While we are all so invested deeply in reviews and giveaways chit chat, I wanted to take some time to discuss something that MomDot did that spawned into a $10,000 charitable donation project that is still going strong all due to reviews and giveaways.  With products floating around the net daily and bloggers being offered the majority of them, we realized we had a perfect opportunity to do some good with the pitches.

We opened up what was to become Bloggers Give, an organization that asks review and giveaway bloggers whom work with companies to have them send an extra product directly to us, where we donate them all to a predesignated charity.

In the beginning, we asked our site for charity suggestions and I made phone calls  to some of them and ended up speaking with Stormi from The Center for Courageous Kids. The Center for Courageous Kids is a camp for children and their families facing difficult medical situations, to come for a week and have their minds off of that and into some fun. The camp has a full medical facility, access to a hospital, horseback riding, and more. Even better, the camp had a need for products, any kinds. We knew we could pass them  all the donated products and what they couldn’t use in the camp in day to day operations, they could distribute to the families that attended their camp as assistance.

Now we had a our charity picked, we had our mission, and we had a goal. Originally we were going to do 4 charities in quarters, but quickly realized we were way in over our heads. Simply getting it off the ground took months and keeping bloggers interested, asking for products, and motivated is a full time job for an entire Bloggers Give team.

But its working.

At last count we had over $10,000 in product donations since January 5th 2009 and this upcoming July 6th, the camp is coming to my home to pick them up. I have been housing them all in an empty room thus far and we are pretty full. I cant wait to meet Stormi face to face and pass off these wonderful products donated by bloggers that care enough to ask and companies that care enough to give.

I think what Bloggers Give has done for me personally is show me that all it takes is one idea and one spark to make a difference. While a donated carseat may not seem like a big deal because its just “one” car seat, its a big deal to a family that will be receiving it for free, where their medical bills have been so hard on them already. Combined together, these products make a huge, collective difference.

Bloggers Give is headed up by Louise from MomStart, whom runs the program day in and day out, motivating bloggers, taking trips around to find new giveaway and review bloggers, and introducing them to the program.  While many bloggers have assisted on this program, its clear without her effort, it wouldn’t have done nearly as well as it has. We applaud her for the time she so unselfishly gives over and over again, month after month. Our goal is to have $12,000 worth of products donated by July 6th when the camp shows up to pick everything up.

We could use your help.

First off, BLOG about this project and share the website. The first step is to let people know we exist and how they can help.

Second, every time you do a giveaway or review, please ask the PR or the business to donate one extra product on behalf of your name to:

Bloggers Give

• c/o Trisha Haas
• 5359 Cimaron Court
• Theodore, AL 36582

So far, PR and businesses have been HAPPY to donate an extra product. If the company needs a charitable tax donation sheet, we can have them ship directly to the camp with the product and they will reply with your tax sheet.

Please let us know a donation is on its way by filling out our donation form.

Third, we are looking for a Golf Cart to donate to the camp. Many of the children cannot get around easily on the grounds because of their disabilities and the camp is in need of 4 golf carts. We would love to provide atleast one of those for them this year. If you have a lead on one or your company would like to donate one, please email me directly at Trisha@MomDot.com .

Lastly, if you are a media organization that wants to give some limelight to this project and highlight the camp picking up the products in July, let me know. This is a great way to share how the power of social media, online blogging, and community has made a true, measurable difference.

A few changes to notify you of:

In the past, we had been advertising the donating companies and bloggers in a post on Bloggers Give, but its gotten so time consuming that we are changing the format. Now all you have to do is register for our blog, email  us at BloggersGive@Live.com and we can turn your username into an Author. YOU come on and write a post, talk about the donation you received for Bloggers Give, advertise your blog and the company that donated, and we will publish for you.

So every blogger thus far that would like to talk about their Bloggers Give experience, every company that has donated that would like to talk about their donated product, is welcome to contribute personally from this point on.  We hope that this freedom enables more bloggers to receive more advertising without being hung up on our schedule in writing.

No matter what, we have appreciated that every product has made a true difference for someone. From a toothbrush to a toy, there will be a child that feels special come July because of all your effort.

There you have it.

Social Media (and advertising) making a positive impact.

~Trisha

Thank You to the 100s of donated products and the bloggers that have made this all possible. Your skills were put to amazing use and we love you for it.