Daily Trojan
Kaelyn Eckenrode of the Daily Trojan, USC's student newspaper, has written a great article about our response to the billboard. Thanks to Kaelyn and the DT for bringing awareness to our project.
If you have learned of us via the DT article, then welcome. I encourage you to learn more about this site and about the Save the Children charity. I also hope that you'll donate to this cause and help spread the word.
(3/7/06 | 7:48am PST)
False advertising, broken promises
Outside of explaining how this project began, I intended to refrain from discussing the LSU billboard site and instead focus on our efforts. However, I feel I must chime in on a recent development. It seems Steve the LSU billboard guy has decided that one billboard is not enough. The ad agency working for them was able to negotiate a lower price than anticipated, leaving them some extra money. Thus, they will be doing something in Bristol, CN (home of ESPN).
On its face, that isn't of interest to me or to this site. But it seems Steve the LSU billboard guy is breaking a promise he made earlier. For a while on his site, he's said that any money raised above that needed for the Los Angeles billboard would be donated to the Red Cross. Here is exactly what has been on the website:
"We are purchasing billboard space on a high-traffic road near the USC campus in Los Angeles. ... All donations made via the paypal link below in excess of the actual billboard cost will go to the Red Cross Katrina Relief Fund."But now it seems the Red Cross won't be getting all the money originally promised because Steve wants another billboard. Even those who disagree with us that the effort to raise $10,000 should go to more worthy causes have to agree that promising to give leftover money to charity and then going against that promise is pretty despicable.
It does raise an issue that is very relevant to this site, though. Just because someone makes a website and says they're going to give money to charity doesn't mean they are telling the truth. So how can you trust this website?
For one, your donations aren't going to some Paypal account that I own. Save the Children has setup a donation page on their site that they control. Your donations go directly to them and they update us periodically on how much has been raised. Secondly, Save the Children has authorized us to raise money on their behalf. If you still have concerns, email
(2/18/06 | 5:37pm PST)
We're in business
I am happy to announce that we can now accept online credit card donations! Thanks to Diana Bogue and the entire Save the Children staff for being so helpful in setting this up for us.
A note on the thermometer: As of right now I will get updates on how much we've raised once a week from Save the Children, and I will then update the thermometer.
So what are you waiting for? Donate today.
(2/10/06 | 12:48pm PST)
Checking in
I really appreciate all the support and well-wishes the site has received, and I know that everyone is anxious to see the online donation option. I inquired today and was told that it should be up early next week.
I've been holding off on approaching the media until the online option is up and running, but word has reached several online blogs. You can read about us in a Louisiana sports blog, on a few college football websites (here, here), and on a few SC-related blogs (here, here, here, here). Perhaps the most bizarre and controversial mention comes from another SC fan's response to the billboard madness (Warning: you may find the message offensive). This site was created by the same man who ran the Tom Malone 4 Heisman campaign. Ok, I mentioned you. Now please stop having Sanjiv leaving creepy messages on my voicemail at 4am.
(2/3/06 | 2:00pm PST)
Welcome!
Welcome to the site. We are just getting under way, so check out our message board and other ways to get involved. I'm still working with Save the Children on a method for accepting CC donations online, but you can donate by check now if you want. If you want to be alerted when we get the CC option up, join the mailing list (to your left).
(1/25/06 | 4:51pm PST)
Coming Soon
This page is under construction. Please check back later.
(1/21/06 | 10:07pm PST)
