Here at Jolkona, we like to reflect upon good deeds that are done each and every day. No matter the price or the size of the deed, it contributes as a larger consciousness of positivity in our world. Sometimes the good deed is sprung upon us within seconds, such as lifting someone up who’s tripped on the ground. Other moments are thoughtful and methodically carried out, like those who donate their time and a smiling face to soup kitchens all across the globe. For most of us, giving is more than a good deed; it changes you. It reflects upon you as a change that transforms who you are into who you’ve become. Being a part of the Jolkona family speaks to a larger purpose for each and every one of us. We become united under the community of philanthropy.

Today we are giving a big thank-you to Sumaira Arastu, long standing Jolkona enthusiast and donor. She generously shared her thoughts about giving and why Jolkona is meaningful for her and her life:

What was your first impression of the Jolkona foundation?

Well, I learned about Jolkona when it was still a seedling in the womb. Nadia, the co-founder, and I had gone to college together and she told me about the idea of creating an organization where students and young professionals can contribute in a meaningful way even in a limited financial capacity. The idea of a small act having a larger impact seemed very appealing to me.

Which Jolkona projects have you donated to that stand out?

I believe that health is a foundation to success, without health our education, wealth, and interests cannot be enjoyed. This is why the projects that focus on helping people gain access to health care or focus on preventative care are most appealing to me.
What do you enjoy about giving to Jolkona projects?
I really like the transparency of Jolkona. It is great to be able to track every single penny. Also, I identify with Jolkona’s mission, so it’s rewarding to be able to be part of something that helps realize my ideals.

If you had to describe Jolkona in 4 words, what would you say?

Vital, Innovative, Effective, and Ambitious

How would you describe philanthropy?

Philanthropy to me is about feeling alive. It allows us to build connections with people through any resource we can share. This makes us feel like we are part of something larger and more meaningful. To live for yourself is utterly lonely and you miss out on a feeling of community. I think that part of evolving as a society and as humans requires us to support one another and share our resources so that all of us can realize our potential. This ultimately benefits everyone, even if it means a small sacrifice in the short term.

What are your hobbies? Do you participate other community projects or events in your spare time?

I do. I enjoy volunteering with youth programs so when I can, I volunteer with a program called “Up and Running Again,” which is a group that works with inner city high school and elementary students to train for a half marathon with the idea that such training will allow them to set goals for themselves in all parts of their lives and know that they can achieve them. I also volunteer for Junior Achievement, a program geared to helping elementary students learn more about the business world, so that they can become inspired to contribute in a meaningful way to the development of their own communities.  Otherwise, my hobbies mostly consist of eating chocolate and drinking coffee .

Giving is contagious. Share a small token of kindness to start a chain reaction of sharing and growing. Start here.
Tweet your first time donating with @Jolkona on Twitter, or share your story on our Facebook.

Lotensin

Allow me to introduce to you Andrew Abumoussa. As an accessibility engineer, Andrew is wired to notice things a little differently. What drives many of his passions as a software engineer, as an entrepreneur, and as a graduate student is the effect universal design has on entire populations. Having witnessed how many people lack the opportunities, resources or the apparatus to explore or grow their tools, Andrew’s committed to doing everything he can to level the playing fields. “Having a tool that allows me to see exactly what need is being served, and then receive a tangible confirmation, well, that’s beautiful.” Andrew is the Director of Engineering for SimplyHome, where he has been featured on Extreme Makeover:Home Edition, and he’s a member of the University of Rochester’s Human-Computer Interaction group. And now he is part of the new generation of philanthropists donating through Jolkona. Here, in his words, is what he has to say about his Jolkona experience.

Among the projects you support through Jolkona, which are particularly meaningful to you?
For me it was the BRAC USA project. I could not believe that the cost of a prosthetic limb for someone in Bangladesh was so low. Professionally, as an engineer, I work with people and I know how small changes in software or hardware have the potential to enable a person to complete a given task or goal. Personally, having been raised for a part of my life in Egypt, I’ve seen the devastation that not having a limb has on a person’s ability to participate in society. So, providing a person with an entire limb to empower them with something so basic was the reason I gave Jolkona a try in the first place.

What do you like most about donating through Jolkona?
I remember spending a week looking through all the avenues and organizations through which I could donate. I mean, one day after work, I literally spent about 5 hours sifting through all the sites, reading statistics, benefits, etc. But there seemed to be an entire industry around the concept of philanthropy and that really bothered me. Between all the nebulous descriptions and bureaucracy, the whole experience of giving continued to remain less than rewarding, almost habitual and mindless.

Discovering Jolkona changed all of that. The mystery behind the path of your money is removed. I was able to choose exactly what I funded, and when Jolkona sent me my first email, I was floored to see the speed of execution and the results and value of my donation. The honesty, simplicity, and accountability of Jolkona’s concept is why I’m in love with their experience.

What would you like others to know about Jolkona?
Two things. As a developer, I’ve been taught to adapt systems to people’s tastes and habits rather than having users adapt to a system. With that being said, Jolkona is the system most adept to my preferences in giving. The ability to pinpoint which cause you want to support, as well as deciding what level of commitment, really allows for anyone to give to what they feel passionate about.

Second, it’s addicting! Jolkona does an amazing job of curating the data and presenting it to you so that you can follow and watch the impacts that you choose to have. It’s genius, really, and keeps me coming back to give. And in the end, that’s what it’s all about, right?

As I write this, our Good Deeds campaign is 95% complete with $250 left to until we reach our goal of $5,000! The best thing about this campaign is meeting all of the donors who have given ‘good deeds’ through this campaign.

On Monday, you met Kiran, a recent college graduate who is making around the world through her donations. On Tuesday, you met Sheri, a wife and a mother who donates to honor the memory of loved ones lost. And today, I’d like to introduce you to Donna O’Neill, a seasoned PR professional at Waggener Edstrom who is making a difference by supporting local projects.

Meet Donna O’Neill of Seattle, WA

Donna O’Neill is a 25-year veteran of public relations and corporate communications and currently leads the Microsoft Health Solutions Group PR team at Waggener Edstrom, one of the largest global independent communications firms in the world and Jolkona’s partner in this campaign. Before joining Waggener Edstrom, Donna spent ten years in the financial services industry working in public relations, investor relations and corporate communications with the Wall Street investment firm Kidder, Peabody and Co. as well as financial services company KeyCorp.

Donna graduated with honors from the University of Rochester in upstate New York, where she majored in English. She also spent a semester in the south of France in Aix-en-Provence studying French and art history. Aside from work, the Albany, NY, native enjoys music, yoga and the outdoors, and spending time with her husband, son and two daughters. She also volunteers at Eastlake Community Church where she keeps the toddlers busy so their parents can take a break and focus on their faith.

1. Why did you give?

There were several aspects of this effort that caught my attention and made me want to help. First, Jolkona’s philosophy that all giving has an impact and that you don’t have to be wealthy or have lots of free time to volunteer to make an impact. Every gift, no matter how large or small, could still help make a difference. And being a busy working mom with three kids, I don’t have as much time right now to give back as I would like.

Second, I got to decide which project I wanted to support. It was exciting to review the great variety of programs to see which one resonated most with me.

Third, learning of a nonprofit that uses technology to facilitate low-cost, high-impact giving to social causes was a natural fit since I also work in technology and appreciate the benefits it enables.

Fourth, I loved the fact that for the first time, I would truly see how my gift helped real people so I can be part of the experience and see how it supports worthwhile programs.

2. Did knowing that your donation would be matched motivate you to give during this campaign?

Yes, and that was certainly a factor in making this opportunity more interesting — I wanted to help Waggener Edstrom and Jolkona meet their giving goal, but I would have donated anyway.

3. Which project did you give to?

I chose the project that teaches business skills to low-income people in Seattle. Prior to lending out microloans to low-income families, Washington Community Alliance for Self-Help (CASH) provides supportive community business training and capital to help people with limited financial resources gain self-sufficiency through small business ownership. By supporting Washington CASH, we can help improve the economic conditions of Seattle’s lower income population. And with how difficult this economy has been over the last few years, our help is sorely needed.

Want to make a difference?

Donate to any project on Jolkona today and our partner, Waggener Edstrom, will match your donation, dollar-for-dollar, until we reach our goal of $5,000. (Which will probably happen today!) For every gift made during our Good Deeds campaign, you will receive two proofs of impact – one for the donation you make and the second proof for the donation Waggener Edstrom matches.

Let’s give!

Interested in sharing your story as a featured donor on our blog? Connect with us on Facebook, Twitter, or send a good ol’ fashioned email to contact@jolkona.org.

Yesterday, we introduced you to Kiran Beg, a woman who donated to Jolkona as part of the Good Deeds campaign. Today, I would like to introduce you to Sheri Khan, a Jolkona donor who, in the art of full disclosure, happens to be my aunt. She donates for a very powerful reason, which I’ll let her share herself.

Meet Sheri Khan of Chicago, IL

Sheri Khan is a wife and “beta” mom who is raising three kids in the great city of Chicago, Illinois and blogs at One Beta Mom. She generally donates to support global projects because she believes that the small amounts she’s able to give can have a greater and lasting impact than giving the same amount locally.

Sheri with her husband Omer, and their chlidren Noah, Sofia, and Zane.

1. Why did you give to Jolkona?

I gave both in honor of my good friend Elizabeth and her daughter, Nora. Nora’s birthday is nearing, and, sadly, she passed away a few years ago. As someone who has also lost a child, I know there is no gift or card or any magic words that one can say to diminish the grief. For me there is no better way to tell someone that you are thinking of them than with a donation in their honor. The small amount that I am able to give both has lasting impact and honors the life of someone I love.

For those of us who are blessed enough to be able to give, we have an obligation to do so whether with money and time or both. Most of us do not need anything more than we already have when many of humanity is suffering.  Although my past two donations have been in honor of people I love dearly and have lost, I have made a pledge to no longer give material birthday or holiday gifts. Instead, my gift will be a dedication to a worthwhile and deserving project.

2. Did knowing that your donation would be matched motivate you to give during this campaign?

It is extra incentive that my donation goes even further, however, if the match was not offered, I still would have given.

3. Which project did you give to?

For this dedication, I carefully selected the Ignite Girls’ Leadership in Pakistan project for several reasons. Because Elizabeth and I have lost daughters, giving to a project that is aimed toward empowering girls and women is important. Knowing the current harsh conditions which the majority of Pakistani girls’ experience helped me select this project. In the past and in honor of my own daughter, Sofia, I’ve chosen the Adopt a Mother in India project. Through my small donations to both of these projects and with my future donations, the spirits of our daughters carry forth.

When words aren’t enough

Loss is hard. Sympathy and condolences never seem to come out right. Let someone know that you’re thinking of them by dedicating a gift in their name. Whether it’s to honor the memory of someone you have lost or to let someone in your life today know that they have made a difference in your life. Every time you make a donation, you have the option to dedicate that gift to someone else by entering in his or her name and email address.

When you dedicate a gift, the recipient will be notified and the proof of impact will go to that person – showing them how the gift you made in their honor is improving someone else’s life.

Plus, when you make a gift to any project on Jolkona through Monday, October 24th and our partner, Waggener Edstrom, will match your donation, dollar-for-dollar, up to $5,000. And for every gift made during Good Deeds, you will receive two proofs of impact – one for the donation you make and the second proof for the donation Waggener Edstrom matches.

Interested in sharing your story as a featured donor on our blog? Connect with us on Facebook, Twitter, or send a good ol’ fashioned email to contact@jolkona.org.

One of the best things about working for Jolkona is I get to interact with our donors online, in real time, and share their excitement about making a difference. When we launch a campaign like Good Deeds, the level of engagement spikes and new connections are made and am reminded of how important our donors are on a inter-personal level.

Today, I want to introduce you to one our all star donors and will introduce you to another one next week. All of our donors are amazing, typically it their awesomeness doesn’t start or stop with supporting global development projects through Jolkona or by helping us kick the Good Deeds campaign. It comes from a place of wanting to make a difference and it’s a core part of  who they are.

Please allow me to introduce you to, Kiran, our first Good Deeds donor!

Meet Kiran Beg of Seattle, WA

Kiran graduated from the University of Washington in 2010 from the Human-Centered Design and Engineering program and now works at Boeing as a Publications Specialist. She loves to play tennis, watch movies, and spend time with her family.

When she’s not donating to Jolkona, she likes to support causes that promote public health and empowerment, around the world. She also loves traveling to different countries. Recently, she visited Pakistan, which opened her eyes to what poverty really is, motivating her to become an active donor in helping people around the world.

1.Why do you give to Jolkona?

Jolkona displays their projects really well, with a story behind each one. When I found out that donations were being matched, I browsed through the different projects. Each and every one of them opens your eyes to the unfortunate situations around the world. The stories are really powerful and brought to me a sense of thankfulness and gratitude for what I have. With that, I was very happy to help and give whole-heartedly to those that are less fortunate around the world.

2. Did knowing that your donation would be matched motivate you to give during this campaign?

Yes, knowing that my donation would be matched did motivate me to give.

3. Which project did you give to?

I gave to the ‘Assist Safe Houses for Women in Iraq‘ project. I came across this project and after reading the story behind it, I was in shock about how unfair these women were being treated. It really opened my eyes and makes me feel good that I can help these mistreated women.

What to make a difference?

After Kiran made her donation on Tuesday and shared it on Twitter, Waggener Edstrom saw that she made a donation and made an additional on-the-spot $25 donation to Jolkona in her honor.

Want to be a part of this campaign? Donate to any project on Jolkona through Monday, October 24th and our partner, Waggener Edstrom, will match your donation, dollar-for-dollar, up to $5,000. And for every gift made during Good Deeds, you will receive two proofs of impact – one for the donation you make and the second proof for the donation Waggener Edstrom matches.

Let’s give!

Interested in sharing your story as a featured donor on our blog? Connect with us on Facebook, Twitter, or send a good ol’ fashioned email to contact@jolkona.org.

In 2008, Anjali Amin and Mohsin Shaikh traveled to India, where they saw that education is a luxury many families cannot afford for their children. So when the couple was planning their wedding, they decided to donate $1000 to an education program in India rather than give their guests favors.

“A lot of times, people go to weddings and the favors are long-forgotten. This is something that — even if the guests forget — the people who actually get impacted by the donation probably won’t,” said Anjali.

At their reception on September 4, each place setting had a note card telling guests about the donation. Anjali and Mohsin also wanted guests to be able to donate to same charity after the wedding, so they set up a campaign page on Jolkona. The note card they gave guests included a bar code that links to their campaign page. “The way that it’s structured to set up a campaign is the easiest thing in the world,” said Anjali, “so it makes it really easy to get involved.”

Anjali noted that, while more and more couples are making donations in lieu of giving favors, they don’t always tell guests where they donated, how much, or why. “The most important difference with this approach — setting up your own campaign [on Jokona]— is people can go onto the site, track the progress, and see that couple did actually donate, and contribute further if they would like to. So this makes it a little more personal, and lets people get involved if they want.”

Anjali and Mohsin met seven years ago and both attended the University of Southern California business school. They live in the Los Angeles area, where Anjali is a consultant and Mohsin is a “finance guy” for Dr. Pepper. Anjali is looking forward to rediscovering her favorite hobbies — reading and traveling — after many months of being absorbed in wedding planning.

Congratulations Anjali and Mohsin! The Jolkona team sends our wishes for a long and happy marriage.

When Trevor Rotzien was working in Saudi Arabia right after the first Gulf War in the early 1990s, he witnessed how many people around the world, particularly women, lack the opportunities he’d always taken for granted. “If you’ve been exposed to other people’s pain in front of you, then there’s a sort of satisfaction of empathy when you give to a very specific cause and you know that your donation made it to that cause,” said Trevor, who started making donations through Jolkona right after our launch and has been a regular contributor since then.

As part of a series featuring Jolkona donors, I spoke with Trevor about his philanthropy and his experience with Jolkona.

Trevor Rotzien

Among the projects you support through Jolkona, which are particularly meaningful to you?

One that struck me pretty powerfully was the one where you could pay for the tuition for an Afghan girl for $40. What struck me was how trivial the cost was — it was just shockingly affordable. And it would cover the basic education of an Afghan girl for a whole semester. It was one of those social value propositions that it was almost repulsive to think of not doing, because when you start translating something like that into other units of value, like how many lattes would that be, you’re embarrassed not to support it.

What do you like most about donating through Jolkona?

I’ve experienced the large charities where you donate and it’s more or less a black hole — there’s no feedback, no validation, and there’s certainly no proof. And then there are rumors in the media about what percent of donations get burned up in administration and so on. One thing I love about Jolkona is that it takes away the mystery — everything is up front, everything is connected, the feedback is solid.

It’s also the speed, which satisfies the attention deficit of most people these days. And it’s easy, so there are very few impediments to giving. I like the fact that there are multiple paths [on Jolkona's website] to the donation, and none of them are very long.

What would you like others to know about Jolkona?

Three things: trust is possible, because the information is made available. So forget about any reluctance you’ve had in the past about giving.

And the other point, which is maybe more important: I think a lot of people don’t start giving because they think it’s expensive. But when you browse the projects that Jolkona supports, they range from five dollars to hundreds of dollars. The nice thing is, regardless of how little you have to give, there’s a project for you to give to. Believe me, it’s very satisfying to know that, if I can make just a little payment each month, there’s somebody across the world that has a huge benefit.

And third, regardless of what country you’re trying to help, Jolkona does offer projects both in the US and around the world, so geography’s no excuse either.

Trevor Rotzien lives in the Seattle area and is a product manager for Satori Software. A serial hobbyist, he is currently learning an obscure Chinese kung-fu style from a guy who doesn’t speak English. You can follow Trevor on Twitter @trevorrotzien and track the impact he’s making through Jolkona by viewing his social portfolio.

An interview with featured donor Mehwish Jalal

In the coming weeks, we’ll be bringing you the stories of Jolkona donors from all walks of life. Our first interview was with Mehwish Jalal, who started a tradition of donating to charity for her daughter’s birthday.

What motivates your giving?

I have donated to charities since I was in high school from my earnings in part-time work. In Islam we have a responsibility to practice zakāt, or almsgiving — charitable giving by Muslims based on accumulated wealth. It is considered a personal responsibility for Muslims to ease economic hardship for others and eliminate inequality. Giving to those who are less fortunate is something my parents instilled in me as a young child.

Tell me about how you raised funds for Jolkona projects for your daughter’s birthday.

My daughter Amaya turned one last year, and for her birthday party we didn’t want any gifts, any gift cards or money for Amaya, because with God’s grace, we have the ability to get her whatever she needs. I wanted this to be a start for her to realize how lucky we are to have what we have.

So for her first birthday, I asked everyone to donate money to Jolkona. Nadia, Jolkona’s CEO, gave me a couple of organizations that were in need of aid. I went on the Jolkona website, did my research and printed out information about the different projects. I had a table set up at the birthday party with information on the different organizations, along with a box for people to drop cash or checks. I had also informed my guests of this project in the party invitation, along with links to each organization to which I intended to donate. Some of my guests donated directly on Jolkona’s website.

People were quite generous. I probably raised about $600 to $700 dollars. As Amaya grows older, I can tell her that, instead of her receiving clothes and toys for her birthday, we raised money to go to someone who really, really needs it.

I’d like to make it a tradition for Amaya to donate money for her birthday every year. Just to teach her what it’s like to be in our situation versus other children who lack simple necessities such as food and clothing.

What do you like about donating through Jolkona?

I like the fact that it’s very convenient and trustworthy. The screening [that Jolkona does] is very important, because you want to make sure that your money is going to a legitimate organization. Even though you see charities on TV or you hear about them on the radio, you don’t know how reliable they are. So this is why I trusted Jolkona.

I also like the fact that you get updates on whether the program you donated to has been completed or who it impacted. You get a personal experience with who you’re donating to.

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Mehwish’s story shows that, with a little creativity, anyone can raise funds for causes they care about. You don’t have to have a lot of money, or even a lot of time. What creative strategies have you used to raise money for charity?

If you’d like to be a featured donor, please contact allegra.abramo (at) jolkona (dot) org.

Mehwish Jalal is a marketing and graphic design professional in the San Francisco Bay Area. When she’s not busy caring for her daughter, she indulges her passion for interior design. Every week she attends an Islamic-focused women’s group that tries to enrich what they have learned about religion from their parents so they can pass it on to their own children and others outside of the Muslim community.