Most ads go unnoticed. Some annoy. At best, they entertain. On a rare occasion, they leave an impression.
Last week, I saw this ad campaign for Crisis Relief Singapore.
"Real life photographs are interposed with “thumbs up” hands and the copy: “Like Isn’t Helping. Be a volunteer. Change a life.” It’s a call to move on from social networking to turning up to help."
Although it may feel good to "like" or "+1" the latest social cause on your newsfeed, it doesn't do much. It's not a real action. Non-profits need money and volunteers.
For more thoughts on giving, check out my post here.
One of my closest, post-college friends is getting married this weekend in Cambridge!
In 2008, we both to a leave of absence from our consulting firm to volunteer at a microfinance non-profit, Kiva.org. In the midst of "do gooding," we bonded over a love of beer, gossip, blackberry messenger, fancy dress, shabu-shabu karakoe, not being a consultant for awhile and general mischief. I also loved her British accent and constantly failed at imitating it.
When she returned to London (where she unfortunately broke her nose the first day back in heels at the office), I knew the only way I could return to normal work was getting on a project in Europe. We soon reunited for even more fun, traveling around Europe on an expense account.
In advance of the wedding, I collected a lot of photos from our last 5 years of adventures for a scrapbook. Here's some of the dirt I dug up on us (I must say, we look pretty fun)
