from anywhere should just be able to charge it on their credit card and then it will be converted to U.S. dollars!
One of my proposals is listed as part of the challenge!
Donorschoose is so great!
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not great I am in UK
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yeah, I'm from Malaysia, I thot of donating some from my Paypal of something... I only see 3 donations... come on people...
