We regret in many ways to posting last weeks story about GoDaddy's philanthropy and the acclaim that it has received recently for it. Since then Bob has posted a video on his personal website, BobParsons.me of his shooting an elephant in Africa. ( I am linking to his site, not the video itself). It is a graphic portrayal of this shooting in a village in Africa where an elephant has destroyed the villagers' livelihood and food supply, their crops of sorghum and other plants. To add to the upsetting scene of the killing is the sickening scene of the villagers ravaging the animal for meat.
The video and the act itself has brought GoDaddy an enormous amount of criticism and bad publicity. Bob Parsons justifies his act as helping the starving African villagers. Judging from the video there seems to be no doubt they are impoverished and hungry.
I can't begin to understand the complexity of the problem and what the solution might be. But certainly Bob Parsons has the resources to do have done some intense research, bring in a variety of environmental and economic experts, and at least try some innovative solutions here. Even had this been the correct solution, justifying the life of one elephant over the lives of many people, the braggadocio of displaying it on his website is - well- disgusting.
Solving problems by throwing money at them are rarely good enough. Saving societal problems by hunting and killing has some deep consequences. GoDaddy and its founder has done some inspirational philanthropy, but one of the consequences of this elephant killing is that good will towards GoDaddy for its worthwhile charitable efforts may have been killed too.
April Fooling Around With CSR
Whole Foods has always been on the cutting edge of creative ways to give back to the community and help promote sustainability and social responsibility. Today's posts on their website feature some great new ideas such as Insects Raised With Compassion.
I searched back through other companies that we have featured here to see whether they too have advanced their philanthropy and CSR on this day. My links are to my former posts about them.
Here are some the best:
Campbell's Soup now has: Help Grow Your Own Soup Can program. Campbell's has come up with a truly environment solution to waste from aluminum cans. For one dollar Campbell's will send you a packet of ground up aluminum that you can plant and grow your cans to use for your home grown vegetables.
Go Daddy changes name to Go Mommy as a marketing strategy to attract more women customers and in order to change their corporate giving program to Go Mommy Cares, knowing that women give more to charity than men.
Panera's pay as you go restaurants,The St Louis Bread Company, has come up with the ultimate charity program: Pay the Customer What They Want, for the privilege of eating at their restaurants.
New York based Bake Me A Wish, has expanded their offerings include women jumping out of their cakes. For every cake bought they will still donate a portions of the sale plus the woman's tips to designated causes.
Socks for Happy People has created a charitable foundation called, Socking It To Happy People, for all those people who just wish they could wipe off that smile off of all those disgustingly happy people. Socks for Happy People will send every person who posts a story to their website of how they managed to make someone miserable, a pair of their socks made in Mongolia from camel's hair .
Give Something Back is truly living up to their name and has a created a charitable return policy for their office products. For every product returned they will refund the full amount plus a give a donation to your favorite charity.
I am glad that April 1st only comes once a year, so these businesses can go back to doing their best in philanthropy and CSR the rest of the year. :)
I searched back through other companies that we have featured here to see whether they too have advanced their philanthropy and CSR on this day. My links are to my former posts about them.
Here are some the best:
Campbell's Soup now has: Help Grow Your Own Soup Can program. Campbell's has come up with a truly environment solution to waste from aluminum cans. For one dollar Campbell's will send you a packet of ground up aluminum that you can plant and grow your cans to use for your home grown vegetables.
Go Daddy changes name to Go Mommy as a marketing strategy to attract more women customers and in order to change their corporate giving program to Go Mommy Cares, knowing that women give more to charity than men.
Panera's pay as you go restaurants,The St Louis Bread Company, has come up with the ultimate charity program: Pay the Customer What They Want, for the privilege of eating at their restaurants.
New York based Bake Me A Wish, has expanded their offerings include women jumping out of their cakes. For every cake bought they will still donate a portions of the sale plus the woman's tips to designated causes.
Socks for Happy People has created a charitable foundation called, Socking It To Happy People, for all those people who just wish they could wipe off that smile off of all those disgustingly happy people. Socks for Happy People will send every person who posts a story to their website of how they managed to make someone miserable, a pair of their socks made in Mongolia from camel's hair .
Give Something Back is truly living up to their name and has a created a charitable return policy for their office products. For every product returned they will refund the full amount plus a give a donation to your favorite charity.
I am glad that April 1st only comes once a year, so these businesses can go back to doing their best in philanthropy and CSR the rest of the year. :)
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