...
"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