Help TMA by Shopping on the Internet: iGive
Jim Lubin

One of the ways to support The Transverse Myelitis Association is through a new website called iGive. Just by browsing the iGive member page or buying online through iGive's merchant partners, money goes to The Transverse Myelitis Association, at no cost to you. In fact, The Transverse Myelitis Association now has 78 supporters who use iGive, and we have generated nearly $300 for our cause. iGive calls this new form of giving 'Technogiving,' because it lets us donate our time to support our cause while online.

iGive has become quite a success story. The service was launched in 1997. It is growing at 20-30% per year, and now has over 36,600 members who use iGive to support over 3,662 worthy causes, such as The Transverse Myelitis Association. I have established a link to iGive from the bottom of our web site (www.myelitis.org). If you click on the link, you will be taken to iGive where you can register to become a member. Every new member who signs up for iGive creates an instant donation to The Transverse Myelitis Association of $2.00. It is free to join. The average 'active' member is now raising over $40 a year, at no cost to them or the Association. You can raise money in various ways. Just by joining, a $2 donation goes to The Transverse Myelitis Association. Each time you visit the site, you raise additional cents. Finally, and most importantly, each time you make a purchase from merchants in the iGive mall, up to 12.5% of the product price is donated to the TMA. Your visits only count when you click on one of the ads or on the buttons on the iGive control panel, up to the current maximum of 5 per day per person. That way, the sponsors know that you actually saw their ad and they're happy to donate money to the TMA.

It is a fast and easy way to earn money for the TMA. It does not cost you anything extra nor do you pay more when you shop iGive. If you try iGive and do not like it, they will cancel your membership at your request without questions. The iGive merchants offer great deals at competitive prices. It takes very little time, and shopping online may actually save you time and money. Each time you buy through iGive's Web site, you raise needed funds for The Transverse Myelitis Association. It is private and confidential, and it is convenient from your home. iGive has office supplies, sporting goods, gifts, software, special auction items, books, CDs, videos, toys, flowers, nutritional products, gardening supplies, cooking items and more. If you are not already an online shopper (and 20 million Americans are) you will be pleasantly surprised at the convenience, great prices, and selection. I hope that you will consider giving iGive a try and by doing so, help out your Association.