Help Engadget Energize Education in the 2008 DonorsChoose Blogger Challenge

Last year Engadget -- and its good looking, smart, talented readers -- took a break from the PC and Mac wars and endless discussion of which Linux distro rules the roost to put some cash towards a good cause: DonorsChoose, a fund-raising group dedicated to making kids' education needs a reality.

Here's how it works -- we've picked a handful of technology related causes that all need funding to get off the ground. You simply decide how much you want to give and which charity appeals to you, and the money goes directly to one or more programs that will impact high-need public schools. Still feel the desire for a little healthy competition? You can track our progress against other like-minded sites on the Blogger Challenge leaderboard, so you get to do something good for kids and shout "PWNED!"

You have until October 31st to make a donation -- either by clicking here, using the widget after the break, or by following the Read link -- and we sincerely hope that you'll consider helping out these projects that really do have a chance of giving kids a better future. Also, "PWNED!"

P.S. If you see a project that seems perfect for Engadget and our readers but isn't in our list, let us know in comments!

Read - Donate!
Read - Blogger Challenge leaderboard
Read - Opening news story on the Blogger Challenge
Read - About DonorsChoose.org

[James @ Oct 1st 2008 5:41PM]

this a great cause. Love the intro, pc vs mac. LOL. Kick that first guy in the ass.

[Will @ Oct 1st 2008 5:51PM]

Engadget is already in 2nd place.....with one doner

[Ricardo Nunez @ Oct 1st 2008 9:42PM]

How do I register to vote so I can vote for Obama?

[Axl @ Oct 1st 2008 6:05PM]

This is a great cause!

I found a classroom that is trying to get guitar classes rolling. All they need are a couple more guitars and some cables/accessories:

http://www.donorschoose.org/donors/proposal.html?id=172125&zone=121

http://www.donorschoose.org/donors/proposal.html?id=192387&zone=121

Lets get these kids transitioning from Guitar Hero and Rock Band to the real thing!

[Geoffrey Aladro @ Oct 1st 2008 6:11PM]

Hello,

Do you mind adding one of my projects? It is for a document camera which I think qualifies since it is a cool gadget.

http://www.donorschoose.org/donors/proposal.html?id=213712

Thank you very much!

[Eric @ Oct 1st 2008 6:12PM]

What a great thing to do. Kudos Engadget!

[Tabajara Labs @ Oct 1st 2008 6:30PM]

Congratulations to Engadget! It is important to remember everyday that there are lots of people less fortunate than us. And that we must not support them, but teach to support themselves! I do hope people learn it in Brazil...it would be so good if our brazilian students learn things beyond mathematics and portuguese...I dream a day I'll see classes of woodworking, electronics, music, kitchen, small household repairs...Teach them to create and go beyond, why not?

[Jake Tobak @ Oct 1st 2008 6:59PM]

It's too bad there's no way to sticky articles on Engadget, at least I've never seen anyone do it, cause in less than a day this will be off the front page and will get a lot less moniez.

[Chris @ Oct 1st 2008 8:48PM]

They can keep it at the top or the right side like when the iPhone came out. "The spot for everything iPhone" or whatever it said

[Walt Ribeiro @ Oct 1st 2008 9:40PM]

Joshua - I too am included as one of the Bloggers in the Bloggers Challenge this year! It should be alot of fun. I teach Music Lessons on online, and I think its important for others to learn music and be a part of something.

This is a great cause - DonorsChoose is doing a great thing, and I’m thrilled that we both get to be a part of this as we do what we can in order to make a difference!

BTW - You're GOIN DOWN! :)

[Curtis @ Oct 1st 2008 9:50PM]

The company I work for, eInstruction, is giving away over $25,000 worth of interactive classroom equipment. Prizes include 32 pad CPS system, projector, laptop and more. Sounds like some of these causes could put this stuff to good use.

From the contest site, http://www.eimakeover.com/:
"Make a music video with your class that shows how amazing it would be to have a technology-fueled classroom. You could win an Interactive Classroom makeover worth over $25,000.

Grab your video camera, tune up your instruments or just SING! Send us your video, a panel of judges will choose one winner from grades K-5, 6-8 and 9-12 will be chosen from the entries.

Start your video today! The contest ends on October 24."

[Jonathan Brennecke @ Oct 1st 2008 10:00PM]

Its times like these when I wish I wasn't a high school student without any money... *sigh*

[Daniel Bell @ Oct 3rd 2008 6:47AM]

One of my projects, "Digital Video- The New Age!", is one of the selected projects for Engadget- I just wanted to say thank you for all your support of our schools! Donors like you all make education at a higher level possible!

[D.C. Hess @ Oct 2nd 2008 8:09PM]

Thank you for promoting my DonorsChoose project: Web 2.0 Meets Urban Education.
http://www.donorschoose.org/donors/proposal.html?id=194088&challengeid=19052&zone=0

I am an urban educator desperately in need of 6 laptop computers for my classroom. I have designed a classroom website to teach students the value of using blogs, wikis, forum discussions, and digital media to understand content. I also teach digital journalism to our students in the hopes of creating a student run blog for our school in lieu of a print newspaper (very expensive).

Again, thank you for the bump!

[Amanda @ Oct 2nd 2008 11:31PM]

Thanks for supporting DonorsChoose! And, of course, for highlighting my proposal! "The Ears Have It" will provide a basic but vital resource for my students, and will be used for many different projects in the coming years.

I hadn't seen your site before, but I think I'm a new fan! Thanks for the support!

[Ms. Gionti @ Oct 3rd 2008 9:26AM]

You guys rock! Thanks so much for funding my project. The newspaper staff is going to love having a scanner! Thanks again!

[DonorsChoose.org @ Oct 6th 2008 5:26PM]

@AXL & @Geoffrey,

We added both your projects to the Engadget Giving page.

Check them out:
Help! These at risk kids deserve to learn guitar!
http://www.donorschoose.org/donors/proposal.html?id=192387&challengeid=19053&zone=0

and
Let us see too!
http://www.donorschoose.org/donors/proposal.html?id=213712&challengeid=19053&zone=0

Thanks,
The DonorsChoose.org team

[Shai @ Oct 5th 2008 1:49AM]

Hello!

Thank you so very much for including my petition in your group to be funded. As a teacher, I spend hundreds of dollars a year on the children in my classroom and if I could have this petition funded, it would be SUCH a help.

I am requesting the Leap Frog program because the children I work with have speech impediments and learning disabilities. This program is made specifically for children in Special Education, many of whom need to see, hear, and feel the letters for example, in order to learn their names and sounds. This technology will help the children work at their own pace. I still have some children who have difficulties with the alphabet, for example, at the same time I have children who are reading near a 2nd grade level. This technology will help us to bridge the gap between the two by allowing us to have the children work on specifically what they need to work on and that way we can build from there.

Thank you again!

[adimo @ Oct 23rd 2008 9:27PM]

Hey, I was added to the last DonorsChoose drive you guys had. I only have a proposal for a pinter/scanner/copier, but I'd be thrilled and appreciative if you'd put it up on your site.

Thanks,

Adimo

[Anthony DiModica @ Oct 23rd 2008 9:28PM]

sorry, forgot to post the link:

http://www.donorschoose.org/donors/proposal.html?id=214345

Adimo