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Remi won !

Remi is last month lucky winner of our monthly sweepstake. Here are a few words he emailed us.

Thank you neoaid, I never thought I could raise funds for free!
I learned about neoaid only a week before i won this prize, and the second I went on the site I knew that I should be an active member in this organization. I use neoaid every day, and downloaded some of the software, and plan to continue :). Neoaid has a great community and will hopefully grow and grow and grow!

Good luck to the next monthly prize winner,
remi

Thank you, thank you very much!

(still in Elvis voice) This one goes out to all our fans…

Okay, okay, the truth is YOU GUYS are the rock stars right now for all your support over the past month. Our tribute begins with the one, the only, Meg Appleby, who dedicated a whole blog post just to us in June. You may as well bookmark her blog - Digital Philanthropy - as well this other one she has (busy lady!) on tips to make a difference in the world, because you’ll definitely want to visit again. Or keep up with her on Twitter @kiwimeg (no prizes for guessing where she’s from).

Next we say thank you to Tracey, who was kind enough to include us on her website Charity, Compassion and Chat which has some inspiring stories on both individuals and organisations. Chat with Tracey on Twitter here.

Third up, is Emma Cooper and her Click for Charity Squidoo lens. If you’re passionate about online philanthropy, you can’t miss the other tips on this site. For those of you who don’t know, philanthropy is right up there on the Squidoo agenda - anyone setting up a lens (a webpage on a single topic) can generate funds for charity right there and then.

And last, this just in: we are honored to have been featured on SocialEarth today. With its bright and cheerful design (they’ve recently launched a new look), SocialEarth is by no means just a pretty (inter)face. The site is packed full of news about social entrepreneurs, online philanthropy, green and health issues and more. And it’s fresh too - updated daily. You can follow them on Twitter here, or stalk (you would never use the FB search function for that, would you?), er, find them on Facebook.

That’s all (for now), folks! Don’t forget to let me know if you’ve given NeoAid a shout out and we haven’t *blush* said thank you.

Michael Jackson, Farrah Fawcett & Charity

Whatever your opinion of him (and it seems EVERYONE has a opinion when it comes to the King of Pop), there can be no disputing that the late Michael Jackson gave generously of his time and money when it came to charity. In fact, he was even featured in the Guiness Book of Records as the celebrity supporting the most charities - a whopping 39! Sure, when you’re responsible for the biggest-selling album of all time, you can afford to part with a few million bucks here and there. What struck me though is how often he took time out of his schedule to meet with young fans who were terminally ill or otherwise disadvantaged (see an impressive list of examples here). To me that shows a real care and concern that can never be eclipsed by the presentation of a large cheque.

Original Charlie’s Angel, Farrah Fawcett, was also pretty inspirational. Long before she drew attention to the plight of those affected by the disease that would claim her life, Farrah used her celebrity status to raise funds for other important causes, like the National Domestic Violence Hotline. She even turned her own suffering into something positive, by creating Farrah’s Story - a documentary on her battle with cancer that is a testament to her bravery, and will continue to raise awareness.

Am I trying to hint that these larger-than-life celebrities should go down in history as saints? Not at all - we do, after all, only have access to their public personas. However, they certainly are to be admired for using their talent and good fortune for the benefit of others. If you’ve been touched by their passing, why not spend some time (or money) on the charities and causes that were close to their hearts, in their honour.

Farrah’s causes:
National Domestic Violence Hotline
American Cancer Society

(some of) Michael’s causes:
United Negro College Fund
Make-A-Wish Foundation
Elizabeth Taylor Aids Foundation
Childhelp USA
The Nelson Mandela Children’s Fund
The Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation

And finally, some novel ways to contribute:
Post a photo tribute to Michael Jackson at the Daily Mission - the winner will have $100 donated to the End Hunger Network on their behalf.
And… Eat Your Cookie will donate 25% of your purchase’s value to one of two charities that Michael supported.

***Info on Farrah and Michael’s charities from Joanne’s Nonprofit Blog and Katie McCoy’s Examiner.com column***

We Have A Winner!

I’m pleased to announce the winner of our very first monthly prize - congratulations to Danika Chen! She is now the proud owner of a $100 voucher for Amazon.com. She had this to say:

“I thank NeoAid for allowing me to combine my
daily life with my desire to give back. I easily spend
a good 6 or more hours on the web a day (mostly
due to work) and love the fact that each search I do
generates donations towards an awesome cause.
Kudos to you, NeoAid :)”

Aw, thanks Danika. How did she manage to win this voucher, you may be asking. Ultimately, luck (since our monthly competition is respectable and audited), but she earned entries into the draw simply by inviting friends and being active on NeoAid. How can you win next month’s prize? By doing the same and entering the draw. Easy, huh?

Danika, we thank you again for helping to make this world a better place. Remember to buy your Amazon goodies through our shopping portal ;-)

Blogging For A Cause 7: The World Wide Fund for Nature

It seemed fitting to end off our Blogging For A Cause series with a nonprofit whose aims are in keeping with those of World Environment Day, celebrated today.

Their logo may be the well-known panda, but the WWF isn’t only concerned with warm and fuzzy animals. Their mission is to actively conserve what is still left of our environment’s biodiversity, and encourage people to stop wasting and polluting natural resources, by promoting sustainable use of renewable resources. To achieve these aims they engage in on-site action, policy work, campaigning, education and capacity building. These activities take WWF folk all over the globe, in a bid to fulfill their vision of ‘a future in which humans live in harmony with nature’.

They’re the people behind the highly successful Earth Hour, celebrated earlier this year. Some other recent achievements are delivering on a pledge involving 100 million hectares of wetlands in the Andes, assisted in lobbying for Greece’s new clean energy policy, and announced an increase in the mountain gorilla population due to support of local conservation efforts in the Eastern DRC.

Online, they’ve packaged requests for donations into meaningful amounts, so you can tell exactly what your money will be doing. My favorite? For $15 you can “send a turtle to rehab” (insert Amy Winehouse joke here). And if you need some amusing distraction, the WWF site even has a few quirky little games you can play to bump up your conservation knowledge. Or, a little more serious, you can calculate your environmental impact (or footprint) here.

The little panda is all over Twitter – you can follow its tracks at (among others):
@WWF_Climate
@WWF
@WWF_Australia
@WWFUS
@WWF_UK_web
@WWFMy
@WWFIreland
@WWFSouthAfrica

WWF – for  a living planet.

***This blog post is part of Zemanta’s “Blogging For a Cause” campaign to raise awareness and funds for worthy causes that bloggers care about.***

Blogging For A Cause 6: Amnesty International

As long as someone, somewhere in the world is facing injustice, discrimination, violence, or torture, Amnesty International will be campaigning for their right to be treated with dignity and to enjoy the freedoms many of us take for granted. Some of their aims include abolishing the death sentence, ending violence against women, aiding prisoners of conscience and protecting migrants’ and refugees’ rights. High on their current agenda is the trial of Myanmar democracy leader, Aung San Suu Kyi, which I’m sure many of you will have seen in the news recently.

AI activists have made an enormous difference over the years, exerting influence over governments on matters of policy, and mobilizing public pressure, through lobbying, campaigning and demonstrating. Amnesty International’s effectiveness was recognized with the Nobel Prize for Peace in 1977. Last week the organization celebrated its 47th birthday, with the launch of the Amnesty International Report 2009. 

They have chapters all over the world, with their own websites, and are very well represented on Twitter. Some of the English-language tweeters include  @amnesty and @amnestynews (USA), @AmnestyUK, @AmnestyIRL, @AmnestyHorsham, and @amnestybham (in the UK),  @AmnestyOz, @AmnestyNZ, and @AmnestyNSW (Down Under), and also @amnestyintl and @demand_dignity. You can also keep up to date with what’s happening on their blog, Livewire.

Still a little confused about what exactly ‘human rights’ entail? View this delightful illustrated version of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights.

Don’t miss our final Blog For A Cause coming up on Friday this week, where we’ll feature the World Wide Fund for Nature.

***This blog post is part of Zemanta’s “Blogging For a Cause” campaign to raise awareness and funds for worthy causes that bloggers care about.***

Blog For A Cause 5: City of Hope

Cancer is a leading cause of death in the Western world. But City of Hope, with the help of donations from people like you, is taking on the challenge of that statistic. Based in Duarte, California, City of Hope has been a leader in prevention, treatment and cure of life-threatening illness for nearly 100 years. Their cancer patient treatment facility and biomedical research center have been responsible for pioneering procedures such as bone marrow transplant, and they have already performed over 8,000 of these and stem cell transplants to date. With a focus on people, rather than merely symptoms, City of Hope is a refuge and source of reassurance for those brave people facing diseases like cancer, diabetes or HIV/AIDS. When you’re facing the battle of your life, it’s no small comfort to be treated as a real person, with hopes and dreams and fears, who will benefit as much from treatment as from support.

Funding for City of Hope, helps them to

shorten the time it takes to get from bold, innovative ideas to powerful new medical treatments.

Naturally, donations are always welcome (you can donate online right now if you’re feeling generous). Or even easier, select them as your chosen cause here on NeoAid and generate free donations. But you could also join a local chapter to show your support. Or perhaps you’d like to get involved in the freshly launched “Celebrate Hope” campaign to raise awareness about diabetes and promote wellness.

If you happen to be in New Jersey next weekend, take part in their Annual Walk of Hope, to raise funds for breast cancer. If you want to join the ranks of heroes, you could donate blood or bone marrow. They’re reaching out on Twitter too @cityofhope – make the connection, and make a difference!

Catch up with us on Monday for our sixth Blog For A Cause, where we’ll be celebrating the good work of Amnesty International.

P.S. If cancer is a cause that’s close to your heart, remember, Sunday is World No Tobacco Day.

***This blog post is part of Zemanta’s “Blogging For a Cause” campaign to raise awareness and funds for worthy causes that bloggers care about.***

Blogging for A Cause 4: Direct Relief International

There is never a time when there isn’t an emergency happening somewhere in the world. In developing countries, and those affected by war or disaster, local healthcare systems usually struggle to cope with the heavy demands placed on them. Since 1948, Direct Relief International has been assisting and strengthening these systems and the health professionals who make them work, by providing medicine, medical supplies and equipment, as well as cash grants to those who need it. Most recently, Direct Relief has provided emergency aid to Zimbabwe, to victims of H1N1 (swine) flu in the Americas, and of Dengue Fever in Bolivia, and victims of the Jesusita fire in Santa Barbara County, California.

But apart from emergencies, they have a long-term focus on healthcare systems that assist women and children, those affected by HIV/Aids, and with basic healthcare. Direct Relief International’s funding is completely private, and they receive medical supplies from companies as donations. They have consistently been rated and recognized for their efficiency: in 2008, they delivered $38 of aid for every $1 spent – now that’s impressive! And they’ve just been rated a four-star charity (for the fifth consecutive year) by Charity Navigator.

While donations of both funding and medical supplies are welcome, spend some time on their website and you’ll discover a number of ways that you can get involved directly, for example, by signing up for their eBulletin, volunteering or just connecting with them at Social Vibe. You can follow their efforts on a day-to-day basis on Twitter @directrelief.

This is the fourth of our Blogs-For-A-Cause – remember to check back here on Friday where we’ll be featuring City of Hope. Are you Blogging For A Cause? I’d love to hear about it - why not drop me a mail?

***This blog post is part of Zemanta’s “Blogging For a Cause” campaign to raise awareness and funds for worthy causes that bloggers care about.***

Blogging For A Cause 3: The UN World Food Programme

While I don’t want to create a picture of a continent that’s little more than a repository for aid, I chose the UN’s World Food Programme as today’s cause because it’s Africa Day (and a significant amount of the Programme’s work is carried out in Africa).

The WFP provides food to about 90 million people a year, nearly two-thirds of whom are children. In an emergency, it acts swiftly, providing both food and logistical support. But the WFP also puts steps in place to support people long after the initial problem has subsided – it can take years for a community to get back to self-sufficiency. By providing free lunches at schools, and encouraging students to further their studies, the Programme also links food support to improving education.

The WFP are responsible for some pretty innovative fundraising initiatives. They’re the folks behind Free Rice – a fun little site where you can answer trivia questions in a range of categories (but not too trivial – you do actually learn useful things, like boosting your vocabulary), each question answered earning 10 grains of rice for the hungry. It’s the ultimate resource for procrastinating at work, but doing good at the same time!

They’ve also cottoned on to the fact that today’s young people need to learn about issues like global hunger and poverty now, so they will be effective and world-changing leaders of the future. So they’ve come up with a nifty free-to-download video game for kids called “Food Force”. In addition, they’ve recently dedicated a section of their website to children, particularly for use in schools.

Not only is the WFP making a real difference in the world, but also some smart moves to ensure that the good work continues. You can follow their work on Twitter @fighthunger.

We’re almost halfway through our Blogs For A Cause - catch our fourth one on Wednesday, 27 May, where we’ll be blogging for Direct Relief International.

P.S. For a refreshing and positive outlook on Africa, take a look at See Africa Differently.

***This blog post is part of Zemanta’s “Blogging For a Cause” campaign to raise awareness and funds for worthy causes that bloggers care about.***

Blogging For A Cause 2: The International Fund for Animal Welfare

Well today’s International Day for Biological Diversity, so I thought I’d focus on a nonprofit that spends a lot of its energies on sustainable conservation: IFAW. Sustainable conservation means balancing the preservation of wildlife with the needs of the local communities who live alongside it – no easy task as I’m sure you can imagine. They’re active around the world, both in saving animals and training up people to do the same in their local communities. And it’s not just wildlife. IFAW is as passionate about saving elephants on the plains of Africa as about making sure that beloved pets in a poorer neighborhood in your city get all their shots and are sterilized.

One of their current campaigns is to stop the annual baby seal hunt in Canada. You can follow this on Twitter too: @stopthesealhunt. Speaking of Twitter, you could also follow @action4ifaw to keep up to date with what’s happening in the world of IFAW.

There are tons of other ways you can get involved. You’ll be in good company – last year Leonardo DiCaprio, an honorary IFAW board member, helped launch their 16th Animal Action Week, the largest animal-focused event in the world.

For more than 60 years, IFAW has been creating a better world for animals and people. Here’s to the next 60!

Check back here on 25 May - the next cause we’ll be blogging for is the United Nations World Food Programme. Let me know which causes or charities you’re blogging about.

***This blog post is part of Zemanta’s “Blogging For a Cause” campaign to raise awareness and funds for worthy causes that bloggers care about.***