Double your donation!

[raefinlay]

The media says Hurricane Katrina may be the costliest natural disaster in U.S. History. Sooo...what are we gonna do about it?

I know a lot of you folks put your money where your humanitarian mouths are, and that rocks. *loffs friends* But, I just wanted to throw something out there for you all to consider.

Making our meager dollars stretch in such a time can be a real challenge. The single most effective way to raise money for relief is through corporate matching programs. ie. Acme Widgets takes donations from employees and agrees to match up to x-amount. So, by donating $20, you cause $40 to go toward relief. Also, such programs tend to build lemming momentum, and someone who normally wouldn't part with the daily lunch money becomes more inclined to make a small sacrifice.

So, those of you who suffer the corporate job, how about sending an email to your HR department asking your company to consider a corporate matching donation program? If not, you can still organize a pool among your co-workers. When you tell the big boss you want to make a large, collective donation on behalf of Acme Widgets, she/he will loff you.

What do you think??

Comments

[shadawyn.livejournal.com]

My company did something similar for tsunami relief earlier this year. In addition, many of our main areas are located in the areas hit by the storm. (In fact, yesterday we were told to expect higher call volumes because the call center in LA had to be evacuated.) I have no doubts the company will put out some sort of relief fund--but they are probably waiting for it to finish up.

Good thoughts :)

[cricketshay.livejournal.com]

I think that is a wonderful idea. I wonder if I tried to take up a collection at work, how many people would actually give? Or if I would get shut down by the management? I'll have to try. I have to do something.

[raecarson.livejournal.com]

Yay Shay! Doesn't hurt to ask, eh?

[cricketshay.livejournal.com]

I wonder if I should call the corporate office or just take up donations on my own. Or if I set up a pay pal button or link to red cross. I'm not sure what I will do, but I am going to do something. I can't just sit and watch.

[wine-love-pen.livejournal.com]

I asked my boss. :) No answer yet.

[raecarson.livejournal.com]

Wooo! Yeah, me too. But won't they look like jerks if they say no???

*evil*

[wine-love-pen.livejournal.com]

Heh. I work for a non-profit so I don't know the status on that type of thing, but my boss is one of the most generous, kindest people I know.

P.S. Just so you know, I deleted my other comments because I spoke (typed?) before I thought. My knee-jerk reactions are, well, knee-jerk. There's a reason why I stopped posting anything but writing stuff. Need to remember that. :)

[raecarson.livejournal.com]

Yeah. Me too. *knee-jerk reactor*

[wine-love-pen.livejournal.com]

Yay! They're contributing! My boss told accounting to "give as much as we can" and the staff can contribute whatever they want. Yay! Ask and ye shall receive ...

[raecarson.livejournal.com]

Woo hoo! Dude. That made my morning.

[quarkwiz.livejournal.com]

(Here via barbarienne's flist.) That's a great idea. The humongous parent corp of our company did the same thing for tsunami relief, so I hope they have something on the go this time. If they don't....yeah, they'll seem pretty cheap.

[raecarson.livejournal.com]

Howdy! *shakes hands*

I remember how corporations came through after the 9/11 disaster. I'm hoping for a similar response.