It’s my third annual Social Media for Social Good (SMSG) fundraising drive. Today is Make a Difference Day, and this is how I’m choosing to do it. Some of you might have heard of charity:water when Rachel Beckwith’s tragic story made the news. She was an amazing little nine year old, and you can read more of what happened here. I dare you not to cry.
I spent a lot of time researching reputable international charities, and I love that charity:water is so transparent. I think it’ll be fun to check what our little ALBTALBS drive does too.
Did you know that:
- 100% of all public donations directly fund water projects, and they prove every dollar using photos and GPS coordinates on a map
- 800 million people around the world don’t have access to clean, safe drinking water
- That is one out of every nine people
- More people die from lack of clean water and sanitation each year than are killed by all forms of violence, including war
- 90% of the deaths that result from diarrheal disease occur in children under five
- About every nineteen seconds a mother loses her child to a water related illness
- In sub-Saharan Africa 16 million hours each day are spent by women collecting water. This takes time away from work, school, and family.
- 10% of disease could be reduced with improved access to clean water, sanitation, hygiene education, and water resource management.
- $1 invested in water becomes $4-12 dollars for the local economy
- Communities choose a small group of people to oversee each completed charity: water project. Equal numbers of men and women are encouraged to be included. These Water Committees are often the first chance women have to take on elected leadership roles.
- The WHO reports that over 3.6% of the global disease burden can be prevented simply by improving water supply, sanitation, and hygiene.
- Feeding our world takes up to 90% of our freshwater withdrawals but many people in developing nations still don’t have access to enough water for irrigation.
- Just
$20$65 can provide one person with a clean water project in his/her village
- charity:water matters, and it helps. Read “Will the Beautiful Women of the World Please Stand Up” (this made me cry).
We can make a huge difference.
I know it’s difficult to give, but I’m asking everyone to do what they can. And if you can’t – help spread the word. This is a comment drive, so even just leaving a comment and having one friend do the same helps. Believe me – I know it’s hard out there. I know what it’s like to make well under the poverty rate. I still do. Which is why I’m doing something where everyone can get involved.
These people have already given:
- Mandy M. Roth – $25
- Michelle Pillow – $25
- Kindle Gal – $10 *ETA: Eeee! She just contacted me and said she’d give an additional $50 once we hit 250 comments!
Pledges:
- I’m going to give $300 if we reach 1,000 comments.
- Cecilia Grant will give $1 per comment up to 100 comments
- The Romance Man
will give $50 when we reach 250 commentswill match my $300 if we get to 1,000 comments!!! - C2 will give $150 when we reach 500 comments
- Farrah Rochon will give $10 for every 100 comments
You can see who all the wonderful, generous people who donated are on the campaign page. I thank you from the bottom of my heart.
Won’t you join us?
And in the spirit of friendly competition … I’m asking – challenging – 50 bloggers to donate. Even if it’s $1. I think we can do it. (In fact – I’d love to see more bloggers donate than authors. How’s that for competition? But a concrete goal of 50.)
And if privacy is a concern, you can donate anonymously. *coughs* Someone *coughs* already donated $50 to check that out. 🙂
Let’s do this!
*ETA: I have a specific campaign created for the romance community: http://mycharitywater.org/albtalbs if you’d like to donate. Also, if you’re donating, I would love to add you to the list, to let other people know (peer pressure! :D) and to give you a shout out. Please feel free to email me with any questions, or to talk about whether or not you want your name/amount to be listed. Thank you!!!
Also, for clarification, my SMSG drives go on for a month. I figure that’s enough time for word to be spread and people to budget what they can to donate. For all of us in the states, it’s a tax deductible charitable donation! (For our international friends, I would look into that too.)
Good luck! And Merry Christmas! 🙂
Coming down to the wire! Good luck and happy holidays!
I wanna help!!
Happy Christmas!
Good luck getting all your goals met
I’m proud to be a part of this!
This is a FANTASTIC cause to be part of. Thanks Limecello!
Love to be part of this! Thanks Limecello!
Great cause! Best wishes
What a great cause! Hope you reach 1,000 and more.
Wishing them a Merry Christmas. And prayers for them to receive safe drinking water!!!
Clean water is such an important thing. I think this is wonderful.
Merry Christmas!!
Rachel, Lorna, Mary and Holly – thanks so much!
What you’re doing here is so beautiful. Happy holidays!
I really hope you meet all your goals here. This is a very worthy cause indeed!
Good luck with your charity drive!
This is an incredible cause, and i have to congratulate to on your initiative.
It’s really sad that at this point on time people can still suffer from the lack of clean water.
Good luck with your project.
This is a wonderful endeavor!
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Good luck! What a great cause!
Ok you are totally my hero for doing this!
Awesome cause, Limecello! I’m happy to comment to help.
I hope you meet all your goals, and thank you for offering such wonderful giveaways!
This comment is to get you that much closer to your goal!
I’m excited to contribute. Merry Christmas!
I really hope that every goal you set is met! I’m a poet and didn’t even know it! 😉 Happy holidays!
Sometimes salty is good… But not in this case! 😉 Congratulations to everyone participating!
You’re so close!!! Well done everyone!
Almost at 1,000. Absolutely amazing!
Hoping you make the 1000 goal its so close.
I wonder who will be comment 1,000! This is so exciting!
I really hope you meet your goals!
I’m happy to throw my comment into the mix 😀
I think this is incredible what you’ve done using your blog to being people clean water.
Happy holidays Limecello!
I hope you meet all your goals!
What a wonderful campaign. I hope you met your goal of 1000 comments.
I think what you’re doing is wonderful!
Good luck!!
Oh I’m so glad I didn’t miss this SMSG, Limecello!
Love this idea! I’ve always been a big supporter of Water For People. Best of luck in hitting your goal
I am proud to call so many of the amazing people participating my friend.
I think it’s awesome when bloggers use their persuasive powers for such a great cause!
Best of luck to you Limecello!
What a way to honor an inspirational child who lived to way short a life, but left a long lasting and remarkable legacy!
I hope you hit 1,000 comments!!
Great cause!
This is such an awesome charity fundraiser and idea!
How could I not support someone with the name “Limecello?” 😀