Wish Stephen Colbert a happy birthday at DonorsChoose.org!
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Heads up, all you charitable givers and Stephen Colbert fans! Stephen invites you to wish him a happy birthday in a truly heartwarming way this year: by helping students and teachers via DonorsChoose.org.
The good folks at DonorsChoose.org have given us the skinny on Stephen’s “Great Give-Back Birthday”:
DonorsChoose.org Launches Birthday Giving Campaign with Stephen Colbert
“Great Give-Back Birthday” Allows Donors Nationwide to Celebrate While Supporting Public School Classrooms in Need
Birthday Video Starring Colbert to Debut Tuesday, May 5, 10:00AM EDT at
The Huffington Post
New York, NY, May 1, 2009 – Stephen Colbert, host of Comedy Central’s “The Colbert Report,” and DonorsChoose.org, the online charity that connects everyday citizens to public school classrooms in need, today announced the launch of The Great Give-Back Birthday. The online celebration enables individuals to donate their birthdays to support specific classroom projects submitted by teachers nationwide. The Great Give-Back Birthday is the latest in a series of innovative campaigns designed by DonorsChoose.org to directly involve citizens in philanthropy.
Colbert, who celebrates his birthday on May 13, created a birthday giving page at DonorsChoose.org filled with his favorite classroom projects posted by teachers on the website (www.DonorsChoose.org/ColbertBirthday). In lieu of traditional birthday gifts, Colbert is asking his friends, family and fans to visit his birthday giving page and support those projects.
Together with DonorsChoose.org, Colbert has also issued an invitation to individuals across the country to create their own birthday giving pages.
“This year, you can help needy classrooms on your birthday with DonorsChoose.org,” said Stephen Colbert. “And the great thing is, if you give your birthday away, you don’t age that year. Look it up.”
Added Colbert, “DonorsChoose.org makes me feel like every day is my birthday. That, and my 364 counterfeit driver’s licenses”.
To spread the word, Colbert created a short video about The Great Give-Back Birthday, which will debut at 10:00AM EDT on Tuesday, May 5 at The Huffington Post. Details of the video remain top secret. Visit www.HuffingtonPost.com next Tuesday.
“We’re challenging everyone in America to collectively donate 100 birthdays and generate $100,000 in donations during the month of May,” said Charles Best, founder and CEO, DonorsChoose.org. “Thousands of classrooms across the country lack the materials that enable kids to succeed. And with budgets squeezed, teachers need the support that concerned citizens can offer.”
For more information about The Great Give-Back Birthday or to donate a birthday, visit www.DonorsChoose.org/Birthday.
What a wonderful way to keep the charitable ball rolling! We’re eager to see the debut of the birthday video, but if you want to donate now, please don’t wait. And if you want to mention in your donor note that you heard about the campaign from No Fact Zone, we hear that Stephen will read about it when he checks his page. :)
Break out the virtual checkbooks again, boys and girls; you won’t regret it!
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7 Comments
May 1st, 2009 at 11:23 am
I just got an email from DonorsChoose about donating your birthday! I had no idea Stephen was behind that idea at the time. Awesome idea! I just donated to DonorsChoose 3 weeks ago so I’ll have to see if there is some room in our budget for another donation and I will definitely be creating my own birthday giving page.
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May 1st, 2009 at 11:36 am
I know what you mean; I’ve been donating like mad lately, and my budget has taken a bit of a hit. I probably shouldn’t have made additional donations this week, but it feels so good to help out whenever possible, doesn’t it? (And I still have another month or so before I *have* to buy that bridesmaid’s dress …)
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May 1st, 2009 at 11:46 am
When I donated 3 weeks ago it was so hard to choose one project. I wanted to help everyone! I ended up helping a teacher in a high poverty area of my state get a list of children’s books for her special needs students, many of whom had no books at all at home. I felt really happy when I got the notification that the project had been fully funded. DonorsChoose is such a great organization and I’m happy to see them getting a big Colbert Bump! :-)
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May 1st, 2009 at 12:17 pm
This is a great idea and a great reminder to pony up again. What a clever marketing strategy too!
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May 1st, 2009 at 3:14 pm
WIN! I haven’t donated yet but will totally do so on my hero-pundit’s b-day.
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May 1st, 2009 at 4:31 pm
I love this man. ‘Nough said.
I really wish I wasn’t a poor college student – and I hate to keep making that excuse but it’s so very, very true – or I’d definitely donate in honor of Stephen’s birthday.
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May 2nd, 2009 at 12:10 am
WOO! i am truly excited about this. what a cool idea. especially since i had NO IDEA what to get stephen this year ;). i’m following the cool crowd and donating my may birthday too!
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