Did you know that with a few clicks of a mouse, you can support Catholic schools, parishes and organizations — without taking off your bunny slippers?
When you use GoodSearch to search the Internet, your favorite charity gets paid about a penny for each search. GoodSearch is a search engine powered by Yahoo! that donates 50 percent of its sponsored search revenue to charities and schools designated by users. Best of all, GoodSearch allows charities the ability to participate in an ongoing fundraiser that costs them nothing.
You also can help charitable organizations by shopping online. In GoodShop, which GoodSearch added in 2007, more than 1,600 retailers such as Amazon, Target, Apple, Macy’s, Best Buy, Orbitz and Staples donate a percentage of each purchase to charities and schools.
GoodSearch and GoodShop proceeds have added up for some local participants. St. Rita School in Webster has raised $405.06, and Holy Family Schools in Elmira have raised $209.71 since they began participating in the programs. (See a larger list of participants below.)
Another variation on online shopping fundraisers is the scrips program. Scrips are prepaid gift cards to local or national retailers. Supporters purchase scrips and retailers then donate a percentage of the sales to the charity. Some scrips programs also offer online shopping components.
Nonprofits point out that scrips can be used as gifts or for everyday purchases, and you don’t have to have any connection to the nonprofit to buy scrips.
Who’s participating? Check with your favorite organization to find out for sure, but two examples that come to mind are St. Mary Our Mother School in Horseheads and St. Joseph School in Penfield.
What are some other ways you use the computer to help your favorite charities? Feel free to comment below.
EDITOR’S NOTE: Here are some Diocese of Rochester organizations or affiliates that are on GoodSearch: Aquinas Institute of Rochester, Bishop Sheen Ecumenical Housing Foundation, Catholic Charities — Finger Lakes, Catholic Charities — Steuben County, Catholic Charities – Wayne County, Catholic Family Center (Rochester), DeSales High School (Geneva), Guardian Angels Church (Henrietta), Holy Apostles Parish (Rochester), Holy Cross Catholic Church Rochester, Holy Family Schools (Elmira), Light of Christ Catholic Church (Rochester), Nativity Preparatory Academy – Rochester, Notre Dame High School – Elmira, Our Lady of Mercy High School (Brighton), Providence Housing Development Corporation, Roman Catholic Diocese of Rochester, Saints Place — St Louis Church (Pittsford), Seton Catholic School (Brighton), Siena Catholic Academy (Brighton), Sisters of St. Joseph of Rochester (Pittsford), Ss Peter and Paul – Auburn, St Agnes School – Avon, St Ann School — Hornell, St Francis — St. Stephen School (Geneva), St James Mercy Hospital Foundation (Hornell), St Joseph School – Penfield, St Josephs Church – Penfield, St Josephs Elementary School (Auburn), St. Louis Church and School (Pittsford), St Mary Our Mother School – Horseheads, St. Rita Catholic Elementary School (Webster).
