Twitter Charity Hats Help Raise Money, Awareness
When I started GiveBackIn, one of the things I did was reserve the right to spotlight individuals who aren’t necessarily non-profit groups or organizations, but who are working to make the world a better place. Shara Lawrence-Weiss is one of those people who deserves a spotlight.
I’ve followed Shara on Twitter for a while and I’m a member of her MommyPerks site. She’s the kind of person who is always happy to pass along great information and ideas or a kind word…and never expect anything in return. Shara is the kind of person who makes you want to be better and do better in the world.
I asked Shara to do a guest blog post on GiveBackIn because she started a great way to spotlight small businesses and in return raise money for charities. Here’s what she had to say…
GUEST POST: Twitter Charity Hats Campaign
By Shara Lawrence-Weiss – owner of Mommy Perks, Kids Perks, Personal Child Stories and Early Childhood News and Resources
What began as a joke has now turned into a serious media strategy, thanks to a suggestion from Louise Sattler – owner of Signing Families.
I have been wearing silly hats on my twitter avatar (Photoshopped) since December of 2009. People began asking which hat would come next; what silly holiday would I be promoting? Ride your bike to work day? National Donut Day? World Turtle Day?
Louise suggested that I use my “hat power” for the good of charity. Why not offer to wear a small business hat (logo included) on my avatar, in trade for a donation to charity? Without hesitation I agreed. People have asked me why I was so quick to say yes but in all honesty – I can’t even imagine having said no.
My parents involved our family in charity and non-profit work since the time we were each born. It wasn’t something that we decided to jump into at one particular point. It simply always was.
Any time we can use our contacts and media attention for the betterment of human life, why not, right?
Here’s how it works:
- Any family-friendly small business seeking PR can join the waiting list:
- They will tell me what charity they’d like to donate to ($20+). I do not accept any politically-based non-profit organizations.
- The business owner can ship me a hat featuring their logo (or we can Photoshop their logo on).
- A photo will be taken of me, wearing their hat.
- I’ll upload that photo to twitter for one week.
- I will also post about the business and charity, giving them both a little SEO. (See a sample post.)
- I will link the blog post on Facebook and Twitter – numerous times throughout the featured week.
Charity donations are being tracked. At the end of the year I’ll announce the sum of all donations. If things have gone well, I’ll most likely keep the momentum going into 2011.
I now have Education.com and HerInsight Media on the list, among others. So…I’d say – it’s going quite well thus far.
Learn more about the hats by reading A Trip Down Memory Lane.
Category: GiveBackIn
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Interesting concept! Does it have to be small business owners? Or can those who want to promote their favorite charity get involved, too?
Hi FireMom!
Well, this began as a way to promote small business AND charity – a “two for one” if you will. However, I’m more than happy to do this for anyone, small business or not :-)
The charity needs to be non political and family friendly. Those are my only 2 criteria.
Thanks for asking!
Twitter Charity Hats Help Raise Money, Awareness – http://www.writrams.com/2010/08/10/twitt... #GiveBackIn #charity
@MommyPerks SURPRISE! Your guest post is up! Sent you an email. Twitter Charity Hats Help Raise Money, Awareness – http://www.writrams.com/2010/08/10/twitt...
RT @WritRams: @MommyPerks SURPRISE! Your guest post is up! Sent you an email. Twitter Charity Hats Help Raise Money, Awareness – http:// …
It has been a trendsetting idea, very creative, haven’t heard back from Shara on how the business owners have responded to this campaign, but my easy bet would be a roaring success!
And its so simple and genuine.
Great Job Shazz, way to go!
K
Thanks, friend!
Thank you, Shara, for allowing me to be a part of the Twitter Charity Hats campaign. I am so proud of your efforts and our friendship.
Ditto, Louise. Love ya!
Excited to have guest blog post from @MommyPerks for #GiveBackIn on #twittercharityhats http://www.writrams.com/2010/08/10/twitt…. Thanks Shara!
RT @WritRams: Excited to have guest blog post from @MommyPerks for #GiveBackIn on #twittercharityhats http://www.writrams.com/2010/08/10/twitt…. Thanks Shara!
What a great idea for reaching a lot of people at once!
We are part of a Run Team for the Breast Cancer Foundation CIBC Run for the Cure. i hope you don’t mind if I pass the idea on to the rest of our group as a potential fundraiser for the run.
Feel free to share the idea, sure!
Cool guest post by @MommyPerks: Twitter Charity Hats Help Raise Money, Awareness http://www.writrams.com/2010/08/10/twitt... #GiveBackIn
RT @WritRams: Cool guest post by @MommyPerks: Twitter Charity Hats Help Raise Money, Awareness http://www.writrams.com/2010/08/10/twitt... #GiveBackIn
@WritRams I added your site to our Media page re’ the Charity Hats: http://www.mommyperks.com/aboutus/90-mom... THX again!
@MommyPerks Thanks! We all need to work together to help others. #GiveBackIn #twittercharityhats
RT @WritRams: @MommyPerks Thanks! We all need to work together to help others. #GiveBackIn #twittercharityhats
Do you know how amazing @MommyPerks is? http://www.writrams.com/2010/08/10/twitt... #GiveBackIn #twittercharityhats
RT @WritRams: Do you know how amazing @MommyPerks is? http://www.writrams.com/2010/08/10/twitt... #GiveBackIn #twittercharityhats
RT @WritRams: Do you know how amazing @MommyPerks is? http://www.writrams.com/2010/08/10/twitt... #GiveBackIn #twittercharityhats
This is such a creative idea! Love it…
Cool guest post by @MommyPerks: Twitter Charity Hats Help Raise Money, Awareness http://www.writrams.com/2010/08/10/twitt... #GiveBackIn #twittercharityhats
RT @WritRams: Cool guest post by @MommyPerks: Twitter Charity Hats Help Raise Money, Awareness http://www.writrams.com/2010/08/10/twitt... #GiveBackIn #twitter …
RT @WritRams: Cool guest post by @MommyPerks: Twitter Charity Hats Help Raise Money, Awareness http://www.writrams.com/2010/08/10/twitt... #GiveBackIn #twitter …
RT @WritRams: Cool guest post by @MommyPerks: Twitter Charity Hats Help Raise Money, Awareness http://www.writrams.com/2010/08/10/twitt... #GiveBackIn #twitter …
You are a fantastic writer. You effectively imparted the message.