$93 Turned into $100k

Here's a great story from Yahoo. The summary:

• Carolee Hazard was at the grocery store when she saw that Jenni Ware wasn't able to pay the bill because her wallet was missing.
• Hazard handed her over $207, the exact amount Ware needed for her groceries.
• The next day, Hazard received a check for $300 in the mail and a thank you card from Ware suggesting that she use the extra $93 dollars to get a massage.
• Hazard instead asked her Facebook friends what they'd do. Several suggested giving it to charity.
• She did this and decided to match the money with $93 of her own.
• She asked her Facebook friends where she should donate the $186. Given the food connection, she decided to donate the money to her local Second Harvest Food Bank.
• A friend added another $93. So did another and another and another! Soon the story was being posted and reposted on Facebook, inspiring others to donate as well. Thus was born the 93 Dollar Club.
• In just one year, the 93 Dollar Club has raised a whopping $100,000 for Second Harvest.

I LOVE, LOVE, LOVE stories like this. Someone is generous (twice in this case) and others get into the spirit as well. Then what was once a very small donation becomes a great big (potentially game-changing for the local food bank) donation that helps a boatload of people.

I'd really like to use FMF in the same way -- to get a "giving chain" started. But how would I do it? And what organization should be supported?

Any ideas?

Comments

[Sanctimonia]

I love ideas like this as well. It's almost a gimmick, but it's the best kind ever. Since we're in the midst of a housing crisis, somewhat, how about focusing on housing charities such as Habitat for Humanity? I've worked for them for quite awhile and even built a few houses down in the Gulf region. I've been there when the families get their houses and man is it emotional. Knowing that you helped provide a place for their family to live is amazing.

As for how to do it, that's something to work on. I'm not sure how we could track it to see how much was actually donated from your campaign/club. Perhaps a link on your site? A challenge with another site to see who can raise X amount of dollars first? Just brainstorming here.

I love the idea and count me in!

[Everyday Tips]

What a fabulous story!

I think you should do it FMF. Pick a charity that means a lot to you and set something up. I bet you could get a lot of people to join you. Or, you could make it a charity that changes based on the needs in the community you are aware of. (Say it is a freezing cold winter, make it go to heat for the impoverished, that kind of thing.)

Now you have got me thinking!

[MC]

OK a cute gimmick. But I'm not sure what this has to do with personal finance.

[Mark]

@MC: Personal finance => Money => Giving away MONEY

[FMF]

MC --

Giving is a regular topic covered here, as is generosity, and most people give, uh, money...

[Andrew]

Hey FMF,
Count me in, I enjoy reading your blog and the comments from your readers. So this would be a way for me to send a small thank you. Pick a charity or non profit and I'll contribute in FMF name.

[KP]

Thanks for sharing this great story!

I second Habitat for Humanity and look forward to participating.

[Em]

Thank you so much--wonderful story and reminder for sharing. How blessed I am/we are!

[EXS]

Hunger, education/literacy, or environment charities. (I give to Doctors Without Borders, American Red Cross for disaster relief, and organizations important to friends, eg mentoring for girls, HIV/AIDS, and tutoring/writing workshops.) For the causes I suggested, I try to contribute by volunteering (preparing meals for housebound patients, public park cleanup.)

[Goner]

Great story -- I golf at the same country club as the CEO of Second Harvest -- this explains where he got that new Lexus!

[jbhk]

While donating to charities is a great idea, can we donate money to the people who are not related to any charities to get any help from? These people usually are not in the lowest income level, they are still able to afford food, but because of a serious or long-term sick child which make the whole family suffer to serious financial problems.

[Sunil from The Extra Money Blog]

I am In - let's have some options of orgs or individuals that the community can select from. we can vote and donate accordingly.

[Carolee Hazard]

Hi All-

I am the woman in this story. No gimmick - the beginning of the 93 Dollar Club was completely unintentional, although there was an amazing amount of serendipity and generosity. Should you be curious to follow our efforts to hit our $200K goal (we have raise over $115K for Second Harvest of San Mateo and Santa Clara counties to date), see our Facebook Page: http://www.facebook.com/93dollarclub

Best,

Carolee Hazard

FYI, the CEO of Second Harvest is a woman, so not the Lexus driver. : )