#PSATuesday Winners

As you might remember I said, in my original post about #PSATuesday, I would “personally donate up to $250 of my own money to an organization or organizations which those tweeters I follow support and will do so giving the tweeter full credit.” I had planned on a more eloquent approach to announcing the winners but time isn’t on my side so I will just make it known with a little reasoning behind my decisions.

The first recipient of my money will be the International Center for Journalists, “a non-profit, professional organization, promotes quality journalism worldwide in the belief that independent, vigorous media are crucial in improving the human condition” (from their site). So many tweeted about this organization (part of the reason I choose them) I made the donation in the name of PSATuesday.  I supported this group for several reasons: 1) They were so dang organized and engaged – with others and with me, a true example of using social media as a way to communicate, not just talk.  2) They are an organization which hits close to home for me and, not being aware of them before PSATuesday, I am glad I am now.  3) They were the only organization which offered any quantifiable data that PSATuesday truly had an impact. You see, by the end of the day someone made a $100 donation referencing PSATuesday. If you would also like to make a donation you can do so here. (post note – within minutes of making my donation I received a DM from ICFJ. Now that is truly engaging your audience.)

The second organization to receive my money is One Voice Movement. They are, “an international mainstream grassroots movement with over 650,000 signatories in roughly equal numbers both in Israel and in Palestine, and 2,000 highly-trained youth leaders. It aims to amplify the voice of Israeli and Palestinian moderates, empowering them to seize back the agenda for conflict resolution and demand that their leaders achieve a two-state solution guaranteeing the end of occupation, establishing a viable independent Palestinian state, and ensuring the safety and security of the state of Israel – allowing both people to live in peace with all their neighbors” (from their site). @hetty4 was the tweeter of this organization and I decided to support it for a number of reasons: 1) I wanted to support an organization someone I followed also supported. Remember, part of the purpose was to somehow monetize twitter even if twitter doesnt’ get my money 2) I respect and value @hetty4′s tweets and she has been a huge resource to my class, #jb4520 3) One Voice Movement was started by just two guys and has grown to thousands using true grassroots efforts – the original social media. 4) Anyone willing to work hard for peace in the Middle-East has my support.

I have to say, there were so many great organizations tweeted about and many my wife and I already support (Public Radio, Animal Welfare, Breast Cancer Research, to name a few). My compliments and admiration to those individuals who heard about PSATuesday and took the time to actively engage their followers by showing their support of a message or organization important to them. If your organization wasn’t chosen, fear not, keep showing your support every Tuesday and you never know who might step up to the plate and make a donation as a thank you for the time you spend on Twitter.

If you would like to see a complete list of all tweets referencing PSATuesday you can find them on search.twitter.com.