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HOW TO: Do Good on Facebook
This series is supported by Toyota Prius and presented by harmonytweets, a Twitter-based platform for filtering conversations around design, sustainability, eco technology and philanthropy. Leverage Twitter to communicate around ideals you care about at harmonytweets.com.
We’ve taken a look at using your blog for good, how to do good on Twitter, and how to change the world in only 15 minutes a day, but what about using other platforms to help social good?
Today we’ll look at how you can use the popular social network Facebook to help contribute something positive back to the world. Do you have other great tips for using Facebook for social good? Please contribute your ideas in the comments.
1. Use Charity Applications
We already know about the power of Facebook’s application platform to enable us to do far more frivolous things, from playing UNO to managing a virtual farm. Why not put the app platform to use for social good?
Luckily, a number of applications can help you do just that. Let’s look at a few here, and we’re sure there are a number of others we don’t know about yet. Know of a great Facebook charity application? Let us and other readers know about it in the comments!
Causes — Perhaps the best known, the Causes app allows users to join or start causes on any number of activist topics or positions. Causes can be used to raise money, accumulate support, or simply to advocate a particular position or point of view. You can join as many causes as you like and choose one cause at a time to feature and promote on your Facebook profile.
Willy’s Sweet Shop — Playing this interactive game helps raise money for the St. Jude Children’s Hospital. Track the net amount donated via the aforementioned third-party Causes charity clearinghouse.
Go Go Give — The Go Go Give app is a simple but effective tool that reminds you to visit The Hunger Site daily. The Hunger Site offers a dead simple clickable badge that donates food to the hungry around the world, paid for by the sponsors whose ads you see upon clicking the button. Install the app to get daily reminders, plus keep track of how much food you’ve raised as well as the number of people you’ve invited to join the cause.
(Lil) Green Patch — Using the (Lil) Green Patch app benefits the Nature Conservancy and other Green causes. After expense revenue from the app funds a portfolio of rainforest reforestation projects, with a reported 183,244,167 square feet of rainforest being saved so far via donation to the Adopt an Acre program.
GoRecycle411 — The GoRecycle411 app lets you fill in how much material you’ve recycled and translates your energy saved into barrels of oil, trees, gallons of water, pounds of carbon dioxide, kilowatts of electricity and cubic yards of garbage you’ve saved. It also keeps track of the aggregate total for all those using the app, and donates ad revenue beyond expenses to The Arbor Day Foundation’s Rain Forest Rescue! program.
SocialVibe — The SocialVibe site mixes brand sponsorships with charity donations, and their Facebook application allows you to tap into their fundraising network on your Facebook profile page. Essentially, you choose a brand sponsor and a favorite charity, and users who interact with your SocialVibe application help earn you “points” that accrue donations to your chosen organization. It’s an interesting twist that combines ad revenue with charity, with the more “points” you earn increasing the percentage donated.
2. Join Charity Groups
From simply raising awareness to keeping you informed, from displaying your active causes on your profile to donating money to charities on your behalf — there are a number of worthwhile Facebook groups for social good.
Canadian Cancer Society — For every 100 members who join the group, $2 will be donated to the Canadian Cancer Society. The community-based volunteer organization’s mission is the eradication of cancer and the improvement of life quality for those living with the disease.
Darfur Aid — For every 1000 members of the group, $1 will be donated to an organization working to provide aid in Darfur annually.
Making Poverty History — Join the group to show your support and invite your friends to amplify awareness of the cause. Printing your country’s specific letter and sending it to your government helps put pressure on them to donate 0.7% of the national income to ending world poverty.
One Million Faces Against Malaria — This group holds an annual awareness day every April 25 to raise awareness about this preventable disease.
Fight Global Poverty — Started by a couple in Seattle, the group is one part of raising awareness and funds to fight poverty around the globe. The admins have committed to donating $100,000 to the cause now that the group has eclipsed 100,000 members, and have set up a non-profit group called One Day’s Wages to encourage further donations to global poverty.
3. Become a Fan of Activist Organizations
We can become fans of our favorite celebrities, but why not also show our support for some of the amazing organizations out there working for good? Becoming a fan can also help alert you if and when that group holds specific events or fundraisers around time-sensitive issues.
Check out a few noteworthy organizations that have a presence on Facebook, and let us know about your favorites in the comments.
The Humane Society — Working in the U.S. and abroad to celebrate the human-animal bond and fight animal abuse, The Humane Society is well worth showing your support.
Planned Parenthood — Advocating for women’s reproductive health and rights since 1916, Planned Parenthood’s Facebook Page provides news, health information, discussions and more.
LIVESTRONG — Get updates on news and events from world-famous cyclist and cancer survivor Lance Armstrong’s organization dedicated to raising funds and awareness about the fight against cancer.
ASPCA — Get news, updates and yet another source of cute cat pictures from the ASPCA’s Facebook Page.
Greenpeace International — Global environmental conservation organization Greenpeace gets you involved quickly with a Take Action tab.
Susan G. Komen for the Cure — This well-maintained Page provides information, alerts and ways to act surrounding the fight against breast cancer.
Oxfam America — Show your support and get news and announcements from Oxfam America’s Facebook Page. The international relief and development charity helps save lives, end poverty and fight for social justice.
4. Give a Virtual Charity Gift
They’re not quite live yet at the time of this writing, but at our own Summer of Social Good Conference recently Facebook’s Randi Zuckerberg announced that virtual charity gifts will be coming to the Facebook Gift Shop this week.
Initially the gifts will be available from charity partners Kiva, Toms, (RED) and WWF. Purchasing a $5 or $10 gift not only donates the equivalent amount to the charity sponsoring the gift, but does so on behalf of a friend. Like its real-world concept of donating to a charity as a gift to a friend or relative, it’s almost like giving two gifts in one.
Depending on the results, Facebook may open up the charity gifts program to other partners as well. So not only will you be doing good on behalf of a friend, you’ll be contributing to the continued renewal of the program itself. Be sure to check the Facebook Gift Shop to keep an eye on the availability of the gifts.
5. Host a Charity Event
Why not celebrate the fact that Facebook recently made event planning easier by hosting your own event to raise money or awareness for your favorite cause? Of course, this idea requires quite a bit more legwork than some of the above options, but it also has the potential to have a much greater impact.
AllFacebook has some great tips on hosting a successful Facebook event. Have you ever held a charity event or attended a gathering you heard about on Facebook? Let us know in the comments.
There are certainly pluses and minuses to using Facebook for activism. It may be difficult to convert more casual Facebook activists to the next level of cause engagement. Nevertheless, Facebook offers a set of powerful tools for social good organizations and ad hoc causes to leverage involvement and awareness from the social network’s huge member base.
Do you have other great tips for using Facebook for social good? Please contribute your ideas in the comments.
Series supported by Toyota Prius, presented by harmonytweets
This series is supported by Toyota Prius and presented by harmonytweets, a Twitter-based platform for filtering conversations around key inspirational themes core to the Prius brand including design, sustainability, eco technology and philanthropy. Leverage Twitter to communicate around ideals you care about, including inspiration, hybrid technology and volunteerism at harmonytweets.com.
Image courtesy of iStockphoto, IvanWuPl
Reviews: Facebook, Twitter, iStockphoto
Tags: activism, charity, facebook, social good
HOW TO: Do Good on Facebook
This series is supported by Toyota Prius and presented by harmonytweets, a Twitter-based platform for filtering conversations around design, sustainability, eco technology and philanthropy. Leverage Twitter to communicate around ideals you care about at harmonytweets.com.
We’ve taken a look at using your blog for good, how to do good on Twitter, and how to change the world in only 15 minutes a day, but what about using other platforms to help social good?
Today we’ll look at how you can use the popular social network Facebook to help contribute something positive back to the world. Do you have other great tips for using Facebook for social good? Please contribute your ideas in the comments.
1. Use Charity Applications
We already know about the power of Facebook’s application platform to enable us to do far more frivolous things, from playing UNO to managing a virtual farm. Why not put the app platform to use for social good?
Luckily, a number of applications can help you do just that. Let’s look at a few here, and we’re sure there are a number of others we don’t know about yet. Know of a great Facebook charity application? Let us and other readers know about it in the comments!
Causes — Perhaps the best known, the Causes app allows users to join or start causes on any number of activist topics or positions. Causes can be used to raise money, accumulate support, or simply to advocate a particular position or point of view. You can join as many causes as you like and choose one cause at a time to feature and promote on your Facebook profile.
Willy’s Sweet Shop — Playing this interactive game helps raise money for the St. Jude Children’s Hospital. Track the net amount donated via the aforementioned third-party Causes charity clearinghouse.
Go Go Give — The Go Go Give app is a simple but effective tool that reminds you to visit The Hunger Site daily. The Hunger Site offers a dead simple clickable badge that donates food to the hungry around the world, paid for by the sponsors whose ads you see upon clicking the button. Install the app to get daily reminders, plus keep track of how much food you’ve raised as well as the number of people you’ve invited to join the cause.
(Lil) Green Patch — Using the (Lil) Green Patch app benefits the Nature Conservancy and other Green causes. After expense revenue from the app funds a portfolio of rainforest reforestation projects, with a reported 183,244,167 square feet of rainforest being saved so far via donation to the Adopt an Acre program.
GoRecycle411 — The GoRecycle411 app lets you fill in how much material you’ve recycled and translates your energy saved into barrels of oil, trees, gallons of water, pounds of carbon dioxide, kilowatts of electricity and cubic yards of garbage you’ve saved. It also keeps track of the aggregate total for all those using the app, and donates ad revenue beyond expenses to The Arbor Day Foundation’s Rain Forest Rescue! program.
SocialVibe — The SocialVibe site mixes brand sponsorships with charity donations, and their Facebook application allows you to tap into their fundraising network on your Facebook profile page. Essentially, you choose a brand sponsor and a favorite charity, and users who interact with your SocialVibe application help earn you “points” that accrue donations to your chosen organization. It’s an interesting twist that combines ad revenue with charity, with the more “points” you earn increasing the percentage donated.
2. Join Charity Groups
From simply raising awareness to keeping you informed, from displaying your active causes on your profile to donating money to charities on your behalf — there are a number of worthwhile Facebook groups for social good.
Canadian Cancer Society — For every 100 members who join the group, $2 will be donated to the Canadian Cancer Society. The community-based volunteer organization’s mission is the eradication of cancer and the improvement of life quality for those living with the disease.
Darfur Aid — For every 1000 members of the group, $1 will be donated to an organization working to provide aid in Darfur annually.
Making Poverty History — Join the group to show your support and invite your friends to amplify awareness of the cause. Printing your country’s specific letter and sending it to your government helps put pressure on them to donate 0.7% of the national income to ending world poverty.
One Million Faces Against Malaria — This group holds an annual awareness day every April 25 to raise awareness about this preventable disease.
Fight Global Poverty — Started by a couple in Seattle, the group is one part of raising awareness and funds to fight poverty around the globe. The admins have committed to donating $100,000 to the cause now that the group has eclipsed 100,000 members, and have set up a non-profit group called One Day’s Wages to encourage further donations to global poverty.
3. Become a Fan of Activist Organizations
We can become fans of our favorite celebrities, but why not also show our support for some of the amazing organizations out there working for good? Becoming a fan can also help alert you if and when that group holds specific events or fundraisers around time-sensitive issues.
Check out a few noteworthy organizations that have a presence on Facebook, and let us know about your favorites in the comments.
The Humane Society — Working in the U.S. and abroad to celebrate the human-animal bond and fight animal abuse, The Humane Society is well worth showing your support.
Planned Parenthood — Advocating for women’s reproductive health and rights since 1916, Planned Parenthood’s Facebook Page provides news, health information, discussions and more.
LIVESTRONG — Get updates on news and events from world-famous cyclist and cancer survivor Lance Armstrong’s organization dedicated to raising funds and awareness about the fight against cancer.
ASPCA — Get news, updates and yet another source of cute cat pictures from the ASPCA’s Facebook Page.
Greenpeace International — Global environmental conservation organization Greenpeace gets you involved quickly with a Take Action tab.
Susan G. Komen for the Cure — This well-maintained Page provides information, alerts and ways to act surrounding the fight against breast cancer.
Oxfam America — Show your support and get news and announcements from Oxfam America’s Facebook Page. The international relief and development charity helps save lives, end poverty and fight for social justice.
4. Give a Virtual Charity Gift
They’re not quite live yet at the time of this writing, but at our own Summer of Social Good Conference recently Facebook’s Randi Zuckerberg announced that virtual charity gifts will be coming to the Facebook Gift Shop this week.
Initially the gifts will be available from charity partners Kiva, Toms, (RED) and WWF. Purchasing a $5 or $10 gift not only donates the equivalent amount to the charity sponsoring the gift, but does so on behalf of a friend. Like its real-world concept of donating to a charity as a gift to a friend or relative, it’s almost like giving two gifts in one.
Depending on the results, Facebook may open up the charity gifts program to other partners as well. So not only will you be doing good on behalf of a friend, you’ll be contributing to the continued renewal of the program itself. Be sure to check the Facebook Gift Shop to keep an eye on the availability of the gifts.
5. Host a Charity Event
Why not celebrate the fact that Facebook recently made event planning easier by hosting your own event to raise money or awareness for your favorite cause? Of course, this idea requires quite a bit more legwork than some of the above options, but it also has the potential to have a much greater impact.
AllFacebook has some great tips on hosting a successful Facebook event. Have you ever held a charity event or attended a gathering you heard about on Facebook? Let us know in the comments.
There are certainly pluses and minuses to using Facebook for activism. It may be difficult to convert more casual Facebook activists to the next level of cause engagement. Nevertheless, Facebook offers a set of powerful tools for social good organizations and ad hoc causes to leverage involvement and awareness from the social network’s huge member base.
Do you have other great tips for using Facebook for social good? Please contribute your ideas in the comments.
Series supported by Toyota Prius, presented by harmonytweets
This series is supported by Toyota Prius and presented by harmonytweets, a Twitter-based platform for filtering conversations around key inspirational themes core to the Prius brand including design, sustainability, eco technology and philanthropy. Leverage Twitter to communicate around ideals you care about, including inspiration, hybrid technology and volunteerism at harmonytweets.com.
Image courtesy of iStockphoto, IvanWuPl
Reviews: Facebook, Twitter, iStockphoto
Tags: activism, charity, facebook, social good
Michigan schools show gains – The Detroit News
 The Grand Rapids Press – MLive.com |
Michigan schools show gains
The Detroit News More Michigan schools are meeting federal education standards, helping them avoid costly sanctions, according to a state report released on Thursday. … South Lyon Community Schools receives all As on Michigan report cardMirror Michigan Schools Receive Yearly Report Card9&10 News More Michigan Schools Making AYPWILX-TV Michigan Radio –The Grand Rapids Press – MLive.com –The Detroit News all 64 news articles » |
Not a game, a job: NCAA athletes work long hours – The Associated Press
 Boston Globe |
Not a game, a job: NCAA athletes work long hours
The Associated Press If Michigan players complained about spending long hours on football, they were only voicing what many other student-athletes have told the NCAA. … Voluntary practice loophole not limited to MichiganNewOrleans.Com Michigan's Rodriguez still likes team chemistryESPN Michigan coach Rich Rodriguez, others sued over Va. condo dealUSA Today San Francisco Chronicle –Los Angeles Times –The Associated Press all 1,333 news articles » |
Freshman Forcier to start at QB for Michigan – USA Today
|
Freshman Forcier to start at QB for Michigan
USA Today Michigan freshman Tate Forcier will start at quarterback Saturday against Western Michigan, coach Rich Rodriguez said on … Michigan names Forcier starting quarterbackESPN Turnover margin a point of emphasis for UMDetroit Free Press all 9 news articles » |
You wanna eat, you wanna eat like Mike?
Then put down the cigar and pay attention for a second.
Starting Monday, September 7th and running through to the end of the month, Michael Jordan’s Steak House N.Y.C. in New York City will celebrate The G.O.A.T.’s upcoming Hall of Fame induction by way of the kitchen. And guess what? We’re all invited! (Well, not really, but let’s start the rumor.)
The promotional idea is simple, Teknoe maniacs: "Eat Like Mike."
The Steak House will feature Jordan's pre-game ritual dinner — a Delmonico steak served with a baked potato and broccoli for $39 — as well as the new "Hall of Fame Burger" ($23, natch), which was created especially for MJ using his favorite ingredients: fried green tomatoes, sliced onions, his own blend of prime sirloin and chuck, his Nana’s Russian dressing and a teeny tiny pinch of Craig Ehlo’s soul. Yum!
And here’s your sweet desert, New Yorkers: SLAM Online is giving away a $100 gift certificate for the Steak House. All you have to do is to tell them about your favorite MJ-in-New-York memory in 100 words or less. What was it, and why?
Good luck, Oak.
Laimbeer, Theus join Rambis on Wolves’ coaching staff
WOW A Laker And A Piston On The Same Staff!!
Kurt Rambis and Bill Laimbeer were perhaps the two biggest agitators on the court when the Los Angeles Lakers and Detroit Pistons went at each other in the 1980s.
The 10-man rotation, starring Blake Griffin in Dodger blue
A look around the league and the web that covers it. It’s also important to note that the rotation order and starting nods aren’t always listed in order of importance. That’s for you, dear reader, to figure out.
C: Dodgers.com, via BF. Congrats to Blake Griffin(notes) for "slam dunking first-pitch duties" at Dodger Stadium.
PF: Celtics Town. Seven pressing questions for the Boston Celtics heading into 2009-2010.
SF: The Baseline. The Bryant "Big Country" Reeves Memorial Overpaid List.
SG: Indy Cornrows. Pacers guard T.J. Ford(notes) is for the people.
PG: Deep Purple. The Suns want to give you a unique experience while surfin’ the web.
6th: Dime. Watch as Tracy McGrady(notes) puts in work to recover from micro-fracture knee surgery.
7th: Detroit Free Press. No more No. 3 for Ben Wallace(notes). He will wear No. 6 for the Pistons this season.
8th: HP. Jon Nichols explores how James changes his style of attack as the game progresses
9th: The Blowtorch. A couple of hipsters play basketball …
10th: Ridiculous Upside. What’s the worst motivational speech or ploy you’ve ever heard, Rod Benson(notes)? "We had just won and were playing the same team the next night. My coach, who will remain nameless, said this: 'That game was like sleeping with your sister. Yeah, it was good, but not as good as it should have been.' True story. I've never seen more confused faces."
Got a tip/link/recipe for Ball Don’t Lie? Hit me up at jeskeets [at] yahoo.ca or follow me on Twitter.
Video: LeBron James takes trick-shot arsenal overseas
LeBron James(notes) and Parisian hoop fans gathered Wednesday in Grand Palais — a magnificent glass exhibition hall that was built for the Paris Exhibition of 1900 — to celebrate The King's new shoes, his documentary "More Than a Game" and, um, youth basketball, I guess. And while waiting for the baskeball camp to begin, LeBron did what he does best: nail a ridiculous three-quarter court shot. Zut alors!
How do you say "60 Minutes" in French?
Cheers, NESW Sports.
Start planning now for the “can’t miss” San Diego Bay Wine & Food … – Exam…
 PR Web (press release) |
Start planning now for the "can't miss" San Diego Bay Wine & Food …
Examiner.com The 6th annual San Diego Bay Wine & Food Festival will be held November 18th-22nd. The five-day festival features over 170 world-class wineries, … Epcot's Food & Wine Fesival 2009 previewLifthill Wine Weekend Getaway Packages Available for the 6th Annual San …Emediawire (press release) New to the Epcot International Food and Wine Festival: The Wine …Examiner.com Examiner.com –Examiner.com all 7 news articles » |
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