Update 6: A Thousand Dollar Scholarship For A Doer
by irms
UPDATE 6: Another generous and anonymous donation! This is now the “Two-Thousand One-Hundred Dollar Scholarship For A Doer”.
UPDATE 5: Even though the deadline for applications has passed, people have not stopped being generous. Thanks to another anonymous donation, this is now the “Two-Thousand Dollar Scholarship For A Doer”. Now, that’s awesome!
UPDATE 4: “I just want to be a part of changing a life in a simple way.” — Anonymous. We are now the “One-Thousand EIGHT-Hundred Dollar Scholarship For A Doer”
UPDATE 3: We are now the “One-Thousand Seven-Hundred Dollar Scholarship For A Doer”, thanks to a strictly anonymous giver!
UPDATE 2: Stephanie Tinsley Schopp is throwing in another $100. It’s now the “One-Thousand Six-Hundred Dollar Scholarship For A Doer”. Thanks, Stephanie!
UPDATE: Since announcing this initiative, two different people have come forward and would like to add to the pot. Therefore, the “Thousand Dollar Scholarship For A Doer” is now the “Fifteen Hundred Dollar Scholarship For A Doer”.
Both conversations went a little something like this:
So, many thanks to Steve Years, Hashtag Member, creator of re.vu, 59DaysOfCode 2011 In-Progress winner and all-around good guy.
Also, many thanks to the person who said, “It’s not that I want to be noble and be anonymous, it’s just that I’m afraid my ex will claim I owe him/her money.”
(If anyone else would like to throw in, you can email me.)
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There’s probably a great psychological reason that I keep writing about money and happiness. I don’t know what it is, but feel free to speculate in the comments. Meanwhile, let me tell you about this new thing I want to try:
I want to give away a thousand dollars, and I want to give it to someone who will do something awesome with that money.
You might think this is stupid, or that a thousand bucks hardly makes a difference to most people, but I defy you to say you would turn it down if I gave it to you. That’s what I thought.
Brass Tacks
Who will win?
Simple answer: The person who can demonstrate that this thousand bucks will make the difference between doing something amazing, and not doing it. Also, I prefer to see the money grow. e.g. A one-time donation to some great cause is neat, but let’s steer away from that for the moment. What can you do with a thousand bucks that will have a lasting impact?
How do you apply?
Rules & Notes:
- I can’t and won’t try to control how you end up using the money. HOWEVER, I ask that you report back with what you’ve done with it. All I will do is ask you to be honest.
- No preference will be given to your financial status.
- Local (Fresno/Central Valley) projects are more likely to have a place in my heart, but that doesn’t guarantee squat.
- Must be 18 or older to win.
- It is very unlikely that I will give the money to someone who simply wishes to travel and/or pay off bills. Call me a crab, but those are common enough goals.
- Likewise with donations. See previous point.
- This is a one-time award.
Timeline:
- Deadline to apply: Thursday, October 20th, 2011 @11:59pm PST
- Finalists announced: Thursday, October 27th, 2011
- Winner announced: My 31st Birthday, Thursday, November 3rd, 2011.
(Sometime that day, as I’m having a bit of surgery in the morning.)
FAQ
Where did you get this money?
I worked for it. I don’t have a rich uncle.
How will you decide the winner?
I will probably share the applications with my family and close friends to gather opinions, but mostly I’m looking to see something entrepreneurial, or innovative. As I said above, your chances improve if your idea scales or the money grows or the idea will continue to affect people long after the money is gone. This is not a contest to write the saddest story.
Why not give the money to a charity or cause?
I do that too! Here are just some of the organizations I’ve donated to in the last year. I encourage you to find one you like and pitch in!
Why not give the money to a family member?
My family and I help each other out regularly. They can apply too.
Why the hell are you doing this?
- I want to give back and
- I think sometimes money stops people from doing neat things and
- Because I honestly believe that in the end, it’s about what you want to be, not what you want to have, and I have enough.
Really cool! RT @irms: A Thousand Dollar Scholarship For A Doer – http://t.co/3zmuMFFo
“@irms: A Thousand Dollar Scholarship For A Doer – http://t.co/24EZe8Jr” I like this!
“@irms: ICYMI: A Thousand Dollar Scholarship For A Doer – http://t.co/9s8L5ZnZ”. Nice idea!
This is such a generous thing to do! Good luck to everyone who enters, and I hope whoever wins puts it to good use. <3
How do YOU do? RT @FresnoBites: “@irms: ICYMI: A Thousand Dollar Scholarship For A Doer – http://t.co/AgAMrvmC”. Nice idea!
Have some really great people looking for $1k. This decision will not be easy. http://t.co/OrmcKCUJ
“@irms: Have some really great people looking for $1k. This decision will not be easy. http://t.co/PxT1CL6B” #community #fresnogeeks
Great thing to do. Will be interested to see who wins and what they do with $$
Oooh. I just remembered the scholarship applications close this week. I better remind some people: http://t.co/OrmcKCUJ
FYI: Applications for the Used-To-Be-$1,000-Now-It’s-$1,800 Scholarship close on Thursday night. http://t.co/OrmcKCUJ
RT @irms: Scholarship deadline is tmrw. Some apps are really great. Losing this money is going to be a pleasure. http://t.co/OrmcKCUJ #fb
Have an idea but don’t have the funds? Apply for this $1K scholarship (Deadline is TOMORROW!) http://t.co/I3k53Jcv
RT @irms: Scholarship deadline is tmrw. Some apps are really great. Losing this money is going to be a pleasure. http://t.co/OrmcKCUJ #fb
RT @irms: Applications for the "$1,800 Scholarship For A Doer" close tonight! RT if it please you. http://t.co/OrmcKCUJ
RT @lisaalvey: RT @irms: Applications for the "$1,800 Scholarship For A Doer" close tonight! RT if it please you. http://t.co/fCIStiEr
Scholarship applications close in an hour. You guys are amazing. http://t.co/OrmcKCUJ
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