Brian Dusablon

A plea to those who enjoy giving this time of year:

Patrick posted this over at Minimal Mac and it got me thinking.

All of this stuff will generate a bunch of stuff to be thrown away or recycled. Wrapping, packaging, spent gift cards – they all have to end up somewhere. Not to mention all of the stuff we had to build and machines we run in order to make the stuff we give and receive.Then once the season is over, in fact the very next day, comes the inevitable stuff we have to return (for cash to buy stuff if you have the receipt, exchange for different stuff if not).

Last year, we pledged $50 each (half our gift budget) to a charity, and cut down on gifts. We’re doing the same thing this year, and, again, I ask friends and family to consider donating to charity or the kids’ college funds in place of more stuff.

We have enough stuff. We need less of it. I’m trying to minimize. If it’s meaningful, functional and worthwhile, awesome. If it’s frivolous or wasteful, save the money and put it to better use, please.

Think about all the good we can do! We welcome the generosity, but would like to redirect it to something more substantial, that’s all.

Thanks in advance!

This is good stuff, and for a great cause. The folks over at WooThemes have started a campaign called “We Love Boobs” to raise awareness for Breast Cancer. October is International Breast Cancer Awareness Month.

Many developers (Brian, Veerle, etc.) go Pink for October. I’m doing the same, and if you’re in the market for a theme, take a look at WooThemes. One, they are awesome themes. Two, they are great people and offer incredible support.

I already donate 50% of all revenue generated on this site to charity. In addition, for October, if you use my WooThemes affiliate link, not only will WooThemes make their donation, but I will donate 100% of my referral revenue to Susan G. Komen For the Cure.

Don’t need a WordPress theme? Check out TweetForBoobs.

I’m participating in Nothing But Nets, a campaign to help prevent malaria across Africa.

Millions of people die each year from malaria – but there’s a simple, life-saving solution, and all it takes is $10 to buy a bed net, distribute it to a family, and explain its use.

You can help support me by making a secure online donation. Click on the link below to help prevent malaria:

For more information on how YOU can participate in Nothing But Nets, please visit us at www.NothingButNets.net

Thanks for your support!

In another “causes” update, here’s another good article from the times on Charity: Water, a cause I support.

As most of you know 50% of revenue generated from this site goes straight to charity. One of the charities I’ve chosen is DonorsChoose. They let donors choose small projects for schools across the country, and keep you up to date on the progress of those projects.

In the end, we get direct feedback from the teachers, which is awesome. Here are some pictures from one of the causes I donated to. I love the direct response and being able to see the results.

Anyway, I’m about to receive another check from Spanning Sync, and thought instead of me donating it, I’d open up a little contest and give the winners a DonorsChoose gift card to give to the project(s) of their choice.

Simply post a comment detailing what social responsibility means to you. 1st place will receive a $50 card, and two runner-ups will receive $25 each. It’d be even better if you would match my donation and double the donation amount when you choose your project(s)!

This is just another fun way to give back to a great cause and take care of the less fortunate.

Be good, people.