MNSights - Fall 2011 - (Page 14)
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Simple Gifts
How to make a difference with small everyday acts. By Kari Ruth
have a pretty cool gig as interactive media strategist for Minnesota Philanthropy Partners. Working the cutting edge of philanthropy, I track trends that help people feel and act generously. I often come across ideas that go beyond just writing a check yet are so simple to do. It’s what I call everyday philanthropy—small choices we can make that add up to a mountain of difference. Here’s an example: While I try to make lifestyle choices that do good, I find it hard to practice that when shopping without being overwhelmed. That is, until I met TOMS. TOMS sells casual, cool shoes (so cool that superfans get married in them). You can buy them online at toms.com, and for every pair you buy, TOMS purchases a new pair for a child in a developing country, where footwear can help prevent the spread of disease. Not only do you get a new pair of shoes, you help solve a problem. That’s everyday philanthropy and shrewd shopping. Not into shoes? How about sunglasses? It’s the same deal. Buy a pair of TOMS shades and TOMS provides eye care for a person in need. The bottom line: Your good taste in sunglasses helps imWhere to Find TOMS Shoes prove someone’s eyesight. I fully expect the TOMS Locally, TOMS shoes are sold at empire of fashionable good to keep expanding, so Neiman Marcus, Len Druskin, watch for future product lines. Nordstrom and several other Mall of America locations. Visit toms.com/ Another great example of everyday store-locator for more details. philanthropy combines giving with online games. The highly addictive Free Rice (freerice.com) helps you build your vocabulary and fight world hunger. Each correct answer yields a real donation of rice. More than 91 billion grains of rice have been donated through the game to date. Deliver the Net (nothingbutnets.net/its-easy-to-help/game. html) puts you on a virtual motorbike as you drive through Africa to deliver mosquito nets and help families prevent malaria (just don’t run into trees, as your net impact score will be low). It’s a fun way to raise awareDeliver the Nets helps provide ness, and at the end you can mosquito nets to families in Africa. help send real-life mosquito nets to families in need. Try out these games and you’ll see that it really does take just one small shift—or mouse click—in our daily routines to make a difference. Visit me again in future issues of MNSights for more ideas of how you can incorporate philanthropy into your life. Together, each of our individual shifts in routine can add up to a better Minnesota and a better world.
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U N I V ER SI T Y AVENUE IS OPEN FOR BUSINESS As light-rail construction tears through University Avenue, it’s tempting to avoid the area altogether. But those businesses need your patronage now more than ever. Visiting the brick-andmortar businesses is a great way to show support, but in some cases you don’t even need to go to University: Ngon Vietnamese Bistro is launching a new food truck in Saint Paul, and Cupcake’s food truck dishes out sweet treats across the Twin Cities. Follow them on Twitter (@ngonbistro, @cupcakeonthego) for hours and location details.
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FA L L I 2011 M NSIGHTS
http://www.toms.com
http://www.toms.com/
http://www.freerice.com
http://www.nothingbutnets.net/its-easy-to-help/game
Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of MNSights - Fall 2011
MNSights - Fall 2011
Contents
Give to the Max
What Local Mayors Want
Who Inspires Us: Designer John Larsen
How to Give Smart While Giving Green
MNSights - Fall 2011
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/mspcomm/mnsights_2017fall
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https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/mspcomm/mnsights_2016fall
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/mspcomm/mnsights_2015fall
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https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/mspcomm/mnsights_2014fall
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https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/mspcomm/mnsights_2013fall
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https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/mspcomm/mnsights_2012fall
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/mspcomm/mnsights_2012spring
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/mspcomm/mnsights_2011fall
https://www.nxtbookmedia.com