I asked last week what you thought of giveaways. I loved the feedback – thank you for taking the time to be clear and honest with me about it. It’s a tricky issue. And thank you for the suggestion to tie giveaways in with giving to those in more need than those of us reading this site.
via The Trendhunter
Since I have no need for the pink diamond necklace Oprah’s team sent recently (the one valued at $450 and handed out during her visit), I thought I’d give it away. Sort of.
In exchange for the necklace you might like to kick in some cash to Australian charity A Start in Life. I sponsor a kid in need for a year and my $$ goes towards helping them with school stuff – uniforms, meals, excursions etc.
It’s about going beyond just uniforms, text books, stationery and basic educational tools. It’s about breakfast before school, having food in their lunch box, good health, being able to join in school activities and excursions and having a bat for cricket or glasses to read.
Every now and then she sends me a little note about how she’s going. It’s similar to the World Vision concept…but local.
Anyway, if this charity appeals and you’d love an Oprah necklace…we can work together! To keep things subtle and non-shouty or grubby, email info@sarahwilson.com.au if this works for you.
As you were….
I have just found your blog and I love it. Thank you for your beautifully written, honest and refreshing take on life. I will enjoy it each morning with my cup of tea. xxx sam
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July 14th, 2011 at 12:42 pm
Enjoy your tea!
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Hi Sarah,
I’m a big admirer of yours and love your blog and hope you don’t take this the wrong way but I think this is bribery.
You’re basically saying if you donate to this charity then I will give you something in return. I think it’s wrong.
I have no problems with freebies, with donating your free stuff to charity or even putting up an auction with proceeds to go to charity but getting people to commit to a sponsorship in return for diamonds is not what I want to see on your blog. I get enough guilt out of walking past the charity spruikers in the street.
As I said, I hope you don’t take it the wrong way, just some constructive criticism. I hope that for future you would look at putting up auctions or even say a raffle prize with proceeds to your chosen charities.
Lauren
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July 14th, 2011 at 12:44 pm
Hey Lauren, I appreciate what you say. It’s a bit of an experiment. IN my post a few days ago a few people suggested I link giveaways to charity…that this was a way of doing giveaways that felt tasteful to them…I’m interested to see what people think, so thanks!
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July 14th, 2011 at 4:15 pm
I thought it was an auction type offer – person who emailed you with the highest offer of a donation to Start in Life gets the Oprah diamond. Not something that attracts me particularly, but there’ll be those it does and if it meets Sarah’s goal of giving away something she doesn’t want, the charity’s goal of raising donations and the recipient’s goal of getting something they want, everyone’s happy.
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July 18th, 2011 at 2:33 pm
Oooohhh… was that what we were meant to do? I just emailed saying I was interested, but didn’t know how much! Whoops!
Hi Sarah,
I don’t fancy the neckless but I had not heard of the charity A Start in Life. It sounds fantastic, so will head straight there. By the way I love, love, love your blog. Ax
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Sarah I think this is a great idea!!
Good on you
ps. i’m not into oprah/diamonds, but if something appealed down the track i’d be up for it
xx
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THanks for the feedback everyone…helpful
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Sarah,
Let me begin by saying that I LOVE YOUR WEBSITE. I have autoimmune thyroidits too and i am gluten free and sugar free because of YOU and doing great! However, I dont understand why you would waste a post to do the “giveaway” thing. It’s like a commercial. We don’t come to your website for this. We come to your website for things that make life better. Your experiences, things that you have discoverd and want to share with your readers. This giveaway stuff is taking that vibe away. Why don’t you just have a side blurb that links to another page that deals with that stuff if you must do it…don’t waste a day of your blog posts… And Oprah? Really? I am personally offended by her because of the great disservice she has done to people who have thyroid disorders. She wasted a worldwide platform to tell us “she is cured” and not really addressing this issue head on. And now to give away an Oprah necklace…no thanks. What a slap in the face! Please, I implore you, don’t do this.
Kaliloo
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July 15th, 2011 at 1:57 pm
Gotta agree with you on Oprah being a poor role model for anyone with Hashimotos. Frat party in her thyroid? A month in Hawaii is a “cure?” What the f…?
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July 17th, 2011 at 2:11 pm
Please, I mean no offence here, but I must say that I don’t believe Oprah had any kind of responsibility to do more than what she did concerning her thyroid issues. For one, I don’t believe she has/had Hashimoto’s. Not all thyroid issues are autoimmune related and many are transient, as I believe hers was. She did write about it in her magazine and she did talk about it on her show.
I think what Sarah is doing is pretty wonderful and I don’t really understand why anyone would be offended. Just don’t bid on the necklace. If Sarah doesn’t want it and someone is willing to give a little to get it, then it’s a win/win.
I don’t pay to read this blog. In fact, I don’t pay to read any of the blogs that I read — it’s just free information. I’m so grateful and appreciative for the time and effort it takes to write them.
Here’s a great article to read about Oprah’s struggle with her thyroid. And by the way, she probably is cured. Like I said, it’s not a life-long problem for everyone.
http://www.wellnessresources.com/freedom/articles/oprah_thyroid/
Kerry
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July 17th, 2011 at 2:13 pm
*offense
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July 18th, 2011 at 1:12 pm
So you’re offended as Sarah is bringing a bit of well deserved focus to something you don’t view as being as important as your own needs? It’s thr selfish people in the world who expect and demand things for themselves and don’t praise Sarah for assisting others who are less fortunate like yourself only in a different way… Shame on you!
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July 19th, 2011 at 6:59 am
Belinda,
I am offended by Oprah Winfrey’s handling of a very sensitive and important issue to many people who suffer from thyroid disorder/autoimmune disease. She has the world as her platform and needs to be responsible with what she says and how she presents it. She is not infallable. THAT is my issue. And in my opinion she handled it poorly.
As for Sarah wanting to bring focus to a charity or anything she feels is deserving, that is her business. And I will always read her blog because I will forever be grateful to her for talking so openly about her autoimmune disorder and actually sharing her experiences and what she does to feel better. FOREVER I WILL BE IN HER DEBT FOR THIS. Her suggestions have made a huge difference in my life. In the end it’s her blog and she can do what she wants regardless of what I or anyone else things that reads her blog…but don’t forget, Sarah did ask our opinion.
So shame on YOU Belinda for being a judgemental of me. You are rude and shortsighted.
Have a good day.
Kaliloo
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I think this is a great idea, Sarah and those who don’t like it, don’t have to participate!
I’d also never heard of this charity, so well done for spreading the word about it.
If just one Australian kid is helped by this then it’s all worth it, isn’t it?
Please keep up the giveaways and great work!
xx
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July 15th, 2011 at 5:32 pm
I’m being lazy here but I completely agree with this post from Jesse, as you said Sarah – if you’re interested, write – if not, you need not be bothered by it. Good on you. (I can’t help but get a little annoyed by preciousness – for want of a better word)
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July 15th, 2011 at 9:12 pm
Thanks Kathryn
I’m annoyed by preciousness too.
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Hi Sarah, I don’t have a problem with your offer, although I’m not really interested in Diamonds… I know how hard it is to raise money for a charity so good on you for doing what you can. We sponsor a young Australian girl through The Smith Family in the same way, by supporting her through school, we started when she started primary school and now she is just about finished high school. something no one in her family has done. As Jesse said above, those who don’t like it don’t need to participate, but it only takes one person to make a difference in someone’s life and that person may just be the one person who takes up your diamond ‘O’ offer.
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July 15th, 2011 at 2:45 pm
well said, Gina.
Thank you.
“I alone cannot change the world, but I can cast a stone across the waters to create many ripples.” — Mother Teresa
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I totally agree with Jesse. Top idea Sarah. I too donate to a similar charity- The Smith Family. As a childless woman in my Thirties (DINK- double income no kids) I believe Australian children are our future. Support & Educate our culture and they will grow to support us! xo
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Sorry Sarah but this whole idea seems really tacky and pretentious to me.
I actually think this post in particular seems to focus more on the material gain of the reader rather than really focussing on the fantastic charity that you donate to. It doesn’t encourage the reader to empathise with the charity or think outside their own life experience but dangles a carrot of a material object in front of them.
I could buy the necklace from you but I would so much more prefer to donate without expecting to gain something material in return.
Why not gift this to a hospital secret santa for the patients, and see the object brighten someone’s day who wouldn’t be able to afford such a thing?
I’d rather see you educate your readers on good causes and encourage giving to give – not to receive.
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July 15th, 2011 at 10:20 pm
I agree on this point. I would rather you highlight a charity you would like us to donate to. The gift to us is in the act of donating/giving, not getting a trinket.
kalilloo
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Just donate in the quietest and most humble way possible
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Sarah,
Your heart is in the right place, and full of compassion.
I don’t have an opinion regarding how you donate this item–that’s your choice.
I also don’t mind you using your blog as a vehicle for this purpose. What I enjoy about this blog is the unique quality of each post. It makes me think. I’m not going to be interested in every single item, but that’s how it is. If I wanted something that was only of interest to me, I guess I would write it myself.
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Sarah asked us a few weeks ago for our feedback on giveaways etc.. Obviously she is trying to find a win/win solution which pleases everyone, so this is as much trial and error for her as it is for us.
How easy would it have been for Sarah to sell this necklace on ebay and keep the money for herself? Instead, she has identified she has no need for it and told us about a wonderful cause she supports to which she will donate the proceeds.
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July 16th, 2011 at 3:49 pm
Another idea is to sell it on eBay (I’m sure that it would fetch a bit) and then donate that money to the charity. I’m sure that this would generate more money for the charity than this idea. Although, at least people are hearing about it this way I guess.
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July 17th, 2011 at 12:53 pm
Totally agree.
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