# Welcome to www.stillerstrong.org – is this the future of charity fundraising?

- Link: https://fundraising.co.uk/2009/12/23/welcome-wwwstillerstrongorg-future-charity-fundraising/
- Published: 2009-12-23T19:45:41+00:00
- Author: Howard Lake

Right now one exciting charity venture that is making headlines in America is Ben
Stiller’s (www.stillerstrong.org) charity aiming to raise funds of a school in Haiti.

 

At first sight, there seems to be nothing too special about this – celebrities big
or small always seem to be involved in promoting a charity or another. But take 
a closer look at www.stillerstrong.org and you will soon discover that …. well, 
what Ben is doing is something unique and special. And, I dare say perhaps he is
paving the way for a new kind of celebrity involvement in charity work.

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Having had lots of fun watching the different videos on this site here are some 
of the things I have discovered that make stillerstrong work.

 

First of all the cause is simple and focused – Ben Stiller is not trying to save
the world – he has simply teamed up with Save the Children to build a new school
for poor kids in Haiti. And, he is asking fellow celebrities and other people who
visit his website to donate to this cause.

 

Secondly, unlike some celebrities who give a five minute endorsement to a cause 
Stiller is spending some of his time regularly to shoot mini-videos asking people
to give to the cause and giving out his stillerstrong bands. This idea of headbands
is a play off from his movie Zoolander…. and works rather well in this particular
context.

 

Thirdly, every now and then Stiller reveals the comical side of celebrity involvement
in charity work – see the episode when he speaks to Bill Clinton who asks him about
the capital of Haiti and Stiller is honest that he doesn’t know. Or the episode 
when Stiller tries to convince Owen Wilson to donate to the cause and Owen pretends
to show interest… ah, and the episode when he hires and fires the fundraising consultants…

 

In short, Stiller doesn’t pretend to be the perfect charity champion and he doesn’t
expect donors or fellow celebrities to be perfect either…

 

Fourthly, the website is full of interesting and entertaining ideas and more importantly
easy and quick ways to give. It also offers the visitor many opportunities to stay
connected to the cause and give feedback on what they have seen ….

 

On the whole, I really enjoyed the experience of surfing on stillerstrong and am
feeling quite tempted to buy one of those headbands.

 

Redina Kolaneci

www.mcconkey-johnston.co.uk

 

 * **[Google.co.uk – link to dec.org.uk for Haiti appeal, not US nonprofits](https://fundraising.co.uk/2010/01/16/googlecouk-link-decorguk-haiti-appeal-not-us-nonprofits/)**(
   16 January 2010)
 * **[Ideas for support from a Division 1 Football Club](https://fundraising.co.uk/2010/01/18/ideas-support-division-1-football-club/)**(
   18 January 2010)
 * **[Social media statistics live](https://fundraising.co.uk/2010/02/02/social-media-statistics-live/)**(
   2 February 2010)