First Global Social Giving Campaign "Everyone Gives" Makes Its Mark

SEATTLE, April 2, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- "Everyone Gives," the world's first social giving campaign of its kind, raised $741,213 USD in just 17 days. From February 22 to March 9, 2012, more than 12,000 individuals in 474 cities donated to 1,479 charities. During this time period, participants in 64 countries made donations of every size to charities of their choice and were encouraged to use their social networks to invite friends, families and colleagues to give.

"When we developed this idea about launching a global social media campaign to raise money for charities and non-profits, we thought we'd be successful because we know that ultimately people are interested in helping other people, we just had to make it easy," said Doug Frye, president and global CEO of Colliers International, one of the world's largest commercial real estate firms and the founding sponsor of Everyone Gives. "The overwhelming response from around the world indicates a very bright future for social philanthropy."

100 percent of the donations received went directly to the charities selected by the public, which ranged from well-known non-profits to small, local charities across North America, Europe, the Middle East, Asia and Latin America. As people made donations, the original requester's "giving tree" -- a virtual online tree -- would begin to sprout and grow.

The campaign was supported by thousands of people, ranging from everyday folks to Britain's former Prime Minister Tony Blair and celebrities like TV star Zak Bagans.

"The power of social media has become clear and Everyone Gives leveraged channels that are vital in our daily lives," said Zak Bagans, television host and executive producer for Ghost Adventures and Paranormal Challenge, New York Times best-selling author, and an avid supporter of the Everyone Gives campaign. "My donation tree to support the Nevada SPCA No-Kill Animal Shelter reached the most contributors during Everyone Gives, largely thanks to my Twitter followers." Bagans tweeted to his nearly 222,000 Twitter followers, and asked them to get on board with the Everyone Gives campaign, as did thousands of other people. Tony Blair, who has more than 38,000 Twitter followers did the same, and even participated in a YouTube video encouraging citizens around the world to support their favorite causes through Everyone Gives.

In addition, Everyone Gives has made a bonus donation to those giving trees that made the biggest impact during the first nine days of the campaign. These passionate supporters enabled an additional $50,000 donation from Everyone Gives to the following organizations:

Most Donations Pledged

• Teach for Romania
• Worthington Seventh Day Adventists (Ohio)
• Mount Sinai Hospital Foundation (Toronto)

Most People Engaged

• Nevada Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (Las Vegas)
• Links for Life (Pleasanton)
• Fundacion Potenciar Solidario (Argentina)

Most Cities Impacted

• CURE Childhood Cancer (Atlanta)
• Animals Asia Foundation (Hong Kong)
• St. Jude Children's Research Hospital (Memphis)

Follow Everyone Gives on Facebook, Twitter and LinkedIn for updates.

About Everyone Gives

Everyone Gives is the world's Social Giving campaign. Launched on February 22, 2012, the event empowers givers to support the causes they care about and multiply their gift through the power of personal networks. Everyone Gives is active in more than 60 countries and is partnered with hundreds of charities and businesses. Follow Everyone Gives on www.everyonegives.org, www.facebook.com/EveryoneGives, www.twitter.com/EveryoneGives and http://www.linkedin.com/groups/Everyone-Gives-4048764.

SOURCE Everyone Gives