So – when people put a large amount of their personal resources into charity, it really opens my eyes and impresses me. It shows that they not only say they care, but they are willing to put their resources into caring. The first person I saw giving was Dr. Brenda Milner, a research scientist who gave to the Montreal Neurological Institute.

I heard an interview with Milner on CBC radio, and I found it interesting that she never owned a house, a car or a fur coat. She had very modest taste, so she was able to save her money, and now in her 80s, was able to give this generous gift to the institute where she spent most of her career. In this consumer society, I found it amazing that Milner was able to resist the constant temptation to spend, and was able to give to something that was very close to her heart.

Another philanthropist that I was reading about recently was Macleans Magazine’s interview with Warren Buffett. Instead of simply giving all of his money to his children as other rich folks do, Buffett is choosing to give generously to several charities. His ideas about it are interesting, and humble:

I mean, I’ve been ungodly blessed, you know, I just happened to be born
at the right time in the right place. I tell people if I’d been born a
few thousand years ago I would have been some animal’s lunch, because I
can’t run very fast or jump very high. Or if I’d been born in
Bangladesh or some place things would have been different for me. So
what I’ve acquired has been, to an enormous degree, the product of a
society that’s a huge capitalist society, and I was born into it at the
right time, and I get these disproportionate material rewards in
respect to my contribution. There’s all kinds of people who are just as
good citizens as I am, they go over and serve in Iraq, they help in
their communities, but I happen to be in something that just pays off
like crazy and I get everything I want in life, and the idea that that
money shouldn’t go back to society but instead should go to a few
people based on the fact that they came from the right womb strikes me
as crazy. I mean, I do not believe in the divine right of the womb!

Personally, I am giving 10% of my revenues to four charities that I care for, which is much smaller than what these people are doing… but if everyone gave a percentage of their income to places that they care about, imagine the effect that it would have!

I was grabbing a Starbucks between meetings the other day near my office in the fashion district in Toronto (King and Spadina) and I saw a little advertisement for a special camp called Camp Okutta where kids could learn how to throw grenades among other activities. I was outraged for a few seconds, but then thought that it was probably a joke or trying to make some sort of point.

That night, a friend sent me a link to the camp – and I saw the answer – someone was trying to make a point. It was War Child Canada, bringing visibility to the fact that there are 250,000 child soldiers in the world today. They thought that using pale suburban-looking campers holding guns and running through fields of grenades would have a stronger impact than showing the real child soldiers.

The ever-earnest CBC reported Hoax Camp Outrages Torontonians which revolved around the fact that some Toronto residents had their feathers ruffled by the same advertisements that I saw and started ripping them down. Late in the article they quote James Topham, War Child’s Marketing Director:

"The message of the advertising is that we would never stand for it over here, so we should not stand for it over there either," he said.

Topham said that he was a little surprised to hear that people were tearing down the posters, but said that it proved their message hit home.

"If people were ripping them down, it shows that such a camp would be outrageous in Canada," he said. "And yet these camps exist all over the world."

Thanks Topham et al.

Inspired by the ride, he made 8 wishes to raise money and awareness. You can see a list of the wishes here. One of his wishes has already been granted- meeting Paul Orfalea, the CEO of Kinkos who has a learning disability. Seeing Orfalea, who doesn’t read e-mails (?!) made me think about how it takes all kinds of different business people to make industry work, not just one rigid type. Paul is hinting that another wish is about to be granted soon. He also wants to be featured by 88 websites, so I am glad to contribute!

As I meet more smart people who have been held back learning disabilities, it stresses to me the importance of making our education system more inclusive. Congratulations to Paul thinking big and for bringing visibility (in a super-original way) to this issue.

In 2001, she  became a United Nations High Commission for Refugees Ambassador (UNHCR), and has traveled to over 20 countries meeting refugees. On the UNHCR site, you can see her missions, journals and activities in the news. Here is a quote from one of her missions in New Delhi, India talking to some Burmese refugees:

"It’s very upsetting to hear about the persecution the refugees have endured," Jolie said. After a conversation with two Burmese women, one shyly told Jolie: "You look like an actress." Added the second one: "Are you a film star?"

"That’s why I am in India, making a film," Jolie replied, "but I came up to Delhi just to visit with you. I am honored to be able to meet you. You are very strong women. You are amazing."

In this video, you can see her break into tears at the thought of a refugee boy who could not be saved. I find it inspiring that she uses her fame to bring visibility to this important issue. Also, she kills the stereotype that beautiful women don’t have substance. Instead, she uses her beauty (one of the reasons that she is famous) to help suffering people in the world. Her fame and visibility make the rest of the world pay attention to these issues instead of forgetting and falling into easy complacency. I remember Brad Pitt saying something like "if cameras are going to follow us around everywhere anyway, they might as well be showing Africa too".

By putting aside her emotional issues, getting out of bad relationships, becoming a Mom and helping the world, Angelina is redefining what it means to go from a girl to a woman. Even in a world where females do not want to get older, and many want to stay young forever, Angelina’s version shows the strength and compassion that can come with maturity.   

Another reason I find it inspirational is that the idea spread around the world: Russia, China, Japan, Portugal, South America and all over the US. They got a lot of media attention, including a spot on Good Morning America and Oprah. You can see a site that they built here: www.freehugscampaign.org. It is an example of someone other than a multinational making an impact on a world scale. Doesn’t that have implications for the rest of us? 

For just a few dollars, you can protect an acre of the rain forest or fund an hour of a cancer researcher’s time. You can provide a child with a first book, an AIDS patient with life-saving drugs or a hungry family with a nourishing meal. Take a look. You’ll find something for virtually any cause.

The categories include: Animal Welfare, Homelessness, Global Health etc. Under the "Peace" heading, I found that for $50 that I could buy three soccer balls for children in Liberia, Sudan and Columbia. The thinking is that the recreational activity would create normalcy in some of the most difficult environments in the world.

The idea of the site is to give people a chance to give more fulfilling presents (you can get a custom-made card made to go with your gift). The site owners are trying to tap into the $250 billion market that Americans spend on buying presents each year for one another. They even have a "Hall of Shame" where people post their worst gifts ever – such as a whoopee cushion that seems ridiculous in comparison to clearing 10 square kilometers of a minefield for only $30. People feel empowered when they know exactly what they are giving instead of just trusting that their charitable gift will be directed to the right place. Hence the soccer balls.

I think this is a great idea – but as a web site marketer I can’t help but think of tweaks… Based on my experience, people like to give locally, so maybe if they made the gifts searchable by location it would be more effective? Also, they could make the gifts searchable by keyword – tapping into that common behavior on the Internet – they could use the feedback from the search reports to create more interesting indexes as well. Finally, wouldn’t it be great if there was a feedback loop similar to when you sponsor a child through World Vision? I think it would be fulfilling to see your gift in action, or the results of the donation. 

I am glad for this site, and others like it for finding new, creative outlets for people to give to charity. I just wish that I found it before Christmas or else I wouldn’t have bought all of those whoopee cushions!

Santa Clause Parade for Sick Kids

How Discovered: Found out about this while cruising the Sick Kids Foundation Website.
What it was: Job was selling Sick Kids pendants, hats and DVDs to people attending the Santa Clause parade in downtown Toronto.
With whom: Volunteered with my friend Sylvia who is an incredible sales person.
Experience: In just two hours we raised over $600, far more than any other of the volunteers. It felt great because we could have slept in and done nothing but instead we used our sales and marketing expertise to help raise money to help sick children. The event was well-organized and the organizers sent a nice card at the end.
Do it Again?:  Definitely!

International Festival of Authors at Harbourfront

How Discovered: My friend heard about it on the radio.
What it Was: Selling books at the International Festival of Authors.
With Whom: I did this one on my own.
Experience: Since I was on my own, I got to know the other volunteers and we shared our love of reading between book-buying crowds. It felt good to support the authors and to meet people who are passionate about reading – but I wasn’t helping the world as directly as I was when I was raising money for sick children. The organizers seemed a bit stressed and there was a lack of information-flow, which resulted in some egg on our faces, but in general it was pretty smooth. As a bonus I got to meet Harper’s editor Lewis Lapham.
Do it Again?: Probably.

Nuit Blanche for the French Consulate 

How Discovered: Found it through an ad in Craig’s List.
What it Was: Greeting people who sponsored the event at the Mars center and giving people information.
With Whom: My friend Nadia who has family from France.
Experience: From the beginning, the night did not feel right. My friend and I got some great shirts from Lacoste since they wanted us to work at the door (this honor was bestowed partly because we are fashionable and partly because we speak French.) We did not know the price we would pay for those shirts – we were not allowed to move away from the door for one minute, or else the Lacoste sponsors would get aggravated. Also, the organizers did not trust us with the money or the giveaways, so each of us always had to be with these awful, socially-inept women who treated us as if we were janitors. Although I thought the event was supporting art, my function was so sponsor-driven, it felt much more like work than like play. Plus we were not treated with respect. The only redeeming thing about the night is that I got the shirt and I got to stand next to Mayor David Miller.
Do it Again?: Never! Not if they paid me!