Government Technology
Government Technology: State & Local Government News Articles
Advertise in the
Upcoming Case Study Issue »

Play a Word Game, Feed the Hungry



Print
Comment
FreeRice.com

Nov 9, 2007, By Gina M. Scott

Yesterday marked the one billionth grain of rice donated to U.N.'s World Food Programme (WFP) through an innovative, dynamic online campaign -- FreeRice.com. The head of the WFP, Josette Sheeran, has acclaimed the phenomenal success of Internet-based vocabulary game as an example of the Web's power to mobilize millions of people in the fight against global hunger.

"Every grain of rice is essential in the fight against hunger," said WFP Executive Director Josette Sheeran, adding that hunger claims more lives than AIDS, tuberculosis and malaria combined. "FreeRice really hits home how the Web can be harnessed to raise awareness and funds for the world's number one emergency. The site is a viral marketing success story with more than one billion grains of rice donated in just one month to help tackle hunger worldwide."

On the site people play a vocabulary game, and for every correct answer, the site donates 10 grains of rice to WFP. The game keeps track of the vocabulary level, which goes as high as 50. "When you get three words in a row right, you go to a harder level. This one-to-three ratio is best for keeping you at the 'outer fringe' of your vocabulary, where learning can take place," the site explains.

Just 830 grains of rice were donated on FreeRice's October 7 launch date. Since then, bloggers and social networking sites like YouTube and Facebook have helped spread the word and, on November 8 alone, over 70 million grains were donated -- equivalent to more than seven million clicks on the site.

FreeRice is the latest brainchild of U.S. online fundraising pioneer John Breen, who first tied funds to clicks on the Web in 1999 with the Hunger Site, at the time, a WFP partner. Breen runs the Poverty.com Web site, a portal for information and facts about hunger and related diseases. FreeRice relies on private companies' ad space payments to underwrite donations to WFP. Rice is a vital part of WFP's food ration in Asia, Latin America and many African countries.

If You Liked This Article, You May Also Like...

Related Products and Services


Latest Government Technology News


Industry Solutions for Government

Read real world deployments of technology in government from our sponsors.

View All Industry Solutions

Marketplace



This section
brought to you by:


Dispatch Operations and Interoperability Survey Results

Executive Summary July 2008


View The Results Now

Dispatch Operations and Interoperability

Hurricane Preparedness Tips When a hurricane hits, are you prepared to keep in touch?


Case Study - Morris County, New Jersey The Morris County Communications Center upgraded to a new trunked radio system with the benefits of a cellular network, extending coverage beyond county lines


Case Study - Iredell County, North Carolina Spanning over 570 sq miles, it became imperative that the Iredell County Emergency Communications, Operations and Management extend it's communications systems to enhance reliability, security, and coverage.


Case Study - City of Anaheim, California The City of Anaheim saw an opportunity to leverage existing GST and partner with nearby cities to enhance safety operations through data interoperability.


Case Study - Charlottesville, Virginia Fire Department Taking advantage of a range of interoperability solution, the Charlottesville Fire Department has achieved a network that can serve as backup to their existing public safety network.


Sprint ERT Go-Kit with GST Optima Rapid, interoperable communications for emergencies, drills and field exercises.


Optimal Interoperability Until recently it was not possible to cost effectively connect commercial networks to LMR systems. Improvements in communications technology have resulted in greatly enhanced operational capability and have reduced the log-term cost of communications system ownership.


Multi-agency interoperability for Public Safety Establishing cross-agency, real-time situational awareness is critical to effective incident management as well as daily resource management.


Video


DHS Grant Links

DHS Grants and Assistance Programs Link to overview of available grants administered by The Department of Homeland Security (DHS)


Fact Sheet: Fiscal Year 2008 Preparedness Grants Major changes in funding and focus for 2008 DHS grant programs


Remarks on 2008 Homeland Security Grant Guidance DHS Secretary Michael Chertoff and FEMA Administrator David Paulison


$1.8 billion in DHS Homeland Security Grant Program Awards


Funding Public Safety Communications Whether you are a law enforcement agency, looking for funding to support an interoperable communications solution or a school, seeking to improve communications between building administrators, grants may provide the funding you need to implement a robust, scalable communication system.


Yes! I would like more information about Sprint's dispatch operations and interoperability solutions.