I have a favor to ask. Please donate a couple dollars and a few minutes. If each reader of my blog gives a couple bucks we can fund many of these projects. But let’s start with this one. Let me explain.
Several months ago I attended the Web 2.0 Summit Dinner. Good times. As a door prize, if you will, O’Reilly and Pahlka gave all of us in attendance a $100 gift card to DonorsChoose.org. Here’s the deal:
Here’s how it works: public school teachers from every corner of America post classroom project requests on DonorsChoose.org. Requests range from pencils for a poetry writing unit, to violins for a school recital, to microscope slides for a biology class.
Then, you can browse project requests and give any amount to the one that makes your eye twinkle. Once a project reaches its funding goal, we deliver the materials to the school.
You’ll get photos of your project taking place, a thank-you letter from the teacher, and a cost report showing how each dollar was spent. If you give over $100, you’ll also receive hand-written thank-you letters from the students.
At DonorsChoose.org, you can give as little as $1 and get the same level of choice, transparency, and feedback that is traditionally reserved for someone who gives millions. We call it citizen philanthropy.
Thanks O’Reilly and Pahlka for turning me onto this. I’ve add this to my list of charities, which include: Plan USA, Kiva.org and EFF. Given the many years I invested in bridging the digital divide in under-served communities in NC and MN with the creation and support of several non-profits (three still in operation) I’m stoked on DonorsChoose for the slant on education. Through DonorsChoose I have donated to a several projects thus far.
Here is a summary of my first two projects:
The teacher letters are awesome!
My most recent project was discovered by my wife, Tara. You can dramatically impact a school and community. It will only take you a couple minutes and a few dollars. There is no minimum donation. As previously mentioned, if every reader of my blog donates a couple bucks we can fund many projects. Please help with this one.
There is a literacy project at C.C. Spaulding in Durham, NC that needs YOUR help. This is one of the at-risk inner city schools where my wife taught and I volunteered. Moreover, I launched a technology community center here, built the network and IT/IS infrastructure. I know first hand how much this population of student needs YOUR help.
Please donate. Even if only a couple dollars. There is no minimum and this will only take a minute and MindTouch will match every dollar donated. Just contact me via email or Twitter and we’ll match.
Thanks!
Aaron Fulkerson 