But on to something warmer... This morning on Twitter I checked my new followers and found a new friend from right here in Tennessee. Bernie Berlin runs a non-profit animal shelter called A Place To Bark. (follow Bernie at @aplacetobark or visit her website http://aplacetobark.com/) This amazing young woman has saved over 600 animals from euthanasia, dealt with her husband being injured in severe car accident, relocated from another state on a Christmas Eve, built a new shelter facility, works with multiple animal rescue groups and in addition to all that ... she's a talented artist!
While enjoying all the posts, pictures and videos on her website, I noticed an ongoing theme - Together we can do great things! Together we can make a difference! When we work Together, it only takes a little bit from each of us! As I went on finishing up my emails and Twitter posts this morning, I couldn't get Bernie out of my mind. Long after leaving her website, I kept seeing her face and those of her 'little charges'. You see, Bernie has an incredible success record for rescues and adoptions. She keeps her rescued animals - mostly dogs and cats - as long as it takes to find each one a perfect forever home. Her patience and perserverance alone is so incredibly inspiring!
Then a thought occured to me... Most everyone on Twitter is trying to amass a large following and increase their social media footprint. But Together - the possibilities are endless and when we work Together it only takes a little from each of us. (a la Bernie!)So here's my 2010 CHALLENGE to YOU! Why not ask your Twitter followers on your birthday (or whatever special event you choose) to make a meager $1.00 donation to your favorite charity -either in your name or not - it doesn't matter. (Of course, they can give more, if they like) What matters is that everyone can spare $1.00! And when we put all those dollar bills Together, what a difference it makes. Great things will happen and others will be blessed! So often we feel we can't give enough and our meager donation will be perceived as insignificant. And so ... we don't give at all! But believe me, even the smallest donation can change a life - whether human, canine, feline or equine.
So drop me note - tell me your favorite charity and tell me if you are up to meeting my challenge in 2010! I would recommend that you DM each of your followers so you are sure they receive your request or post the request multiple times a day on the week of your birthday since Twitter scrolls so fast. Just think, each year the amount would increase as your Twitter following increases. What a wonderful gift for a well-deserving charity and what a difference you and your friends can make! And just asking for a $1? Everyone can afford a dollar, even if it's made up of pennies, nickels, dimes or quarters.
Happy New Year everyone! Let's make huge difference for someone special in 2010!
Sherie Smith
The Fundraising Designer
email: fundraisingdesigner@gmail.com
Twitter: http://Twitter.com/sheriesmith
About Sherie Smith:
Sherie Smith shows people how to achieve the Ultimate Fundraising Success in her free multi-part minicourse which can be found at: http://www.3hourstofundraisingsuccess.com. Her newest book, '3 Hours to Fundraising Success', a step-by-step copycat manual to the '$4,500 in 3 Hours' project, will be released Year-End 2009.
Copyright c Sherie Smith All Rights Reserved
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