After a lot of deliberation on my part, I decided to give my $100 back to the organization that I tweeted about, The Harry Potter Alliance. I spoke about the organization a little bit in class, but they work for human rights, equality, and literacy all over the world. Their mission is very general because they want to be able to do as much as they possibly can and they want to be able to help wherever there is immediate need. They have succeeded in making all chocolate with the Harry Potter name fair trade, have raised money to donate to Haiti, have collected hundreds of thousands of books for underprivileged children during their Accio Books campaign, have brought thousands of people together in the fight for net neutrality, and have formed over 275 chapters that do work in local communities. The organization is a GuideStar Exchange Gold Participant, meaning they are committed to transparency and communication with their donors and communities. JK Rowling has spoken very highly of the organization, saying "I am honoured and humbled that Harry's name has been given to such an extraordinary campaign, which really does exemplify the values for which Dumbledore's Army fought in the books."
I really love this charity and all the different programs and initiatives they support. I'm very happy and proud to be able to support them through this class and I hope everyone (Harry Potter fan or not) takes a minute to check them out at http://thehpalliance.org. Thanks to everyone who voted for and nominated my tweet, and I apologize for being so indecisive about where I wanted to donate!
Great post, Bethany!
ReplyDeleteGreat post Bethany!
ReplyDeleteI just want to start off by saying that there is no need to apologize for "indecisiveness". Choosing effective organizations to donate to as a class is difficult enough, but to find one on your own can be just as hard, I imagine, because you want to make the best decision possible and it is all resting on you. I'd say that its better to go with an organization that you took time to deliberate on, instead of rushing to find one immediately to appease the class.
I didn't know much about this organization, but I just checked out their website and their rating on GuideStar and they seem to be both effective and largely transparent. One of the great things I see from this organization is that it targets some of our class' core values. It utilizes the tool of education to both empower people and create a sustainable, renewable resource for children who would otherwise not have access to such things. Through their book drives and lobbying for equal human rights they address the "education" value that pretty much everyone in class is in agreement in that it is very important for a charity to address this need; it provides people the ability to empower themselves instead of just giving them the end result. One of the main, innovative ideas I see from this charity as well is that they are capitalizing on a societal phenomenon for a positive outcome. They are utilizing the popularity and trend of the Harry Potter series to draw in a younger crowd and introduce them to the power of team-work and philanthropy. One of their values on their website states "we know fantasy is not only an escape from our world, but an invitation to go deeper in to it." The ability of this charity to recognize the importance of imagination and how it not only brings people together but creates endless possibilities is useful to its mission as it draws in participants all on its own. I can see how this charity not only helps its target populations but also helps the participants (donators) as well.
I completely agree with your assessment of the organization, Sarah, and I think that those qualities were some of the major factors that pushed me to give back to them. I love the fact that they have chapters all over the world and that a large part of their appeal deals with fans of Harry Potter coming together for the greater good. I think the way they run their organization is very important; kids, students, and adults alike can all come together to fight for change without donating a single dollar. Even if you don't have extra money to give, it is likely that you have some books laying around that could be given to a child in need. I also really loved the fact that they are open to helping wherever their help is needed. As I mentioned in my post, they have donated to relief in Haiti, they work for fair pay for workers all over the world by demanding fair trade products, they have worked toward net neutrality, and have actively fought for marriage equality. I'm really happy with the type of organization they are as a whole and I felt like the majority of the class would also be pleased with the decision if they had to take a stance.
ReplyDeleteMaking a decision was very difficult. I always knew that there were a large number of charitable organizations in this area and that there were millions more throughout the world, but I think this process and this class in general have opened my eyes to how many there truly are. I've said several times in class that I'm a supporter of arts organizations (especially in this area), but I decided that I would stick a little bit more to the values of the entire class and support arts organizations myself. I'm happy that I finally made a decision and that the money is out of my hands, doing all the good it was intended to do! Thanks for your comment!
Hi Bethany,
ReplyDeleteThanks for letting us know where the money went to. I think your decision is awesome and your indecisiveness is not a bad thing, rather it shows your personal development in this class. I love Harry Potter, so it's really cool to see an organization doing something positive with the brand. I think it's also awesome that J.K Rowling acknowledges the organization and supports it.
Like you suggested, I checked out the website and immediately their mission statement grabbed my attention: "The Harry Potter Alliance turns fans into heroes. We’re changing the world by making activism accessible through the power of story. Since 2005, we’ve engaged millions of fans through our work for equality, human rights, and literacy". It is such an awesome mission because so many people, myself included, love Harry Potter and it takes the lessons from the book and puts them into practice. I forget who posted about consumerism and PR, but this is an excellent example on how to marry consumerism and philanthropy.
This org used the popularity of Harry Potter and the lessons the book teaches to empower people. Again, congrats on winning and updating us on where the money went.
Bethany, thank you for the post! I can certainly relate because I, too, am just donating my Tweet of the Week money now!
ReplyDeleteAs a quick reminder, I won Tweet of the Week for my promotion of Dickinson Community Players’ The Vagina Monologues. All of the proceeds from this production were donated to RISE, a local comprehensive domestic violence service. Initially, it seemed obvious to me that my money would go to RISE. I excitedly tweeted about my decision immediately. However, I then decided to hold off on donating the money as I was interested in if our class would change my mind.
Here’s what’s tricky about RISE: as a secure shelter for victims of domestic violence, the majority of its information is confidential. Its location, for example, is not listed on its website (http://rise-ny.org/). The website provides a help hotline number and an exit button to click if one is worried that her internet is being monitored, and although these features seem very useful for a person in danger, they gave me little information on the organization itself.
I was starting to panic about the lack of information on RISE on Guidestar and Charity Navigator when Professor Campbell reminded me that RISE recently rebranded. Sure enough, they’re still listed on Guidestar under their initial title: S O S Shelter. This retitling makes a great case for the organization in and of itself. “SOS” gives off a negative connotation, while “RISE” paints an image of hope and empowerment. The organizations rebranding demonstrated a real effort to serve as a place for inspiration rather than fear.
RISE’s mission is simply stated on their Form 990 (http://www.guidestar.org/FinDocuments/2013/161/119/2013-161119831-0a9fa117-9.pdf) as “shelters abused women and children”. The directors receive no monetary compensation and the organization operates on over a $9 million budget. Reviewing the Form 990 from 2013, it was clear that RISE had had an increase in public support from 2009 to 2011, and a decrease from 2011 to 2013 (falling from $969,822 to $703,687) and is in need of new donations and contributions.
Added to the Vagina Monologues profits, the Tweet money creates over $1,000 for this organization that can be used to clothe, feed, and protect women and children in our area. I love that my decision allows me to follow both my heart and my head. Through performing The Vagina Monologues, I became aware of the injustices women face and was inspired to empower women in any way I can. Through my review of RISE’s website and Form 990, I am confident in the organization as a sustainable and effective nonprofit. The discussions we had in class did not change my mind about where I would donate, but did give me the resources and ability to make an informed and confident decision. I’m very pleased to have made the ultimate decision to donate my Tweet of the Week money to RISE. Congratulations on your donation, Bethany, and thank you again for the great post!