Q: What's DonorsChoose.org?

A: It's a super cool site where teachers can submit proposals for special projects they need funding for. Whether that's books, art supplies, technology, a field trip, musical instruments, or anything, the common thread is that our so-often underfunded schools can't provide them, so teachers have the choice to pay for this stuff out of pocket, or go without. DonorsChoose provides a third option—asking others for help. The way it works is, you (the donor) find a project to support, and then you donate part or all of the funding needed to fulfill the proposal. The teacher gets the supplies, the kids get a cool learning experience, and the donors are thanked with photos and handwritten letters.

Q: What's the Blogger Challenge?

A: Every fall, DonorsChoose lets blogs and websites create a Giving Page of projects as part of its Social Media Challenge. Those bloggers then blog/Tweet about the challenge, and their readers donate to the chosen projects. DonorsChoose keeps a leaderboard so the partcipating blogs can see whose readers have given the most. It's a fun way to work together and raise awareness, especially at the beginning of a new(-ish) school year.

Q: What kinds of projects are on MacLife.com's Giving Page?

A: Lots of fun stuff! A class of third-graders on the South Side of Chicago (go Sox!) needs Max Axiom comic books to make learning about science fun. Sixth-graders in Pennsylvania need some composition books for "math adventure journals." For something more technology-related, we found classrooms in need of graphing calculators, a MacBook, an iPod touch, and a netbook. Or, for plain old-fashioned fun, you could hook a class up with dodgeballs, or even LEGOs. (C'mon, we know you wish YOU had LEGOs at school.)

Feel free to email me at susie at maclife dot com if you want to suggest a project that we should add to our Giving Page. Maybe something from your home town or state -- or if you're a teacher, one of your own projects. Don't be shy; we'd be happy to add it.

Q: How can I be eligible to win a prize?

A: Just donate to any of the projects on our Giving Page -- any amount, even just $1. DonorsChoose will email you a receipt (your donation is tax-deductable), and then you can forward that receipt to me at susie at maclife dot com. I will let you know that I've received it, and you are thereby entered in the random prize drawing held at the end of each week.

One entry per person, per week. Feel free to donate as many times as you like, but each individual donor will get one entry in each week's drawing.

Q: What's the timeframe for this? I need to wait until payday...

A: I'm giving away a prize pack at the end of every week. To enter, just forward me your email receipt by 11:59pm Pacific Time on the Saturday of the corresponding week. Week 1 entries are due Saturday October 3. Week 2 entries need to be in by Saturday, October 10. Week 3 entries by Saturday, October 17. Week 4 entries by Saturday, October 24. And the final week 5 entries by Saturday, October 31.

Q: Can I enter if I am outside the United States?

A: Sure. DonorsChoose accepts credit cards from outside the U.S., so you should be able to make a donation and then forward me the receipt. If you have problems, email me at susie at maclife dot com, and we'll get them worked out.

Q: I have more questions.

A: Email me at susie at maclife dot com, and I'll do my best to answer them!

Thank you all for reading, for donating, and for making a difference!

RULES!
Blogger Challenge Prize Giveaway rules: The sponsor of the contest is Future US, Inc., 4000 Shoreline Court, Suite 400, South San Francisco, CA 94080 (“Sponsor”). Entries must be received by 11:59pm PDT on Saturday to be eligible for that week's drawing (week 1: Saturday October 3, 2009. Week 2: Saturday October 10, 2009. Week 3: Saturday October 17, 2009. Week 4: Saturday October 24, 2009. Week 5: Saturday October 31, 2009). Winners
will be determined by a single random drawing of all valid entries held
on the Sunday following each deadline. The decision of Sponsor shall be final
and binding and within its sole discretion. Winners will be notified by
email within ten (10) days of the drawing.

Only one
entry per person per week is allowed, if you send multiple entries we will only
enter you once. The winners will be required to sign an affidavit of
eligibility/release of liability/prize acceptance within seven days of
receipt; failure to do so upon request will result in forfeiture of the
prize. By acceptance of the prize, the winner agrees to the use of
their name and/or likeness for purposes of advertising, trade, or
promotion without further compensation, unless prohibited by law.
Employees of Sponsor, its respective parent, subsidiaries, affiliated
companies, and agents, and foregoing employees' household or immediate
family members (defined as parent, spouse, child, sibling, or
grandparent) are NOT eligible to enter Contest. By their submission of
entry, participants warrant they are legally entitled and authorized to
make such submission, either on their own behalf, or as to information
submitted upon the express authorization of another on whose behalf the
information is submitted. In the event of a dispute as to the winner's
identity, entries will be deemed made by the holder of the email
account associated with the entry. All prizes will be awarded. Prizes
won by minors will be awarded to their parents or legal guardians.
Entries must include a
valid email address for the entrant. Entries become the property of the
Sponsors and will not be acknowledged or returned. Entries are subject
to Sponsor’s privacy policy, the terms of which can be found at
http://www.futureus.com/privacy.php, which terms and conditions
entrants accept and agree to by submission of entries pursuant to these
official rules. Sponsor reserves the right, in its sole discretion, to
cancel or suspend the contest should causes beyond its control corrupt
the administration, security, or proper play of the contest. Future US,
Inc. is not responsible for damages or expenses the winners might incur
as a result of this contest or the receipt of a prize, and winners are
responsible for income taxes based on the value of the prize received.
A list of winners may also be obtained by sending a stamped,
self-addressed envelope to Future US, Inc. c/o Mac|Life Social Media Challenge Contest, 4000
Shoreline Court, Suite 400, South San Francisco, CA 94080 (residents of
Vermont may exclude postage).