For my birthday, we raised money to send almost 625 Cambodian Youngsters to School!
I'll be writing up a more detailed blog post about what worked and what didn't, but wanted to send out a quick thank you!
As I do every year for my birthday, I ask for donations to the Sharing Foundation in lieu of gifts or cards. This nonprofit helps to care for children in Cambodia. It was founded by retired pediatrician, Dr. Nancy Hendrie. (If you want to know more about why my family and I care about the children of Cambodia and this charity, take a minute to watch this video my son, Harry, made last year.)
beth.typepad.com/beths_blog/2009/01/facebook-birthday-cau...
Many children in Cambodia do not go to school because their families lack the $10 for a uniform, required for school attendance. Last year, the Sharing Foundation's sewing school, a vocational training program, made over 1250 uniform sets and donated them to needy children in Roteang Village, to the Street Children's Assistance NGO, and to a poor government orphanage. The sewing girls, who are employed by the Sharing Foundation's vocational training program, earn from the first day of their training, so this is a win-win situation.
This year I launched a two-week campaign experimenting with the new birthday causes application. In addition, I added a donor matching challenge to the Sharing Foundation's Facebook Cause that I would donate 10 x my age if the Sharing Foundation Cause reached $5,200.
Several blog readers have suggested that I set up other ways to donate to the Sharing Foundation in addition to Facebook Causes. So, I added the Network for Good badge.
I raised $3,332 via the birthday cause. I also issued a challenge match in the Sharing Foundation's main cause that if we could get the dollar amount up to $5,200. I'd donate 10 x my age or $520. Another 38 people contributed $2501, helping to make the match! There is now $6,796 in the Sharing Foundation's Cause. In addition 9 donors contributed $317 through network for good.
In total, the birthday campaign raised $6,158 and we can send 615 kids to school.
beth.typepad.com/beths_blog/birthday/
Comments and faves
Laura Whitehead (53 months ago | reply)
Have a wonderful birthday Beth!
ovando added this photo to her favorites. (53 months ago)
tre~ (53 months ago | reply)
Wheeee!!! This is sooo great. I know I had that same desire...how to let more people know of the drive who aren't necessarily on facebook. Made me think too of what I found most infomative upfront:
a. the visuals on flickr made it tangible to me (cambodiaforkids)
b. the wiki re: Sharing Foundation--provided so much background and tangible examples of what you've done (and the extent to which you've done it) in the past to go and build relationships and the schools andthe supplies and and and
c. the Facebook Cause for me was just the "frontpage' if you will...so how to get more of those
But once I found the other stuff mentioned, the whole "more people need to know just how much she's done' motive emerged...Sure I feel this all the time about your work. But too often when asked to contribute to a cause, the inability to visualize how $$ will be used just creates this wall of resistance. Every ounce of effort you've poured int showing exactly what the support does informs much and puts the whole unknow to rest.
Thank you!!! for the example, the lessons learned, and the just diving in and doing this for your bday.
Would be a great story for facebook's blog and makes me wonder if any other FB Bday cause raised this much?
HAPPY HAPPY BIRTHDAY! hope you're playing in the snow :)
have soo much fun....Hugs for all the learnings. Tre :)
lcontru1 and clembo2013 added this photo to their favorites.