No

People make a difference. 

I am amazingly drawn to help causes and people in those causes. I get excited when I hear about something cool that I can be a part of. Then, after a bit, that excitement wears off, and I go back to normal life and don't allow that commitment to help someone actually change me. It is one thing to cheer on a cancer survivor on tv, it is another to be in someones life helping them through their situation.

I have committed to running the Disney half marathon with my buddy Jeff Reidy, but that is too far off. You can read about that cause here. I have also been talking to my friend Jason about his cause of educating people about Diabetes, but have not figured out how I can best help him yet. Something my friend Jon said a while back in a blog post has stuck with me, and that is putting skin in the game. 

Here is the one I am going to get behind, right here, right now. I talked to my pastor almost 2 months ago about using social media to help him raise money for their adoption. He has put together a blog, and an easy way for people to donate. I told him I had some ideas that might work, and that was about as far as I got. We tried to get together, and it just never worked out. Well, the deadline is quickly approaching, and I want to make an impact. Time to put some skin in the game.

I want my giving to have a greater impact than what I can do alone, hence this blog post. 

I believe Social Media is about bringing people together, creating communities, sharing who we are, sharing our lives with each other. I feel I have really connected with tons of people recently, and have created great friendships. I shared Coffee and Tea with my friend Kevin across thousands of miles (we sent some to each other), but there is more possible.

I want to test the limits of what a blog, Twitter, Facebook and other channels can achieve. It may not be with this action, but with others to come, and the community that forms around helping others, I think it could change lives. 

Now to the point (skin in the game). I am donating $100 to help my friend Josh Reich and his wife Kaite raise money to adopt a child. I am looking for at least 100 other people that are willing to give at least $10 to help them. Are you willing to put some skin in the game? Donate here, thank you.

-Christopher

aka @67tallchris

P.s. You can use the hashtag #reichadopt to talk about this on twitter, and of course comment here and on Joshes post on raising the money. I only have till May 31'st to find the 100 people willing to help Josh and Kaitie.

Just to clarify, I am not getting paid to help Jeff, Jason, or Josh in any way. Although I expect to share coffee with them over many occasions, and Jason offered to buy me one last time. Next time, next time.