Hypothetically Speaking
So, let's say that there is this company that you like who happens to be based in Pittsburgh. Let's say that company also happens to be starting a new venture that you really like. And let's say that company decides to do a little blogger thing to celebrate the opening of that new venture. Instead of being all corny and cheesy and stupid about that blogger thing, though, they go for AWESOME.
Hypothetically speaking, of course. I would never mention something that hasn't quite happened yet. Ahem.
So, let's say that company offers a group of local bloggers the opportunity to go out and pay it forward. Yes, pay it forward. Let's say they give that group a little bit of money to do something good for strangers . . . anything they want. Just for the sake of argument, let's say it's a couple hundred dollars and the bloggers will be at/near the Carnegie Science Center on a weekday sometime in July.
Hypothetically speaking. Ahem.
If you had a couple hundred bucks, six fantastic accomplices, and a couple of hours to commit some random acts of kindness, what would you do? Ideally, it would be something that benefited kids and would impact a lot of them for not a ton of money.
And go! Hypothetically!
(Dear People Who Care about Disclosures and Such--Does that look like a sponsored post? Of course it's not. If it were, I would have name-dropped the company at least four dozen times *cough*77kids*cough* because they kick ass.)
Thursday, July 1, 2010
Reader Comments (19)
hmm, I have no ideas on something that is inexpensive and would impact them forever. But it sounds awesome, you know...if you do this ;O)
Do you have a childrens hospital near you? Bring art supplies and toys. That or a kids disabled home. I in high school helped raise money for one, and went and visited them. They wanted such simple things like clean onsies and underwear. Spending time with these kids, was so rewardingto both them and me. Look I still think about it 15 plus years later.
Wow - great to see AE and 77 kids reaching out to the blogger community. I have high hopes for this brand and am a fan as well.
If this is July, would I recommend a "Back to School" clothing drive to support less those less fortunate? May I recommend AE providing the "Associate Discount" for Back to School for kids and parents, to offer them a way to afford to go back to school in style?
Also - if this is complete random acts of kindness, little things like a Carnegie Museum Membership would go a long way for a family less fortunate and not able to afford to go. A day at Sandcastle? Kennywood? Membership to the zoo? Gift Cards for Food at a great, locally owned and managed Supermarket &*&*cough Giant Eagle*(**( Cough*&*
Complete backpacks filled with back to school supplies, with a science theme, in an effort to get families and kids into math and science?
Near the river - how about fishing? You could get some cheap fishing sets (boys and girls) and give them away. The only drawback is that the parent needs to be licensed.
Toy boats? Electric boats? Kites?
Pay for admission to the Science Center? Maybe the Science Center would donate a few family passes or yearly passes if you asked. The exposure to them in any possible PR story would be valuable.
Do they still have iMax at the SC? You could buy a few movie passes.
How about lunch on you at the Bettis Grille? You could buy a giant cooler and fill it with single serve ice creams and hand them out at random. Everyone loves ice cream right?
How about a piñata stand? You could get a bunch of them and fill them with fun toys and prizes and let the kids go nuts. Even SMALL or mini piñatas that would work for one or two kids at a time would be fun.
You could pay to have a balloon art clown there for a few hours. Sam LOVES those. OR you could rent a helium tank and buy some cool mylar balloons and give away balloons to people. You could even do one of those tie your name to the string activities for anyone interested - you could attach something like "Best wishes and love from PGH."
Hell. With free money the sky's the limit.
Have fun!
Go with the theme here and ask other companies to chip in as well, making this a huge freebie day to give out whatever you can. I'd like to just take part to see the smiles.
You'd definitely need face painting or balloons. Such cheap things to do for everyone for free, and it makes everyone happy. The money is a whole other ballgame that could go a hundred different ways. Oh, the fun to be had.
Ay yi yi! My mind has gone completely blank from the pressure! Nothing! I got nothing! But there are some good suggestions in the comments above me, so I'm going to say "what they said."
I'm not sure...but what an awesome dilemma to have!
I love the ideas of a ticket to Kennywood/Carnegie SC/movies/zoo. So many families have had to cut expenses and "entertainment" is usually the first to go.
Give out ice cream and balloons!
You could set up your camera and take free family portraits. Buy or get your hands on a nice photo printer and print them on the spot or take email addresses and post them on one of the numerous "FREE" photo sites. We work with the online photo services all the time so they would probably play (Snapfish, etc). You're in such a great location that I'll bet most families would love to have their photo taken with the city in the background.
i like the idea of school supplies.
toothbrushes.
flip flops - could decorate their own.
sunglasses/sunscreen.
smoothies with recipe cards.
have fun!
I like the idea of paying for admission to the Science Center, the Children's Museum, Aviary, etc., assuming you want to go with a place close by. With a couple hundred bucks, you could probably buy only one or two memberships, so you would get more bang for you buck with individual one-day admissions. Will your group supervise the kids, or are you just looking to hand things out?
Maybe give the kids recorders. I think you can buy them for about $5 to $10. I think music is important, and I know how much I enjoy hearing the kids at my daughter's school/where I sub playing. Plus it is not unhealthy, though I think having some sort of snack food would be good too. Maybe you can get some teacher to teach the kids a song that day?
I am looking forward to hearing what you come up with!
Hand out free ice cream or something. Just for kind of course.
-Giant picnic in the park (over by the Aviary)
-Maybe a build your own kite station by the SC, then they can fly the kites along the river
-Ice cream social
-Minigolf (if it doesn't have to stay by the SC)
OH! Another idea:
What if you did an ice cream social (which would use some of the $200), but in order to participate, you have to bring a new toy/school supplies/clothes which then could be donated to kids in need
I was also thinking you could maybe find a community garden in the area and buy flowers and plants for the kids to plant.
I like the stuffed-backpacks idea, or passes to the zoo or children's museum. Or what about passes to go see Toy Story 3?
wow... impact them forever. books?
I'm super excited.
I kind of like the ticket idea, too. I don't know. The possibilities make my head swirl. Too many options.
I have thought and thought but I can't beat Chris Lovett's idea of backpacks and school supplies. So many teachers have to dip into their own pockets to help kids with basic supplies. It would be nice to include a book or two with a science theme. I'll bet you could get other companies or groups to get on board and increase your available funds.