Puissant Philanthropy
December 17th, 2007
My friend Anne blogged today about something marvelous she heard on NPR… Poverty.com (”A practical approach to world poverty and saving human lives”) has created a sister site called Freerice.com.
Freerice.com is awesome.
According to the website, Free Rice has 2 goals: 1) Provide English vocabulary to everyone for free 2) Help end world hunger by providing rice to hungry people for free.
Two straightforward, admirable goals combined. And the site is equally straightforward. A word pops up at the top of the screen along with 4 possible synonyms… and you choose which you think is correct. Each time you get a word right, not only is the next word a little tougher, but they donate 20 grains of rice. It doesn’t take long to start adding up. As an ad-financed site, certainly the aim of the game is to get you to spend more time on the website, thereby allowing their advertisers more views… but I am just so taken with the ability to make the world better in two such delightfully simple ways… the philanthropist and the logophile in me can’t help but wish that the site is efficacious.
Other posts by Jennifer.
FreeRice.com donate rice and test your vocabulary « Abunga Blog says:
[...] Jennifer over at Brains on Fire posted on a site today called FreeRice which for every word you get right they donate 20 grains of rice through the United Nations to help end world hunger. [...]
December 17th, 2007 at 4:28 pmCross Post: Blog.Abunga.com - FreerRice.com « tactile jazz a blog by gavin baker says:
[...] Jennifer over at Brains on Fire posted on a site today called FreeRice which for every word you get right they donate 20 grains of rice through the United Nations to help end world hunger. [...]
December 17th, 2007 at 4:31 pmChristy says:
Me, too. When I found this, productivity went into the drink until I managed to donate 1,000 grains of rice.
Okay, so then afterward some co-workers were annoyed at my new-found vocabulary, so they had to check it out, too.
I *love* FreeRice.com. I just hope it’s not the only thing we do to help feed people. Hey, in a way, it even helps with that aspect… getting us thinking about giving more. Maybe they should have a “donate cash” button in that quiz. Hm.
December 18th, 2007 at 5:21 amJenny says:
I found the link to freerice.com on a message board where I am a member. I think it’s an awesome idea and a feel good way to ‘waste’ time.
December 19th, 2007 at 8:25 amBeth says:
Heard about this on NPR the other day, and checked it out. Told a friend, and now she and I are forever sending each other emails, saying “I just stuffed somebody’s belly full of rice!” As I told her the other day, it’s educational, philanthropic and fun…all at the same time!
December 19th, 2007 at 1:24 pmJenny says:
Hey Christy, check out http://www.feedprojects.org to buy a FEED bag (there’s a link to buy it on Amazon), which feeds a child for a year. Or go to http://www.tomsshoes.com and buy a pair of shoes for a child or to buy a FEED bag/Toms shoes combo and feed and cloth at the same time!
December 20th, 2007 at 12:55 pmMike Thorn says:
Another great charity site is AIDtoCHILDREN.com. It donates money to children in need through World Vision.
Check it out at http://www.aidtochildren.com
May 1st, 2008 at 6:08 am