Spring Break
Instant Messages For Charity
Melinda Fusco
Issue date: 3/30/07 Section: News
Imagine if every time you had an instant message (IM) conversation, you could help address an issue you feel passionate about, such as poverty, disease or environmental degradation. Now, according to the Window's Live Messenger (WLM) Web site "I'm For a Cause," you can.
Two students are currently campaigning for this initiative at UConn because it will benefit nine of the world's most effective non-profit charities. Tony Merendino, an 8th-semester economics major, and Jenna Mocci a 6th-semester psychology major, have partnered as ambassadors for WLM, Microsoft's IM service, along with 68 other students across the country in support of this project.
When joining the program, customers will be asked to select the organization they are most passionate about to benefit from donations generated by their WLM conversations, according to a Microsoft press release. Every time a customer has a conversation through "I'm For a Cause," Microsoft shares a portion of the program's advertising revenue with the participating organization of their choice.
The nine organizations are the American Red Cross, the Boys & Girls Clubs of America, the National AIDS Fund, the National Multiple Sclerosis Society, ninemillion.org, the Sierra Club, stopglobalwarming.org, Susan G. Komen for the Cure and the U.S. Fund for UNICEF, according to a press release.
"There is no cap on the amount … each organization will receive," Merendino said, and Microsoft will donate at least $100,000 to each organization during the first year of the program.
The program is designed to empower people to make a difference without spending a dime, according to the press release. Therefore, the "I'm For a Cause" initiative may be a great fit for students who want to help support causes that are confronting some of the world's most urgent social issues.
The campaign, which started about three weeks ago, will continue until the first week of May, Merendino said.
According to Mocci, the goal at UConn is 500 WLM downloads; 40 students have made the switch so far.
Two students are currently campaigning for this initiative at UConn because it will benefit nine of the world's most effective non-profit charities. Tony Merendino, an 8th-semester economics major, and Jenna Mocci a 6th-semester psychology major, have partnered as ambassadors for WLM, Microsoft's IM service, along with 68 other students across the country in support of this project.
When joining the program, customers will be asked to select the organization they are most passionate about to benefit from donations generated by their WLM conversations, according to a Microsoft press release. Every time a customer has a conversation through "I'm For a Cause," Microsoft shares a portion of the program's advertising revenue with the participating organization of their choice.
The nine organizations are the American Red Cross, the Boys & Girls Clubs of America, the National AIDS Fund, the National Multiple Sclerosis Society, ninemillion.org, the Sierra Club, stopglobalwarming.org, Susan G. Komen for the Cure and the U.S. Fund for UNICEF, according to a press release.
"There is no cap on the amount … each organization will receive," Merendino said, and Microsoft will donate at least $100,000 to each organization during the first year of the program.
The program is designed to empower people to make a difference without spending a dime, according to the press release. Therefore, the "I'm For a Cause" initiative may be a great fit for students who want to help support causes that are confronting some of the world's most urgent social issues.
The campaign, which started about three weeks ago, will continue until the first week of May, Merendino said.
According to Mocci, the goal at UConn is 500 WLM downloads; 40 students have made the switch so far.
Viewing Comments 1 - 1 of 1
DN05
posted 1/04/08 @ 12:21 AM EST
I am really glad that you are undertaking an initiative like this to spread this little known movement. I also run a website at http://messengercharity. (Continued…)
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