Become a NeoAid Member
Our vision
NeoAid aims to allow anyone to donate to any good cause, using any technology, by becoming the reference point and leader in global e-philanthropy.
Huh?
As our name suggests, NeoAid is a new way giving. We harness the latest technology to make donating to a good cause simple, attractive… and FREE. Ultimately, our vision is that when you think ‘global e-philanthropy’ (as one does), one name will stand out: NeoAid. NeoAid IS its users: you make NeoAid what it is, by helping it function and helping it grow. Your actions and decisions shape the direction the organisation takes; from inviting new members to which features we implement to who benefits from the donations you generate.
How did it all start?
A Dream
The year is 2006. Vincent Cassar, a nice enough guy with a decade’s worth of experience launching and selling technology companies, decides he’d like to use his expertise to make a difference in the world. His big idea is to harness the amazing potential in the technology we use everyday to benefit people and planet. Vincent dedicates his life to fulfilling this vision. He creates an organization that will provide for the greater good, efficiently and sustainably. He calls it NeoAid.
A Team
Armed with a vision, Vincent heads off to HEC Montreal where he meets Daniel Piché in 2008. Daniel is an IT expert, and in no time at all Vincent has used his winning charm to share his dream and convince him to join him on his mission. But Daniel has a few ideas of his own, and so by combining their expertise, they create NeoAid as you see it now. In just a few short years, a dream became a reality. In early 2009, NeoAid launched its first phase. Now you know our noy-so-dark past. Our future is pretty much up to you.
But wait, there’s more:
A Bigger team
Here’s the lowdown on the people currently involved in NeoAid (to answer all those nosy questions you’ve been dying to ask).
Vincent Cassar (The Brains of the Operation)
Living by Einstein’s famous idea that “we cannot solve our problems with the same thinking we used when we created them”, Vincent makes sure everything runs smoothly at NeoAid. From his base in Johannesburg, South Africa, he keeps tabs, co-ordinates, and occasionally makes coffee. But if he is the brains of the operation (with an M.Sc in e-business), Vincent is also the heart. NeoAid is the fulfillment of his vision to make this world a better place through the technology available at our fingertips.
Daniel Piché (IT Ninja)
He’s been web consulting since he was 17, so at the ripe old age of 26, Dan’s quite the specialist. Which is great for NeoAid, where he’s in charge of managing IT, research and product development. Like Vincent, Dan has an M.Sc in e-business from HEC Montreal, and it was here that he helped shape the nuts and bolts of NeoAid. He may be in IT, but that doesn’t mean he never gets out. He’s been known to frequent the golf course and has even been spotted spending time with his girlfriend, family and friends. Currently based in Ottawa, Canada, Dan hopes one day to come and visit Vincent in sunny South Africa, if only to get away from the cold weather.
Lana de Jager (The Number Cruncher)
Lana is thirtysomething, going on 25, likes long walks on the beach (more specifically, Blouberg Beach, Cape Town, South Africa)… with her two precious dachshunds, Peanut and Scott. If she isn’t keeping the books in order for NeoAid, she’s running her own company, Financial PA. With 14 years’ experience, Lana makes sure NeoAid is in safe hands when it comes to balancing our debits and credits. Somehow she finds time to study towards a B.Comm degree as well. She’s passionate about animals, and her company actively donates to Adopt-a-Pet.org.za.
Andrew Webster (The Luncher / Designer)
A web-design guru (does that make him a spider-man?), Andrew is responsible for things that click. And links that work. And most of the pretty stuff at NeoAid.com. I’m sure you’ll agree that he’s created a site that makes you want to come back for more and not poke your eyes out with a blunt object in frustration – always a good thing! In between freelance web design and development, Andrew relaxes in the sun with friends, and avoids rude people. He’s big on lunches, lots and lots of lunches. In fact, he has lunch for breakfast and supper. Most importantly, Andrew likes his eggs sunnyside up. And yes, his surname is purely coincidental.
Jennifer Poole (The Soul of NeoAid)
Jen likes to do too many things at once. This may mean she has a short attention span – she likes to think it’s because she has an inquiring mind. Currently she splits her time between studying linguistics and various freelance editing and copywriting projects. When she grows up, she’d like to be… ah, but that will never happen (growing up, that is). Jen is responsible for most of the words on the NeoAid website. So if you don’t like them, you know who to blame. If you do like them, she’d love to hear from you.
Andrew Baddeley (Mr Video)
Yes, another one – apparently being called Andrew improves your chances of getting to work with NeoAid. Freelance graphic designer by day, Andrew transforms into DJ Badd by night (okay,okay he doesn't REALLY call himself that)– he loves mixing it up with the music from his vast collection. Alternatively you might find him at an outdoor trance party, or tending the veggie patch. He loves animals so much, he doesn’t eat them – much to the delight of his dog and two cats. Andrew’s contribution to NeoAid is the marvelous little introductory video you probably saw the first time you came to the site. In his own words, Andrew “does good stuff” – if you’d like to see more, visit his website.
Our Partners
We have brought together a broad set of partners to build an open, efficient paltform for Internet philanthropy. Without these partners, we would not exist today:
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And a special thanks to: Alain Theriault, Élodie Boissières, Charles Lupien, Tarek Chaaban, and everyone else who helped us materialise our vision.
Contact Information
We encourage you to contact us via the community section of the site where you can post your questions or ideas. This way you'll get an answer a lot faster than if you were to email the rather boring info@neoaid.com
But if you must you may:
| Email us: | info@neoaid.com |
| Call us: | + 44 20 8123 8600 |
| Send us a postcard: | Neoaid.com 2nd Floor, 145-157 St John Street, London, EC1V 4PY United Kingdom |