This is topic 2007 Hatrack Holiday Charity (Donate to First Book!) Final Total: $950!! YAY! in forum Books, Films, Food and Culture at Hatrack River Forum.
CHOSEN CHARITY: First Book CURRENT DONATIONS: $950!
NOTE: This year, through December 31st, First Book is matching each book equivalent donation with a book paid for by Simon & Schuster Children’s Publishing (up to an additional million books). So make your donation count double with a donation as soon as possible! The donations start as low as 10 dollars, which is 4 books!
So, I'm taking this bad boy over this year, in lieu of The Rabbit (the traditional organizer) or ketchupqueen (who got us going this year).
Every year the last several, we have tried to get as many Hatrackers to give to a charity voted on by Hatrackers. In the past this has included Heifer International and First Book. The process is as follows:
Vote for your preferred charity (from a list of nominees) ==> DONE!
Tie-break vote between Operation Smile and First Book. Vote goes until Friday, 12/7 9AM ==> DONE!
Send me (via email) the confirmation email with the donation amount (scrubbing any personal info before sending, of course)
If you aren't comfortable with the online giving options for the charity, send the donation the old-fashioned way, and shoot me an email with your amount. I trust you guys
You have through January 1st, 2008 to make your donation!!
Last year was the best year yet, but I know we can do better this year! I will match the next $250 (EDIT: match used!!!), doubling the effective donation of those people who get in now. We have over 10,000 members at Hatrack now, so if we all do our part to chip in a little, we'll have a great donation. No donation is too small, all are appreciated greatly!
FYI, I will update this post with more info as we move through the holidays!
[ January 02, 2008, 05:18 PM: Message edited by: Bokonon ]
Posted by Lyrhawn (Member # 7039) on :
When will the vote end and a winner be announced?
Posted by cmc (Member # 9549) on :
A few quick comments (as my bark cools)...
I like Operation Smile. I realize there is some hesitancy regarding status with the Better Business Bureau. I still wholeheartedly feel that their mission is admirable and helpful.
Heifer International is also an organization that gets the cmc stamp of approval (whatever that's worth). I liken it to: Give a man a fish, he can eat for a day. Teach him how to fish, he can eat forever.
First Book seems like a great idea. My concerns are - who picks the book given? Who follows up to ensure the books are actually read and understood? These are just questions that came to mind while reading their intents.
UNICEF is a charity that seems to have been around for a long time. Without having done considerable research, I can say that I've not heard horrible things about them at any time.
Second Harvest is a fantastic idea that seems to pass along surplus where there is. Only seems right; no need to waste.
Just my thoughts, thought I'd throw them out there.
I've got a question, Bokonon. Is voting still only through tomorrow?
Thanks.
~cmc
Posted by Bokonon (Member # 480) on :
See the thread title for the voting period (yes, still through tomorrow).
I will announce on Thursday morning, Eastern US time, the chosen charity. This assumes I can get ahold of Valentine with the results of the linked survey.
-Bok
Posted by Lyrhawn (Member # 7039) on :
Whoops. Guess I didn't read the thread title all the way. Sorry Bok.
Posted by cmc (Member # 9549) on :
I did the same thing, Lyrhawn, when I went back to the subject page. ; )
Thanks for the clarification, Bokonon.
Posted by Valentine014 (Member # 5981) on :
I voted for Heifer, but now I am having second thoughts, I feel like not voting for First Book has made me a traitor to literacy, Hatrack, and whatnot. I guess I can't feel bad about feeding hungry people.
Bok, I got your message and have replied.
Posted by Jhai (Member # 5633) on :
Can I put in another charity, or is it too late? CRY: Child Rights & You is currently my charity of choice. It's an organization that works with NGOs to bring help to underprivileged children, mainly in India. $18 buys a child's education for a year, $27 gets a child a year of education and medical care, $250 pays for a teacher's salary for a year, and $300 will get an entire village in India a health worker + medical supplies. Besides immediate help of children in need, CRY also works towards changes in government policies and the development of grassroots organizations in India.
I have yet to run across a better organization in terms of simple bang-for-your-buck, especially when you consider the long-term effects of education and child health care.
It's not listed on the BBC site, but is very open with its financial documentation, and has had a number of charity reports done that rate the organization highly (here's a link to a pdf summary of one).
Posted by Valentine014 (Member # 5981) on :
I would have to start a new survey, invalidating the one in use, which has almost 15 votes. Bok has the call but I'd say it's probably too late.
Posted by Kama (Member # 3022) on :
i can't decide. I would prefer an international charity rather than a strictly american one, but it's a minor thing. I'll let you people choose and then contribute Posted by Bokonon (Member # 480) on :
Yeah, it's currently to late Jhai, sorry. We're late starting the charity drive as it is, otherwise I'd be more than happy to add it to the list.
Speaking of the survey, the voting is very close, so if you haven't voted yet, please do so.
Kama, at least three of those charities do work overseas... If that's what you mean?
-Bok
Posted by Javert Hugo (Member # 3980) on :
Aw, that's true. I didn't think about the downsides of a US-centric charity.
I think Heifer International is, um, international.
Posted by Bokonon (Member # 480) on :
UNICEF is also international, being a UN-sponsored/managed organization.
-Bok
Posted by Kama (Member # 3022) on :
yeah, I meant second harvest and first book. But it doesn't really matter that much, anyway. helping people is helping people, regardless of where they are.
Posted by Lyrhawn (Member # 7039) on :
I don't see the downsides of a US-centric charity. There are people in the US that need help just as much as people overseas. Helping people is helping people.
Posted by Bokonon (Member # 480) on :
Right now we have a tie for the top charity. If you haven't voted, please do, and possibly break the tie!
-Bok
Posted by cmc (Member # 9549) on :
Valentine014 or Bokonon - Has the tie been broken?
Posted by Bokonon (Member # 480) on :
The tie has NOT been broken.
Should I create a new survey with the two charities that tied, or just leave the survey open until the tie is broken?
-Bok
Posted by Kama (Member # 3022) on :
create a new one, unless it's a lot of trouble.
Posted by cmc (Member # 9549) on :
I suggest create a new survey to vote on the two charities that tied. You established voting on the charities was through Wednesday. With a tie in place, it seems reasonable to create a second survey in order to settle the top one.
~cmc
Posted by Bokonon (Member # 480) on :
Okay, will do. The new survey will close tomorrow morning at 9AM (which is when I'll check the results.
New Survey Posted by The Rabbit (Member # 671) on :
Bokonon, Thanks for taking this over!! I'm moving to Trinidad and Tobago right after Christmas so I haven't had time to do it this year.
I just sent in my vote!
Posted by Bokonon (Member # 480) on :
Just to let everyone know that the tie-breaker is still a neck-and-neck race, either charity could still be selected!
-Bok
Posted by Kama (Member # 3022) on :
you're moving where?!
Posted by The Rabbit (Member # 671) on :
quote:Originally posted by Kama: you're moving where?!
I'm moving to Trinidad and Tobago. I'll actually be on the Island of Trinidad (the southern most Island in the Carribean). I have accept a post of Prof. of Chemical Engineering at the University of the West Indies.
Posted by Kama (Member # 3022) on :
nice! congrats Posted by Tatiana (Member # 6776) on :
Awesome! Rabbit, when are you going to host a hatrackcon there? I think it sounds like a wonderful location. And of course we all need to come and do a housewarming for you.
Good luck with your move! Let us know how it goes and what things are like there.
Posted by Bokonon (Member # 480) on :
So the winner (by just 2 votes!) is First Book! Thanks everyone for voting. I will update the first post with the information.
-Bok
Posted by Tatiana (Member # 6776) on :
Hooray! Bok, I'm going to suspend the kiva fund for the month of December so it won't compete. We will resume in January.
Posted by Bokonon (Member # 480) on :
Thanks, Tatiana, though that isn't necessary (which is why I haven't emailed you )
-Bok
Posted by Valentine014 (Member # 5981) on :
For some reason when I clicked "In Honor of," it never gave me the chance to put in a name. Oh well. Donation made and confirmation will sent when I get it.
Posted by Tatiana (Member # 6776) on :
Yes, when I clicked "In Honor Of" it just gave me the option to send a card at the end. I sent it to Bok. I guess this way First Book won't know that these are Hatrack River gifts but we still will so that's what counts. Posted by Bokonon (Member # 480) on :
Just want to thank those of you who have donated so far! You rock!
And for those of you who haven't, I'm happy to let you know that I am matching dollar for dollar the next $250 donated. This means your contribution is QUADRUPLED!!! My match doubles your contribution, and then Simon and Schuster doubles our combined donation!
Give as little or as much as you can, every little bit counts!
-Bok
Posted by Javert Hugo (Member # 3980) on :
I think this will go up when everyone gets the next December paycheck.
Posted by Strider (Member # 1807) on :
not that it makes all that much of a difference, but I sent a message to the people at first book letting them know that there was no way to put who or what your donation is in honor of on the "in honor of" donation form.
my donation will be forthcoming too.
Posted by Belle (Member # 2314) on :
I normally funnel all holiday charitable giving through my church, but because of the match for First book this year I couldn't pass up the opportunity to give a make a real difference.
I have donated $10, and where they asked me how I heard about First Book I put in Hatrack's address. It just gave me the option to print or email a card, so I couldn't notify them any other way that it was for Hatrack.
At any rate, there's $10 more dollars for our holiday gift this year.
Posted by Bokonon (Member # 480) on :
So I still have matching money on the table everyone! If we get just a few more pledges we can get over $800. However, I'm hoping a few more generous Hatrackers will get us over $1000 like last year. If you give even $10, that will get us over the hump!
-Bok
Posted by ElJay (Member # 6358) on :
Bok, I donated this morning, and sent an in honor of card to the email address in your profile.
Posted by Bokonon (Member # 480) on :
Did you get my email back? The in honor of cards don't have amounts donated. Feel free to email me the amount.
-Bok
Posted by ElJay (Member # 6358) on :
Ah, I didn't, but I have no doubt I will when I get home. I'll do that.
Posted by Bokonon (Member # 480) on :
Thank you everyone who donated this year! Once again, Hatrack's character is reaffirmed as a bunch of generous, thoughtful people. Makes me glad to be a part of this community.
Next year we'll hopefully get it started a little earlier, to help people plan for it. I'd also like to thank kq, for getting this drive started this year, and Valentine for the survey!
Here's to a wonderful new year to all the kids with new books this year as well!
-Bok
Posted by Papa Janitor (Member # 7795) on :
<Leaving this up for a couple of days so everyone gets a chance to see it, then will unsticky.>
Posted by Boon (Member # 4646) on :
Is it too late to donate?
Edit: Nevermind, I see on the first post that it is. I'm gonna make a small contribution anyway. Thanks Hatrack!
Posted by Bokonon (Member # 480) on :
It's never too late donate. If you want to be added to the tally, I can do it
-Bok
Posted by The Rabbit (Member # 671) on :
Once again I'm amazed at the character of this community!!
Hatrackers rock!!
Posted by cmc (Member # 9549) on :
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