Facebook, a heavily utilized social networking system, used its widespread influence and vast numbers of users as a platform to raise money for American and Canadian Non-profit Charities through an application called the Causes Giving Challenge.  Sponsored by the Case Foundation, Facebook awarded a large sum of money to thirteen foundations boasting the highest amount of donations over the course of 50 days.  Among the winners were two foundations – The Chordoma Foundation and the Liddy Shriver Initiative - advocating for rare forms of cancer. Their placement in this challenge is impressive when considering the competition, over 740 other organizations, including Students for Free Tibet, Fight AIDS now, Susan G Komen Foundation, and many more.  The donations received, but more importantly the elevated exposure and awareness achieved through this success, is incredibly valuable in advocating for uncommon cancer types. 

The Chordoma Foundation’s mission is to improve the lives of patients with chordoma, a slow growing, relentless bone cancer of the head and spine that is typically resistant to chemotherapy and radiation, and prone to multiple recurrences.   Their top priority is to advocate and raise funds for chordoma research to rapidly develop effective treatments and ultimately discover a cure for this devastating disease.  The foundation placed 7^th overall and raised over $30,000 for their cause from 630 donors.  The Liddy Shriver Initiative is a sarcoma advocacy group, with goals to increase public awareness, educate patients and families affected by the disease, and raise funds for research and clinical trials.  The Initiative succeeded in raising over $30,000 for sarcoma research during the challenge’s 50 days, with 622 donors and an 8^th place ranking.

Congratulations to the Chordoma Foundation and the Liddy Shriver Initiative for securing a successful top ranking finish and for the positive implications this exposure may bring about. Also congratulations to Facebook and the Case Foundation. Through its Causes Challenge, Facebook has introduced a new and innovative mode of giving through which a voice was given to smaller non-profits, while expanding civic engagement and increasing generosity.

For more information on the Chordoma Foundation, you can visit: http://www.chordomafoundation.org/

For additional information about the Liddy Shriver Sarcoma Initiative, you can visit: http://www.liddyshriversarcomainitiative.org/