Twelve year old Mimi Ausland from Bend, Oregon has provided over 50 tons of food to needy animals in shelters through two websites she created.
In 2008, after learning about the food shortages many animal shelters face, Mimi - with help from her parents and months of research and planning- created the websites freekibble.com and freekibblekat.com. Her efforts prompted Castor and Pollux, a Portland, Ore. pet products company, to donate 10 pieces of kibble for every answer to the animal trivia questions Mimi posts on her site. Visitors to the site not only help contribute food but learn something about animals in shelters.
Since April of 2008 she has provided over 713,000 meals to hungry dogs and cats. She has become the sole supplier to 11 shelters nationwide. In the fall of 2008 she was honored by the ASPCA with their "Kid of the Year" award for her efforts. Mimi is one of a new breed of "online evangelists" who promote good causes, often independently, not as agents of the organizations they support.
Judith Sol-Dyess was touched by the people she saw who lived at the YMCA of Metropolitan Chicago, where she works as the Sr. Director of Information Systems.
Judith created a simple yet effective website called Project30W named for the buildings address, 30 W Chicago Ave. Although the building is her office, for many it is their home.
On the site she shares her experience of her neighbors along with portraits of them, showing their humanity and giving viewers a window into the lives of people who live a that Y. Even though she is an employee, Judith is sharing her personal experience and suggesting people make donation to help support the people she now knows as friends.
These are two examples of individuals motivated to help a cause on their own using the online medium. How do you excite your supporters and motivate them to spread your message online?
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