ItStartsWith.Us » Social Media For Good: 12for12k

Social Media For Good: 12for12k

June 29th, 2009 by Nate

I’ve been hearing the name Danny Brown for a while now, but I never really knew what he did. Well, this weekend I finally figured it out, and I now wish I would have done it earlier. Danny is the man behind the 12for12k Challenge you may have been hearing about this year. It’s a really cool concept, and I could wax all poetic about it (as is my wont), but instead I think I’ll just let Danny tell you about it himself. This is from the “About” page of the site.

The 12for12k Challenge is the combination of social media and fund-raising that aims to change the lives of millions worldwide.

Its aim is to raise a minimum of $144,000 for 12 charities over the course of 2009, with a new charity being supported every month. All proceeds raised go directly to the chosen charities.

The concept is simple:

12 months of the year

12 charities, a different charity each month

$12,000 per charity

How will we do this? By using the power and outreach of social media to spread the word. From Twitter to Facebook, blogs to social media newsrooms and more, the 12for12k Challenge will be helping our chosen charities connect with as wide an audience as possible.

To ensure as much help goes to those who need it, all the partners in the 12for12k Challenge are offering their time and services for free. Additionally, every charity chosen must have no more than 10% administration costs, with financial records available on request. Additionally, all donations go direct to the charity’s normal donation page — there is no middle-man to handle donations.

I only spoke to him briefly on Twitter yesterday, but he comes highly recommended from a few of my friends, and I’m happy to become a blog partner in his endeavor for the rest of the year. As you can see, I’ve added a badge to the left sidebar, which will automatically update with the current month’s charity. I’ll also be writing one post a month to update you guys on what the 12for12k group is doing.

This month’s charity is UNICEF — 12for12k is working with them on the Believe in Zero campaign.

I’d also like to let you know that today (Monday, June 29th) 12for12k is holding a 24-hour Video-a-thon. I’ll be checking in throughout the day and night, and I encourage you to do the same.

If you want to keep in touch with Danny and his partners, you can find them at any of the following locations:

12for12k on Twitter
12for12k on Facebook
12for12k on Youtube
12for12k on Twibes

Thanks for helping me support a great mission — I’ll keep you updated on 12for12k throughout the year. If you have any comments for Danny, please leave them below, and I’ll make sure he sees them.

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husnain

"They have great topics like this one on www.energytalkradio.com and donate 30% to charity! Check them out."
Rosalina Peña

I admire anyone who cares about others and tries to help in any way, this is just beautiful...I believe in zero :)
trevmex

What a wonderful idea. I just donated, and I have sent the word out to my friends. It always amazes me that so little can go so far. I didn't realize it until I went on a volunteer trip to Vietnam. A group of us rented a van and drove around to poor minority villages to distribute aid. One of the things we were doing was giving out food aid to hurricane victims. We went to a rice supplier in a large Vietnamese city and bought some rice. For the same amount you or I could but a 10lbs bag of rice in America, we bought 1 ton, that is 2000lbs, of rice. Our small amount of money (the price of a bag of rice) helped an entire village of people eat. That stuck with me, and it makes me believe that we can do some good in the world, if we just give it a shot.
Danny Brown

Wow...

First, Nate, thank you so much for this really kind write-up and words, and for joining in on our blogger community - that is awesome and means a lot, thank you!

David, I really don't know what to say - that's an incredible endorsement for anyone, and to know that someone's saying that about me is just crazy (and I mean that in a good way)!

Thank you, seriously, for your really kind comment. I think we can all make a difference, and the support that 12for12k is receiving is really humbling and a prime example of us all wanting to make a difference.

Thanks guys, you both rock and I really appreciate your support!

Danny.
David St. Pierre

Hey Danny,

I really like what you're doing here. Most people pick a specific charity/organization to give to and go from there. I don't know weather it's because they believe in THAT specific one, more than all the rest or if they just pick the most convenient one for them simply to make them feel some sort of satisfaction. I'm sure you know how many "charities" out there are scams and only a very small percentage actually goes to the cause that you're giving to. That's what made me take a second look at what you’re doing.

Not only the “12 charities in 12 months,” (getting info, literature, contacts and everything else involved for each) not only the “not more than 10% taken out of each donating for administration costs,” (I didn't even know there were 12 out there that didn't have that) not only the “equal amount set, given to each charity” [if someone's going to support one, they have to support them all (or do some more in-depth research about the one that had touched them the most)] but because you spent so much time giving, making a difference in peoples lives and literally saving lives because you believe in something greater than yourself.

Danny, you are inspired and you inspire. Thank you for touching not only the lives of the people around you, but for all the good you’re doing around the world.

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