Update: 10/25, 9:30 AM
Last time I checked, 101K.That means that we’ve beat last year’s figure.
Another figure for you: best as I can guess, around the time I crossed the state line into Jersey yesterday, the Tomato Nation readership passed a quarter of a million dollars in all-time funds raised.
A quarter of a million dollars.
With all the billions and trillions we hear thrown around on the news these days, it might not seem like much, and compared to the huge wads of cash it’s going to take to stabilize Wall Street, it isn’t much.
To kids who can read Little House now, or dissect frogs, or go to a museum, or ride trikes, to kids who can do or have or think about something they couldn’t before, it’s massive.It’s massive in the sense of size and in the “rad” sense, the way my brother used to use it.
Think about it: you did something.You did…something.Even if you only had five bucks, you put it to good use; it counted, and more importantly, you believed that it counted.You tried to make a difference in the face of depressing amounts of evidence that one person, or a small group of dedicated but non-rich people, can’t.We can.You did.You did.
I’ve gotten a lot of emails thanking me for inspiring you to donate, but don’t get it twisted: you inspire me to put this together each year, because you get it done.A great cause, a smart way of positioning it for donors, and you.I just sit here with a spreadsheet watching y’all take apart projects like piranhas on a cow.
When the candidates talk about hope and change, this is what they mean.It’s existed all along.
It is once again my honor.[doffs hat]
To answer a few questions:
1) Yes, by all means keep donating — I will add more projects shortly.
2) I don’t have a target date for Sadie The Fire-Safety Tomato Goes To Washington yet.I will give y’all plenty of notice, and it’s probably not going to happen for at least afew weeks — it takes some time to coordinate, I gotta rent the costume, unfortunately this isn’t my only job, blah blah.Watch this space.One thing you can do in the meantime is think of outdoor sites/memorials for me to visit — not that I want to freeze my leaves off or anything, but the costume itself could cause a security issue at various places (i.e. I don’t think it’s going to fly at the FBI).
Any other questions, bunting at tomatonation dot com or post them here.
Tags: contests
I think it goes without saying that we need footage of Lincoln and Jefferson being visited by a tomato. FDR is also a good option. No security issues for those three.
May I suggest the Smithosonian Mall and everything between the Lincoln and Washington monuments?
And this project made me cry!
http://www.donorschoose.org/donors/proposal.html?id=206971&challengeid=18975&zone=0
I did not realize children were so needy for their own desk and a good one at that. I went to private school and had the the best of everything. When my student held part of her desk that broke apart in her hands, she kindly told me what happened and asked if I had another desk for her. God love her….so humble and sweet. Maybe her wish will come true! Thank you for reading this. Have a great year!
The Washington, WWII, and Lincoln are a good circuit of outdoor memorials.
My personal favorites are the Jefferson and FDR memorials.
And I’m guessing that the White House and the steps of the Capital are givens.
So, remember the points of light thing? We are, right now, 1062 points of light. And there’s time for a few more to join in.
And of all the posts? This one made my eyes leak. I’ll have to have my gaskets checked now.
The nice thing about DC is that so much of it is white and light gray, so the contrast background for the tomato will be just striking! Lincoln had a nice sense of humor. You might stop by to visit him. And the Newseum, being relatively new, and right next door to the Canadian embassy, and full of cool stuff for the literate might be a nice stop. Department of Education?
Well, there’s the Mall… which is super huge, so you’d have to be more specific, but it’s outdoors, and you won’t get in trouble. Or, Lafayette Park, which is essentially the front lawn of the White House, and lots of folks take a walk there around lunch. If you’re looking at monuments, you’d probably have more luck with the Lincoln or Jefferson monument than the Washington monument, which is perpetually opening and closing at weird times. I might not go for the war memorials…. folks who are not in on the Tomato awesomeness might not be too happy about a giant tomato hanging out in front of the names of the deceased.
Wherever you pick, I’m so there. Good think I still have vacation days left, since I don’t work in the city :)
Freedom Plaza (on Penn. Ave. between 14th and 15th) has floor plans of the White House bronzed on the ground. If/when you have security issues at the White House, you can still stand in the “White House.”
Dude…Library of Congress, natch. And I’d love to see you gaze meaningfully at the Lincoln Memorial.
Tourmobile! For $20 you hop on to a trolley thing at Union Station and it takes you around to all the outdoor monuments. You’ll hit all the big ones–Jefferson, Lincoln, Korea, Vietnam, WWII, Washington, and I think the Capitol. You can spend as long as you like at one and just hop on another trolley whenever you’re ready to move on. You will probably meet with resistance at the Smithsonian museums at the Mall with the costume, but if you explain it’s for charity and pass the metal detectors, you might be okay. There’s really nowhere to eat in that part of the city that isn’t a museum cafe, but the food at the Museum of the American Indian is AMAZING (again, if you can get in with the costume). Otherwise it’s a lot of sandwich shops that vary in quality and close at random hours, so head back to Union Station and right next door on Mass. Ave. is Capitol City Brewery. Microbrews and very tasty dipping sauce for soft pretzels. Yum.
It’s now over $102K. And only 9 of the original projects remain unfunded – FUNDED! has reached page 1.
As to locations in DC. One suitable place seems to me to be the Library of Congress. It’s not as instantly recognizable as some, but it’s certainly symbolically appropriate, with reading and all. On the other hand, it’s right across from the Capitol, so maybe outdoor security is uptight around there — still, it’s at one end of the Mall and tourists ramble around everywhere there.
The Lincoln Memorial. Because Abe loved nothing better than a refreshing tomato sandwich on a hot summer’s day. (It’s true! I read it on the internets!)
Jefferson Memorial. The Forest-Gump-and-Jennay-Reflecting-Pool…or whatever it’s called. (Across the street from) The White House. (Across the Street from) The Washington Memorial. etc.
A suggestion: you or one of your partners in crime take along an envelope with screen shots of tomatonation.com just in case you get stopped or questioned by security guards. You can tell them, “Well it’s sort of like I lost a bet, only I won! Because my readers raised a lot of money – and helped lots of school children! – in an bid to get me to humilate myself in public. And help children!” (Keep emphasizing the children. And practice the “puppy eyes” look.)
Then you show them pictures of the web site, and they go “awwww, that’s so sweet!” and then everything’s sunshine and kittens. (At least that’s what the voices in my head tell me.) Though, seriously, couldn’t hurt. Just a thought.
Oh, I can just see it now, a tomato skipping about the base of the Washington Monument, going all Rocky-esque on the steps of the Lincoln Memorial, on a scooter past the Capitol, striking a pose at the Jefferson Memorial, prancing past the White House. How about a tomato on a Segway tour? At the Kennedy Center? (No security there, and free concerts daily at 6. Also, they sell (overpriced) snacks and booze, for thorough thawing.) Seriously, though, I hope the weather is kind to you in DC. It is pouring rain and windy right now in the ‘burbs.
Are you fricking kidding me? I go out for a few hours and this is what I come home to.
Y’all rock my world. You really do.
YAY! The Tomato should definitely make a photo stop outside the Department of Agriculture.
I can think of a number of government institutions that should have tomatoes thrown at them!
My husband is a public school teacher. This evening, he checked his e-mail and discovered that his AV project had received the funding needed! We were both so excited and happy. When we logged into his account and read the comments of the 9 donors, it became very clear to us that this funding came a result of this site.
I am in tears, thinking about how much good has been created because of your efforts. My husband’s district is in a horrible budget crunch, and getting the items he needs to teach is impossible. It either is purchased by us (which is not always feasible on a public schools teachers salary) or he and his students make do without.
On Monday morning, when my husband tells his students about this new equipment, his students aren’t just going to hear that they are getting new AV equipment – they are going to hear that there are people who do care about them and their education. Thank you for sending them that message and thank you so much for caring!
May G-d allow you to continue in your hard work and efforts on behalf of the children of our country.
The Senate would be awesome. Anywhere on The Mall, really (it’s a two-mile stretch that includes the Lincoln & Washington monuments, and both the Korean and Vietnam memorials, not to mention countless museums of the History and Art variety. All accessible by Metro train. Union Station is cool… oh, the Pentagon too. Those are the biggies. Oh, duh, the White House. Hee! I’m now picturing Secret Service chasing a tomato costume down Pennsylvania Avenue… hehehehe
Aw, I miss DC.
As awesome as it would be to see a giant tomato there, the FBI no longer allows tourists of any sort. However! I think seeing a person sized tomato at the Hershorn sculpture garden would be pretty darn nifty.
Dear Sars,
Fantastic! I wish I could be in those classrooms and see those happy faces when the donations roll in.
Regarding the trip to DC:
My husband and I spent some of our honeymoon in DC (road trip), and found the squirrels on the Mall to be quite aggressive. So, assuming you’ll be on the Mall at some point, these are my two questions:
Are squirrels color-blind?
Would you look like a giant acorn if the red was not immediately apparent?
Thanks again for setting up this contest and allowing those of us outside the US to share.
Pleeeeeeeeeeease go hang out with Einstein! He’s on Constitution Ave somewhere in the 20s, I think.
I would to see a tomato giving a big old rasberry in the direction of the white house (assuming this is done before 2009)!
Also, a rocky-style run up the lincoln memorial would be cool- and perhaps a stroll by the reflecting pool?
I agree the war memorials probably aren’t the most appropriate (Vietnam, Korea, Arlington, haven’t seen the WWII yet) but a shot on the bridge to Arlington (from behind Lincoln) would be cool. You could stand in front of the FBI building, in the classic “against the wall and spread ’em” pose, without having to deal with security (we did this back in 2001, pre9/11). Also, the Spy Museum might be fun.
In front of the National Cathedral and Ford’s theatre would be fun without being disrespectful IMHO.
Definitely write/call/email your congressmen/women for help with tours- You can explain to them what is going on and they can probably help you get past some roadblocks. I got to go on a personal tour of the Capitol with one of my Senator’s staffers after emailing him- you meet at the Executive building and they take you over in a tunnel on a little train!
Question: did the DYI match have an expiration date of this week? Because I noticed that it’s gone from the projects now.
On Constitution Ave @23rd in DC, there’s a large statue of Einstein seated. I can’t think of anything better than Tomato Sars in Einstein’s lap. Hooray, Tomato Nation!
@Jeni: It was a match for $12,500. You guys raised that and it was matched, ergo it’s done now.
You should go to the zoo and freak out all the animals. You’d probably be very popular with all the kids there.
The thought of Tomato Sars on a Segway is cracking me up so hard, I cannot even tell you. I’ll also second the Library of Congress; even if you can’t get into the building itself, there’s a ton of gorgeous sculpture outside (including a fountain with Poseidon and a strangely smug frog).
Another site to consider, if it would be possible, is the Textile Museum. It is indoors, but it’s a really neat, small, often-overlooked, museum that might be more amenable to prearranging tomato accessibility. Also, considering the knitting project that got funded, it would be very appropriate.
I would definitely go with the presidential memorials (Washington, Lincoln, Jefferson, and FDR). FDR especially has a LOT of places to sit and pose, although it’s not terribly recognizable at this point. Also good would be reflecting pool shots – both Capitol building and Lincoln/Washington reflecting pools. Then, of course, Capitol Building steps and in front of the White House fence. None of those places will have any problem with security (unless you pick cherry blossoms during March/April which is actually illegal – who knew?).
The Hirschorn Sculpture Garden is an excellent suggestion too, and if you go all the way from Jefferson to the Capitol, it’s a nice stopping point along the Mall.
The only one of the war memorials you might think about going to is the Korean memorial. Engraved in large letters around that fountain/pool is the phrase “Freedom is not free.” You might want to call the park service to get an idea of when their least busy time is at that memorial though (and to give them a “heads up” as to why you’re coming), to avoid being seen as disrespectful since you have to walk past the statues to get to the fountain.
But maybe the photo essay I have in my head isn’t what’s in yours.
Do they still set up an outdoor ice skating rink each year near the Hirschhorn Sculpture Garden on the Mall? If it’s up and running when you arrive in DC, I think an ice-skating tomato would make for an extremely amusing photo op…
I love the Dept of Ag suggestion. And I agree the war memorials should be off limits. I know how powerful both the Vietnam and Korea memorials are and there is such a sense of reflection and respect from the visitors that the dancing tomato would be jarring.
The tour bus idea would be cool (and would allow any traveling supporters to join you). I’d be willing to pitch in your fare, Sars. (I’m planning on using Amtrak miles for the train down, if this isn’t scheduled on a hard deadline day.)
@Jan,
I think that there should be a tomato/acorn comparison amongst the squirrels, if for no other reason that to prove what this guy says about squirrels and color blindness:
“Research suggests, that the squirrel has “dichromatic” color vision, and therefore can see in color. This would compare to a Human, that has “red-green” color blindness.”
And it would be funny to see Tomato Bunting feeding the squirrels!
I agree with Rebecca U on no-go on the war memorials (WWII is on the opposite side of the Reflecting Pool from the Lincoln), but I think Sars would have already thought through that. Heck, I used to get ticked when little kids would walk along running their fingers against the names on the Vietnam Memorial.
I worry about Sars getting stopped by the Capitol Police and the Secret Service. I have friends of friends that work for both places so I’ll see if notifying them ahead of time will help. While someone in a tomato suit looks funny and harmless to us, to more paranoid folks…well, you could have a lot of explosives in a costume that size. So, my vote is Lincoln, Jefferson, Washington, Einstein, and maybe a distance shot of Sars in front of the White House and the Capitol.
Tomato Nation wiped the floor with the Colbert Nation in the fundraising challenge last year. My suggestion is to try to bait the Colbert Nation into raising more money for Donors Choose. Colbert’s portrait is now a part of the Treasures of American History collection at the Smithsonian, which reopens on Nov 21, perhaps you can go there and mock it? I have no idea how to get in contact with the producers of the Colbert Report, but someone from Donors Choose was on the show last year, so maybe they could help?
Please, please, please go to the Spy Museum and try their whole “Be a spy” thing. You could be Mata Heirloom.
Can I also suggest the FDR memorial? He’d probably relate to current times (and it’s a nice memorial). Also the Space/Flight museum would be great if possible!
@Sars – thanks; as soon as I sent that, it occurred to me.
“… on a scooter past the Capitol”
Okay, this? Just put the most amazing – what am I saying? – the most AWESOME image in my head: Tomato on a Razor, zzzipping by the Capitol Building, all “Wheee! Kids need booooooks….!”
Also: I just Ms. Schmidt’s message about the funding of her husband’s project, and apparently I have allergies now. Sniff. Good work, everyone.
I think it’s worth noting that, within the bloggers challenge, the next highest blog? Has raised $6,110. On one hand: Awesome for $6,110 towards even more kids! But on the other hand: Sarah for heading TN, and TN readers themselves, rock beyond belief.
If you go to Arlington House, on the grounds of Arlington National Cemetery, you get a great view over the city. It would make a perfect tomato photo op.
However, I STRONGLY suggest you take a ride on the carousel on the Mall, in front of the Arts & Industries building. The physics of fitting on a horsie while in a tomato costume boggle the mind.
I’m picturing a Segway tour of the monuments and memorials.
Seriously, there should be no problem visiting most of the major sites in the city — or at least visiting the outside of them. A million people walk past the White House on Pennsylvania Ave every day — you in a tomato suit will probably not be the craziest thing that’s seen on any particular day. The same is true of the dead presidents’ memorials. If you want to go into places like the White House, the Capitol, or the Supreme Court, that might be a little tougher. But perhaps not completely out of the question.
Why not contact places ahead of time, let them know the score, and get permission to walk unmolested as a giant tomato?
Oooh, I third (fourth?) the Einstein statue! I love that spot. If you can find time for it, that would be a wonderful photo op.
And Amelia’s letter just made me startle the cat off my lap, I sniffed so hard.
The Supreme Court. Those are some impressive looking steps. Plus, in 1893 the Supreme Court ruled, against biology, that a tomato is a vegetable.
Maybe they need some new textbooks, too.
I would love to see a tomato staring down the Constitution at the National Archives, or on the steps of the Supreme Court building.
Do you think security will let you in to see the giant dinosaur, Hope Diamond or the butterfly exhibits at the Museum of Natural History?
I am so amazed by y’all (by us!) that I am speechless.
“watching y’all take apart projects like piranhas on a cow.”
Heh. Good one. Most excellent visual.
I’d love a pic of you sitting in Lincoln’s lap. I know they discourage climbing on the memorials, but the proportion of the statue might be just right that you’d be tomato-sized by comparison. I think that’d be sorta cool.
Whatever you do, wherever you go, it’ll be surreal.
$7001.00 – can we pull together and come up with $7001.00? That would get ALL of the projects funded? We can do that right? People?
I highly recommend the following locations in DC (in addition to the ones mentioned above), all of which are easily accessed by Metro:
1) The National Zoo – easy in-and-out, most of it is outside, you’d get to the front of the crowd to see the pandas and I bet it would be a hit with the kids
2) The Metro itself (specifically Metro Center or one of the other big stations) – it would be awesome if you did it during rush hour and see what the commuters did. I know that would make my commute!
3) The Supreme Court building
I’m looking at the Disc Golf and Stop the Press/Ink projects and I could have sworn they had more funding last time I checked. Am I remembering wrong?
The Einstein statue is a great idea. It’s very close to the Lincoln too.
While I love the idea of the photo in front of the White House and wandering through Lafayette park, you will most certainly get stopped and questioned there. The Secret Service is permanently set on “hyper alert.” Screen shots are a good idea to have along.
Freedom Plaza is a great idea for maximum crowds, as is DuPont Circle and the Navy Archives memorial area. Although DuPont might not be a good idea because there is a horrible Italian restaurant near there called the Tomato and people may think you are advertising for it.
Lastly, my favorite place to send people, which has not been mentioned above: The National Archives. The Declaration of Independence, The Constitution, and even a copy of the Magna Carta. While they probably won’t let you in, it has some impressive steps for photographs out front.