Hello friends,
About a year ago, I discovered a young woman named Courtney Martin. She’s an author, activist, and all-around amazing woman. Among other things, she started The Society for Creative Philanthropy. She chose 9 friends and gave them each $100 with two stipulations – first, that they give it away in some creative and meaningful way and second, that they convene in a month to share how it was they spent or gave away the money. This was several years ago in New York and several chapters have started in cities around the country such as San Francisco and Atlanta. I’d like to do the same thing in the Denver area in early 2016. I emailed Ms. Martin requesting to start a Denver chapter and she gave us her blessing.
Therefore, I am looking for 10 friends (now 3) who would enjoy participating, would bring something creative to the process, and wouldn’t mind sharing their experience with others!
Here is the proposition:
I will give you $100 cash at 3 pm on Sunday, January 31st with two stipulations:
- You must not spend any of the money on yourself, but rather spend it on or for someone else, or some cause, organization, etc.
- You must be able to meet on Saturday, February 27th to share what you did with the money – or how you spent it, and your experience doing so! (And, we’ll probably go out and celebrate with beers and dancing and all sorts of fun afterwards!)
The goal of this project is obviously not to create some enormous change, since the total amount each of us will spend is only $100- rather, it is to inspire us to consider the needs or desires in the lives of those around us, and to think of how we might meet those needs in a simple, creative and meaningful way. Or, you determine what your goal is and spend the money accordingly – remembering that it must be philanthropic!
Here is the link to an article about Courtney and the New York chapter: http://www.nytimes.com/2010/02/09/nyregion/09bigcity.html . At the end of the article are descriptions of some of the incredible and creative ways those members spent/gave away their $100. Use these as inspiration to come up with something amazing!
There are 3 spots left! If you are interested in becoming a co-benefactor, let me know. There is no pressure at all to participate in this way, but if you feel interested, just 4 people bringing $25 each adds another person to the society and many more being affected!
So… if you’re interested at all in participating in the Denver Society for Creative Philanthropy, send me a private message on Facebook. If by chance you want to participate as well as be a co-benefactor, or would only like to be a benefactor, please note that in the message! Depending on how many people respond and and how many would like to be benefactors, our little society and its great effects might become bigger than planned!
I’m so excited to see what just $1,000 can do in the hands of 10 creative people and what inspiring ideas emerge! I hope you’ll consider participating in the society, and I hope to hear from you soon!
Best,
Missy
