(6PM Update Below – keep clicking and commenting on the links!)
You guys are the ones who make this blog, and if you are reading it in a place that’s warm and safe like I am we have so much to be thankful for.
You may have already heard of Heifer International, an organization that works to fight hunger by giving needy families around the world and in the United States livestock, training, or other assistance that helps improve their livelihood. Heifer has been recognized for its work in Fast Company and Forbes, among other places.
I know we’re going through tough economic times, but if you have anything to spare this holiday season I hope you’ll consider making a donation. And, in order to encourage people to spread the word, for every comment someone makes in this post between now and 5PM Pacific time, my wife and I will donate 50 cents $1.00*.
(*Up to $1,000, I’m on a publishing salary people)
And, better yet, if you want in on the fun you could do a per-comment pledge on your own blog and I’ll link to it in this post and encourage everyone to stop by so we can multiply the giving!
In your comment I hope you’ll list:
1. Your name
2. Where you’re from
3. A wish for 2010
4. (optional) A link to your own blog or website if you want to make a similar per-comment pledge (amounts totally up to you). Write a dedicated post on your blog for people to leave comments on your blog and link to Heifer and state your pledge. I will update the post throughout the day with links to other participating blogs.
Thanks again for a wonderful 2009! I’ll be closing comments on the blog between 5pm this evening and Monday as I spend time with my family, and will be back with some reruns from yesteryear on the 28th.
Also spreading cheer with their own per-comment donations (please make sure to click through and leave comments!):
Amanda Plavich
Anna’s Got an Attitude
Where’s My Whiteout?
Single Mom Seeks Sane
Muse Ink
Matt Heppe
Anvil of Tears
John Ochwat
Jennifer R. Hubbard
Kathryn Jankowski
Robin Mullet
Ink Spells
Phoebe Kitanidis
Regan Leigh
Jeri Smith-Ready
Moira Young
Mother Wouldn’t Lie
Houndrat
Linda Godfrey
So Many Dreams
The Book Designer
Irene Rawlins
Patrick Rothfuss
6PM Update: WOW!! All I can say is THANK YOU SO MUCH to everyone who participated in our inaugural charity drive. Thanks to you, this is the total donation for this blog ($1 x close enough to 1,000 comments = ……):
And according to my calculations, if the other blogging participants reach their comment pledge goals it will mean another $1,250-$1,500+ for needy families. That’s what I call multiplying! But that will only happen if you keep commenting on those blogs. Many of the participants above have extended their deadlines, so if you’re just arriving click those links above and comment!
This has been a fantastic experience, but it’s just the beginning: next year we’ll really blow it out (and hold it at a time when more people are on the Internets). THANK YOU again to everyone. All comments from here on out will be held for moderation (and not generally looked at) as I’m away with my family, but will be back on Monday. Hope everyone has a wonderful weekend.
Jessy says
Happy Holidays from Jessy in Philadelphia, PA. I wish that everyone was as generous as you and other people who do good for the world.
--Deb says
What a wonderful thing to do–Heifer International is such a great organization and deserves the attention.
My name is Deb from New Jersey, and my wish for 2010? Prosperity for EVERYONE.
Livia says
This is a great idea! I may copy you with something similar on my blog's 1 year birthday.
Ryan says
Thanks for this blog and forum. Cheer.
Jess says
1. Jess Tudor
2. Philadelphia
3. Learning and practicing more about health and wellness/fitness
4. While I have a blog, I'm unemployed and don't have money, or I'd do a comment-pledge, but I'll happily click through to everyone else so they have to give more. 🙂
Carrie says
Carrie from Austin. In 2010, I hope to achieve financial stability. You are a great man to do this.
Brandi G. says
What a swell idea.
I'm Brandi from Arkansas. And my wish for 2010 is for happiness and health for all my friends and family, and to achieve some of my more personal dreams (which are goals when you have a timeline!).
Have a very Merry Christmas and best of luck to Heifer International. God bless you for all you do.
Jeanne says
Happy holidays from Seattle!
My wish for the world in 2010 — more love.
(If my agent sells my ms, I'd be lovin' everyone.)
Kasey says
I couldn't not post after reading about your offer. I'd do something similar if only I weren't a high school student. But, alas, I am, and I am also broke. My name is Kasey and I'm from MA. My wish for 2010 is to finish a book. For once. haha
Bobbie says
Merry Christmas, Nathan. You have all sorts of ways of spreading cheer, don't you? I'm from just outside Chicago, and my wish for 2010 is simply for more of the same. It's been a good year, and I feel too fortunate to ask for anything beyond what I have.
Sophie says
Great post Nathan. Wonderful idea. Glad to be a part of it—Sherry from Texas. I wish everyone all the best and to continue to write no matter what. Writing is food for the soul. Giving is food for the heart.
Nathan Bransford says
The last person to click on the blog was visitor #1,000,000 for 2009!
Bron says
What a great idea, and so generous of you and your wife. I hadn't heard of Heifer International, but World Vision run a similar program and I'm buying a toilet through them for a community without access to sanitation as a gift for my mother. She just had to replace a toilet in her house, which is why I chose this particular present. Hopefully she'll think it's funny, but at the same time it serves a very important need.
Bronwyn from Australia where there definitely isn't any snow, whose wish for 2010 is for an agent, and whose less selfish wish is for more people to make (and be able to make) charitable donations in 2010. Merry Christmas everyone!
Bron says
And congratulations on the millionth visitor!
Anonymous says
aww this is awesome =]
Anonymous says
Cecilia from Philly. My wish is for the "leaders" of this country to do good for its people.
Anonymous says
Sharleen in Yakima, Washington
My wish for 2010: An improved economy so all will have jobs and properity in the publishing industry (sorry, selfish reasons for this one) so publishers can buy more books.
You have a kind and generous heart, Nathan
Best wishes for a great new year.
Border Jumpers says
Just as an FYI wanted to flag you to three posts that resulted from our field visits with Heifer International in Rwanda. They are doing terrific work on the ground…
Here are the write-ups for the Worldwatch Institute's Nourishing the Planet [https://blogs.worldwatch.org/nourishingtheplanet]:
Healing with livestock in Rwanda
https://blogs.worldwatch.org/nourishingtheplanet/healing-with-livestock-in-rwanda/
Teacher Turned Farmer…Turned Teacher
https://blogs.worldwatch.org/nourishingtheplanet/teacher-turned-farmer%e2%80%a6turned-teacher/
Got Biogas?
https://blogs.worldwatch.org/nourishingtheplanet/got-biogas/
We are travel blogging from Africa at a site called Border Jumpers which can be viewed at https://www.borderjumpers.org
Danielle Nierenberg and Bernard Pollack
Anonymous says
1. Meredith
2. Tarpon Springs, Fl
3. A raise for the new year: check!
Malia says
Hey, Nathan, this is awesome what you're doing. I'm Malia Ann in Northwest Washington State. And besides good wishes for the whole world, my dream for 2010 is for my fantastic Agent to find a home for my kids' fantasy novel.
HAPPY HOLIDAYS!!!
Anonymous says
My wish for 2010 is to be a published author who can donate more than $10 to Heifer International by this time next year.
Maggie's Mom from central Oklahoma.
Meghan Ward says
Meghan Ward
Berkeley
I wish to get my book published in 2010! And for tons more people to donate to charities like Heifer International. I posted a similar comment/dollar match:
http://www.writerland.com
Brian says
Hey, Brian from Iowa. First time poster, long time reader…keep up the good work.
Moira Young says
(Pen) Name: Moira Young
From: Vancouver, Canada
Wish for 2010: To advance my writing career in some sort of substantial way (agent representation, publishing contract, ???)
Blog: https://moirayoung.livejournal.com
I don't have a lot of money right now, but I will donate 50 cents for every person that comments on my blog, to a maximum of $25. It's not much, but every little bit helps, right?
I'll set my own time limit at 12:01 a.m. Christmas day.
JC Webprints says
Chris Fontes
Madera, CA
I wish to finish my MS
Marilyn Peake says
Bless you and your wife for doing this, Nathan! Merry Christmas and a wonderful New Year to everyone visiting this blog today!
1. Marilyn Peake
2. United States
3. My wish for the New Year: less people living in poverty, less strife and contention around the world.
S. Terrell French says
Word is spreading. What a great thing to do for a great cause.
(from sunny San Francisco)
Anonymous says
JoMarie from Pennsylvania–wishing the man i love will return to my life in 2010 🙂
Mags says
1. Maggie Lyons
2. Boston
3. I wish you and yours an awesome holiday season and a kick-assed 2010!
4. You bet! I don't get a lot of comments, though, and it's so late in the day that I'm seeing this, so let's make it a dollar per comment from now through the end of the year (or the postage might be the most valuable thing with that envelope). I'd like to split my donation to Heifer International with the Angioma Alliance, though. Fifty cents each, to two very worthy causes.
Cool of you to do this!
Happy holidays!
Mags
http://www.mmlyons.blogspot.com
Kevin says
I just got a sheep, some geese, and some rabbits myself. This is a great idea!
Anonymous says
Happy Holidays from Donna in Connecticut! Wishing everyone peace and health for the new year and access to quality, affordable health care for all!
nomadshan says
Awesome idea! — Shan in Texas, who's wishing for her book to sell in 2010.
harmonybookreviews says
This is an amazing idea! This is Skyanne from PA. I'd love to get one of my books to the point I can start querying sometime this year!
Thanks for spreading the holiday cheer!
Rissa Watkins says
1. Rissa Watkins
2. Arizona
3. I wish that the economy gets better. I have so many friends and family who can't find a job- my wish is that things turn around for everyone this year.
Bless you and your family Nathan! You give so much to writers with your blog posts and advice. Doing this is above and beyond.
Dewey Hammond says
1. Dewey
2. San Francisco
3. "The Pale King"
Rachel Stark says
I'm Rachel from Baltimore, but recently from New York. My wish for 2010 is the opportunity to feel happy and fulfilled, for me and everyone I know.
Amy says
Merry Christmas from a rather frigid Massachusetts! I'm loving all the bloggers who have chosen to do something for someone else this year. People coming together for good warms the heart. Thanks, Nathan!
My wish for 2010 is a job so that I too can be as generous as I want to be!
Denise says
First time commenter but dedicated reader.
I'm Denise from Kansas City, Missouri. My wish for 2010 is to become a better writer, edit my NaNoWriMo project and acquire an agent.
Thank you for your blog! Its my absolute favorite agent blog.
Other Lisa says
Nathan, I think you are gonna need a raise!
And I have to say, Heiffer makes it wayyy too easy for the likes of us — you can donate through your Amazon account.
I'm going to have to skip the blog challenge for now but I hope my little bit helps, and thank you for doing this.
Wishes? I'll keep mine simple. I hope all of you have a wonderful holiday with your family and friends. There is nothing like the gift of time with people that you care about.
Anonymous says
Thank you so much for your kindness! Merry Christmas from Emily in Southern Illinois. I hope that your generosity returns to you seven-fold.
Anonymous says
1. Alyssa
2. New York
3. finish my novel, get above a 2100 on the SAT in Spring
Happy holidays to all. What you're doing is amazing.
LA Q says
this is a great idea, i love this org. ur the best
happy holidays to all
may u all have a 2010 filled with love, peace, joy and success.
laq997
https://killerhunter1.blogspot.com/
katied says
Katie from Davenport, IA. In 2010, I would like to find a moment in every day to look around and enjoy what life has given me.
Kurtis says
Happy holidays everyone. Keep up the good blogging, Nathan.
JennyC says
Hi I am Jenny from Melbourne Australia. Merry Christmas Nathan. My wish for 2010 is that we give ourselves time to live in and appreciate the present, rather than live in worry and stress.
hannah says
My mom gets me a goat through Heifer every year for Hanukkah. It's always one of my favorite presents.
1. hannah
2. Washington D.C.
3. I want to be happy.
Angela says
God bless you & yours this holiday season for doing this. Heifer is a great organization!
My wish for 2010 is to finally complete my YA Historical Fantasy
Angela from Pa.
Lacey says
This is a really great idea to help those in need over the holidays. Seasons Greetings from Canada! Lacey from Calgary.
Liz Jones says
Liz from Mill Run, PA– love Heifer International– good for you! Hope you have a happy and prosperous 2010!
Richard Lewis says
Great idea!
Richard Lewis. I'm from Indonesia — a white guy born, raised, and enfamilied — and I'm just barely beating the deadline due to the fact I'm sound asleep and dreaming of edits when Nathan posts.
What I wish for 2010….that the Riemann Hypothesis will be proved. And yes, that old hoary standby: less saber rattling and more peace.