Students’ instant messaging can benefit one of nine causes
Published: March 21, 2007
Instant messaging is an important part of everyday life for many Purdue University students.
And when they return to West Lafayette from this week’s spring break, those students will have an opportunity to make their messaging pay dividends for organizations involved in social causes.
Purdue seniors Chris Poluski and Megan Jansky are campus representatives for i’m Initiative, a Microsoft-sponsored project that connects nine nonprofit organizations to Windows Live Messenger customers.
Every time a participant has a conversation using i’m, Microsoft Corp. will share a portion of the program’s advertising revenue with the organization of the person’s choice.
“I really found it a great cause and a great way for Purdue students to get involved without too much involvement,” Poluski said. “We’re trying to create a buzz on campus about the program — create an awareness and give them a way to help out.”
Organizations that will benefit from the program are the American Red Cross, Boys and Girls Clubs of America, National AIDS Fund, National Multiple Sclerosis Society, ninemillion.org, Sierra Club, Stopglobalwarming.org, Susan G. Komen for the Cure and U.S. Fund for UNICEF.
While there is no set cap on the amount each cause can receive, Microsoft will make a guaranteed minimum donation of $100,000 to each organization during the first year of the program.
Students from at least 35 colleges and universities are involved in the initiative.
By signing up at www.imforacause.com, Jansky has specified that donations generated by her instant messaging go to Susan G. Komen for the Cure, the world’s largest grassroots network of breast cancer survivors and activists working to end breast cancer.
“I did a lot of work with them on other activities here on campus,” she said. “My mom has had two people she knows die of breast cancer, so that’s important to me.”
Poluski is earmarking donations on his behalf to UNICEF, a worldwide organization that saves the lives of children through low-cost, high-impact programs.
“It’s a program I got involved with as a child,” said Poluski, who recalls participating in ‘Trick or Treat for UNICEF.’ “I thought it was a great way to stay involved in the program.”
Poluski is majoring in engineering with a minor in economics and hopes to land a job in technology marketing when he graduates.
Jansky is majoring in law and society and management and eventually would like to go to law school.
But between now and graduation this spring, Jansky hopes to get a large number of her fellow Purdue students connected to the i’m Initiative.
“It’s a great cause and it takes little or no effort on their part,” she said. “Everybody uses instant messaging. Why not use (i’m) and benefit a good cause?”
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