For a second year running, PayPal continues to spread festive cheer and encourage philanthropy with its “Regift the Fruitcake” campaign. By promoting the age-old tradition of gifting unwanted fruitcakes, PayPal aims to inspire charitable giving worldwide.
Donating Unwanted Gifts for Charity
The Regift the Fruitcake campaign enables PayPal users to give to those in need. In line with the campaign slogan – “By giving the gift no one wants, you’re giving the gift that everyone needs” – PayPal is putting a charitable spin on the holiday tradition of passing along unwanted gifts.
Participants can log into the campaign’s website, create a virtual fruitcake for one of the 25 featured charities, make a donation using their PayPal account, and then share their virtual fruitcake with friends via Facebook Connect.
The Power of Social Media in Charity Work
With its viral appeal, the fruitcake has the potential to reach a vast audience on Facebook. As a result, this seemingly benign, often ridiculed holiday staple can play a key role in garnering attention and raising funds for crucial causes.
This unique concept has led to a series of YouTube videos about the project, including one from basketball legend Yao Ming. Watch the video here to learn more about the campaign.
Championing Worthy Causes
The 25 participating charities range from St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital to the ASPCA, the Boys and Girls Club, the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society, Autism Speaks, and many more. Every virtual fruitcake regifted increases the funds raised for these organizations, which tackle significant issues like fighting cancer, reducing poverty, and rescuing animals.
A Rewarding Campaign
In addition to the funds raised through donations, PayPal has pledged to award the top three charities with an additional sum. The charity that raises the most will receive $20,000, the second runner-up will receive $10,000, and the third-place charity will get $5,000. The campaign also rewards the most active users, creating a win-win situation for all involved.
Changing the Face of Charity Through Social Media
The Regift the Fruitcake campaign is just one example of how social media is transforming charity. For more insight into this growing trend, check out Murdok’s recent interview with ER’s Anthony Edwards here.
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