TORONTO – Touting it as Canada's first online microvolunteering community, Telus’ low-price brand Koodo Wednesday launched Koodonation.com.
“Koodo’s mission in business has always been to redefine mobility; today Koodo is proud to support a social change movement that is redefining volunteering across Canada,” reads the company’s press release.
An entirely not-for-profit, grassroots community, supported and powered by Koodo, koodonation.com allows consumers and Canadian charities to work together where a huge percentage of Canadians spend their time – online — with the concept of microvolunteering.
“Microvolunteering is volunteerism built for the social media generation, and gives web-savvy Canadians the opportunity to make a huge contribution to Canadian not-for-profit and charity organizations, right from their computer, in 15 minutes or less,” says the release.
With microvolunteering, volunteering becomes a purely online-activity which can be done any time the volunteer has a spare moment: before work; during a study break; or simply on a free evening at home.
Microvolunteering tasks are designed to take a short period of time – typically 15 minutes to two hours – to help not-for-profit organizations to very quickly and easily crowd-source solutions through a range of high-impact challenges and questions such as disaster or emergency relief, fundraising ideas, social media strategy, copywriting, graphic design, and much more.
Koodonation has already been embraced by some of Canada's most respected charity and not-for-profit organizations including; Canadian Feed the Children; Kids Help Phone; Sustainable Waterloo; Canadian Animal Assistance Team; and Students Offering Support — and more are joining every day.
“Koodonation has also been embraced by some of Canada's best sports and entertainment personalities including MTV Live Co-Host Sheena Snively, Jeremy Taggart of the iconic Canadian rock back Our Lady Peace, Daniel Johnson, member of the break-out Canadian band Stereos, Toronto Argonaut Mike Bradwell, and one of Canada's top social media personalities, blogger Casie Stewart. In the true spirit of this campaign, each of these personalities is volunteering their time at a charity competition between Ontario colleges and universities, which will launch Koodonation in Toronto this Thursday, October 13, 2011. As a thank you for their support, Koodonation.com is making a $20,000 contribution to a charity of their choice,” continues the release.
"At Koodo, we believe in supporting our communities, and know that Canadians feel the same," says Kevin Banderk, Chief Koodo Officer. "Most of us are managing more hectic schedules than ever before, and simply can't free up a big chunk of time all at once to volunteer in person. Since Canadians have hugely embraced the social web, it just made sense to create an online meeting place for them and for the not for profit organizations who need their skills, creativity and passion. Small, altruistic acts done online. This is what the future of social change looks like, and we're proud to be its chief initiator in Canada."
Koodonation is powered by Sparked.com, San Francisco-based pioneers of microvolunteering.
Koodo set out to power Canada's first online microvolunteering community after closely tracking Canadians' overwhelming adoption of all things online, social media, and social change.
- Nearly 90 per cent of Canadians aged 15 to 34 use the internet*
- 51% of Canadian 18-34 year olds volunteer or fundraise for charities
- 47% of Canadian 18 -34 year olds volunteer at least once per month
- More than 64% of Canadian 18-34 year olds prefer to support causes within their community and Canada
"After intense research and collaboration with sparked.com, Koodonation came to life in just 18 months. Social change via the social web in 15 minutes or less. What could be more impactful," says Banderk.
*Internet usage statistic courtesy of Library of Parliament, all others courtesy of Koodo Mobile
