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Lauren Graham's comment about pushing off charities that support wildlife conservation or animal rights in favor of human-based charities strikes me as enormously short-sighted, arrogant, and ignorant.

First, Friends of Bonobos was proposed by those of us who support Wildlife Direct. As far was we're concerned, it's only been a SearchKindly poll entry once and we did not win the big prize. If you're going to criticize the natural world, Ms. Graham, at least get your facts correct.

Secondly, why on this great, green biodiverse earth do so many people think that wildlife conservation and animals rights are completely disconnected from people? Those of you who continually criticize charities that don't support the almighty superior homo sapiens sapiens need to take a look at the organizations you dislike. Wildlife Direct, for an example, is just as involved in improving the lives of humans in Africa as it is in conserving the wildlife that makes those countries so rich in biodiversity and LIFE. This complete disconnect that our society has with the natural world will be our eventual undoing. Don't believe me? Then SearchKindly for "the sixth extinction" and read what Dr. Richard Leakey has to say about how humans are connected with all other life on this planet.

In fact, Ms. Graham, why don't you take a look at the many blogs and organizations featured on Wildlife Direct, including Dr. Leakey's own blog, and educate yourself on the interconnectedness of humans, wildlife, and the environment?

Speciesism serves no one, and criticizing people for trying to do good in the areas they believe in is simply uncalled for.

Nothoney from Washingtong, Dc
Wednesday, December 5, 2007 at 10:10:56 AM

Can you post the facebook link you are referring to?
Thanks


--Sure thing. Just as a bit of background, we're talking about a Facebook app that one of our volunteers, Kris, created a few months ago. What is does is allow you to post a thermometer on your profile which keeps track of all the money that we have raised for the month, as well as the total to date. It also let's you go to the Facebook page that let's you donate for free. You can check out the app and add it to your profile through this link:

Search Kindly Facebook App --Syed

DJ from Austin
Wednesday, December 5, 2007 at 1:01:52 AM

The facebook application still says money from this month will be donated to Blood Water Mission.

--Just took care of that. Should be reflected in the app in about 30-minutes. --Syed

Anonymous
Tuesday, December 4, 2007 at 10:10:04 PM

2. Baal Dan won "Charity of the Month" on Search Kindly - A Google Company.

-HA! Love it.

--Yeah, I was just as amused ;) --Syed

Lulu
Tuesday, December 4, 2007 at 5:05:12 PM

I agree with Lauren Graham that we need to extend the time for winning charities to return to the list. I was quite startled to see Angel Flight Central and SafeHouse, both extremely worthwhile causes (and, for what it's worth, the receptors of my personal votes), back on the list when there are dozens of charities that we haven't even given a chance to yet!

There are so many charities out there, and I don't want them to be overshadowed. I know that I started using SK in the first place because a good friend of mine was volunteering with SafeHouse and I was very excited to support it, but now I think other charities should get the same chance to bring people in to SK!

Again, I love both Angel Flight and SafeHouse, but I think the time needs to be extended so that our donations can serve others, as well.

--Yeah, we are still panning out some details on exactly how to set up our policy regarding repeat winners. --Syed

Emmy_roo from Maine
Tuesday, December 4, 2007 at 10:10:40 AM

One more thing--just for fun, I was searching for "Search Kindly" in GuideStar and Baal Dan came up as the one match. Apparently SK made a big impression on their organization because your donation is listed as one of their accomplishments for the year 2006.
I was amused to see that they seem to think that SK is owned by Google, which I'm guessing isn't the case.

--from the GuideStar website--

GOALS AND RESULTS
Accomplishments for Fiscal Year Ending December 31, 2006

1. Evaluated over 20 organizations in Calcutta, India and identified 5 projects to provide aid to, helping over 1,500 children directly.
2. Baal Dan won "Charity of the Month" on Search Kindly - A Google Company.
3. Tanya Pinto, Founder of Baal Dan was awarded, "The Sri Sri Ravi Shankar Award for Uplifting Human Values" for her dedication to helping children in need.


--Hah! If Search Kindly was owned by Google, then we surely wouldn't be worried about where the money for our accountant is going to come from. --Syed

William from Lancaster, PA
Monday, December 3, 2007 at 9:09:16 PM

I looked up One Laptop Per Child on GuideStar and found two organizations related to the project. It appears that one, the OLPC Foundation is a 501(c)(3) charity, but the other, the One Laptop Per Child Association Inc. is a 501(c)(4) organization for which contributions are not tax-deductible. To access this information on GuideStar, you have to register, but it is free for a basic user account. By the way, GuideStar, like Charity Navigator is a good way to make sure check how much of your contribution to a charity actually gets spent on programs and how much fuels their advertising campaigns (which are of course necessary but shouldn't but the main focus of a charity.)

William from Lancaster, PA
Monday, December 3, 2007 at 9:09:45 PM

Since I keep seeing instructions here about how to make SK your second homepage, I thought I'd add the method I think is easiest. Just open up the two pages you want in separate tabs, go to Tools>Options>Main, and click "Use current pages." That's at least how to do it in Firefox. Maybe there's something similar in IE7?

--Thanks! I'll be sure to include this information on the How-To section. --Syed

Ann from Minnesota
Monday, December 3, 2007 at 5:05:23 PM

University Camps, Inc. or UCLA UniCamp (unicamp.org) For 73 years UCLA Students have been sending low income and foster care youth to a summer camp that reinforces the concept of childhood, higher education and nature conservancy. No funding from the University, most money is raised by students...an amazing cause!

Kristina from Los Angeles
Monday, December 3, 2007 at 3:03:19 PM

Here's a great organization devoted to getting otheriwze homeless families into temporary housing and eventually fully self sufficient: http://www.homestretch.org/

Also, I do think the period for charities to be off the list should be extended. Then again, I only say that because I saw "friends of bonobos" on their twice in the past few months, beating out humitarian organizations. Don't get me wrong, I'm all for animal rescue, but quite a bit more for saving the lives of orphaned children, or those affected by war. It may sound biased, but maybe animal-oriented causes can get pushed off the list for longer periods of time than organizations like "Save Darfur" or "Baal Dan"

Lauren Graham from Roswell, GA
Monday, December 3, 2007 at 8:08:25 AM

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