We would like to invite you to participate in and support an exciting new program on Gather with Hallmark, a proud partner of (PRODUCT) REDTM. Hallmark (PRODUCT) RED is giving you the opportunity to help generate awareness about people living with AIDS in Africa.
From February 4 to April 27, we invite you to join this cause. During this time period, the Gather points you earn will be donated to The Global Fund, an organization committed to eliminating AIDS in Africa. Here is how the program works:
1.) Your points will be donated directly to the Global Fund to help those living with AIDS in Africa. Choose the number of points you want to donate:
a.) Points you earn between February 4 - April 27, 2008
b.) ALL of your Gather points
c.) A specific number of Gather points you have accumulated (ex: 500 points)
2.) Gather can customize your current icon with a Hallmark (PRODUCT) RED stamp to show the community you are supporting this great cause!
3.) If you own a group or groups on the site, Gather can provide you with a customized Hallmark (PRODUCT) RED icon and group header.
4.) Gather employees will also customize their profiles and groups to help this great cause.
Stay tuned for the donation ticker that will show you the number of points the participating community members have earned!!!
As a special thanks, Hallmark will grant you complimentary access to send new (PRODUCT) RED premium e-cards (normally priced at $1.49 each) once you earn your first 150 points.
We hope that you join us in the cause to help people living with AIDS in Africa. And to learn more about the Hallmark (PRODUCT) RED partnership and product, visit Hallmark.com/RED.
If you would like to take part in this program, send a message to Hallmark (PRODUCT) RED moderator. If you are a group owner, please send the URL(s) for your Gather group(s). You will receive a customized icon to load to your profile, and a header, if you are a group owner, to display on Gather through the duration of the campaign.
FAQ Gather's Involvement in the Hallmark RED Campaign
Members and Groups Donating Points to a Great Cause
Join HallmarkRED.gather.com.
The views and opinions expressed by members on Gather.com are not subject to review by Hallmark and they may not reflect the view of Hallmark.
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Comments: 47
Ashley -- I think the group banner is merely to indicate to the community that you are donating your points to this worthwhile cause. Once you enroll in this program, all of your accrued points through April 27 will go to this initiative. This is just my opinion of course. Hopefully more information will be forthcoming.
I would also like to let you know that your article is now featured on The Gather Guides™ Group
Please send a message to Hallmark (Product) RED moderator stating your interest to join this cause.
Whoa! helping others with your gather points! Unbelievable..yet true..AWESOME!!!
Count me in!!!
*excited*
Thank you.
It IS a great idea, and I want to support it; it would be a natural for "GATHER Discusses Tolerance." I just want to know a little bit more about why I should.
And I'm like Aniko... I like my icon the way it is.
I found it extremely worthwhile to donate all my G points so far earned on Gather to this urgently needed crisis.
I hope, I can join this as I live in Germany.
What is their IP? Do they have a web page or do we check with Hallmark?
How neat is this? I used to donate it to the local women's shelter to get books for the kids, but this sounds just as worthy.
Wilka
I'll repeat my questions in another way. Why? Why are we doing this this way? Is Hallmark simply advertising (garnering goodwill points in the minds of Gatherers), or are they actually contributing something thru OUR - Hallmark's advertising and our point-gathering - activities? I'd be much more interested in this if I felt that Hallmark was actually contributing something, too.
More questions, for Gather: Why? Is Gather simply collecting advertising money and letting Hallmark off too cheaply? Is Gather contributing some of its revenue to this worthy cause? I would also think that it is certainly possible that some of us may be inclined to spend more (time) at this site for a worthy cause, which would (hopefully) result in more revenues for Gather (short term and/or long term).
I see this as a four-legged stool: Project (RED)/The Global Fund, Hallmark, Gather, and Gatherers. Obviously, these types of arrangements are - at their heart - business negotiations. In this case, Hallmark and Gather negotiated some sort of arrangement. I don't know what the arrangement is, but I am VERY INTERESTED in making sure that Gather did not let Hallmark off too easily. And, the reason I feel that Gatherers have some interest in knowing the arrangement is because it is Gatherers who are being asked to join in the effort and work hard to donate the most dollars (points, time) possible.
I try to preach critical thinking in consumption of news. I try to preach critical thinking in the consumption of charitable appeals. When I shopped at the Gap in December, I was confronted (by the clerk) with their Project (RED) appeal. Before I committed, I checked to see what percentage the Gap was contributing - 50% of net profits. It took an extra minute, but I felt that was satisfactory. (I was already somewhat familiar with the project, and felt that it was not a scam.)
On the other hand, outside a Staples store and a supermarket the other day was a table set up by a marketing company, soliciting contributions for some missing kids organization, selling items and promising the proceeds to this organization. I took down the name and website address, and checked it out. They were not looked on favorably by the Better Business Bureau's charity watch. I also found a couple of articles elsewhere that did not reflect favorably on the organization. I went to the store manager and gave them copies of the BBB report and the articles. The marketing company moved on.
The companies that hook up with Project (RED) get to choose what amount they contribute to the Global Fund. I would expect that Project (RED) does negotiate a suitable contribution before allowing them to use the campaign to generate sales.
Hallmark - on its SALES of (RED) projects - donates the following, according to their webpage (mentioned above in their article): 8% of Hallmark (PRODUCT) RED™ net wholesale sales will go to the Global Fund. HOWEVER, this partnership on Gather does not fit into that mold, and I am concerned that Gather did not negotiate the best deal on Gatherers' behalf.
I urge Gather and/or the Hallmark (PRODUCT) RED moderator to let us know the details on OUR arrangement, so that Gatherers can make an informed decision on whether or not to participate. Similarly, I would urge Gatherers to consider those details - or the lack thereof - before making a decision whether this is the best use of your time/points/money.
Again, I am a SUPPORTER of Project (Red) - my interest is in making sure that we are maximizing our efforts and our contributions.
*******
Here are a few links that I found while I was poking around:
1) Hallmark's page on their Red product: http://www.hallmark.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/article%7C10001%7C10051%7C/HallmarkSite/HallmarkRED/RED_HOWITWORKS
2) (Red)'s home page: http://www.joinred.com/ (Caution: I typed in projectred.com, and came up with one of those questionable "referral" sites that was using (Red) products as their "free" giveaways!)
3) New York Times article last week on Project (RED) : http://www.nytimes.com/2008/02/06/business/06red.html?em&ex=1202446800&en=ba3e152008b0634b&ei=5087%0A
4) Video of discussion with Bobby Shriver (co-founder) on CNBC, and other guest: http://www.cnbc.com/id/15840232?video=640851847&play=1#
A FAQ sheet on the (RED) Campaign has been posted to the group. A FAQ sheet on Gather's involvement in this campaign will be posted soon.
You can also visit Hallmarkred.com and JoinRED.com to learn more about this great cause.
The answer to the last FAQ does help explain the arrangement. However, of course, it will be important to know what the wholesale price of an e-card is. (My cynical assumption is that there is no "wholesale price" for something that you are selling directly to the consumer.)
(more later, from me, too - gotta get to work)
Have a Wonderful....I Know That I Will......Love Roxie......Goldiesmoon..............
You do not need to be a group owner to participate. Individuals can donate their points without a group. Please send me a message if you would like to contribute to this campaign.
Christi,
Yes, you may donate all of your points to the program, including those you have already earned. You can find more details here.
To sum it up: I say I'm in.
Hank
Please note, that everyone's points will be deducted at the end of the campaign on April 27th. Thank you for participation!
To learn more about the Hallmark (PRODUCT) RED campaian and how you can join, click here for more information.