The average blogger I know has not made it big time like those high profile probloggers we all hear and read about. Truth be told, not everyone has goals of reaching that status; many blogger friends that I have are content with how their blogs are faring. And while they are not making big bucks with their blogs, they do find ways to spread their blessings around.
One idea a friend alerted me to is this new widget from SocialVibe, which offers bloggers a chance to help a specific charity. Bloggers who use the WordPress platform can sign up for this widget and configure it to benefit a charity. Here are the specifics from Media Post:
As a result, Wordpress bloggers can now sign up for a SocialVibe widget, choose a specific charity and corresponding brand sponsor, and then embed the ad unit in their blog to start earning micro-donations from the brand once readers interact with the sponsored units.
It’s much like ads but instead of merely earning money for your blog, the benefits go to the charity you choose. And what kind of “interaction” from the readers is needed? This part I like: people can go watch a video and rate it – that sort of thing. It is not merely clicking on a link for the sake of clicking. Another nice thing about the widget is that it keeps track of your “donations.” For example, you can see a line like “My blog has donated so and so number of books to students in need.”
Categories: Campaigns, Charities, Ideas, Organizations, Science & Tech, Websites
Looking for a worthy charity to get involved in? Why not take a closer look at the Christian Foundation for Children and Aging, which was recently ranked number 4 out of the top 10 charities in the United States. It has also earned the distinction of earning eight 4-star ratings (in a row, mind you) from Charity Navigator. Charity Navigator is perhaps the most reliable charity evaluator in the U.S. today.
So what does the Christian Foundation for Children and Aging do? This is their mission statement:
• We provide personal attention and direct benefits to children, youth, aging and their families so they may live with dignity, achieve their desired potential and participate fully in society.
• We invite people of good will to live in daily solidarity with the world’s poor through one-to-one sponsorship.
• We build community by fostering relationships of mutual respect, understanding and support that are culturally diverse, empowering and without religious or other prejudice.
From what I have seen, it is similar to World Vision, wherein people can sponsor children around the world. Sponsorships can be had for children from preschool to high school and I think CFCA also helps those who want to study college or vocational training. The money that sponsors give go to tuition fees, books, uniforms, and other school supplies. They currently operate in 24 countries.
If you are interested in helping out, visit the Christian Foundation for Children and Aging web site for more specific details.
Categories: Charities, Children, Organizations, Religious
These days are not easy – not for charities, not for businesses. Indeed, giving to charities may not be high on your business agenda at this point, but hear me out. You can actually help others out, give a helping hand, and gain benefits for your business as well. I got this idea from an article I read, which is written by Jerrie Dean.
You know how most often, when we talk about helping charities, we think about actually giving money to them? I suppose that this is the norm – people do not have enough time so instead of volunteering, they offer financial help instead. What if I told you that there is a way to help charities without having to volunteer or give money in the traditional sense?
Jerrie Dean presents the idea of sponsoring a charity. There are many ways by which you can sponsor a charity without having to make an initial cash lay out. For example, if you have an online store, why not sponsor a specific charity that will receive proceeds from the sale of a specific product? This will not only encourage your customers to buy that product (because in effect, they will also be contributing to the charity) but it will also show how socially responsible you are.
Another way would be to simply create awareness for your favorite charity. Add a banner and/or a donate button to your favorite charity on your web site. Of course, an informative write up and a link to the charity’s web site will even be more helpful.
The bottom line is that just because you do not have the cash does not mean that you have to stop helping out.
Categories: Analysis, Charities, Ideas
The hunk’s mom, Sonia Copeland Bloom, is moving house, and she wants to clear out her son’s room before she does it. What do moms normally do when this happens? My own parents jammed my stuff into boxes and left them in storage. Some of the stuff, I decided to get and use in my own place. But then again, I am NOT Orlando Bloom. I do not have tons of stuff that I can sell for a hefty price to the countless collectors out there.
This is what the star’s mom is planning on doing. She has already spoken to her son, who has given her permission to do so, with one stipulation: the proceeds of the sale would go to charity. So what can you get your hands on? The Guardian lists some of the items that will be on sale:
Among the items up for grabs are a bodyline wetsuit used by Bloom, 32, when he filmed a scene with Elijah Wood in The Return of the King and a poster signed by the entire cast.
A pair of Moroccan slippers and boots he wore in The Kingdom of Heaven could also entice film buffs.
But fans of Bloom – who now lives in west London – can also get their hands on more personal items such as the badminton and tennis racquets he used as a boy.
Gucci shoes, Puma trainers, polo shirts and a hooded waterproof Gap jacket belonging to the star will also be auctioned.
It will be interesting to see how much this auction will make. The charities that will benefit are Unesco, the New Marlow Theatre, cancer charity Odyssey and the UKC Music Scholarships.
Categories: Charities, Events, Families, Men, News
This kind of news makes me mad; steaming mad. There are so many people who are less fortunate than the average person. And there are few enough people who are willing to help them out. Then these unscrupulous people or groups of people try to take advantage of those who have giving hearts. I think that there’s a special place in hell for people like them
Anyhow, the reason for the mini rant is this piece of news I read at The Miami Herald. Apparently, there are those who engage in fraudulent activities, trying to collect money in behalf of military veterans, police, and firefighters. According to the report:
The Florida attorney general on Wednesday joined a national effort to fight fraud committed by groups claiming to collect money on behalf of protection agencies and veterans, but they give misleading information about how much of the money would actually be given to those groups.
”Operation False Charity” includes 76 actions against 32 fundraising companies, 31 individuals and 22 nonprofits — or groups claiming to be nonprofits. The effort is led by the Federal Trade Commission, and attorneys general, secretaries of state and other law enforcers in 48 states and the District of Columbia.
You know what’s worse? Some of these groups are actually REAL charities. The problem is that the money that they collect do not ALL go to the causes that they are supposed to champion. While that is not wrong or uncommon in itself, people are misled and majority of the money goes to administration costs, which includes wages of those who work in the organizations.
For more information, get in touch with the FTC.
Categories: Charities, News, Organizations, Veterans
