BWE Cares About Joplin. Will You Help?
I’ve been having a blast here in NYC at BlogWorld and New Media Expo. From catching up with old friends, to making new ones, to meeting online friends and delighting in the fact that they are exactly as they seem to be online… but more! … I’ve loved my experience here.
As I publish this, it’s 13 minutes to the closing keynote and a saxophone is being tuned on stage. Looks like it will be quite a party as BWE closes shop for a few months, and I, along with several hundred others, are getting ready to enjoy it.
But as we do, it’s important to remember not everyone is this fortunate. As we did our meet and greets over the last few days, we couldn’t help but remember the weather disasters that have most recently wreaked havoc in Joplin, Miss. People have lost so much – their homes, their lives – and I’m asking you to help, if you can. Please.
All of us here at BWE are trying to help raise funds for those devastated by this latest series of disasters. And you can too, by donating to the #BWECares fundraiser, that’s been set up to help the Red Cross help tornado victims. We’re trying to raise $5,000 by the end of the week, and all proceeds benefit the Red Cross Disaster Relief Fund.
Filed under Personal, Philanthropy, Shonali Burke, Social Media | Tags: #BWECares, joplin tornado, red cross | Comments (2)Go Social, Give Wisely
The way philanthropic organizations have been mobilizing social media in recent years to raise funds isn’t really “shiny new stuff” any more. Still, the recent waves of donations after the earthquake have been coming at lightning speed.
In light of that, I’ve been intrigued by The Smoking Gun’s scrutiny of Wyclef Jean’s charity, Yéle Haiti (also reported on in today’s Washington Post). Having run communications for the ASPCA during some critical events in the animal welfare arena, I know how generous people can be with their money when tragedy strikes, even when they don’t have a lot to give. I also know how important it is that that money reaches the right hands.
I honestly don’t know what the deal is with Mr. Jean’s charity and am not going to play a guessing game. If you’ve been following the story, you can view his video response on YouTube, which Mashable picked up pretty quickly (h/t Lindsay Allen for finding it for me). I do think he is to be commended for springing into action so quickly after the earthquake hit and being a very public face for the poorest nation in the Americas.
What I will say is that regardless of who you’re going to give your money to, you should do your research and give where you trust that your donation will be wisely used.
Charity Navigator is a good place to start, and usually my first stop when I’m researching a non-profit organization (you can read their take on Yéle Haiti and why they don’t currently rate it here).
Filed under Philanthropy, Shonali Burke, Social Media | Tags: 12for12k, charity, charity navigator, guidestar, lindsay allen, mashable, Philanthropy, red cross, Social Media, wendy harman, wyclef jean, yele haiti | Comments (7)See, Hear, Give. Please.
Photo: Matthew Marek/American Red Cross
Please give what you can, to the American Red Cross, Hope for Haiti (You can “Chipin” easily via the 12for12K widget below) or another reputable charitable organization. Thank you.
Filed under Personal, Philanthropy, Shonali Burke | Tags: 12for12k, haiti, red cross | Comments (2)
