Down the street - well, all right, down the Green Line - the Washington Nationals have a new baseball stadium. And they’re doing some good in a novel way. On July 13, they’ll host Children’s National Day at Nationals Park as they place the Houston Astros. The money they raise will go to create a state-of-the-art juvenile diabetes center.
That’s pretty cool, although not particularly novel. What is new is the Text to Give outreach they plan to employ:
During the game, the Nationals and Major League Baseball will launch a mobile giving campaign. All fans at the stadium – and people anywhere – will be invited to text a one-word message to a special five-digit number and a $5 donation will go to Children’s. The donation will be added to the donor’s phone bill.
It’s not a brand new idea, but it’s certainly not mainstream. Creativity and giving meet again!
July 3rd, 2008 at 12:07 pm
Great Post! I’m looking forward to the game.
The Children’s National Medical Center campaign is powered by mGive, allowing nonprofits the ability to accept mobile donations.
The shortcode is still in the approval process, but I’ll stop back by with the info when its available.
July 3rd, 2008 at 7:58 pm
Thanks for the ping. I am looking forward to hearing about the results.
July 3rd, 2008 at 9:07 pm
This is a pretty cool promotion and it made me think of another new project I recently found called carrotmob.org.
I wrote about it on my blog:
http://wearecitizens.blogspot.com/2008/07/consumer-power-social-good-and.html
It seems right in line with Be the Change. It connects promotions, with consumer power, with social networking, with social causes.
July 9th, 2008 at 7:01 pm
To donate to the Children’s National Medical Center via mobile phone, text message ‘NATS’ to 90999 starting July 10.