Tis good to give

I recently gave some money to my high school. It’s not going to cover a teacher’s salary, and it’s not going to break the bank for me. But with company matching donations, it’s more than $100. And it’s something.

Pat Taylor, talented teacher and administrator, once told me that “gifted students can learn in a closet.” This is why it’s so hard to secure help for the best and brightest — because such kids are predisposed to doing well by their own drive and intellect, the budget bean-counters aren’t inclined to support them. That’s where graduates come in.

But I’m poor! The economy sucks! Etc etc… all true. But you can help by giving just $5. I’m serious. 5 bucks. Skip the Starbucks today.

Here’s the thing — fundraising campaigns work best on positivity. There are still folks out there with boku bucks to give, and they could be convinced to give them to GSGIS, but they need to see a commitment from stakeholders. You know who stakeholders are? Alumni. You and me.

When the school goes before the state lawmakers, or high-rollers who could donate, they’ll be asked about alumni support.

“Well, only 15% of the graduates have contributed to the campaign. Even though we’re in touch with 80% of them.”  Statements like THAT are not going to get the dollars. But just giving a few bucks adds to the percentage of alumni support. And that alone can make an impact.

So here’s what you do. You go to the Governor’s School Foundation Web site. You get out your trusty credit card and you donate a few dollars, whatever you can spare today. (If you win the lottery next week, come back and give some more!) But just contribute anything at all. It ups the percentages, and statistics like that do matter when it comes to making funding available.

If you’re like me, GSGIS made a difference in your life. Now you can make a difference in the school’s future.

It’s easy. You can do it online. You know, like the Amazon thing on teh internets.

Oh, and one more thing before you go:

Thank you.

ASPCA go away

I hate this ASPCA commercial.

Not because it runs near-constantly on CNN. Though that IS annoying.

It preys on the emotions of viewers to get them to donate, but also takes advantage of common misconceptions. Many people think the ASPCA is linked to their local animal shelter. It’s not. The ASPCA operates in the five boroughs of New York City. It has a national reach, but the money you send there does not trickle down to your neighborhood humane society all happily.

I feel that this commercial pulls donations and support away from people’s local shelters, which need it so much more because they don’t have their own shows on Animal Planet.