...
"For the month of June however, I'm going to be participating in the pay per review program.

Why the change of heart?

Because my motivation this month will be all about the money.

All money earned this month (and what currently exists in my account) will be donated to my local Easter Seals Crossroads organization."

From kristinafh's recent Member Message to the Epinions Community. ( No link, of course. Go find it to read.)


"Perhaps I won't be quite as generous but Kristina has given me a goal to work toward. . . .Any of the dollars that I gain from those products that have that mark will be donated directly to her cause, Easter Seals Crossroads, in her name or to her to send out. Kristina's choice.

Her idea has presented me with a personal incentive to write reviews that are dead in the water, not making a cent or being read by anyone. Now I feel my work will going toward a good cause."

Popsrocks' response in another thread here on the site.


I pondered this 'mind set' for some time. Wondered why the corporate side had not considered some variant of this. They did something very similar during October and November 2007; contributing financial support to fight breast cancer and fund meals for the hungry.

The members themselves have acted independently for charitable causes in the past. Users hadassahchana and dramastef coordinated a book review write-off in which books were donated to a charity after the user had posted their review. There are numerous examples over the years of Eps members reaching out to each other and those outside the site in times of trouble.


Perhaps it is time to challenge the community to do the same, to think beyond their personal gain, to think about a bigger goal and a worthier cause.


So here we go:

Kristina challenges you, Phil challenges you, I challenge you to consider donating some of your writing funds this month to a charity of your choice. Breast cancer, feeding the hungry, autism education, organizations supporting active troops around the world, ...the possibilities are boundless.

Comment in this thread your willingness to contribute and the name and purpose of your charitable organization (link a website up to help us learn about more about it.)

No need to say how much you are contributing. You can if you want. Anything from a dollar for a single SH review to the $200 of a 100 VH reviews can, and will, make the difference to some child, some family, some person in your community, or across the country, or around the world.

The good you can do is limited only by your willingness to write and your willingness to 'pay something forward'.


There has been a lot of talk here about what is wrong with the site, how our goals are hindered, how our enthusiasm to write has waned, how the rewards have diminished despite more dollars.

Kristina and Phil and I offer you a chance to change all that, starting with yourself. Heal yourself while you rejuvenate your desire to write, while you enhance the value your writing brings to you, both here on the site and far beyond these pixelated pages.


Anyway . . .that is it, strictly informal, on-your-honor, your best work. That describes much of the Epinions I know and love.


Lets do it.



...tom...
.

...
I will try to write 10 reviews this month for the 10-4-10/20 promotion. Like Kristina mentioned elsewhere I have been avoiding writing in these 10-4-10 promotions. Do not like having to find something to review and feeling 'forced' to write.

But for the challenge to write for the benefit of others . . .I will give it a shot. And if I fall short I will still make a contribution...


My charity will be:

The Family Services Department of Blank Children's Hospital, a local children's hospital here in Des Moines.

An important service of The Family Services Department is the Child Life Program. "Child Life specialists are remarkable professionals who use age appropriate, interactive play to provide children with a sense of control over their illness." I have seen these caring people accompanying children throughout the hospital complex where I work and I am always impressed with the way they inform and calm families and young patients.


Anyway . . .there it is: my commitment. I hope you join me in contributing from your heart and from your reviews.



...tom...
.

I'll write to benefit the AIDS Food Pantry here in Dallas. Lord knows they need contributions!

Susan

Our local no-kill animal shelter was voted the 7th neediest shelter in the U.S on zootoo.com. Soooooooo...I'm in. Pets Without Parents will be getting an Epi-donation from me.

Julie

ETA: One thing I found interesting on the PWP website is a search engine (powered by Yahoo) that donates money for each search you do to the charity of your choice. It is Goodsearch.com. It does work with the "site:epinions.com product" to bring up the relevant Epinions reviews. Just thought I would give a heads up about the site.

My IS, 10-4-10 bonuses and the like all go to help pay for the expenses associated with running our cat/dog rescue. This month's earnings will once again be used for cat food, litter, vet bills, etc.

I wish you guys all the luck!

What a great idea! Thanks, Kristina for starting it, Pops for continuing it, and Sleepy for doing what he always does - turning it into a "challenge". Never one to step down from a challenge, I'm in, too!

Whatever I earn this month will go my local pet rescue association. They work so hard to place pets into good homes, and keep them out of the over-crowded shelters.

Mine will go to Ocean County Cat Rescue

http://www.oceancountycatrescue.com/aboutus.html

I would love to join in but wish you guys all the luck in big donations. At the moment I am chipping away at a big chunk of stress hanging over my head.

Alright me too... I can probably only commit to 10 reviews this month but my 10-4-10/20 bonus will be sent to a good cause. Near and dear to my heart is anything having to due with research for children with heart defects. I know of several families who have gone through the struggle of multiple open-heart surgeries.

Thanks to all for the challenge.

Carrie

I have never written more than 17 reviews in a month.

So, for charity, I'm going to set a goal for 20 Very Helpful reviews and I'm going to pledge 100% of the $40 plus any IS the first month to a local women's abuse shelter where my husband volunteers: Haven (Help Against Violent Encounters Now).

2 down, 18 to go.

~Stef

edited THREE times for typos!

This is such a good idea. I am really excited about it. Since we missed the Cancer Society's breast walk last year, I'll give mine to the American Cancer Society, in memory of my Aunt Sue.

I wrote 30 reviews last month... this month, I'd like to write at least that many but just in books. I may write in other categories too but would like to write at least 30 book reviews this month and have that 10-4-10 $ go to my local community library. That seems apropos.

This is not entirely altruistic... I want my kids to participate in their Summer reading program and this will help get me back to reading more too (to them as well as myself) and get us all doing something fun.

I often give to my favorite charities but I will give what I make this month to Aurora of CNY. It helps the hard of hearing and deaf as well as the blind.

My father's life was greatly enhanced by Aurora's help. He was deaf and they provided him with a TTY machine to communicate by phone, fire alarms, and other things to make his life safer and easier. They also went with him to many medical appointments to help him to understand what was being said when a family member couldn't go. They deserve any help they can get at any of their offices but I choose to give to my local chapter because they gave so much to our family.

Patty

I will write for the Kansas Coalition Against Sexual And Domestic Violence.

Great idea!

Summer :)

Mine is going to Hayley's Hope & Michaela's Miracle MS Memorial Fund. It is a memorial fund for friends of my family to help continue the work they are no longer here to champion.

ME

Bump

A few years ago, I captured a stray cat with a damaged eye. He was a handsome tom cat and I wanted to integrate him into my feline family. I named him "One-Eyed Jack." Unfortunately, he had a highly contagious disease, and my vet recommended against keeping him around the other cats, since he was a biter and could potentially infect them. I was frantic to find him a home, but Animal Rescue, Inc, in New Freedom, PA came to my assistance. I made a donation (and adopted two other cats from them) and they took Jack and placed him in their cattery for terminally ill cats. This wonderful organization cares for these special cats with diseases or ailments until the end of their days. If homes can be found, so be it. If not, then the cats have a decent place to live until the end.

In Jack's name, and for the benefit of others like him, my charity will be Animal Rescue, Inc.: www.animalrescueinc.org

Excellent idea! I'm writing for Habitat for Humanity.

Take care,
Dawn

Just did a count and I have eight reviews in that I'll be donating with. Two to go for a twenty dollar start!

That makes me feel much better about writing those reviews that aren't getting IS or reads from the outside.


pops

...
Number three for sleeper...

You are all encouraged to add your own commitment to this charitable effort.

Lawdie knows someone in your community will appreciate your generous gift of time and money.



...tom...
.

I'm supposed to fly into Indianapolis next week.....feeling sorry for you KFH! Hope your basement dries out soon!

~gael

P.S. I'm in too --either Diabetes research or Humane Society.

...
My thanks once again for all who have jumped on the bandwagon and chosen to give just a bit back to the local charity of their choice.


Pledged writers:

popsrocks / ifif1938 / abhaille / cmaw63

njchicaa (an ongoing effort for my favorite ninja)

ladyconsumer / mql1208 / lilsquibb / dramastef

jurgrace / lisaffire / PattyTherre / lyoness913

mmcphee / donnamr / dlstewart / gaelkm / coldsteel7

kristinafh (previously committed to 'charity writing')


Much more impressive when all listed out like that..!!


As always, I am more impressed with the company I keep than I am by my own meager contribution to the effort.


You gals and guys rawk..!!



...tom...
"A rich man without charity is a rogue; and perhaps it would be no difficult matter to prove that he is also a fool."
—Henry Fielding
.

I'll pledge, and mine will be divided.

Half to Autism Speaks for my son who just turned eight

The other half to Susan G. Komen for the Cure (Breast Cancer) for my Mom, who's now cancer free two years and counting.

:)

Great idea!

I'll start churning them out like crazy tomorrow - watch out!

...
Number five of my planned ten for charity.


Updates for anyone else..??


Feel free to space updates out to keep this positive thread floating near the top... ...:minism:...



...tom...
.

I have eight of my extremely-optimistic-what-the-heck-was-I-thinking twenty posted.

I'm hoping to get to 15 by Friday (will be camping sans electricity all weekend).

~S

Update, 6/16/08. Posted 5 of planned 10 today! (no.6 waiting in the wings...)

I just posted my 10th review for the month. I'm aiming for 20.

Enjoy the day,
Dawn

Count me in, too.

American Cancer Society will be the recipient.

Might actually squeeze out ten reviews, too.

Diana
ps. Nice idea, Sleeper. Yes! Yes! ...... Yes! Yes! Yes!

I was at the vet's today getting my dog checked out when a woman brought in a little kitten who had a badly broken leg. She didn't have the money to pay for the repair of the kitten's leg and had found the kitten on the side of the road so she wasn't emotionally invested in it.

The decision was made to put that precious kitty to sleep so I offered to pay for the kitten's care and then either find her a home and bring her home with me. I couldn't let that sweet thing be put to sleep when the vet said she would more than likely be able to live a long, normal life after her leg was healed.

It's looking like my charity may change to "little kitten at the vet's" charity because the bill is gonna be a big one. But well worth it.

Patty

Edited to say: But I'll still give some to AURORA as well because they deserve it. So many charities, so little IS! But I am cranking out the reviews this month.

...
My thanks once again for all who have jumped on the bandwagon and chosen to give just a bit back to the local charity of their choice.


Pledged writers:

popsrocks / ifif1938 / abhaille / cmaw63 / njchicaa

ladyconsumer / mql1208 / lilsquibb / dramastef / jurgrace

lisaffire / PattyTherre / lyoness913 / mmcphee / donnamr

dlstewart / gaelkm / coldsteel7 / kristinafh / AliventiAsylum

dianapinions / pilarzmom


More and more users continue to join in. Do not be the last on your Epi-block to get involved..!!


As always, I am more impressed with the company I keep than I am by my own meager contribution to the effort.


You gals and guys rawk times 22..!!



...tom...
"If you haven't any charity in your heart, you have the worst kind of heart trouble."
—Bob Hope
.

7 down, 3 to go!

12 down, 8 to go. :)...

Writing my 20th today. Should I go for 30? Hmm...YES! For charity, I will. :)

Thank you, Tom, for the motivation. I needed it.

Patty

I have 20 in the bag and I would like to double it. Graduation of my oldest this weekend might interfere with the best of intentions there.

...
A bump . . .and number eight for sleeper..!!


Lets finish strong in this last week..!!



...tom...

11 so far this month. My goal was 20 so I'm still shooting for that.

As of today, I now have a total of 35 reviews with 20 of them having the /review/ in them.

Those twenty that equal $40 go to Kristinas charity.

Five more to go for my own charity.

pops

I pledged 20...have 7. That pesky thing called vacation got in the way more than I thought it would. I'll definitely make 10, but no matter what will donate the equivalent of 20 plus a bit more to my charity (Pets Without Parents).

Julie

I thought I would do 20 but have done 26 so I am going for 30.

Kitty's ready to be released to...someone. And I have a bill to pay!

I wish I could do 40 and could but that would stress me out and make my reviews cruddy so I am sticking to 30 and patting myself on the back for doing that many. :)

Patty

So far I'm at 6. I was hoping for 20 this month, but might end up with just 10. It's hard to find time to type with the tiny people I have crawling all over me. Well, I suppose the infant isn't crawling yet. More like drooling...

Good luck to all,

Grace

Woohoo, posted no.10! Ten is a bit lame. Wish I could post more, but that wouldn't be a realistic goal at this point. My earmarked Epinions contributions for the month of June charity is www.oceancountycatrescue.com! Like everyone else here, we make regular donations to other charities. I chose this charity for this occasion because we're approaching my(abandoned)dog's 11th birthday which is a delight because we didn't think he'd make it. So why not a dog rescue? Our 13 year old cat was a rescue too, and so was her sister. Second reason for OCCR --- we spend a enormous amount of time at Long Beach Island! OCCR is also near and dear to an active member of the epinions community.

Megan

Edited to ask Patty for an update on the kitty she is helping!

bumping this thread up with a link to a new cause I decided I'm going to send my epi money to...I received this pledge letter in an e-mail today and think it's quite appropriate for right now.

Only 2 more till I hit this months goal of 20...:)

http://www.americanhumane.org/site/PageServer?pagename=pa_disaster_relief

I'm only going to make 30, so that's $30 for each charity rather than the $40 I wanted to go for. I will probably be kind and up it a little regardless.

On a side note, another community I was in related to Disney Parks lost a beloved member recently. One of the newsgroup posters took up a collection among his "Disney friends". I contributed as I had spent time camping alongside him a couple of years and he is someone who I will truly miss seeing ever again.

Anyway, the collector was hoping to raise $200 to donate to the public radio station where this person worked in his memory. The total gift came out to $1200.

Online friends are awesome!

That is a good idea! Many times families don't yet qualify for food stamps because they just lost their jobs--need 30 days of lower income to be eligible or something like that...another idea is infant formula and diapers could also be useful at food pantries! I get samples (infant formula and Goodnites) in the mail and take them down there!

I just made it to 10 yesterday. At this point I am just storing my reviews, because I'm not sure I can pull out another ten in two days. If so, I'll publish them once #10 is ready.

I have a total of 38 in with two to go.

I should have them in by month's end.

pops

I closed my month earlier today with a total of 40 reviews. 22 of those reviews have the /review/ mark on them and any money made from them is promised to Kristina's charity Easter Seals Crossroads, in her name or to her to send out. Kristina's choice.

That's $44.

How did the rest of you do?

pops

only 13 this month for me. Those $20 along with the rest of my IS will go, as always, to our cat rescue. Man do they go through a lot of food and litter! =)

I'm pleased that I met my goal of 20 reviews for the month. That's $40.00. It's a great feeling knowing I'm contributing to a good cause (Habitat for Humanity).

Take care,
Dawn

or in my case - good night

I had a piddly showing this month - but the good news is that I wrote out my check today to Easter Seals. Since I haven't cashed out in over three years - let's just say - it was good ;).

Kristina, who hopes that July is filled with calm weather - i.e. no floods.

I finished out the month with 12 reviews, but will double whatever my earnings are for the month and send to my charity, Animal Rescue, Inc, www.animalrescueinc.org.

Donna