Did anyone happen to catch the article in the New York Times yesterday titled Seeing How Far $100 Can Go? It was about a writer who received a six-figure advance for a book, and decided to do something decidedly fun with a chunk of it: She gave $100 to each of nine friends, with instructions that they pass it on in some creative way, and report back at a party one month later to tell everyone about it.
Turns out, that writer has got some pretty creative friends. As reported in the NYT, one guy “paid strangers to walk through Bryant Park holding hands and sharing secrets”:
Another guy “walked up and down a B train begging people to take his money”:
I had to laugh at these — I always love to watch people who are brave enough to put themselves out there like that.
My favorites, though, were some of the quieter ones, and I think you’ll agree they are decidedly Elfish in nature. Like the friend who put the $100 into a thank-you card and “asked a friend to hand it to the clerk at Duane Reade who regularly cheers her up.” Another friend gave the whole $100 to the most frequent commenter on her blog, and another gave it to a woman he saw collecting bottles off the street. Don’t you just love it?
What’s more, the initial $900 of giving spurred a website called The Secret Society for Creative Philanthropy. The flavor of their site is really different from ours, but the basic idea of people giving gifts and money anonymously (and posting about it) is the same. Kind of neat how two such similar ideas can still be so different, isn’t it?
And now, onto to the business of Elf Tuesday:
Our Elf winner this week is…
Peppermint!
Congrats, wonderful Elf! I’ll send the money via Giving Anonymously. They should contact you shortly, and then you’ll receive the check within a week or so. (And by the way, no pressure to do anything crazy or creative or to make a youtube video of your exploits, ha!)
OH, and I almost forgot: I’m going to be out of town for a long weekend, leaving Thursday, so I won’t be able to post my usual Friday post. I will try to check in and make any Elf posts live, though, if I can. And I’ll try to bring some fun Elfing stories home with me — I’m taking a cue from all of you, and am going to be dropping little cards and gifts all over the place!
Happy Elfing, everyone!
February 9th, 2010 - 6:29 pm
Congrats peppermint! And I ADORE the blurb above ABM! How fascinating! I *adore* the idea of a secret society…so much fun! Very cool stuff indeed and my wheels have been turning all week…can’t wait to post!
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February 9th, 2010 - 7:40 pm
Thank you for posting those videos! I had fun watching them! Giving is such a funny thing sometimes, especially when someone isn’t ready to receive… I actually learned a few things from those videos! And congratulations to peppermint!!
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February 9th, 2010 - 7:47 pm
Thanks so much for posting the story from the NYT – I would have missed it and I’m so glad I didn’t!
I think if I had read the story before I joined ABM I would have thought, “I wish I was in a group like that!” But the SSCP would have had a little too much “hip-urban-cool” flavor for me to think I *could* join. So it made me appreciate ABM even more: ABM and I are two great tastes that taste great together!
I wasn’t familiar with the MLK quote either: “Human salvation lies in the hands of the creatively maladjusted.” and I love it too!
I hope you have a wonderful long weekend and congratulations to Peppermint!!!
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February 9th, 2010 - 7:50 pm
Oh, how cool! Love their ideas. THanks for the heads up and for your wonderful blog
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February 10th, 2010 - 1:36 am
How cool is that!!! Have a fun long weekend away AbM ♥
Happy elfing Peppermint
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February 10th, 2010 - 10:24 am
Have fun Peppermint!
I loved the story too, thanks for sharing it.
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February 10th, 2010 - 2:31 pm
That was fun! I’d love to a video of some of our elfing – LOL!
Congratulations Peppermint
Thanks ABM for this amazing site!
~Willow
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February 10th, 2010 - 8:43 pm
Just reading my name at the end of this article lifted my spirits so much! Thank you! Now, I have to oil the wheels in my head… I have no idea what I am going to do with the money… I can’t wait to figure it out and I will let you all know just as soon as it comes together!
Enjoy your week everyone!
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February 10th, 2010 - 8:44 pm
I wish I had a video camera and I could do some stealth videos of my gift! Not sure if that would be legal, but it would be fun!
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February 10th, 2010 - 8:57 pm
ok, one more thought- I really love the video of the guy on the subway who realized that money is just pieces of paper until there is a thought and meaning behind it.
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