90 Minutes of Fundraising

This may come as a total shock to you, but I am fascinated by social media. Over the last year we have seen just how powerful it can be, starting revolutions, organizing protests, breaking and making stories, and giving a forum for want-to-be celebrities to post nude photos of themselves. For better or for worse, social media is the media for information.

That is why I want to try this experiment.

Most of you don’t know me personally. Most of you will never meet me. Most of you probably don’t even particularly care for me. However, if you’re reading this blog, we most likely have one thing in common: sport.

(Unless, you goofed up your google search and landed here by accident. If so, hiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiii!)

I am going to try an experiment. I am going to see if I can use social media (blogspot, twitter, facebook, whatever) for fundraising. Can I get a whole bunch of people, all over the globe, to raise funds for one common goal: helping kids, through sport.

Let me give you some background information on this. As a kid, I was allowed to do any sport I wanted (and a few I didn’t). My childhood consisted of years of baseball, basketball, swimming, synchro, tap, tennis, skating, and more. My parents never once said no to me, no matter how ridiculous my ideas were (seriously, I took tap for years and I have absolutely no rhythm). It wasn’t until I was older that I realized two things: 1. I was incredibly lucky as a child and 2. A lot of kids are not as fortunate.

 Fast forward to 25 year old me. As you may know, my line of work is in the charity sector. I see firsthand the impact people can have helping others. So, I decided to see how far charity could work, if people—total strangers—could come together for a common goal. My experiment is to see if I can challenge you, yes YOU, to help make a difference in a kid’s life.

This works out for you too. I am sure part of your New Years Resolution is to be a better person. So let me help you reach that goal, but helping me reach mine: I want to raise $100* for Jumpstart Foundation (and hopefully more!)

For those of you who don’t know what Jumpstart it, here’s a blurb from their website:

One in three Canadian families cannot afford to enrol their children in sport and recreation activities because of financial barriers (Ipsos Reid, 2009). That means that many kids are missing out. 

Canadian Tire Jumpstart is dedicated to removing barriers, so children can participate in organized sport and recreation.

We see it as equipping kids for life, because participation in organized sport and recreation increases a child’s chance for success in life.

They discover and participate. They gain self-confidence. They develop self-esteem. They learn leadership skills. Their lives become richer. This is the power of Canadian Tire Jumpstart.

Canadian Tire Jumpstart is a national charitable program that helps financially disadvantaged kids participate in organized sport and recreation. We help cover registration, equipment and/or transportation costs.

We have an extensive, national network of more than 310 local chapters. Chapter members are volunteers who are committed to helping get kids active and healthy. They work in partnership with other local non-profit organizations to discreetly identify kids with the greatest need in their community. Canadian Tire Jumpstart then covers registration, equipment and/or transportation costs to help them participate in a sport or recreational activity of their choice.

We also lend support to unique initiatives aimed at increasing access to sport and recreation programs.

Since our launch in 2005, Canadian Tire Jumpstart has given 371,500 kids across Canada the chance to play.

[…]

100% of customer donations go directly to help kids in financial need participate in organized sport and recreation. (For more info: http://jumpstart.canadiantire.ca)

I have set up an online donation page, titled 90 Minutes of Fundraising, but hopefully, we do more. If you are interest in donating, please check out my online fundraising page:

http://bit.ly/yayi6g

Or by searching for "Sonja" and "Missio" on the Find a Fundraiser page on the Jumpstart website. Or by asking me directly on twitter (@sonjamissio). So, skip your coffee one day and put the $5 here. Or, skip eating out for lunch one day and put the $10 here. Or, skip a pint at an MLSE game and put the $20 here. Who knows, in a few years time, you might be wearing their name and number on your back.

All that’s left to say is: thank you.

Hopp,

scm. 

Post script: Please, pass this on if you can. xx. 


*UPDATE: $100 was reached in 2.65 minutes! I've upped it to $500. You guys are amazing!