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TechnoratiWhen a really good idea shows up, it's hard to turn away. It's harder still, when the idea comes from a compassionate young woman who is dedicated to making a difference.
Annie Kirschbaum is a young special-needs teacher in the Chicago school system. She is an idealistic, forward thinker whose personal goal is assist others who are less fortunate than her.
Recently, Annie was shared dinner with her family -- Mickey and Phil -- and they started talking about the tax rebate checks. Annie expressed her outrage over the wasted expenditure of $42 million to simply notify citizens about the program. Phil said something along the lines of "wouldn't it be great if people did something really good with the money?" After some thought, Annie suggested, "How about a Donation Day?"
Instead of pouring the rebate directly back into the corporate coffers, the idea was to shift the paradigm and give it to those who have much greater needs. Give the dollars to folks, who in Annie's vision, should have received the largess in the first place.
The idea began to sprout legs. The more friends Annie spoke to, the more support she gathered for her idea. It wasn't about any particular charity, but the idea of giving. Simply giving.
Phil, both a good friend and a client, called me to ask for my assistance. What could I do with this great idea? I could help! We needed a name, a timeline, PR, a blog, a video. We needed the world and we had very little time.
"Give It Back" seemed like a perfect name for a campaign, but morphed in to "Give Something Back." A logo was developed. A web URL secured and we were on a roll. Then Joseph, our writer, discovered that Give Something Back already existed as a charity vehicle and we had a serious trademark conflict.
The plan took a breath. Which way to turn? How to name this wild idea? In the meantime, the clock was ticking. The first checks were to be mailed in just three weeks.
We started to flesh out the story and craft a compelling tale. Annie's enthusiasm for idea was infectious.
"There are so many things I love about this plan," she wrote. "It is an opportunity for everyone to come together for something bigger, even people who do not get the check. In a time where everyone is so divided, it is good to remember that we can all come together and really make a difference. Instead of fighting with each other, lets use that energy on something positive. We spend so much time fighting against a cause or being angry with something that the government does, lets take a breather and fight for something that does not divide people... It is an opportunity to do something with our tax money that the government should have done."
"I love the idea of people talking about where they want to give their money," she continued. "It makes me feel all warm inside! What a positive thing for circles of friends to be discussing."
I asked each team member to describe what the world might be like if everyone actually sent a percentage of their refund check to a charity of their choice.
Phil wrote, "The world would be like the best of human came out.... We'd be encouraged by our priorities. We could have followed 'the program' and spent it all on ourselves, but we didn't - we thought of those in real need of the gift... I'd call it a miracle. I'd call it a shift, a sea change... a new face for America."
As the clock ticked, we found, that even as a team we simply didn't have time to complete our tasks. We were idealistic -- and not one bit sad about it. We didn't create a website, the video has not been shot and the blog is in sketch stage. But, the dream is still alive and the idea simply needs to be broadcast -- one person to the next -- which is what I'm doing with this column.
Instead of taking that rebate check -- whatever size you might happen to receive, and spending it solely on yourself, take some percentage of it -- whatever makes your heart feel fuller, and direct it toward someone with greater need. There are so many that could use your help -- those who are hungry, or have no access to clean water or an education.
The list of charities is as long as you might imagine. Annie's favorite web organization is www.charitynavigator.org/ which functions as an evaluator for causes and non-profits seeking donations. They have a rating system on over 5,000 of America's best-known charities.
"Everyone is in this world together, and we have to make it work. There is no option," wrote Annie. "The world is only as strong as its weakest link, ever action affects something, and since this is such a great action, it will be felt by everyone... You don't have to be a millionaire to do so, every single person can make a difference."
Play it forward.
Catharine Cooper is honored to count Annie Kirschbaum and her family as friends. She can be reached at cooper@catharinecooper.com
Copyright © 2008 Coastline Pilot
10 Comments so far
Show AllThe cynicism I encounter every day is really amazing. I think being progressive is about doing things that make a difference. Not hanging back and practicing selfishness.
Whatever we choose to believe in is what we get as a reality. When it comes to "human nature," all things are possible. If you believe in selfishness, that's what you promote and receive.
We are booking ESP Donation events now and Donors are willingly stepping forward when invited. All I did was start to ask folks to join in. As we stage events, I trust that others will take up the cause and as the trend grows, it will reach a tipping point and take off virally. If not, at least I did something other than criticize and disagree with folks who are working to make a difference.
Polls indicate that about 3% of the ESP recipients already plan to donate the money. Compared to the self-interested uses, that's a small percentage. But it's a slice of $150 billion, so in absolute numbers it's huge -- $4.5 B. If we can increase it just 1%, that's $1.5 B more. Imagine how much good that can do.
Joseph
The reason churches are the all-time grand champion donation magnets is -- they ask. When polled on why they don't donate often, folks usually say "Because nobody asks." Think about it.
People are willing to give. Generosity is built in. All we have to do is evoke it, and people come up with the most amazing responses. Yes, dark, ugly, evil stuff goes on every day. Part of being human in our current stage of evolution. Yes, our government does stupid things. And we can choose to facilitate the other side of the human story. It's a choice.
Consider this -- http://www.jriden.com/ESPevent.html
Annie inspired me to do something positive with my ESP money. I created a design for an ESP donation event that inspires people to consider ESP donation as a useful, worthwhile, and positive action that can help any worthy cause of their choice. Anyone can use this event design. It's already being picked up by service clubs in my area and it looks like it has a good potential to 'go viral.'
It's a FREE download. My response to the ESP program.
Thanks, Annie, I needed that. . .
Joseph
I am waiting patiently for the author, who resides in the same Blue Bubble as myself, Laguna Beach, California, to use her column in the local weekly to forward some truly progressive ideas. The theme of this article is sacrifice and here in Laguna Beach it's time for some progressives to sacrifice the comfort and feel-goodism that permeates everything and face square on some true problems: for instance: the taser death of a young man in the city jail which is still being swept under the rug, the recent plan to put notices on some of the parking meters asking people to not give money to the homeless but rather to put it in the hands of people who "know better" how to use it, the terrible blight on the hillsides of these monstrosities that people call houses but are really monuments to greed. Come on, Catherine, and take a risk. This isn't going to cut it.
In the first place the rebate thing was another dumb idea to make the folks in Washington look like they are doing something, which is just that, something that looks like something, but in reality will not jump start an economy that these same folks have run in the ground. The problem with giving it away is that there are more folks in desperate need of the money than those who do not. And, I include myself in the latter bracket. However, sharing 50/50 of the meager windfall would be a great balance and I plan to do just that. I would also suggest that the money be spent locally, even better spend it on used merchandise so that is does not benefit the energy companies or overseas production. We have come so far in this upside down economy that it is practically impossible not to support those who already have it all. Great Ideas! We need many, many more. Thanks.
In the first place the rebate thing was another dumb idea to make the folks in Washington look like they are doing something, which is just that, something that looks like something, but in reality will not jump start an economy that these same folks have run in the ground. The problem with giving it away is that there are more folks in desperate need of the money than those who do not. And, I include myself in the latter bracket. However, sharing 50/50 of the meager windfall would be a great balance and I plan to do just that. I would also suggest that the money be spent locally, even better spend it on used merchandise so that is does not benefit the energy companies or overseas production. We have come so far in this upside down economy that it is practically impossible not to support those who already have it all. Great Ideas! We need many, many more. Thanks.
What check?
'mine'? It belongs to no one, It is a fiction. Throw it away.
mine will barely pay my heating bill and gasoline
Mine is going into savings and into the local food bank.
Retail schemes to save the world can have little effect against the wholesale negligence (when not malice) that creates its suffering. The poor do not need a quarter, they need a future. The homeless are not a minority, they are an army.