If you’re reading this website I’m guessing there’s a good chance you know how to use the internet. And if you know how to use the internet yet waste it reading my site, I’d say there’s a good chance you also waste your time on the ‘net talking to mates via MSN.
“I’m” is a “new initiative from Windows Live Messenger (or MSN) where every time you start a conversation with someone, Microsoft shares a portion of the program’s advertising revenue with some of the world’s most effective organisatons dedicated to social causes.” The organisation is up to you. There’s no limit or cap on how much they’ll donate to each organization. So basically, you’re giving to charity just by talking to your friends. Hence the term “I’m making a difference”.
How much of a difference it doesn’t say. But whether 0.001p or 0.000001p of profits are made per contributor per conversation, 100,000 people starting 10 convo’s a day up will add up in no time.
I’m not trying to be mother Theresa by bringing this to your attention. I’m not really the charitable type. I’m always a believer that your money never goes directly where you want it to (someone has to pay for TV ads, and the lunches of workers in the offices, and the electric bills, etc.) infact by doing this scheme Microsoft will gain new users anyway, so it probably won’t harm their profits in the slightest BUT if you can help give money to these organisations just by talking to your friends as you do anyway, why not do it?
To do it you need Windows Live Messenger 8.2, which I’m assuming most people will already have, and you place a bit of code in your display name which becomes the “I’m” logo. That’s all there is to it. The code you put in depends on the charity you want to donate to.
Put in…
*red+u for American Red Cross
*bgca for Boys & Girls Club of America
*hsus for Human Society of the United States
*naf for the National AIDs Fund
*mssoc for National MS Society
*9mil for ninemillion.org
*sierra for Sierra Club
*help for StopGlobalWarming.org
*komen for Susan G. Komen for the Cure towards Breast Cancer
*unicef for the U.S. fund for UNICEF
Whichever you feel is the best cause, or the cause you want to attribute Microsoft’s money to.
I will be donating all mine to unicef. I think it’s a marvellous charity, but then again, there are no bad charities out of that list.
A big thumbs up to Microsoft for this theme. The cynics will say it’s a way to bring in users, but whatever the case good causes will benefit. I remember reading that Bill Gates will only be leaving a very small portion of his fortune to his children when he passes and the rest will go to charities (something crazy like 90% of his wealth). Apparently he also donates very generously to charities every year. So well played Bill Gates and everyone at Microsoft, I wish more companies would do the same.
For more info visit - http://im.live.com/Messenger/IM/Home/
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