If we were all to redirect a mere 5% of the billions of dollars that we already spend each year on gifts, there would be enough to eliminate extreme poverty in about 15 years.
UEnd:Poverty. Gift different.
Catching Elephant is a theme by Andy Taylor
An Easy New Year’s Resolution
I’ve never kept a New Year’s resolution for the entire year. There, I said. They usually last the first two weeks of January. I make a “commitment” to run every day. I “promise” I will finally master that song on the guitar. But I don’t. Feel the same? Still bummed about those 10 pounds you didn’t lose? Or the trip you didn’t take?
Let’s make a different choice for 2012.
This holiday season we introduced the idea of gifting differently. We provided the ability to give the gift of giving through a UEnd gift card. Did you pick one up?
My family got them in their stocking stuffers! Family members who had never heard of UEnd were thrilled to hop on the ol’ internet and check out the website! It was my favourite gift I gave this year.
So with that warm, gooey feeling that made my heart grow three sizes this holiday, my resolution (a manageable one!) is to keep that feeling alive. Why does giving have to end there? We North Americans love our holidays, birthdays, weddings and so forth. So let’s keep gifting different year round!
And why do we have to treat other people? Buy yourself the gift of giving. Sign up for U:Powered or give directly to a project of your choosing.
Let’s not pick resolutions that will bring us down. Let’s pick ourselves up and end poverty while we’re at it.
5 ways to get want you really want/need this Christmas:
1) Make a list and send it to people via email, regular mail or smoke signal
2) Put little notes around the house (100 or so should do the trick)
3) When you see something you like, make a few “hints” to the person you’re with, such as: elbow jabs, feet-stomping, excessive pointing, or really BIG smiles :)
4) Think REALLY, REALLY HARD about the things you want… you never know!
And finally…
5) Throw the most massive tantrum you can muster until you get exactly what you want
This holiday season, we’re asking you and your loved ones: don’t gift bland, gift different. And, we’re making it ridiculously easy to do so. Just go to UEnd.org and give a thoughtful, lasting gift. Or, you can ASK for a UEnd:Poverty Gift Card by performing one of the above useful tactics. Happy Holidays!!
Photo credit: http://www.flickr.com/photos/amberosie7/4289393412/
The Gestalt of Micro- Giving
Micro-Giving or micro-philanthropy is the act of giving small amounts of money over periods of time that create a larger impact. If you are familiar with psychological theory… the impact is a gestalt- bigger than the sum of the small parts- why?
If we get 10 people to each give $100.00 versus 100 people each giving $10.00- which impact do you think will be greater… the one that has more people engaged right? They will have a community of like-minded people to help change the world and more momentum than the first group.
That is the premise behind all of the work we do at UEnd: Poverty - small acts make big change that many people can participate in.
Hence the focus on gifting different, this holiday season would you become part of our tribe of world changers who are all giving that ONE $20 gift card that ends poverty ? Would you recruit all your friends to do the same- remember the more the merrier.
If you have finished your gift shopping but like the work that UEnd: Poverty does, we have another way to help out. The organization has an operational funding program called U:Powered- it is a monthly program whereby whatever amount you choose is billed to your credit card. We hope you will consider giving small amounts that add up to much more this season.
Here is another Black Friday video about consumerism…
Check out this video about Black Friday from last year. It should make you think, at least a bit. There is another way…buy gifts that change the world at www.uend.org.
[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-zNwWrtVoCI[/youtube]
