SEATTLE -- One of the largest global giving campaigns ever attempted will launch on February 22 in Seattle.
Everyone Gives is an eight-day event that uses the power of social networks to encourage others to give.
The campaign is the brainchild of Doug Frye, global CEO of Colliers International, one of the world's largest real estate companies. The concept is simple: give as little as $5 to your favorite charity. Tell at least two friends. And ask them to tell two friends.
"And through the power of your social network, everyone will continue to grow that tree, that giving tree is what we're calling it," said Frye. "What's different about this is first of all, you can actually see your giving online. You can see your tree, who you've donated to, what countries it went to and it's going to expand all over the globe."
You can donate through your friend's tree or start your own tree. By spreading the word on Facebook, Twitter and LinkedIn, you can watch your giving go viral. More than 1,400 charities in 60 countries are participating.
Frye says the idea came to him when he started brainstorming a way to bring people from all over the world together.
"This is something everyone can do. It crosses age, it crosses culture, it crosses religious barriers. It's the act of giving. It's the act of caring about somebody else," said Frye.
As a teenager, he started the act of giving and he's seen how it's made a difference.
"I was sitting watching late night TV and I saw that cry for help that we all see at two in the morning and for some reason, I thought, 'Geez, I can afford a couple dollars every month.' I donated to a little boy in Brazil."
While Colliers International is sponsoring the campaign, it won't get a penny. One-hundred percent of the donations will go directly to the charities.
"We want people to understand the only mistake we can make is think that any act or any dollar amount is too small," said Frye.
To find out more about Everyone Gives, click here.
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