Dallas Duo Hopes Passing the Hat in Cyberspace Will Encourage Charity
by Allie Martin
January 6, 2006
(AgapePress) - - Two Texas residents have come up with a unique idea and turned to the Internet in an effort that they hope will not only make money but also encourage individuals to give generously to churches and to charities. Late last year, Dallas-based Web developer Rob Momary and his friend, Clint Eubanks, who works for a potato chip manufacturer, were brainstorming ways to make money. The pair came up with the simple but ambitious notion of soliciting a dollar from every resident in the United States.
They soon put their idea in cyberspace. Now the Texas residents, who describe themselves as conservative, evangelical Christians, have recently unveiled their new website called "GiveUsABuck.com."
Momary says reaction to the site has been generally positive. "We're just kind of out having a good time, just having a blast with it," he notes. "Everybody just kind of thinks it's really funny. We've had a couple of other people from our church give us a couple of bucks here and there. It's been a lot of fun."
Eubanks says he and his partner are also using GiveUsABuck.com to encourage donors to give to other charities as well. "This just kind of demonstrates, if nothing else, the idea that a lot of people working together really can make a difference," he explains, "even if those individuals are contributing just a small amount."
Still, not everyone understood or approved of the pair's website and its premise right away. "Some people have blasted us for sourcing money away from charities and [suggested that] there's a lot better things that people can give a buck to," Eubanks admits. "But we feel like the site does encourage people to give to their church or to charity because it really does show that all of us working together can make a difference."
Both Momary and Eubanks say they will tithe ten percent from whatever is collected through the website. And, even if many visitors to the site opt not to give, the pair hope the site will encourage them to be generous in supporting other worthy causes.
Allie Martin, a regular contributor to AgapePress, is a reporter for American Family Radio News, which can be heard online.
