(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.
I'm Norah from Ithaca, NY.
Great idea, Nathan- Heifer International is such a great cause.
I wish everyone a safe and happy holiday- and a new year full of opportunities!
Scott from the southern New Jersey shore wishes for signs other than advancing technology that we're evolving as a species. Then again, I'd like to see The Flyers get out of their slump, so no breath holding here whatsoever.
Thanks for all your efforts, Nathan. It's easy to forget that we're getting all of this great stuff for free, and here you are giving more. Peace to you, sir.
My website.
Hey, Nathan, great idea. Love Heifer International, and Doctors Without Borders both incredibly helpful ways to give back.
I'm Joel from San Rafael, California
My hope is that people fulfill their promise in 2010.
Happy Holidays to all.
Nathan, I found this late in the day, so I'll do the "per comment" donation post later tonight and run it throughout the holiday.
List my blog if you like:
https://www.TheBookDesigner.com
And thanks for all the great reading!
This is so fantastic, Nathan!
Ann M.
California
Continued health and happiness for my friends and family!
I'm Cindy from Orange County, California. My wish is for everyone to share in your spirit of generosity this holiday. My daughter's wonderful teacher asked that we not give her gifts this year, but donate to hospice or Heifer instead… the class was able to donate a water buffalo in her name, plus provide for many holiday meals for needy hospice families.
Thank you for this, Nathan! I've donated to Heifer twice now, and I've been very happy with it.
-Eric
Great idea, Nathan. I hadn't heard of Heifer Int. It sounds fabulous. I visited their site and was impressed. I'll visit the listees and leave comments.
Name: Wendy
Origin: Australia
Wish for 2010: To be in a financial place where I can help organisations like Heifer International.
Just under the wire –
June Sobel
Westlake Village CA
For 2010 – a year of surprise, laughter and creativity
Elisabeth Black from Maryland. Thanks for doing this, Nathan. In 2010, I wish to change the wallpaper border in my bathroom.
Merry Christmas.
Already have. Always do. Trees, this year; global warming, you know.
Mackay
Boulder Colorado
Heifer Intl. is a wonderful organization!
I'm Della from New Mexico. My wish for 2010 is for a productive writing year (personnally) and increased prosperity for all of us!
1) Jaime
2) Australia
3) My wish for 2010 is for another addition to my family, and for my MS to be loved by an agent 🙂
Merry Christmas to all! Reading the blog this year has been so much fun. Thank you, Nathan, for bringing us all together 🙂
UPDATE 5PM: WOW!! All I can say is THANK YOU SO MUCH to everyone who participated in our inaugural charity drive. Don't worry if you arrived late and didn't have a chance to comment: we're donating the full $1,000 anyway. 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 it 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. I'll soon be closing comments for the weekend, but things will be back to normal on Monday. Hope everyone has a wonderful weekend.
Christine, from Ottawa, Canada!
I wish everyone health and happiness in 2010.
OK, Nathan, got it up and here's the link to the post. I'm going to leave this up throughout the holiday, so comment away, folks!
https://www.thebookdesigner.com/2009/12/nathan-bransfords-holiday-giving-intiative/
I am giving everyone a "share of a goat" for their stocking stuffer. Thank you! Wishing for you and everyone peace and joy!
Heifer International is hands-down my favorite charity, and though I got here late, I'm thrilled by the turnout and donation amounts. THANK YOU, and have happy holidays (and a great 2010)!
Judy from Foxborough, MA. I give o Heifer every year. This year it was some chickens. They are such a worthy organization.
My wish is for tolerance and good cheer.
Joe Selby
Nashua, NH
I hope in 2010 more people will be as generous as this.
Here's a post for a goat!
Leanne from Denver, Colorado here.
I didn't see your post until after the 6 pm cutoff but… I have always appreciated Heifer Int'l and a lovely gift from my extended family one year was a flock of chicks. Warmed my soul, I tell you!
So here's to your challenge… I'll raise you $25 (hey, I'm unemployed on the savings from a publishing salary!)… and I wish us all a productive, lucrative 2010 so we can do more this time next year.
Happy holidays!
What a great idea! I'm Alaina from New Hampshire, a poor college student. A PERSONAL wish is to get published in 2010, but I'm actually just going to start firing off query letters and hoping. A more communal one is that everyone has one full week of things to celebrate this year. Life has its ups and downs, but one good week makes things worthwhile.
Happy holidays Nathan!
C & K
Kathryn from Spokane, WA. And I actually bought a flock of hope (chicken, geese, and ducks) in my mom's name for Christmas.
For 2010, I want to graduate (MFA) and find some sort of writing related job so that I can start paying off my student loans…
What a great idea. Thanks for your wonderful blog and all the information and encouragement it gives us.
My wish is for health, happiness and peace for all people, all over the world.
Have a great Christmas and New Year's with your family.
Cathi Stoler from NYC.
Merry Christmas from Julie in Chicago!
My wish for 2010 is for everyone to give a little rather than take for themselves…the world would be a better place.
I donated to this charity last week! Great choice.
Thanks for donating to Heifer and for starting a great trend. Happy holidays!
Missed your deadline but wanted to let you know that I support Heifer International myself — last year we "bought" a llama as a gift in the name my two brothers and their families, and this year a goat. A wonderful way to support those in need around the world!
Thanks for all you do, Nathan!
That is all.
Doctor Query
Nathan,
I'm Alice Kasey from Owensboro, KY.
I think what you're doing is really great, and a great way to give back.. I've read through your blogs for writers before and always thought you were kind and helpful in that sense; now I see that's what you're like over all. My wish for 2010 is to hopefully get published so I can share my love for imagination with others. Oh yeah, and to get through my books to read list (if only it would quit growing)
What a purpose! Such a great Christmas present!
God bless you all!
Well done! Congratulations Nathan for that. Nothing can welcome a new year as a sweetly as a sweet gift to needy people.
I’m Namrata from India. And I wish to reach a little bit closer to reach my aim of healing people in forthcoming year. I’m craving for participating in this per-comment pledge idea but I’m just a student, a dependent on my parents.
Bravo for those have done that… and best wishes.
-Merry Christmas and Happy new year to everyone.
Wonderful christmas, a new year with so much love. I hope 2010 be better than 09. LOVE! Kisses,
Blanca Aleks.
I missed out on this but I went ahead and bought some chicks in honor of my husband overseas.
Happy Holidays, Nathan–coming out of the lurking woodwork to participate. 🙂 Other than world peace, I am hoping 2010 brings you a very good slushpile and lots of inspiration to all the writers here.
I tried to spread the word as much as I could on FB, TW and Yahoo. I hope it helped.
This was a nice event.
This is an incredible gesture. I'm so glad to be a part of it. My name is Sandra P. I have many personal wishes and goals for 2010, one of which is to complete my first novel. However, my wish for 2010 is for there to be a brighter future for everyone. We've been through some tough times over the last few years so hopefully the worst is behind us.
Thanks to Nathan for putting this together and bringing a bright spot to some lives that haven't seen one in awhile.
What a neat idea! Merry Christmas!
Rochelle from New York! I wish to continue writing and pursuing my dreams; I wish that we begin to emerge from this horrible recession; I wish joy, serenity, and optimism to everyone I know.
Great organization! Great idea! Great all around guy Nathan Bransford!
Name is Joanne from NYC. Wish for 2010 beyond champagne wishes and caviar dreams of getting published (ha!) would be a trip to Disney World with my 6 year old daughter who is finally getting over her fear of hugging a giant mouse!
Merry Christmas all!
Joanne
Let's get those folks some livestock!
Happy Haunnikah, Merry Christmas, Sublime Saturnalia, Kickin' Kwanzza, and all that jazz.
Best Wishes for 2010 from Delaware! Heifer Inernational is one of my favorite charities, so I was thrilled to see this post. Thanks for such a great site. I hope to blog as well as you in the new year!
http://www.bethsorensen.com
Most of the presents I give these days are donations to Heifer International. Thanks for highlighting this important charity.
Happy New Year from Claude Forthomme in Rome Italy!
I've worked 25 years in development aid and heard Heifer's doing a great job! And there are many more people out there in developing countries, all working hard, bringing assistance to the poor, the sick, the hungry…I think it's great you and your wife thought of them!
Many thanks, Nathan, for this warm-hearted blog…
You'll find mine at
https://claudenougat.blogspot.com
Happy holidays to all from Seattl, and thanks Nathan for using your power for good. I wish for much happiness for all in 2010, and beyond.
Please add my Jois de Vivre here to all.
Bobbi in Ann Arbor, Michigan and sometimes points North and UP where the sun is out from time to time and the very lucky people here have proximity to the Great Lakes where, if it isn't frozen over, there is surfing on Lake Superior!
Check it out!
https://yooperdaily.blogspot.com/
https://www.lakesuperior.com/online/226/226surf.html
Happy Holidays To All!
PS And also:
https://lakesuperiorsurfing.blogspot.com/
Hello, Wendy from Durham, NC here! I think its wonderful that you are doing this donation drive for Heifer Intl, they are a great organization. My wish for 2010 is that everyone remembers to keep on dreaming–achievement is impossible without having a dream to follow. Happy Blue Moon tomorrow!
Heifer International is such a great charity. It's been my favorite for years!!!
Hey Nathan, just wanted to thank you again. I ended up with 28 unique visitors, rounded up to $30 and donated a hive full of bees, with the equipment and training to go with them. Very nice, and thanks to all who visited.
JFBookman-
That's great to hear!!
1. Tamie Wolford
2. Covina, California
3. 2010 has started off with a bang of giving. I'm in love with this viral spirit of giving for others in need. That is the true definition of agape! Americans are rich. We have cars, we have running water and we have food at our whim in a cold box called a refrigerator.
I enjoy your blogs, Nathan. Thanks for your inspiration!