Twitip

by Paul Wilson – follow him @PaulWilson

Twitter provides a powerful new way of sharing one’s cause to do good. I like to believe that everyone needs a cause to fight for. For me, I have found helping others puts my trials and problems into perspective.

With this in mind, I hunted far and wide on Twitter to find unique and different causes you can follow. From the results of my search, I thought I would share the top 12 most unique causes I could find. Truly, there is a cause out there for everyone!

12. Battling Human Trafficking with Chains

Twitter ID: @ericproffitt
Website: www.EricProffitt.com
Donation Page

Details: I have to disclose that I am very good friends with Eric. However, that does not diminish Eric’s unique approach to fighting human trafficking. On August 1, 2009 Eric is shackling himself in chains and running 500 miles across the United Kingdom to speak out against modern-day slavery. He received permission from the band “The Proclaimers” to remake their song “(I’m Gonna Be) 500 Miles” and use it as his anthem against slavery (you can listen to the remake on his website).

11. Taking the Fight to the Bullies

Twitter ID: @bullyinguk
Website: www.Bullying.co.uk
Donation Page

Details: With online bullying becoming more prevalent I can see anti-bullying organizations becoming more popular. Initially, though, BullyingUK was one of the first of its kind and focused on offering information to young people and their parents via their website Bullying Online (which is now BullyingUK). The organization was founded in 1999 by Liz Carnell after her son, John, had a direct result from school bullying. Over the years the charity expanded its efforts to working with schools, youth organizations, police forces, and running workshops. Take a look at their “Let’s Be Social” page (a great way of connecting with your social media properties).

10. Hug a Tree and a Child

Twitter ID: @rescueamillion
Website: www.RescueAMillion.org
Donation Page

Details: It is always nice when your donation to a charity goes to help several causes simultaneously. Founded by Julie Butler six months after graduating from college, Rescue a Million helps save children, generates micro-loans, AND improves the environment. The program is designed to help orphans and provide working parents with micro-loans to start small businesses; while at the same time a portion of each donation plants a tree. When the trees are harvested and the loans repaid, additional funds become available to save more children and plant more trees. Also, take a look at Rescue a Million’s new project “Every Child A Hero” (it seems there is a film in the making).

9. Peruvian Pets Need Love Too

Twitter ID: @AmazonCares
Website: www.AmazonCares.org
Donation Page

Details: I found it interesting that the animal humane movement is a live and well on Twitter. There definitely was no shortage of causes for me to highlight. However, I only saw one animal cause trying to save Peruvian animals. Amazon Community Animal Rescue, Education & Safety (CARES) works to protect Peruvian stray pets. The organization was founded by citizens in 2004, since the Peruvian Amazon region had no programs in place for domestic animal welfare. Since 2005, this charity has made amazing progress in the promotion of animal and public health. If you are Veterinarian check out how you can do rescue missions in Peru.

8. Digital Angels Granting Wishes

Twitter ID: @angelwish
Website: www.AngelWish.org
Donation Page

Details: There are many organizations working to help relieve and overcome the HIV/AIDS problem. Particularly, when their are currently 33 million people living with HIV/AIDS today. Of those 33 million approximately 2.5 million are children. Angelwish takes an unique angle by providing a way to grant wishes to these millions of children. Infected or affected by the disease, the children’s opportunities for a “normal” childhood are virtually impossible. By harnessing the power of the Internet, Angelwish helps donors add a ray of hope to their lives. Grant a wish for a HIV/AIDS child today!

7. Losing Weight to Help Charity

Twitter ID: @wtg_org
Website: www.WeighToGive.org
Donation Page

Details: With obesity becoming a fad, it helps to find a higher cause in losing weight. In its most basic understanding, Weigh To Give is a weight-loss-a-thon. Much like a run-a-thon, participants in this virtual event commit to lose pounds and earn sponsor dollars for an IRS approved charity of their choosing. The website also has resource page on health publications you can check out.

6. Eradicating Poverty with Ethical Fashion

Twitter ID: @TRAIDcharity
Website: www.Traid.org.uk
Donation Page

Details: It would be nice to blame my bad fashion on a good cause, but after looking at the clothes from TRAID I don’t think I am able to use this excuse. TRAID launched in 1999 with a mission to fight global poverty through the reuse of clothing and recycling activities in the United Kingdom. TRAID began with a small network of clothes recycling banks, five shops, and a plan to inject a much needed dose of fashion into second hand retail. Today TRAID is a well recognized brand that has done much good in the world. This year alone TRAID plans to donate a half a million pounds in making a difference in the world. Yet, even though TRAID is quite successful it still remembers how it got where it is today—its customers who care. TRAID still reaches out to the community and if you are in London you can request TRAID to visit your school or church.

5. Sharing Stories to Improve Lives

Twitter ID: @EpicChange
Website: www.EpicChange.org
Donation Page

Details: When I stumbled upon Epic Change I immediately related to their cause. Being a writer, I believe strongly that stories can connect and help us be better. Inspired by a volunteer trip to Tanzania, founders Stacey Monk and Sanjay Patel created Epic Change in 2007. They realized the power of the local stories they heard during their journey, and believed that these stories might be a way to raise funds for impoverished communities. Donations are used to provide interest-free loans to local partners to finance their community improvement efforts. Loan repayment is facilitated by collaborating with partners to share their stories through projects that generate income. Another way to help is purchasing something at Epic Change’s store. Every purchase made represents an investment in the education and future of children.

4. Using Your 1 Second of Fame to Help Others

Twitter ID: @the1secondfilm
Website: www.The1SecondFilm.com
Donation Page

Details: It will be interesting to see the 1 Second Film when it is finally completely (I wouldn’t plan on using the restroom while watching the movie, though). The name alone grabs your interest and demands you to learn what it is about. So, here you go. The 1 Second Film is the brainchild of Nirvan Mullick, a filmmaker who began the project as a student at CalArts. All profits raised by the finished film will be donated to The Global Fund for Women. The 1 Second Film project is built around one-second of animation (made of 12 giant paintings). The animation will be followed by over one-hour of credits listing everyone that participates. Donations of $1 or more will be given a Producer Credit in the film. Producers get listed in order of amount donated. A feature-length ‘making of’ documentary will play along-side the credits, detailing the collaborative journey of the project from start to finish. As of this writing there are over 11,000 producers of this movie, in 69 countries. See how the 1 Second Film received celebrity support by crashing Sundance.

3. Purifying Blood and Water to Make a Difference

Twitter ID: @bloodwater
Website: www.BloodWaterMission.com
Donation Page

Details: Besides being a noble idea , I couldn’t pass up mentioning the Blood:Water Mission, simply because it is founded by my favorite Christian band, Jars of Clay. Blood:Water Mission began as a call to personalize the HIV/AIDS crisis in Africa. Currently, the program exists to promote clean blood and clean water efforts in Africa, tangibly reducing the impact of the HIV/AIDS pandemic while addressing the underlying issues of poverty, injustice, and oppression. If you go to their Ground Report you can receive regular updates on the efforts of the program in Africa. The project has proven that a mere $1 will provide a single person in Africa clean water for an entire year. It has also proven that musicians are not all about sex and drugs.

2. Reversing the Environmental Crisis with Green Sports

Twitter ID: @weplaygreen
Website: www.WePlayGreen.org
Donation Page

Details: I debated on making this submission my #1 choice for “most unique cause.” It’s not often that you find professional athletes educating their fans on the negative impact their sport has on the environment. However, that is exactly what Chris Dickerson of the Cincinnati Reds and Jack Cassel of the Cleveland Indians have done. We Play Green is a call to action throughout all of professional sports to provide stadiums, locker rooms, and playing fields with the proper recycling receptacles and outlets to help corral the amount of plastic that is used during the extent of the season. They even have a “Shop Green” store on their site, but from what I can tell there is nothing in it (that’s one way to stay green).

1. Blame Drew’s Cancer to Fight Cancer

Twitter ID: @drewscancer
Website: www.BlameDrewsCancer.com
Donation Page

Details: #BlameDrewsCancer has stormed Twitter and has provided an ingenious way of fighting cancer without having to donate any of your own money. That is why I chose this as the most unique cause found on Twitter. The origins of this project began on May 20th, 2009 when Drew Olanoff was diagnosed with cancer. Ever since that day, Drew has blamed everything on his cancer. Why? According to Drew you need to beat up on cancer in order to overcome it. Now, Drew is encouraging everyone to blame his cancer for anything and everything by tweeting with the hashtag #BlameDrewsCancer. When you promote the hashtag your tweet will be posted on www.BlameDrewsCancer.com on a piffy sign that pops up when you visit the site. The movement behind #BlameDrewsCancer has vowed that when Drew beats cancer, a dollar for everyone who participated will be donated to the American Cancer Society and the Make a Wish Foundation.