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Jay Lake
Date: 2008-03-24 17:44
Subject: [conventions|personal] Match it for Pratchett Update
Security: Public
Location:Omaha
Mood:pleased pleased
Music:hotel noises
Tags:charity, conventions, personal, seattle

As announced before the con, Norwescon, the Northwest Science Fiction Society, [info]lasirenadolce and myself worked with matchitforpratchett.org to do matching fund raising at Norwescon 31. This was in coordination with Pat Cadigan's campaign to match Terry Pratchett's US$1MM donaton to Alzheimer's research.

In the ten days since that challenge, nearly $100,000 has been donated online globally in honor of Terry. Norwescon, Eastercon/Orbital and ICFA were the first conventions that were able to attempt fundraising. Eastercon reportedly raised about $4,000, ICFA raised $1,054 (thanks [info]fjm for the info), while Norwescon members, vendors and pros donated a total of $3,403.70.

People gave what they could - whether it was $1 or $100. A few people emptied all of the change in their pocket every time the walked by the donation box. Many gave multiple times. BASFA heard that we were doing a campaign and sent money up from San Francisco. One vendor gave a percentage of all of their sales from the weekend to the cause. Another vendor gave all of her profits from Terry Pratchett books.

I believe [info]lasirenadolce will be posting some practical tips about the experience, which may be of use to folks considering a similar effort at other conventions. Meanwhile, a few photos of the fundraising...







Photos © 2008 Adrienne Loska. Please contact for permission to reproduce.

As usual, more at the Flickr set

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Stone of stumbling and rock of offense: angelape
User: [info]wordweaverlynn
Date: 2008-03-25 01:24 (UTC)
Subject: (no subject)
Keyword:angelape

Sometimes the decency and generosity of human beings takes my breath away.

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Kevin Standlee: Kevin Sketch
User: [info]kevin_standlee
Date: 2008-03-25 01:30 (UTC)
Subject: (no subject)
Keyword:Kevin Sketch

Glad I could do my part, both by contributing myself and by transporting the BASFA donations northward.

I note that part of the groundswell for this comes from the observation that if everyone who has read and enjoyed Prachett's books were to donate just $1, it would certainly match Terry's original donation and then some. Interestingly, the drive at Norwescon raised a little bit more than $1 per member of the con, if I heard the attendance figure correctly. Well done!

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Jay Lake
User: [info]jaylake
Date: 2008-03-25 01:40 (UTC)
Subject: (no subject)

Your able participation was greatly appreciated. If I'm not mistaken, you made something of it during Match Game as well.

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Grant Kruger
User: [info]thirdworld
Date: 2008-03-25 01:54 (UTC)
Subject: (no subject)

He did indeed. Admire your courage for going and getting through it all while you were sick. Well done both of you on the amount raised. Oh, and I wore your ex-socks on Saturday, the onces I bought from the Potlatch charity auction.

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fastfwd
User: [info]fastfwd
Date: 2008-03-25 10:24 (UTC)
Subject: (no subject)

Good going, guys!

I have posted this news on Match It For Pratchett. Take a bow!

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fjm
User: [info]fjm
Date: 2008-03-25 11:55 (UTC)
Subject: (no subject)

Eastercon total around $4,000 (for 1500 members),

ICFA total $1054 (for approx 300 members).

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Jay Lake
User: [info]jaylake
Date: 2008-03-25 11:57 (UTC)
Subject: (no subject)

Ooh! Even better.

:: corrects entry ::

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Deb Geisler
User: [info]debgeisler
Date: 2008-03-25 20:29 (UTC)
Subject: (no subject)

That's brilliant. Congratulations to everyone who helped!

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