The Year in (Christmas Crazy) Review
Christmas Crazy started five years ago, and it started because of you. It started because the readers of this site asked for a way to help some kids after a contest went awry.
I find it very fitting that in the fifth year, Christmas Crazy is still very much so a success because of you. This year the total came in at just under $7500. At first, that makes it sound like this year was less successful than last year, but FALSE! IT WAS NOT!
This year was more successful.
The reason why is simple -- there were no corporate sponsors this year. There were no businesses involved, no large deliveries of toys from one place of business, none of that. The $7500 was 100% reader contributions.
I don't know about you, but I find that mind-blowingly awesome.
I've been doing this blogging thing for a long time now, so long that I've been around to watch as the definition of "blog success" was has evolved to where it is now. Now it seems to be measured by sponsorships, advertising, and corporate involvement. Yet, here I am. I'm declaring Burgh Baby more successful than ever because the readers of this site came together and changed the lives of dozens and dozens of kids without any sort of corporate help.
Thanks for that.
A special thanks goes to a few people who went above and beyond. Some did it by giving a generous donation (you know who you are), some did it by giving the couple of bucks they could spare (you know who you are, too), and then there were a few who did something just a little different.
Thanks, Michelle, for the laptop. That brand new, absolutely fantastic laptop brought tears to the eyes of the shelter staff when I handed it over. I learned a little bit about the young lady who received it for Christmas. It is absolutely in the right hands and will absolutely provide her with a little something she can use to make her future brighter than her present.
Thanks, Benjamin, for once again donating all of your birthday gifts to Christmas Crazy. Three years in a row you've done something amazing for people you'll never meet. It's fantastic and amazing and you rock. In every way.
And thanks to all of you. There were donations from 14 states in the US, plus donations from three other countries. All around awesomeness.
In the end, we delivered $6500 worth of toys and gift cards to The Center for Victims. Another $1000 in gift cards was sent to Alle-Kiski Area HOPE Center. Based on the "Thank You" emails I received from both agencies, it was all very much appreciated.
And it was appreciated by me. So ... thanks for helping to make Burgh Baby as successful as ever.
Wednesday, January 1, 2014
Reader Comments (7)
Woohooo!!! Been looking for this post :) So nice to hear!!!
I didn't cry. I swear.
You're my favorite blog success ever.
Yayayay! How wonderful!!
This makes me so very happy. :)
So fantastic. Congratulations! Thank you for what you do and for allowing us to be a part of it.
I just hope Christmas Crazy continues with back-to-school too! Our Christmas donations are always earmarked for local giving...but back to school? I can do that!
I love watching (reading) the magic that you bring to everyone at Christmas. It's truly one of the very few things I enjoy about the holidays.
There is obviously something in my eye, because I would never tear up at something like this.
You know, I'd forgotten about that crazy contest. I went back & read that post again & am kind of blow away that I remember that.
Thank you for all you do. And your readers? Are awesome. But I'm sure you know that.