Big Business Giving Back

Every now and then we like to take a quick break from our fun and crazy challenges to acknowledge all the other companies out there that are fighting for corporate social goodness alongside moolta. In a world filled with big business, greed and corporate irresponsibility, a few companies stand out and shine amongst the rest as honorable ventures always looking to give back.

As you already know, moolta raises money for charities. We take pride in helping those in need and cherish everything we do for the organizations that benefit from our work. Here is a list of three other companies who also give back and the different ways they go about doing so:

 

TOMS

For a company who claims that giving is part of their DNA, TOMS sure lives up to it. TOMS sells shoes, eyewear and apparel, all made from sustainable and vegan materials… even the box is 80% recycled material! But more importantly, for every pair of shoes you buy from TOMS, another pair is donated to somebody in need in poor areas around the world. The company is currently running a giving campaign as well. “Ticket To Give” is a way for TOMS to send 50 people on trips to different parts of the world to give shoes to those who need and chronicle the events. You can even enter to be one of the 50 who take a trip! If you would like to sign up or are interested in learning more, check out the Ticket To Give website here: Ticket To Give

 

Pepsi

Pepsi launched their “Pepsi Refresh” project as recently as the Super Bowl, but they have managed to make great contributions to society in that time. Pepsi Refresh is a community based around Pepsi where customers can communicate with the brand. Customers can vote on which charity they want Pepsi to support, what contributions they want Pepsi to make to society, and even what fundraising events Pepsi should have. The community is the perfect mix of modern social media, corporate responsibility, and fun! To check out the site for yourself, follow this link: Pepsi Refresh

 

Wear The Fund

One of our favorite young companies today is Wear The Fund and it’s not because they were also first launched at the University of Florida. Wear The Fund is not only the epitome of corporate responsibility, but the whole brand is based on it. When you purchase a trendy and original article of clothing from Wear The Fund, 20% of your bill goes to one of six charities and the choice is yours! Customers currently get to choose between the Jack & Jill Foundation, Ronald McDonald House Charities, Big Hearts For Big Dogs Rescue, Kiwanis International, The Alzheimer’s Association and Tabarinni. Finally, you can go on that big shopping spree and not feel guilty at the end of it. Check out the Wear The Fund website to learn more about the company and buy your first Wear The Fund shirt! Follow the link to the website: Wear The Fund

 

If we’ve inspired you to give back to charity, make it easy on moolta. Go create a few challenges and raise some money for one of our 12 charities!

HARLEM makes you SHAKE?

The Harlem shake is the latest trend to drive youtubers crazy.

In 2012 the track “Harlem Shake” by Baauuer was released on to the web and pretty much did nothing. Only about a year later, ‘Filthy Frank’ used the track for a video of 4 people dancing in spandex suits, and all Harlem broke loose. Check out the original –
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8vJiSSAMNWw

Like most YouTube trends, it then snowballed into a full blown epidemic. There are already tens of thousands of versions – from college kids to firefighters, and even Norwegian soldiers (who knew there are Norwegian soldiers?). Everybody wants in.

So, to help you out, we at moolta.com have compiled a recipe that will make your Harlem shake bring all the boys to the yard.

The ingredients:
– One bizarre person in a full head mask or helmet.
– One bunch of people willing to dance like they’re having a seizure.
– One working camera.
– One space big enough to fit all dancing people.
– Props – the more, the merrier. The weirder – the better.

Instructions:
Try (it’s hard) to think of a situation no one has ever done before. Start semi-normal, with everyone being themselves, except bizarro guy in the full head mask – make him dance even before you start filming.

15 seconds in is when all hell should break loose – everyone joins in on the seizure-dancing. Make sure you give every dancer his own specific move to repeat for the next 15 seconds. Want to earn extra Harlem Shake points? Include at least one person dry humping an inanimate object and another dancing in a hand stand. Farm animals (even stuffed ones) are also a welcomed addition.

Now edit, add music, and voilà! Your very own Harlem Shake.

For your inspiration and our selfish reasons, here is Moolta‘s very own Harlem Shake ZOMBIE version:
[youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f09Ro9KJXRA&w=560&h=315%5D

Now go forth, young one, and make your own.

Or are you not up for the challenge?

What will Crowdfunding look like in 2013?

2012 was the year crowdfunding became a household name. With the amazing success of the Pebble Smartwatch, iPhone-powered gTar, and endless arts, media, and design projects, funding as we knew it changed entirely. Kickstarter became not only a spreading phenomenon, but an actual verb. “Great idea, you should Kickstart it”.

small businesses today are struggling more than ever to stay afloat, and entrepreneurs are not facing great odds. Crowdfunding offers these individuals a chance at success, allows creators to stay true to their projects without having to neither answer to any greater structure nor follow any agenda forced upon them. It is also a great way to build a community that is attached to the product. Fundraising can sometime be more effective in friendraising than the actual raising of funds.

2012 was the year a couple of projects made it big, meaning It only makes sense that 2013 will see even more projects and hopefully even bigger funding numbers. But the fresh and innovative crowdfunding of last year is starting to wear down and getting creative is becoming more and more challenging.

In an effort to stand out in an ocean of other projects, crowdfunding – mainly for nonprofits, became entertaining. Nowadays, you don’t just ask for money, you earn it. Most commonly by making sure your contributors are well amused.

The Huffington Post wrote “For causes, 2012 proved to be the year of the risk-taker, as do-gooders around the world – with some of the biggest cajones we’ve ever seen — used their fearlessness to inspire others to donate money and goods to people in need.”

From eccentric homages like men wearing high heels to raise awareness of sexual abuse, thousands of Santas running the Santa Claus Marathon in NY, or simply taking on challenges in exchange for donations like we at Moolta do on a daily basis, fundraising has never been more lively and colorful.

At Moolta, we are amazed to see how well people react to the prospect of doing something crazy for donations. It might be because people see the entertaining side of it as a cause for itself, or because it makes them feel more connected than simply writing a check, or maybe we all just like to make fun of ourselves and a charity is a good excuse to do so.

Whatever the reason is, the result is amazing and the concept is spreading rapidly. We see time and time again that the commitment and passion in these kinds of projects are like no other and people involved in such process are eager to continue to do the next crazy thing.

We welcome you all to go crazy, be stupid, never take yourself too seriously and make the world a little better while doing so. May 2013 be the year that emphasized the fun in fundraising.