This is a cross-posting from the 12for12k blog. Throughout December, the 12for12k focus is on the homeless and how you can help in your own towns and cities.
There’s no donation widget this month – we’re offering a more hands-on challenge. By all means, if you wish to donate cash as well as the time and items we’ll be suggesting, that’d be great as well. So, with that said, let’s get into our streets this month and really help those that need it the most.
Thank you.
As you may know, I’m part of the 12for12k social media-led charity initiative that supports a different charity each month throughout 2009.
October’s chosen charity is Musicians on Call, an amazing group of folks that take the healing power of music to bed-ridden hospital patients. They currently operate in four cities across the U.S. and amazingly a whole program can be operated for one year with just $10,000.
Tonight sees a live concert take place to help raise funds and awareness for MoC and arranged by fellow 12for12k supporter Richard Marti. This is at the Rock Cafe and Smokin’ Rock Restaurant in Rocky Hill, CT, with a great line-up of artists and original music – more details are here and it promises to be a great night.
Sadly, October has been really quiet as far as donations go. Awareness has been awesome, and thank you so much for that, but it’d be great to help out more from a fund-raising front. So, here’s a special offer/challenge and every donor is eligible.
If we can break the $10,000 mark between now and midnight PST on October 31 that will enable a full one-year support program, I will offer the following to one lucky name drawn after the event:
Combined, this is worth over $2,000 and is a great way to kick-start your online presence if, a) you don’t already have one or, b) you need to boost yours.
So, what do you say guys – ready to either donate or share via Twitter, Facebook, friends and colleagues and help 12for12k and Musicians on Call crack that magic $10k mark?
Note: This blog no longer runs on the Headway framework. Instead, it’s a custom WordPress design by Lisa Kalandjian of SceneStealer Graphics.
If you’ve been hanging around me the last couple of days (and thanks for the company!), you’ll know that there’s been a little back and forth activity about a blog post regarding 12for12k. The details and response can be found here. An apology has since been issued, so I’m not going to dwell on the subject too long.
Instead, I wanted to share this with everyone who’s been around – you know who you are. You’re the living proof that friendships aren’t restricted to the physical, and for that I thank you sincerely.
Just a quick point – I’m still recovering from wisdom tooth surgery so I’m normally only half as scary-looking. And I don’t make a habit of loud swallowing every few seconds. Honest…
This is in response to a blog post over at Barbara Talisman’s blog, where she makes various disparaging remarks (and, at times, low blows) about the 12for12k Challenge. I’m posting here since Barbara has comment moderation switched on at hers.
Hi there Barbara,
I thought I recognized the name and company – you contacted me earlier this year through email (and then phone call) suggesting that donations raised go to your company instead of the charities. You would then use this money to “consult” these charities.
I mentioned at the time that I wanted all funds to go to the charities themselves, and not to a company that may or may not help.
If you think the 12for12k project is merely a “profile raiser” for myself, you discredit the great work of everyone involved, as well as those we’re trying to help. I also take great offense at your claim and can’t help but feel this is sour grapes because I never handed the 12for12k coffers over to you. Except there was nothing to hand over, because all the money goes directly to the charity for that month.
Also, your figures are wrong. WarChild didn’t come to us with a Paypal option until the end of the campaign – the actual total for them is closer to $6,000. Stop the Silence benefited by over $5.5k – the ChipIn widget did not take into account a corporate sponsor donating $1,000.
You’re also missing charities from your information. We helped Yehu.org raise more than $15,000 through a combined effort with Mom It Forward and multiple channels. And this month, Doctors Without Borders has benefited by $5k (so far).
But here’s the thing, Barbara – it’s never been about the money. Our goal is to raise a certain amount, and while we’ve fallen short of that, we’ve still raised almost $50,000.
Our real goal is to raise awareness and long-term change and effect. Donations are great, but it’s the real changes that we can put in place via awareness that will help those that need our help.
Here’s a question – why rant on something that’s meant for good? Why not say what you would have done differently, had I caved in to your badgering on the phone to hand over donations to your company? Criticizing is easy; constructive criticism is better.
Regards,
Danny.
PS – WarChild Canada, our first charity, has a fantastic social media presence, which can be found on their website.
I was going to add some note here that would try explain the reasons behind this short little video, but I think it does it perfectly on its own. And, if you want to find out more, you can check out the . Cheers!
