A Spectacular Evening: Samasource | Give Work Charity Gala

By | November 13 2009 | Comments (0) | Trackbacks (0)

samasource-gala

Last night I had the absolute pleasure to attend a charity gala at The University Club in San Francisco, California in support of the phenomenal work of Samasource, a social enterprise founded by Leila Chirayath Janah that provides digital work opportunities to marginalized people living in poverty worldwide. We are big supporters of Samasource here at envisionGood.tv (as can be evidenced by a series of video interviews we’ve produced about this amazing organization over the last several months).

One thing that was reconfirmed at last night’s event: as a supporter of Samasource, we are definitely not alone – there is a groundswell of support for Samasource, and indeed we are in great company. Last night’s spectacular gala, organized by the talented and beautiful Gala Co-Chairs, Silvia Console Battilana (Auctionomics) and Nina Leis (Leis Events), brought together roughly two hundred supporters in and around San Francisco and Silicon Valley and beyond, and raised approximately US$ 90,000 to support the work of Samasource.

Founded on the idea that employment is what people living in poverty most need, Samasource provides digital work to refugees and people living on less than a few dollars a day. The great thing about this approach is that it empowers people: as Leila pointed out in her opening remarks, “a job represents not only financial compensation but also a sense of purpose and a source of dignity”.

Interestingly, I think this approach is one that empowers those of us who support Samasource as well. By promoting work as a solution to poverty, we are acknowledging that people are able to solve their own problems. This frame of reference changes the dynamic between people, I think, by shifting the paradigm to one that is based on a more equal “partner:partner” relationship. This model of partnership is good for everyone: afterall, it’s empowering to empower people.

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At last night’s Samasource event, Gala Co-Chairs Silvia and Nina, and Samasource Founder, Leila, made the occasion to support Samasource’s work especially fun by auctioning off a number of creative items during the evening’s “live auction”. It was quite an entertaining exercise with a handful of lucky, winning bidders who will soon enjoy some fantastic experiences and prizes, including: coffee with Nobel Prize Winner in Economics, George Akerlof; lunch and Facebook tour with Facebook Marketing Director, Randi Zuckerberg; a night out with Zak Holdsworth, New Zealand’s Bachelor of the Year, dinner with Eco-Model Summer Rayne-Oakes; a “Sama Safari in Kenya” with Samasource Founder & Visionary, Leila Chirayath Janah, and more.

Indeed, as indicated in the Gala Program Guide given to attendees: many of the auctioned items, including the experiences listed above, are “priceless” ; ) – congratulations therefore to the lucky bidders!

In the event that you missed last night’s event, there are many additional ways to support Samasource’s great work. For starters, check out Samasource if you have work to give. Also, if you have an iPhone, you can download “Give Work”, the new, free iPhone app co-developed by Samasource and partner, CrowdFlower, to help support refugees in Kenya for a few moments on-the-go, right from your iPhone.

To Silvia, Nina, and Leila: THANK YOU for organizing such a spectacular event last night and for providing a fun way for all of us who attended this fantastic Gala to help “Give Work” to people and support the good work you are doing at Samasource.

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