Who would have imagined that innocuous Tweet would unleash a veritable tsunami of social good?
It was 10:30pm on January 7, 2010. I had just finished a haunting Pinot and was feeling grateful for my health, my family, my life. In a Tweet, I asked for your suggestions on worthy nonprofits.
Within minutes, it let loose a deluge from Twitter’s most passionate and caring souls…you! (Some of the stories under “Comments” below will take your breath away. I saw the good of the donations, but the stories — your stories — have forged this blog into a worldwide community of social good!)
For the past two years, I have channeled my energy and efforts into CARE (an organization I love). But, I thought it would be good spread that love wider. After all, there are so many honorable, yet unheralded, causes out there. So, I put it to those I love most in the social media world: our followers on Twitter.
@savetheorang Tweeted: “How can you possibly choose from so many causes in need?! How about to the one that makes your own heart swell?”
They all make my heart swell! So, I decided to donate to them all…on behalf of each of you! Who says we can’t change the world one Tweet at a time? Who says we can’t move mountains?
Until Jan. 12, I am going to donate $250 to every cause that you suggest. Individually $250 not be much, but in aggregate, we can do a lot of good here! (After Jan. 12, please continue posting your stories and causes; we will donate to select causes — and we are getting tens of thousands of visits a week now. Posting here will help you generate awareness.)
As an aside, I have to something funny to share: In the first hour of my Tweet, we received five comments (and five causes) and I thought: “Hey, this is great! Five terrific causes. $1,250 well spent! What a day! Woo! Going to bed…” Then, five became ten. Ten swelled to 20. The tsunami of social good kept coming: 30, 50, 70, 100! In the first 12 hours! A feeling of gratitude — and fear — swept over me when I did the math (“Ok, 100 causes x $250. That’s $2,500. Wait, no, that’s…$25,000! In 12 hours! Honey, I may have led the genie out of the bottle! It’s good genie, but she’s out of the bottle!”
Is this going to cost more than I had envisioned? Yes. Am I happy about that? You bet. Is it a phenomenal way to create a global community of social good? Absolutely.
HOW TO DO GOOD
1. Choose the one cause that makes your heart ache and your blood boil.
2. Click {Comments} below and add your cause. Explain why you chose that organization, tell your story — and please include a link to their website. You can even embed a YouTube video which I strongly suggest since it will bring your cause to life. Also, please add your Twitter handle, so that everyone here can follow everyone else.
“Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed citizens can change the world. Indeed, it is the only thing that ever has.” Margaret Mead said it. We are living it. Imagine: A single Tweet of 140 characters. And within 24 hours, we reached 20 million people and raised $25,000+ for your causes. And we are just getting started.
There are countless precious souls who feel like the world has left them behind. Many have lost hope. Through your actions, you are renewing their hope. There is no greater gift you can give.
I love you for that. And, I thank you for that.
E.
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You are wonderful Eric! Amazing! Thank you for what you do in our world!!
Thank you, Christine, for the kind words — and for taking part. Just posting makes a difference. We’ve had thousands of people read these comments, so your words echo across our world.
Thank you!
E.
Thank you thank you thank you! Your generosity is staggering, and I am so excited that you can help to bring awareness to CMTA and the most common nerve disease. I am bowled over, weeping from your kindness, and humbled. You have truly made my day!
Your sweetness is staggering. You made MY day! We will find a cure for CMTA, Donna, in our lifetimes. We can do this. This thing called “social media” can create a literal tsunami of social good. We humans can do anything we set our hearts to: put a person on the moon, eradicate sinister diseases, move mountains.
The only caveats are that we must do it together and we must keep the pressure on. Count on me in both regards!
Much love!!
E.
amazing
THANK YOU! I’m too excited thinking about the impact this could make on the lives of the people I had the privilege to meet in Uganda! $250. In some areas of the world, that amount of money can permanently alter a life for the better. I truly, TRULY appreciate your generosity!
Thank you, Catie! I truly appreciate your passion and commitment to better our world! I wish it were $250,000! But, $250 is a start and if we can stay in touch and keep running social good campaigns in social media, we can bring more money and awareness to your cause!
Thank you again!
Much love!
E.
Wow.
Doctors without Borders. I met one of their doctors at a party ten years ago and was wildly impressed by his dedication and the description of the organization.
Hey Kate! Oh, this is a great one. Those people leave cushy jobs here in America to put their lives on the line for people who the world has largely left behind. Stellar suggestion! Thank you for this. On February 8th, I will make a $250 donation to Doctors Without Borders on behalf of Kate Rothwell! Much love! E.
You are wonderful as are the many folks who give..you get so much more in return, and it feels fantastic, doesn’t it?
United Way does so much within their local communitites.
Free the Children is an amazing cause that also helps young people help is many ways
Hello Linda! Couldn’t agree more! I believe the only enduring happiness comes from giving. This world needs more good souls like you. Thank you for this. On February 8th, I will make a $250 donation on behalf of the lovely Linda Lorenz!!! Much love! E.
Something that is near and dear to my heart, more support and awareness for people with Autism as my twin brother is afflicted with it as well.
http://www.autismcanada.org/donateinvolved.htm
Thank you for offering to help.
JANE.
Incredible Jane! Consider it done. I will make the donation in YOUR NAME. You are incredible. You just changed the world. And I love you for it, girl! Thank you!! E.
This is truly amazing!
What makes my blood boil? Cancer. I HATE cancer. It has taken too many family members and friends, and countless others. I’ve joined Team FIGHT as a part of the Ulman Cancer Fund for Young Adults (www.ulmanfund.org). The UCF provides support programs, education and resources, free of charge, to young adults, their families and friends, who are affected by cancer. VERY close to my heart, the Cancer to 5k program. The Ulman Fund is the primary support through funding behind Cancer to 5k. Created by my beautiful sister Holly (Gannoe) Shoemaker, cancer to 5k is a training program designed to introduce and/or reintroduce cancer survivors to physical activity by providing them with the training program, coaches, encouragement and support necessary to complete a 5K . This is my personal fundraising page if you’d like to learn more…
http://www.active.com/donate/TeamFight2010/heathergannoe
So that’s my organization. If nothing else, thank you for taking the time to learn more about it and allowing me to post about it here in your comments section. Good for you for all you do in spreading good around the world and helping others! Have a great weekend!
Heather Gannoe @runfastermommy on twitter
Hey Heather,
Wow. I can feel your power and passion come right off the page!
You know me pretty well by now. I’m a CARE Ambassador and an unyielding optimist. Pretty sunny guy!
But, I believe that anger can sometimes be a good thing — when channeled positively! Lance Armstong always said how he channeled his anger over cancer — and that children were fighting it in hospital beds — and forged that into 7 Tour de France victories.
It pains me deeply to know that we lose 16,000 children every day to preventable causes. It’s why I am going to stop at nothing to raise the $1 million for CARE and break the 9 hour barrier at Ironman.
I’m with you every step of the way — and I will be making a $250 donation to your wonderful quest. Good for your body. Good for our world. It’s just all good, Heather!
Much love!
E.
I tried to comment, but it dissapeared (maybe it was too long, I get carried away!)
http://www.ulmanfund.org Because cancer makes my blood boil.
What a wonderful thing you are doing here
I LOVE IT! You get carried away in the best possible way! We are kindred spirits, Heather!
Cancer makes your blood boil. Mine too. On February 8th, I will be making a $250 donation to http://www.ulmanfund.org — and I will do it in YOUR NAME. Heather Gannoe. Much love, Heather! E.
Dear Eric!
What a most generous, wonderful life and world changing idea! One of my fellow designers in the craft industry Bernie Berlin has been working for years rescuing dogs and cats nurturing them back to health and giving them a new life in new homes. Animals make such a difference in all of our lives. A Place to Bark http://www.aplacetobark.com is a place of love and hope. This past year Bernie’s main help was injured in a serious car accident and they have kept going through it all. She is there day in and day out for those animals making a difference to them and to the future lives they will fill with love! DebraQCEO Creative Eternal Optimist!
Hey Debra–Thank you! You know it was just an idea…but what brought it to life was all of YOU! I think we are on to something here. The people choose the causes. I think it is a powerful model! I will probably be donating in excess of $10,000 here. But imagine if I could get a company to step forward and we could do this on a larger scale! We may be on to something! For now, I will donate my $250 to A Place to Bark. What an AWESOME, lovely cause. In the grand scheme of jobs, Bernie has one of the best. Give him my finest regards and let him know he has a new vocal advocate on his behalf!! Much love! E.
I think this is wonderful of you to do. My pick is Friends Of Maddie : http://friendsofmaddie.org/
My friends, Heather and Mike Spohr, lost their 17 month old daughter Madeline in April of last year. In her name, they started a foundation to help support families of preemies. Maddie was born 11 weeks premature. It’s a great cause, they’ve already helped a lot of families in a short amount of time. Please consider adding them to your list. Thank you.
No! That is probably the worst pain any parent can endure. This breaks my heart. Madeline. Everyone, please consider giving to Friends of Maddie. What a heartfelt and beautiful cause. Issa, I will make a $250 donation to Friends of Maddie on February 8th. Thank you so, so much. Please give Heather and Mike our love, ok? E.
Hi Eric – well done for this initiative: I wish I had money to make more of a difference.
The cause that I would like to nominate is the Chipembele Wildlife Education Centre, a small grass roots NGO working in the Luangwa Valley of Zambia – its website is: http://www.chipembele.org.
By educating the local children to the importance of the environment and wildlife around them, Chipembele hopes that the future of conservation in the area is assured.
Currently they are seeking sponsors for game drives for the local school children, here’s Anna Tolan’s (director) words:
“Game drives are an important part of the Chipembele syllabus each year but funding for the trips is needed. £40 (or $60) will cover the cost of fuel, snacks and drinks for 20 pupils and 2 teachers from a local school. If you would like to assist in funding a game drive in the dry season of 2010 (April to October) please send an e-mail to info@chipembele.org. Thank you!”
Having donated funds to this project before, I know that your money reaches the ground and is not swallowed up by admin costs etc. Even though the amount you are proposing is not huge, to these children, it will make the world of difference.
I’m Safaritalk on Twitter, feel free to follow me and find out more regarding wildlife conservation, environmental protection and community initiatives in Africa.
Thanks and take care, Matt
Project T.O.U.C.H. creates a forum that utilizes Faith Based Organizations, Non-Profits, Business and Governmental Agencies to help restore people’s lives. We would sincerely appreciate any donation to assist us with our mission. Many of the homeless are our friends and neighbors who have been displaced by the economic downturn. You are setting a shining example to other athletes/celebrities and we appreciate what you are doing! May God Bless you in your endeavors!
Hi Eric! How about Hands On Disaster Response, enabling everyday global citizens to volunteer in direct disaster response programs around the world. Right now we’re at work in West Sumatra, Indonesia deconstructing earthquake-damaged homes, salvaging materials for rebuilding, and constructing dignified transitional shelter. Everyone truly has a unique contribution to make, and HODR is one of the most effective volunteer platforms for getting engaged and making a difference.
@HODRopsIN
Hey Stephanie! I love this! It’s one of those causes that does not get enough mainstream media coverage. Here is the link to HODR, everyone: http://hodr.org/. Stephanie, on February 8th, I will be making a $250 to Hands on Disaster Response in YOUR name. Thank you for making a difference in our world. So much love to you! E.
I just recently lost the most important person in my life to brain cancer….more specifically glioblastoma multiforme. This is a disease for which there is presently no hope. The survival rate is about 4% and that is for 5 years. Not really anything after that. Brain cancer is the most malignant form of cancer known to humankind. The survival rates haven’t changed much in the last 100 years and only 3 new treatments for brain tumors have been approved in the past 25 years. Brain tumors are also the leading solid tumor cancer causing death in children. Actually, survival rates for breast cancer are better than survival rates for NON-malignant brain tumors. It is a horrible disease whose research is horribly underfunded. Your generous gift will help us in our fight to begin to bring hope to those with a brain tumor diagnosis. Having no hope at all, is just wrong. Also, your awareness of this issue and maybe passing it on, will inspire others to get involved in fighting a disease that has no “big voice”. I cannot begin to thank you enough for your generosity for all the people out there that need their voices heard to. You are most extraordinary. Thank you again.
I am completely blown away by this, Nancy. Thank you for sharing such an intimate story. I had no idea this condition existed! And that there is no cure! My god.
This can befall any one of us. We must be grateful for our health — and we must work to find a cure for this! (Here is more information: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Glioblastoma_multiforme. It is downright harrowing.)
By taking the time to post here, Nancy you have brought more awareness to glioblastoma multiforme — and I will donate $250 to the cause of your choice. I searched online but could not find a definitive organization. Do you have one mind?
Twitter: @k12cto You can read the firstgiving.com site to hear the story. I am a first time triathlete and was in the middle of training when this cause happened tragically. If I meet my goal we send one volunteer firefighter to training. Thanks for doing this, it is full circle as one of your books has motivated me to even believe I could do this.
http://www.firstgiving.com/colinmackaymemorial
Hey Eric,
Very commendable of you. we both know that giving is greater the receiving.
my suggestion is http://www.operationsmile.org
Because every child deserves a beautiful smile.
Alex
Every child does deserve a smile, Alex. I will make a $250 donation to Operation Smile on February 8th on behalf of Alex Peshevski!!! Much love, my good friend! E.
@kiva
http://www.kiva.org – I truly believe this is better than any other NPO working to reduce poverty today!
Completely, completely agree, Corey. We have all needed a hand at some point in our lives. These people are not looking for a handout. Just a hand. On February 8th, I will make a $250 donation to Kiva on behalf of the very fine Corey Tracey. Thank you. Much love. E.
My brother’s fundraising site. @ProdigalDoc
ttp://www.firstgiving.com/teamstevenstri
He is looking to raise 10K, and racing the Florida Ironman
Chad! Give your brother my best! He is doing something that is good for his body and good for our world. That is my mantra. Everyone, please consider giving even the smallest amount. In giving, it’s really not the amount, it’s the intention. It’s the show of support of the person, or cause. Ironman is no small goal! Go Toby! We’re with you, my man! E.
http://www.firstgiving.com/colinmackaymemorial
Eric,
This my smaller effort. I can’t tell if my previous comments have come through. I tried to add the site. This is my first triathlon, one of your books got me started. If I reach my goal we will send on volunteer firefighter to training.
Thanks,
Chad
@k12cto
Hey Chad! The site was kind of crashing due to the traffic! That’s a GOOD CRASH!
We’ve got your comment now. And I will make the $250 to your Firstgiving page on February 8th (after I sell my car and stocks and clothes to pay for all of this absolutely amazing generosity you all are showing! Haha!) I am in awe of all of you. Thank you! E.
You’re amazing! I like the red cross nationally, and a local boys group home for emotionally disturbed boys, Families First in davis, ca. Everyone there works super hard to influence the lives of troubled kids.
There is no finer organization. Vicky, I will make a $250 donation to the Red Cross in your name on February 8th. Thank you for your huge heart and for taking the time to post this. The world will be a better place for it!! Much love, E.
Eric,
If there were one institution that I would love to make a contribution to, the would be the University of California Medical Center Children’s Hospital (Earmarked Pediatric Social Services). My daughter suffers from multiple auto-immune disorders, and the medical staff there have worked wonders with her care, saving her from undergoing a liver transplant 5 years ago. Although she will eventually have this surgery, along with others already in progress, I am forever indebted to the staff there. We have spent many, many weeks at that hospital, and they are nothing short of miraculous in how they care for children.
Thanks,
@dooziemom
877/499-UCSF(8273)
OnlineGiving@ucsf.edu
You can also make a gift or pledge by sending a check, payable to:
UCSF Foundation
Box 45339
San Francisco, CA
94145-0339
This is from a loving mother of a daughter who has gone through what she should never have to endure. These two beautiful ladies deserve our support. I will make my little $250 donation on Michelle and her daughter’s behalf to University of California Medical Center Children’s Hospital. I would ask that each of you consider donating as well. Or at the very least, please follow @dooziemom — and send her your support by way of Twitter. Sometimes that is more powerful than money. Much love to you and your beautiful daughter, Michelle. E.
Twitter @k12cto Sorry, I am not sure if my first comment went through. You can see the firstgiving.com site for details. I was in the middle of training for my first triathlon when the cause tragically came about. I felt I needed to do something, and found out that my goal would send one volunteer firefighter to training. One of your books, along with my brother, gave me the motivation to do a triathlon, thanks as your generosity has come full circle.
http://www.firstgiving.com/colinmackaymemorial
Eric, you are wonderful! I have just started my own foundation…..Gray Matters, Incorporated, dba WJ Pierson Foundation for Brain Cancer Research. We are located at 8153 RT 116 Hinesburg, VT 05461. The only thing is I have not yet received my 501 (c) (3) IRS status. If that is a problem, then I would be happy for the support to go to The Kelly Heinz-Grundner Brain Tumor Foundation
300 Water Street, Suite 103
Wilmington, DE 19801
Thank you so much. I can only imagine the world we would live in if people were as kind and generous as you.
Hey Eric!
This suggestion is not exactly a “nonprofit,” however I’m apart of it and I give guarantee that what it does is incredible. Two years ago, “The Summer Institute for Human Rights and Genocide Studies” first began. It’s a two-week educational program, funded by “Buffalo for Africa,” that focuses on educating high school aged students about past genocide and human rights violations, some of which are, tragically, still ensuing. The program participants volunteer to spend two weeks of their summer continuing their education. It’s run by some high school teachers and a few college interns–including myself–who will, without a doubt, remain apart of it after graduation. We bring a great range of speakers, who are experts in their field or have experienced happenings firsthand (i.e. Allida Black, director of the Eleanor Roosevelt Papers, Carl Wilkens, the only American to stay behind in the Rwandan Genocide, David Crane, Chief Prosecutor for the Special Court for Sierra Leone, and many, many more–see website). We had the chance to see Elie Wiesel at another venue, which ended with two of our students presenting him with flowers! We also go to several area “hot-spots” for those interested in the field, such as the International Institute for Buffalo and the Robert H. Jackson Center.
The second week is more action based. We provide the students not only with the education and knowledge, but also with the necessary tools and tactics they can use to be advocates for causes they choose, and activists for taking action. As a result, several students went back to their high schools when school began and created clubs, which enabled them to take action and create awareness among their peers (i.e. Foreign Relations Club, Save Darfur Chapter, STAND Chatpers, etc.)
As a firsthand witness, it truly is a remarkable program. After the first year, a sister program opened up in Chautauqua county, and more are on the rise throughout the nation.
Before my involvement in the program, I could count the people I knew who cared for and wanted to change the world, for the better, on one hand; now, I need the help of several other people to do so.
I have seen the power of education among these young adults. Investing in education is a smart choice. Perhaps one day these students will be in your position and doing the very same thing as you, working with CARE and donating to other worthy causes.
Thanks again for what you do and continue to do.
Lots of respect and much love,
twitter.com/tkriii
“Education is the most powerful weapon which you can use to change the world.”
-NELSON MANDELA
One word: wow. TJ, you are a beautiful man! We need more like you in this world. I love this. What an uplifting story. How can I make the $250 donation on your behalf? Is there a link? Thank you! Much love! E.
I spoke with the other teachers and on behalf of us all, thank you so incredibly much; we really do appreciate it! Thanks to you, we can continue to educate the youth and nurture a generation of caring and loving people, who will not idly stand by and let injustices occur.
Hopefully somewhere down the road, we can partner up with CARE, in one way or another.
The address you can send your generous donation to is:
Buffalo for Africa
c/o Patty Evans, Treasurer
Frontier High School
4432 Bayview Road
Hamburg, NY 14075
You are truly changing the world, for the better.
Peace and much love,
TJ
Eric this is amazing. You are amazing!!
When I was 12 my best friend was diagnosed with brain cancer. He told us he was moving to Madagascar to avoid pity from all of us. Months later we found out the truth, that he underwent multiple surgeries and would spend the next 2 years of is life in a halo – brace that screws into your head and into your ribs, encircling you in a metal cage to prevent your spinal column from moving. He returned to school in between surgeries, encased in his halo and never lost his smile. I remember walking down the hallways with him a year later and he would stop, stoop awkwardly over in his metal brace to pick up every piece of trash that came into his path. Watching him in disbelief he told me, “I don’t know how long I get to be here, so I’m going to improve the world anyway I can.” A year later, and after a few more surgeries he lost his battle when we were 16. However, never ever lost his ear to ear grin or the joy he found from just being alive. He taught me how to live.
In honor of Michael and now the other friends and family in my life that join the cancer club I do the Ride to Conquer cancer. While promoting health, awareness, sponsoring research, most importantly it creates a community where stories like these are shared and both those who ride and those I talk to are reminded of the joy that is just being alive!
http://www.conquercancer.ca/site/TR/Events/Vancouver2010?px=2279419&pg=personal&fr_id=1331
Eric,
The Injured Marine Semper Fi Fund is the non-profit that I am currently fundrasing for. http://www.semperfifund.org/
http://www.firstgiving.com/matthewknights
This is a fund that helps Injured Marines and their families after they have come home from overseas. If a family needs money to travel to the hospital or there is specialized equipment that the Marine needs the Semper Fi Fund is there to help. Just like all of these funds, it helps people when they need it most.
You are a great inspiration to many people as we can all see and reading through everyones fund raising efforts on this blog has been even more inspiration.
Congratulations to everyone here for making the world a better place, it is truly amazing!
Matthew Knights
“Twitter Handle”- MBK22
Michelle_Z is the twitter handle and you made my day just by you doing what comes naturally to you! Meals on Wheels would be my pick (hard to pick though!) http://www.mowaa.org Senior hunger shouldn’t exist. Meals on Wheels helped my mother while she fought breast cancer. It’s volunteer based, but food costs money. $250 buys alot! I’ll go write out my own matching check. Thank you for doing this.
Hey Michelle! You made MY day by saying what you said! I believe the quality of our lives is largely determined by the quality of the people *in* our lives. My life is better knowing you. That $250 — in your name — will feed a lot of people. Imagine hunger for a moment. Not having enough to eat. Or worse: not having enough to feed your precious children. THAT gets me out of bed in the morning. Right there. And look at this: You are matching it! I love it. Thank you, Michelle! Much love!! E.
Hey Eric!! Awesome thing you’re doing here!! I suggest donating $250 to Mocha Club https://www.mochaclub.org/
They fund projects in Africa (Clean Water, Education, Child Mothers & Women At Risk, Orphan Care & Vulnerable Children, and HIV/AIDS/Healthcare) and by others signing up to give $7 a month (cost of 2 mochas), everyone can make a huge difference!! I was blessed to have the opportunity to go to Ethiopia, Africa with Mocha Club for a month this summer, seeing firsthand the work they are doing, and what your donations goes toward.
One particularly amazing opportunity we had was to love on the street boys of a town called Ambo. These are boys that are orphans, live on the streets and normally shine shoes to make money for food. They wear filthy dirty clothes, often with rips and holes in them, some have shoes, most don’t, and they reek of body odor. In their town they are treated as ‘untouchables’. Yet we spent 3 weeks with them hugging them, teaching them, loving them, and…touching them (much to the shock of the locals). We also gave money to send 50 of the boys to school for a year, which was unheard of for them to have an opportunity to get an education…all for the cost of around $40 for the whole year for each boy! (you can see more of my experience and the work of Mocha Club at the website I listed)
Mocha Club has many different projects which I am passionate about, specifically HIV/AIDS work and Orphan Care, but my heart was introduced to a new passion after being with the street boys…Mocha Club is doing great work over there! Will you give $250 to this cause?
Thanks Eric
~Ellen McInerney
twitter: @macinernie
So so inspiring how you can make the space in your already overflowing cup for other charities in need when you already do so much and are so devoted to CARE, Eric. I have so much respect for what you do.
I hope you can make a little space for the Orangutan. Not only are Borneo Orangutan Survival Foundation saving many lives from the threat of deforestation and relocating them to safe forest, they are also educating the locals on the importance of the Orangutan to the biodiversity and sustainability of the rainforest. Their rehabilitation programme for orphaned Orangutans also turns the local Dayak woman into the breadwinners of the family, women who dedicate their time to loving the infants as though they were their own and teaching them the skills they will need to survive when re-introduced to the wild.
We like to think that the world is big enough for everyone and the Orangutan deserves a place in it too. I hope you will consider BOS worthy enough.
Take care & continued success in all you do.
@savetheorang
Thank you, Grainne, for these very sweet and heartfelt words. Do you really want to know how I make the space to do this in my life? You. All of you. Your passion for these causes. How can I possibly NOT make time. If I have to sleep less, take shorter showers, whatever it takes (lol!) to make the time to do this, then I will. Thank you for what you do — and for changing the world. I absolutely will make space for the Orangutan! Those are precious creatures. They deserve our attention after everything we have done to destroy their habitats. I will be making a $250 donation to Borneo Orangutan Survival Foundation. Here is the link everyone: http://savetheorangutan.org/splash.html. Thank you, Grainne! Much love, E.
I work pro bono with Jeuness Track Club a team for girls in Brooklyn, an innercity community in NYC. The team is managed and coached by volunteers with all funds raised going directly to the girls.
They are all accomplished students required to maintain a minimum B average in school. This is also a 501c3 organization. Please see the Jeuness Track Club page at http://www.soniawilson.com for more information about these amazing girls!
Thank You for helping Humanity in general and making the world a better place.
This is what I’m talking about! Right here. I would have never known about the Jeuness Track Club a team for girls in Brooklyn if it weren’t for you, Sonia. Thank you! I am going to visit http://www.soniawilson.com (love that you’ve branded yourself to become a more powerful force for good!) — and I am going to make a $250 donation on your behalf to those wonderful kids! Thank you, Sonia!! Much love, E.
All of this activity — started by a single Tweet — is emblematic of everything good about social media. It is literally “connecting with good people as we do good in our world!”
Totally forgot the website. I’ve worked with them in the past, my wife and I created a basketball team for the boys there to get exercise and play with other kids in the community. It’s a residential location as well as a school so the kids don’t always have an opportunity to get out with other kids their age, other than their peers in the houses. A donation would really help them out, and it’s always greatly appreciated. These are kids that have been severely traumatized and have mental health consequences, the kids that most people give up on, but it’s nit their fault. This place is the step right before juvenile hall, making an impact here can really influence their future. Thanks for this Eric, you’re awesome!
Eric-
I watch your tweets everyday and I am blown away by your generosity… so somehow I am not surprised that you would do something like this. You are amazing individual and proof positive of how much change one person can make.
I have three organizations that I invest my time & money into: the American Diabetes Association (ADA), Be the Match, and the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society (LLS). At this time, I am raising money for the ADA through my participation in Tour de Cure (http://main.diabetes.org/goto/inessavitko). I will be riding 45 miles on July 31, 2010 to raise $ & awareness for diabetes.
I would appreciate your support very much. Thanks for considering donating on my behalf to a cause that means the world to me.
Warmly-
Inessa xox
Thank you, Inessa. I am blown away by you taking the time — and having the heart — to say what you’ve said! We blow one another away. Love it! And I love your approach: you are bettering your body as you better our world. That has always been an approach in which I believe. I will donate $250 on your page — and I will be thinking of you on July 31, 2010 — sending you positive energy to pedal with passion!
Please stay in touch, Inessa. You are a special human being — and I feel honored to know you.
Much love,
E.
Eric, thank you for your generosity and advocacy. I tried to send this via twitter but I think I lost my internet connection at that time (in icebound Atlanta), so I am here.
I am recommending Aniz, Inc in Atlanta, GA. website http://www.aniz.org (Facebook fan page is http://www.facebook.com/pages/Aniz-Inc/157597949198 and Facebook Cause page is http://apps.facebook.com/causes/348766/83284372?fb_page_id=157597949198&m=1b2abeb2) and on Twitter @Aniz_Inc. The organization’s mission is to provide education, prevention and advocacy to those infected/affected by HIV/AIDS in the Southeast, w/ a particular interest on children, women and those over 55. Populations that are truly impacted but whose needs and issues are not always adequately address such as self-empowerment, stigma, secrecy, shame and guilt. Along with HIV/AIDS, we also incorporate co-occuring issues such as mental health and substance abuse, teen pregnancy and STD’s w/ our adolescents, and domestic violence and gender rights w/ women.
Again, thanks for such a noble endeavor. And not so much the financial aspect but providing a venue that we may all learn about other causes worth learning about and supporting.
Chris
@cprdoc
Hi Eric!
I replied to your tweet, but here’s a little more info about Yayasan Bumi Sehat, the organization I asked you to donate to. Bumi Sehat is a birthing center and health clinic I volunteered at in Bali, Indonesia. They focus on offering a safe, comfortable environment for women to give birth, but also treat cancer patients, motorcycle crash victims, etc. When I left Indonesia in 2007, the clinic was overcrowded (three women giving birth at the same time in one room) and we were running out of supplies, like receiving blankets and clean sheets. They plan to expand the clinic and purchase an ambulance, but desperately need more funding.
It brings tears to my eyes to know that you are going to help Bumi Sehat, which in turn can go on to help so many more people. The staff and volunteers at the clinic are so hardworking, the definition of strength and dedication to serving others. To help them do their job is just beautiful.
From the very bottom of my heart, I say thank you to you Eric! Just imagine if everyone had the compassion you have…we’d be talking about the olden days, back when we used to struggle for world peace.
I wish you and your loved ones a most blessed new year,
Jackie Rose
http://www.bumisehatbali.org/
I work for a non-profit social services company. We offer foster care, wraparound, CBS and TBS services, as well as a residential home and non-public school to California’s youth and families who are in need. With the recent budget cuts we are being forced to do more with less and our children our paying the price. Thank you so much for your consideration and I hope your triathlons go well in the upcoming season!
Your generosity is truly inspiring.
I am a trustee of a new UK charity called LIONAID dedicated to the conservation of the African Lion. 200,000 lions in the 1960’s and probably about 20,000 lions now. This is a staggering 90% decline over 50 years. And still the media remains complacent.
Myself and 3 other trustees are working tirelessly and giving all our time for free, as we all feel incredibly passionate about this cause. We are embarking on a big Campaign in March to raise awareness and much needed funds.
We have been waiting on our new website which is due to go live any day now. It has taken a while as our website developer is donating his services for free. He like many others has shown us overwhelming support.
If you were able to donate $250 to LIONAID it would go so far to helping us in the build up to the Campaign launch. Thank-you , Claire .
I forgot to put: @lionaid
http://www.lionaid.org
and find us on Facebook
http://www.facebook.com/pages/Lion-Aid/172885283309
The African Lion. Is there a more noble and awe-inspiring animal? I was in Africa with CARE and I heard a lion’s roar echo across the savanna, and it penetrated my soul! That is unacceptable that the media remains complacent! Well, I’m a member of the media and maybe I can get CBS News to do a feature on this. In the meantime, I will be honored to donate $250 to LIONAID. Remember: it’s a new era. We have social media. The power is in the hands of the people now. This little Tweet I put out last night has reached almost 15 million people by way of exponentiation (RT’s, @replies, etc.). That is a bigger audience than the CBS Early Show! We can make a huge difference. Here’s the link everyone: http://www.lionaid.org/ “Where Have All the Lions Gone?” Very touching. Thank you for your work, Claire. Much love!! E.
Thank-you so so much. We’re so grateful for your support.
The Campaign launches March 1st in Glasgow and culminates in Trafalgar Square on the 31st March. Hopefully it will generate much needed publicity (especially if you could get CBS News to do a feature! it would make all the difference); Wild lions could be extinct within 10 years unless we act now.
Do you have any ideas of how we could maximise publicity both now and during the Campaign? You’re absolutely right in saying that it is the power of the people that will make a difference. If only people knew……
A press release is going out next week (once the new website is live) revealing the details of the Campaign, which will hopefully grab a few column inches. Do you know of anyone who might be interested to receive a copy of the press release? Or could I possibly send you a copy?
Thank-you again. It means so much.
Love Claire
AADP brings much needed attention to the deficit of minorities on bone marrow registries. They organize bone marrow drives and help save lives, like mine. http://www.aadp.org/pages/main.php?pageid=1
“Where Are Your Keys?” staff works to help local indigenous communities save their disappearing and endangered languages. With each language that dies, we lose a culture and all the wisdom that culture can teach to the rest of us.
home page: http://whereareyourkeys.org/
about revitalizing languages: http://tinyurl.com/yhf6rem and http://tinyurl.com/ycaojtb
I give them all the support I can afford, and I know they would appreciate your support too. I’m so grateful to you for considering a donation on my behalf.
Best wishes for unexpected and wonderful outcomes to your generosity,
Diana
Forgot to leave my twitter handle: DianaOfPortland
What a great thing you are doing!
The charity I would MOST definitely choose is Friends of Maddie – http://friendsofmaddie.org/
This organization was started by my friends Mike & Heather to honor their daughter that passed away in April 2009. FOM provides NICU Support Packs to parents of babies in the NICU. Their daughter, Maddie, was born premature and spent many months in the NICU in her short 17 months of life. I support FOM with all of my being and love all the great things that they are doing in honor of their beautiful little girl.
Hi Eric
!
I have had an absolute pleasure to follow Foundation Terre des hommes @TdhInfoCenter in Twitter and I have had opportunity to change thoughts with the person tweeting. They do important work all over the world with children and share amazing amount of knowledge in Twitter.
You can read more about their work in http://www.tdh.ch/website/tdhch.nsf/pages/HOMEPAGEE
Yours truly
Katri
Thank you for this great idea. This is how Twitter should be used
!
http://www.ircuk.org/about-irc-uk/media-centre/news/article/date/2009/11/eastern-congo-women-are-afraid-that-they-could-be-raped-any-night-here/
There are so many people out there that would benefit Eric. I think the fact that you have had so many replies gives us hope. Just today i was thinking about the homeless in our country as we currently have a lot of unusually(for us) cold weather – i think about them often but am reminded at these extreme times. This link is to the IRC who I believe are helping women and children rebuild their lives after horrific events have happened to them in The Congo. I couldn’t decide on who to help if I could only choose one or two. I suppose I could if I weighed up alsorts of rational considerations – like sustainability etc. These events in The Congo just make me speechless. I wonder how these women and girls and children ever recover.
I forgot to put my twitter name – stayingawake. I am just a ordinary bod.
Eric,
Thanks for doing this! I am so encouraged and inspired by your work.
Please consider making a gift to Messiah College – http://www.messiah.edu. The College is located outside of Harrisburg, PA and its mission is to educate men and women toward maturity of intellect, character and Christian faith in preparation for lives of service, leadership and reconciliation in church and society. To learn more, I encourage you to take a look at the following article: http://www.pennlive.com/editorials/index.ssf/2009/10/messiah_college_at_100_a_globa.html
Messiah is a great institution and I appreciate your consideration. Thanks!
Eric-
What a great way to start the new year. I work with YouthActionNet, which supports, trains and advocates for young social entrepreneurs (18-29) creating positive change in their communities. It is tough to pick just one. You can read more about their amazing projects here: http://ow.ly/UjM7
However! My nominee for your generous donation would be Sri Arunodayam, a project founded and run by our 2008 Fellow Iyyappan Subramanyan. Sri Arunodyam supports mentally challenged children that have been abandoned in the Chennai, India. We have watched Iyyappan grow both his project and his own entrepreneurial skills over the past few years.
In India, due to poverty, lack of awareness and lack of access to resources, many parents abandon their mentally challenged children. With the support of the Police and Social Welfare Department, Sri Arunodayam rescues such children, provides medical attention, care, protection and rehabilitation. Presently 90 children are under their care, whose degree of mental retardation ranges from mild, moderate, severe to profound. Sri Arunodayam provides them with medical evaluation, food, clothing, shelter, physio, occupational and speech therapy. It is a wonderful project doing wonderful good.
Donations can be submitted via Global Giving at: http://ow.ly/UjLH
Happy New Year!
Kat K.
Hey Eric,
Wow, this is a great idea! 1 issue that has been coming up alot lately is trafficking and prositution of women all around the world. Here in my home city recently there have been 3 busts on trafficking rings involving women. A great organization tackling this issue is Samaritan’s Purse – Canada with their IF campaign. check it out at:
http://www.samaritanspurse.ca/ourwork/women/
“In India, there are an estimated 2.3 million women trapped in prostitution, of which a quarter are minors. (US State Department, 2001) ”
Thank you for your generosity! this is amazing!
Kathryn
Eric, I am in awe. So many of us have something we are passionate about. Here you are helping us promote them and get awareness out. Thank you so much for providing us this avenue!
I found you through my friend Heather – she’s already posted quite eloquently about her hatred of cancer. I also lost someone very close to me to cancer (leukemia), and I have participated in Team in Training and raised over $6000 for LLS last year. But my organization that I want to raise awareness for is once which is not nearly as well-known.
The Heart Connection Children’s Cancer Programs is a wonderful group based in Des Moines, Iowa. I have been a supporter of them since I was in high school, and the work they do is wonderful. They provide summer camps for kids with cancer and their siblings. They give these kids a place where they can just be kids, and have fun, with others who are going through exactly what they are going through. They have the necessary medical staff and support so that all kids can participate – and all their summer camps are provided free to the families. They also provide other programs for families with children battling cancer.
I could go on and on about their wonderful work, but I will let their words speak for themselves: http://www.childrenscancerprograms.org/.
I ask also that if you decide to donate, you don’t donate in my name. It’s not about me. You can donate for my friend Brian Patrick who lost his fight with leukemia. Or you can donate anonymously for all the children who are going through this.
Thank you from the bottom of my heart. You are truly a good egg.
I’m on Twitter as IllinoisHawkeye. I’ve just added you so I can follow your good work.
Just read your message Anne. So kind of you to want to donate from you friend's name. I'm sorry you lost your friend, but am brightened by the loves saved in his name.
Hello Anne:
Thank you. I am in awe of you too, so it works out! We stand in awe of one another!
This is such a beautiful post — and a beautiful cause. I am touched by your desire to have a donation in Patrick's name and of course I will respect that. I have already decided to donate $250 to The Heart Connection Children's Cancer Programs (in Patrick's name!) because of your passion and your commitment. Who said one person can't change the world? Your simple post here will help those children…just be children! Thank you! E.
Wow! I can see how many great people are raising money for great causes. I learned about your work by a Twitter post from Sugoi.
I am currently raising money for The Ride to Conquer Cancer in the Toronto location. I am going to ride 200 miles from Toronto to Niagara. This is going to be an epic ride that I am greatly looking forward to and the money raised goes directly the Princess Margaret Hospital.
My goal is to raise $2500 before this summer.
You can donate online at:
http://www.conquercancer.ca/site/TR/Events/Toronto2010?px=2250082&pg=personal&fr_id=1311
Any support is greatly appreciated. You can also follow along or donate at http://www.p-dawgridestoconquercancer.blogspot.com
Thank you!!
How about byTavi http://bytavi.com/about.html
From their website: byTavi.com is the arm of CGI (Center for Global Impact) designed to open up international markets to a number of poor families in Cambodia. Products available on the site are being produced by a team of women in Phnom Penh who want to succeed in life. They are willing workers but due to the lack of available jobs, little education, the demands of large families, the in some cases the toll of disease it has been impossible for them to move beyond absolute poverty. For most of these families it is a daily struggle just to survive.
Hi Eric,
What an awesome thing you are doing! My one true passion is orangutan conservation. I am so adamant about saving orangutans from a senseless extinction that I’ve devoted my life to protecting them. I created a non-profit organization so other people can join me in the fight. Orangutan Outreach is a 501(c)(3) org based in New York and can be found online at http://redapes.org
I tweet as ‘redapes’ and our Facebook cause is http://causes.com/redapes
One more sweet tidbit: I turn 40 on February 8th. Your contribution to Orangutan Outreach would be a wonderful, unexpected gift…
Best wishes in the new year… Rich {:(|}
I am speechless. Absolutely speechless. Kristine, I have a new son Turner. I cannot fathom what you endured. I am an Ironman triathlete, yet I feel weak right now. We are going to work together to start your organization. I am going to use all of my tools, money, contacts, influence and spare NOTHING on helping you do this. We will do it in honor of your daughter. We will spread CHD awareness. We will use the power of social media to generate funds and awareness for you. You will get out of bed every day on fire, with a burning in your heart. The destination of a cure will arrive — and your journey will have been richly rewarding. I will make some inquires about how to help you. In the meantime, my heart is with you! Much love, E.
Eric, I really don’t know what to say. Anything you could do to help would be so appreciated and valued. My daughter Cora is 1 in 100. Congenital heart defects are the number one baby killer. Yet, when the coroner told me what took her, I had to look up congenital in the dictionary. We will save lives. I dedicate myself to improving and saving lives in her name.
Eric! This is just so fantastic, my eyes are welling up with tears of joy.
We say we want a revolution, but many people only talk and don’t act. But you Eric–you move mountains. You’re the kind of person that inspires me–someone who’s just starting out in this world of humanitarian relief. I’ll be traveling to Haiti at the end of January with a really small non-profit called New Mercy Ministries. It’s a Christian organization out of Belleville, Ontario, Canada. They do such great work, and have been championing the cause of human rights in the world’s poorest nation for almost 10 years. They don’t even have a website I could point you to! (Although I’m hoping to help them remedy that now that I’m involved.) We’ll be working in three orphanages, two schools, and in other aspects of community development. I just can’t wait. So, even though I have nothing concrete to ask you to give to (I have a mailing address–that’s it), I thank you for giving to so many others. You’re truly inspiring. Bless you BIG TIME for your efforts with CARE, and many others!
@brynajones
Thank you, Bryna. That — right there — is what fuels me.
You know — and this is not false modesty — last night at 10:46, I Tweeted about wanting to move a mountain. I saw this mountain and wanted to move it. But that is NOTHING without you. How can one man move a mountain? He can’t. But, when dozens, hundreds, thousands of people roll up behind him like a juggernaut, we move the mountain. And we do it with fire in our eyes and in our hearts. So, this is all you! Please let us know where to send the $250 for New Mercy Ministries. Perhaps you can DM us. In the meantime, thank you for being such a force for good in this world — and helping me move this mountain!
Much love, Bryna. E.
Darn Eric, and now you’ve got me crying here at work! Wow! That is so thoughtful. Thank you, thank you, thank you! I had no idea you mentioned wanting to move mountains. And you’re right–we can’t do it alone–but if we all combine our strengths than we can change the world. We have to know it in our hearts, and spur each other on to live out all the potential we have.
If I can ever repay your kindness, you know where to find me
This is the address:
New Mercy Ministries
c/o Desert Stream Christian Fellowship
5 Dundas St W
Belleville, ON Canada
K8N 5P6
Thanks again, Eric!