Archive for the ‘contests’ Category

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Contest: Looking Ahead

Monday, December 7th, 2009

the Atlantic City trip

For a variety of reasons, I've postponed this until early next year.  I'll give you plenty of notice, but the tomato won't head to AC until at least Martin Luther King weekend, and probably a couple weeks after that.  Stay tuned.

DonorsChoose.org site feedback

Now's the time, here's the place: let me know in the comments how you think DC could improve its website.  Functionality, navigation, overall user experience — any issues you've had, changes you'd like to see, elements that could make donating easier and/or clearer, post them here and I'll pass them along to the DC brain trust.  (You can also email them to bunting at tomatonation dot com if you'd rather.)

Posted in contests | 43 Comments »

Contest '09: Deal

Wednesday, November 25th, 2009

And awaaaaaay we go!

You can find the contest FAQ and the prizing page at the top righthand side, or by clicking these links; the baffled should click here for more information on Donors Choose and the contest.

Please make sure you've donated through the Bet Red/TN contest page; you can use the widget right up top there.  To search/sort Bet Red projects by state, grade level, subject, or expiration, please use Amanda's super-handy sortable spreadsheet.  All links from the spreadsheet contain the Bet Red challenge ID; just click and go.

We've got a big nut to make, friends.  Let's do it.

On the menu for tomorrow: mini-prizes, and the unveiling of the mystery intern!

Posted in contests | 257 Comments »

Contest: Fall Into The Gap

Wednesday, November 11th, 2009

Daphra at Donors Choose sent out an email yesterday that contained the following festive coupon:

We would also like to pass along a cool offer to you and your supporters: a 30% off discount at any of The Gap stores. From Thursday, Nov. 12 through Sunday, Nov. 15, you can receive 30 percent off any in-store purchase made at the Gap, Banana Republic, and Old Navy — with five percent of your net purchases going to benefit DonorsChoose.org. The Gap's Give & Get campaign has raised over $130,000 for students and teachers to date! To take advantage of the opportunity, print this coupon and present it at the point of check-out. Help us go viral!  Copy the URL and post it on your Facebook page, blog, twitter, or even e-mail it to your family and friends!

Just in case you need new threads or want to get that holiday shopping started early.

Edited to add: apparently there's an online code as well: PPXGXFDPDPW1.  Spend, my pretties.  (Thanks, Keira!)

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Posted in contests, retail | 19 Comments »

Contest: Behold The Prizing Phase

Monday, November 9th, 2009

Hello there, friends.  The Great Amandsby and I have spent the last few days getting organized for the main prizing phase of our proceedings, and it looks like we're just about ready to go here.  Winner notifications will go out shortly.

Please either white-list the TN domain, or check your spam folders in the next 24 hours, to make sure you haven't missed a notification.

Good luck!

Posted in contests | 9 Comments »

Contest: Now What?

Tuesday, November 3rd, 2009

tomagto

First, we admire the crafty initiative of reader Deanna in dressing her own Miss Tomatohead up as a member of the nightshade family using only materials at hand.  Excellent use of green felt, young ladies.

Then, we U.S. citizens vote.  Remember this? Good times.  The prospect of freedom from Bloomberg's campaign ads is not quite as exciting (and I know you Jersey voters feel me), but I'll take it.  It's your right: exercise it.

While you pull levers and admire infants, I will finish up the mini-prizing; make sure the main prizing page is up to date; and confer with Brrr It's Cold In Here There Must Be Some Intern In The Atmosphere on the workflow.  And then I will begin notifying the winners.  So that the prizing phase does not extend into January as it did last year, I'll have to tweak the process just a bit, but here's what you need to know:

  • if you have not received a receipt from me, you are not entered in the drawing;
  • if you have received a bunch of receipts from me, you are entered in the drawing, but each individual is entered once, not multiple times (multiple receipts does not disqualify you, however);
  • if you won a mini-prize, you are still eligible for prizes from the main list;
  • when the main prizing phase begins, please make sure my domain is on your whitelist.

Winners will receive an email containing detailed instructions on how to claim prizes.  I will make an announcement here when the main prizing phase begins with a little more information on the logistics.  Until then, if you have any questions, please post them in the comments.

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Posted in contests, politix | 27 Comments »

Contest: Dealt

Sunday, November 1st, 2009

$314,158.  1,120 donors.  51,507 students reached.

And it's my mom's birthday!  Aw.  Put your feet up, Nation; we're done here.  (Until the giving cards arrive.)

Posted in contests | 28 Comments »

Contest: Thanking HP

Saturday, October 31st, 2009

Would you like to thank HP for helping us to reach our goal?  So would I.  Candice recommends doing the following:

Our contact at HP suggests that readers contact CEO Mark Hurd via the "Contact Us" form on this link.

He says they take these comments and feedback seriously, so this is a great forum for your readers to say thanks!

$305,486 with just under 7 hours left. HP Halloween!

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Posted in contests, friends | 16 Comments »

Contest: The Halloween Heist

Saturday, October 31st, 2009

In previous years, when I'd tell someone our fundraising goal for October — at a cocktail party, say, or while arranging a match with $ and the Mysterians — that someone would always say something encouraging.  "That's awesome — good luck!"  "Wow, cool!"

This year, nothing but eyebrows.  Both eyebrows, every time.  "It's 150, and then if they get to 210, I'll dress as a tomato and… [brows shoot up all Look, Lady, There's "Ambitious" And Then There's "Bazoo"] …I'll just trail off now.  Unless you have five bucks?"

The brows had a point.  It's a ridiculous amount of money in a crappy economy.  I probably should have set the goal point lower, gotten more matches lined up over the summer, whatever, and you can say what you like about big risks having big payoffs — betting big means losing big, sometimes, too.  Usually, in fact.

(more…)

Posted in contests, movies | 39 Comments »

Contest: Welcome to Matchdome

Friday, October 30th, 2009

…Okay, proud Nation.  It's the 30th.  $275,660 right now; 1,068 of you have given to 44,801 students in the last 30 days.

Others of you have given prizes; shared and forwarded and cheerled; watched the widget and wiped away single, gorgeous tears; written recaps; and sent me pictures of your own Master and Miss Readerheads.

atta boy, sleepy grape tomato

atta boy, sleepy grape tomato

Above, please enjoy a family portrait from reader Alicia M. "I won these hats as a prize in last year's Donors Choose contest. So here's a picture of me and my two-week-old tomato, I mean son, at his very first trip to the zoo. Thanks for being awesome."  That's pretty freakin' cute, Alicia.  Way to affirm your commitment to field trips as a key element of the educational experience!  (And to wear green.  Very chic.)  (Thanks again to the talented Claire J. for the hats, which you may recognize.)

…All right.  Less than 5K to 280K.  At 280K, we get another 20K.  My day today is what a client of mine likes to call "a fuckshow," but I'll have my computer with me and check in frequently.  Can we get this done today, and spend Halloween Saturday celebrating?  I bet we can.  Let's try.

Speaking of chic, I'm giving away two (2) copies of Thom Filicia's Style, donated by Susan, and five (5) copies of Civilization IV, donated by Lisa M. Just donate to anything you like and send me your receipt to bunting at tomatonation dot com by midnight tonight ET.

280, friends.  Do it for the class of 2027.

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Posted in contests, friends | 93 Comments »

Contest: Ocean's 300K

Thursday, October 29th, 2009

…Well, well, well.  $271,888. Five grand in a day.  It's a pleasure working with you.

Just a little more work left to do: keep in mind, reaching 280K by Saturday at 5 PM qualifies us for a 20K match from Mighty Big TARhead. I think we can hit the goal well ahead of time, the better to enjoy the climbing numbers.  Don't you?  So let's do that.  Just over 8K to go — let's get to $280,000.

MBT is not Phil. OR IS HE?! (He isn't. OR IS HE?!)
MBT is not Phil. OR IS HE?! (He isn't. OR IS HE?!)

"What's my motivation?"  Well, let's see.  If you donate to anything today, you could win: a copy of Ocean's 11 OR Ocean's 13 (thanks, Trash!); a copy of Don't Tell Mom the Babysitter's Dead; or a copy of Office Space.  Mmmmmkay?

And if you donate to "Eager Language Learners Need French Materials," you could win a $10 Amazon gift card, compliments of Kim G. (Funded!)

Forward me your receipts to bunting at tomatonation dot com by midnight ET.  But if you're having trouble choosing, I'd suggest the French materials (you're still eligible for the other prizes for today), or picking from the short-expiry-date list below.

Taking the Leap: Multimedia Learning for Students with Autism

Hear It, See It. Now I'm Learning.

Math Mania! (funded!)

Cultural Connections to Historical Fiction (funded!)

and the biggest kahuna of them all: Youth Voices Across Curriculum: Documentary Film Makers

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Posted in TV, contests, movies | 31 Comments »

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