Gaians giving back to charities

Which type of charity would you prefer to give to?

General (ie: Goodwill, United Way, YMCA, etc.)	6.7%	[ 3168 ]
Animals	28.5%	[ 13508 ]
Children & Youth	11.6%	[ 5514 ]
Cultural & Educational	4.4%	[ 2096 ]
Disaster Relief	7.1%	[ 3388 ]
Environment	11.9%	[ 5651 ]
Health & Disease	12.3%	[ 5817 ]
Hunger & Poverty	14.4%	[ 6824 ]
Service and Benevolence Clubs	0.5%	[ 254 ]
Other (leave a comment stating which others interest you)	2.6%	[ 1249 ]
Total Votes:			[ 47469 ]

[emorexic-pimp]

we are speaking of IRL charities right? (you didn't state it directly and just wanted to make sure)
I would gladly help (provided it was announced site wide in a way that would inform me when it was, how to do it, and where to find it)

also, if you want to get more users to help, then i suggest asking this in a few other forums too...

[AloysiusWeasley]

I'd love to see some support go to the quite deserving ASPCA and Humane Societies, please! Also, supporting wildlife in endangered habitats/rainforest would be really spiffy too! heart heart heart

[Ellemir]

I'd be more than happy to participate. I don't care much about what the item looks like - are those rubber bracelets we get in the real world for various charities all that beautiful? It doesn't matter. Especially if you know someone/something directly who can stand to benefit from your donations. As for what i'd like to see the money going to, it would have to be Cancer research. It's so very broad in who and how it effects and affects. In the end, though, i'll still participate in this whether or not Health/disease gets the most votes.


Also, on a personal note, keep in mind that money (however much) is not the only thing that you can donate concerning something like cancer *research*. If you have long hair you can get ten inches cut off to make wigs for children suffering from cancer - Locks of Love. You can also get sponsored to shave your head, the money goes toward cancer research- St. Baldrick's Foundation.

[D.Darko]

moresugarthanspice

Sorry but I'd rather charities and Gaia not mix. Even if it was for cancer, and my husband was diagnosed in '06.

It just seems like it's going to be a big mess. If you don't support something, and it's the most common thing, you aren't going to be happy to see advertisements telling you to support it. And what if this falls through and fails? "But you didn't support ____!" "Gaia sucks because it's against ____!" "What the hell was Gaia thinking supporting ____?! I will NEVER buy from them again!!!!111!" "If Gaia supports _____ then why not _____?"

I mean it's a good idea. Nice idea. But it just doesn't seem like the two should mix at all. It might be for a good cause but between the users, who knows what kind of mess it'll make? And what if you pick a charity that's just not really into its causes? Or one that just takes money for themselves?

And besides, aren't you guys supposed to be in the red?

You raise a good point, really. Gaia needs to be careful, 'cus some charities and organisations (like PETA) are rife with controversy, and Gaia's always trodden a pretty neutral/nondisclosed stance on world affairs.

Still, I think we, as Gaians, have alot of disposable income that could, even if just for a season, make a great difference to some people out there. We might come here to escape such hardships and forget the scaryness of the dreaded world of IRL, but I know I'd feel better about being a Gaian if collectively we did good out there...

[morozco420]

Hey there...first off, great idea...I'm a huge supporter of many causes, and giving back, in even the smallest way is a great thing...and needed on so many levels.

I could care less on the item, but many people here, especially the younger ones may be driven by how cool the item is too, even aside from the great cause...so please have the artists do their VERY best (and even better, make it a multi-pose item worked on by ALL the different Gaian artists, as they should all have a hand in it)...

At any rate, while I'm completely okay w/ the $2.50 cost, I've gotta say this...when doing the "Charity" thing, it's ALWAYS (IMO) to go with the lesser cost, whatever that is...go with the MOST accessible cost, because some people just aren't in to donating...so make every donation feel valuable, and encourage even the smallest contribution...so with that spirit, I truly believe you shoud make the item $0.99 in the CS or something...I guarantee you that all the Gaians here with the means and will, will certainly support you TEN fold or more if it's cheaper...I for one, would seriously consider buying at least $50 worth...just for the cause...but it'll also allow those who have very little disposable income to participate, contribute and also get a quality item for less...it's be MUCH more inclusive for all.

Otherwise, when it comes to the cause, all charities are worthwhile..I truly believe that...with that though, it should try to be spread out for the greatest general good, so I'd prefer something like United Way or Red Cross...While Animals are winning, that's fine too...in the end, any of the charities are fine...

I'm not sure though if you could literally pick the top 5 charities and split up the donations and support all 5...you may get less per charity, but you spread the love around more, and support not only multiple causes, but multiple Gaians' causes so people feel better about it by being able to truly choose what they wanted to support in the first place.

At any rate, you MUST proceed with this, it's a GREAT IDEA!

[Chibigreen Tejinashi]

I'd really prefer a human charity over animals. I love animals; I really do. I just give my own species a bit of priority. Environment would be a good compromise for human- and animal-lovers, I think, because helping the environment helps everyone. In order, my top three choices would be health, educational, and then environment.

To be blunt, if the charity was for animals only, I would not buy the charity item, even if it was a super-adorable, super-lovable animal. I would buy that on the Marketplace. But if it was for humans and/or the environment, I would find some way to get enough funds to buy the item, even though I never buy Cash Shop items with real money.

[K r a z y k a t]

De cuerdo y loco todos tenemos un poco. . .



I love the idea. I'm usually very involved with these sorts of things through my school's chapter of Key Club.

Maybe Gaia can support the Red Cross? That usually covers quite a few bases.

Of sanity and insanity we all have a little. . .

[Divine Moment of Truth]

great idea!!!.... the item could be like a little blue bracelet so everyone can wear them.... ooo love to donate to charities ^ ^ gaia admins.... you just mad meh day 3nodding

[Amithyst Stonewall]

Animals...or Children.

But I like Animals better so I pick them.

[CEO Seto Kaiba]

Time for the Big Bad Kaiba to sound cruel and logical.
I normally don't advocate charity so much, but when I do, I think that education should be it. Give a man a fish, he'll greedilly eat it and MAYBE thank you. Teach a man how to code his own revolutionary program, he's buying filet mignon, champagne, and prostitutes, and not giving a rat's a** about the world's problems beyond his own stock.

That being said, our future generations need computers and books! Teach them how to read! Donate millions to education programs!

[Dark Jono]

Personally, I think we should think about giving to Child's Play. That charity that's organized by the Penny Arcade guys? -Very- worthy cause.

[Kaitou no Dark]

I would love to see us donate to the ASPCA. Or a pit bull rescue organization.

[mik420]

Charity and Goodwill are beautiful things...Go Gaia, Go!

United Way gets my vote...I've seen the good they do.

[mikee420]

morozco420

Hey there...first off, great idea...I'm a huge supporter of many causes, and giving back, in even the smallest way is a great thing...and needed on so many levels.

I could care less on the item, but many people here, especially the younger ones may be driven by how cool the item is too, even aside from the great cause...so please have the artists do their VERY best (and even better, make it a multi-pose item worked on by ALL the different Gaian artists, as they should all have a hand in it)...

At any rate, while I'm completely okay w/ the $2.50 cost, I've gotta say this...when doing the "Charity" thing, it's ALWAYS (IMO) to go with the lesser cost, whatever that is...go with the MOST accessible cost, because some people just aren't in to donating...so make every donation feel valuable, and encourage even the smallest contribution...so with that spirit, I truly believe you shoud make the item $0.99 in the CS or something...I guarantee you that all the Gaians here with the means and will, will certainly support you TEN fold or more if it's cheaper...I for one, would seriously consider buying at least $50 worth...just for the cause...but it'll also allow those who have very little disposable income to participate, contribute and also get a quality item for less...it's be MUCH more inclusive for all.

Otherwise, when it comes to the cause, all charities are worthwhile..I truly believe that...with that though, it should try to be spread out for the greatest general good, so I'd prefer something like United Way or Red Cross...While Animals are winning, that's fine too...in the end, any of the charities are fine...

I'm not sure though if you could literally pick the top 5 charities and split up the donations and support all 5...you may get less per charity, but you spread the love around more, and support not only multiple causes, but multiple Gaians' causes so people feel better about it by being able to truly choose what they wanted to support in the first place.

At any rate, you MUST proceed with this, it's a GREAT IDEA!

QFT; great idea Gaia...let's do this!

[spooner420]

No matter what Gaia, you MUST do this.