Posted by Gabe on July 6, 2009 under Kids are Heroes, Non-Profits, Social Media | 
On February 12, 2008 I happened to be watching an interview with Sir Richard Branson conducted by Charlie Rose. I was fascinated by it as this was the first time I had heard the term “social entrepreneurship”. This concept basically means that individuals and/or companies use their technology, skills and hard work to solve issues instead of just throwing money at a problem. I became totally enthralled by this idea. As a matter of fact, it was (and still is) one of the main influences behind the creation of Kids Are Heroes. But what happens when the word “profit” is brought up?
For over a year now, Kids Are Heroes has been an effort that my 10-year-old daughter and I hold exclusively. There is no company, no income, just a web site that inspires children all over the world to include philanthropy as part of their everyday life. If you know me personally then you know how passionate I am about this site and the kids that are featured on it. In the first year we have grown substantially, keeping expenses to a minimum but still paying the bills. We know we can do much more once we are funded, so that is why we submitted our two minute video “pitch” to Richard Branson for his new PitchTV show. Thanks to all the support we have on Twitter, we won the contest and are featured on his web site. One of the comments on our pitch suggested we take out ads on our site to help fund our efforts. Another person countered this idea saying “please do not [do this] …this will make people suspicious that your intentions are commercial at heart.” She goes on to say, “…I don’t think you need to. This idea is a winner!”
Hmmmm.. I am wondering what the second part of that comment meant: “I don’t think you need to.” How do we get funded? Where will this funding come from? Is someone with deep pockets going to give us money? What happens when that runs out? Wouldn’t it be better if we worked for the money instead of asking for a handout? Interestingly enough, the second PitchTV show featured an effort called Project Rhythm Seed (which I voted for by the way). They align themselves with Paul Newman in that they plan to create a “Newmanesque” type company that once funded it will no longer need donations. They will sell products and with the proceeds they will fund other non-profits. This is a wonderful idea. Will they have expenses? Will people get paid? I would imagine so unless they are independently wealthy. Richard Branson was asked in the interview in 2008, “Would you be in favor of a huge taxation on those who have benefitted the most from the system and redistribute it through the state?” His reply was interesting: “I’m not sure it would work…It sounds right and it sounds fair, but the state is not that good at redistributing money. So I think it does mean that those of us who have got money must make sure that we really use it properly and put it to good use.” As I watched this program I was a bit jealous that I didn’t have the resources he did to make such a positive effect on the planet. But I do have a small talent that can be leveraged which is that I can build a web site. Interestingly enough, at that very time my daughter asked me to build her a web site that helped animals. That is indeed how Kids Are Heroes was born. If I had Mr. Branson’s money there would be no question. I would fund it and make it my life’s work. But would it be better to do that or to build a company that creates jobs and still funds the non-profit end of it?
So why are some companies questioned by others as to their true motives when they give away part of their proceeds to non-profits? A friend on Twitter, Zephora Haddon, owns a company called “Amber Alert Registry” which offers the service of a secure database with key data and photos to assist law enforcement if a child were to go missing. AAR had decided from the get-go that, not only did they want to help protect children in a vital way, but equally work to aid nonprofits and the education system in their own deepest issue: raising funds for their own purposes. At the same time, they donate significant sign ups so that their secure database reflects all economic fronts and that their service is available in a balanced way to everyone. Says Zephora: “I think it’s interesting that people may think to judge us for making money from the potentially life-saving service we provide. As a parent myself I would think a few dollars a month (less than $2) for this important peace of mind is priceless. Additionally, we raise funds in a tough economy where 501c3′s are struggling – and we do it by providing a great service. And we give it away to those who can’t afford it. Shouldn’t this integration of business and giving just be the way business is now performed?”
Another great effort you might have seen is Tom’s Shoes. They have a simple tag line that I quote from their web site: “For every pair you purchase, TOMS will give a pair of new shoes to a child in need.” Is this person making money? To be honest I certainly hope so because I feel he deserves it. I just wish more companies lived by these rules. Wouldn’t it be great if more jobs were created that in some way worked for the greater good? This, I hope is the dawning of more “philanthropreneurial” companies, those that are socially aware and conscious, and actually have a culture where everyone is working to help benefit the planet in some way.
So I am really curious as to what you think about this subject. Your candor is both welcomed and appreciated.
Update (7/9/09): Was sent this article by @tmdesigninc that is directly related to this subject. A very good read.
Posted by Gabe on June 10, 2009 under Family, Non-Profits |
Greg w/ Kids from Mityana
I am going to deviate a bit from my normal type of post. My usual fare is dedicated to Kids Are Heroes, Twitter or something to do with our dogs and family. This time I am going to discuss my brother Greg and one of the organizations he is associated with which is SCAW (Sleeping Children Around the World).
Quite a few years ago my brother had a life changing event which affected his entire outlook. He had always been associated with social work as a vocation, but in the end that did not prove fulfilling to him. He discovered his true passion, and that is traveling around the world to serve others. For years beyond my count he has helped build homes for indigent people with Habitat for Humanity in every corner of the globe. His latest venture is just coming to an end – in fact as I write this he is in the midst of a 15 hour flight home. He visited Uganda where he helped SCAW deliver 6000 bedkits to needy children.
From the website of SCAW.org:
“Sleeping Children Around the World (SCAW) donations provide bedkits to children of any race and/or religion who will benefit the most; typically being located in underdeveloped and developing countries. No portion of a bedkit donation is spent on administration — 100% reaches a needy child. Each *$35 donation (Canadian funds) provides a bedkit that consists of a mat or mattress, pillow, sheet, blanket, mosquito net (if applicable), clothes outfit, towel and school supplies. Bedkit contents vary from country to country depending upon local needs. Since its founding by Murray and Margaret Dryden in 1970, SCAW has raised over $20 million to provide bedkits for over 900,000 children in 33 countries. In 2009 we will reach our millionth child.”
One of the keys here bears repeating: “No portion of a bedkit donation is spent on administration — 100% reaches a needy child.” This is critical (and highly unusual) because people who donate to this organization can be assured that all their money is going to the desired purpose.
When Greg is at home he helps cancer patients by driving them to their treatments and connects with hospice patients in a way that can only be seen to be believed. Due to his somewhat shy and introverted nature he would more than likely be mortified that this is being written about him, but I will just ask him to “get over it” because at the same time he is getting more exposure for his organizations. He and I often discuss reasons for doing things such as this. For him it is food that provides spiritual sustenance for him every time he does it. He is not independently wealthy and must fund these trips himself. As a matter of fact I don’t know how he manages. He did tell me that if he had a sponsor he would make several more trips per year. If this post touches you and you know of someone who is in the position to help fund some of his trips, please contact me here.
Many people have said very nice things to me about our efforts with Kids Are Heroes. What makes Greg different is that he puts himself at risk each time he does this, traveling to places where diseases are more prevalent and where kidnappings are not uncommon. This is something I do not believe I could ever do. Most everything I do is from the relatively luxurious comfort of my own home. I would love nothing more than to be able to be the catalyst that helps him do more of what he is passionate about. Greg is indeed a real hero.
UPDATE: 06/12/09 Well now Greg has returned home and has written a report of his experiences. A very powerful read:
SCAW UGANDA DISTRIBUTION JUNE 2009
by Greg O’Neill
“While we try to teach our children all about life,
Our children teach us what life is all about”. – Angela Schwindt
Imagine the joy and exhilaration of being greeted so enthusiastically by a sea of 500 smiling children dressed in brightly colored tee shirts of red, green, yellow and orange all cheering, chanting and clapping as the SCAW team approached them for 12 times over 10 consecutive days! Each day we had a distribution was a true adrenalin rush for each of the SCAW traveling volunteers.
On one of the early distribution days, I approached an open truck loaded with children, parents and bed kits as they were preparing to return to their villages. One boy wanted to share his feelings with me while at the same time representing all the other children on the truck when he said with a broad smile “we are very happy.” He then went on to ask me if it were possible for him to go to Canada. I told him that he certainly could provided he stayed in school and worked very hard. He then asked me “are there any dark people in Canada?” He seemed quite satisfied when I told him there were many Ugandan people living in Canada as well as people from almost all of the countries of Africa. His next question was “what kind of food do you have in Canada?” When I answered we had beef, chicken, goat, rice, potatoes and cassava as well as pineapple, watermelon and bananas he seemed quite overjoyed. As the truck pulled away amid cheery good-byes and high fives, I couldn’t help but feel that in addition to providing a good night’s sleep to the 6,015 children who received bed kits, we may also have provided those same children with a beacon of hope for a bright future.
Another highlight of the trip for me was spending two weeks with the members of the Inner Wheel Club of Kampala. They are clearly an amazing collection of ‘angels’ who worked tirelessly and seamlessly not only on behalf of the children, but also making sure that the experience of the SCAW team was as enjoyable as it was comfortable. To them I extend my deep thanks and gratitude for their warm, gracious and generous hospitality and especially for their friendship.
Last but not least, I would like to express my thanks to each and every donor who contributed bed kits for this distribution. It was a joy and a privilege to represent you and present your gifts to these children and their very appreciative families. Endless expressions of their gratitude were conveyed to us every day through their smiles, their gestures and their “thank yous”.
As we leave Uganda having completed the distribution, the faces of the children and the gestures of gratitude from the children, their families and members of the community at large are indelibly etched in my mind and my heart. I will return to Canada with humility, a profound respect for the people whose lives have touched ours and a deep appreciation for all that we have waiting for us back home.
(Extremely well put. Now I know where the lion’s share of the brains ended up in my family…) I spoke to Greg on the phone today and the conversation was very inspiring. It had me dreaming of joining him on one of these missions someday…
