Using a Blog to Give Back

In November, A.U. Bankaitis, an audiologist and Vice President of Oaktree Products, decided to use her new audiology blog to try and raise money for a cause close to her heart, the American Academy of Audiology Foundation's (AAAF) Member Assistance Program (MAP). The MAP is an educational fund supported by donations from Academy members and corporate donors, designed to provide convention travel support to audiologists experiencing financial hardship. Several years earlier, Bankaitis found herself cancelling a trip to AudiologyNOW! after being laid off from a start-up company. She describes it as a frustrating time where she felt helpless, and indicates in her blog, that she never wanted anyone to feel like she did then.

While Bankaitis had been making personal annual donations to MAP, she decided to harness the power of the Web during the month of thanks to raise the level of support for the Foundation. In her blog of November 11, entitled "My Personal Give Back Moment" Bankaitis indicated that her publishing company Auban Inc. would match dollar for dollar any contributions from her blog readers to AAAF during November up to $1500.

Readers responded with donations totaling $1400, which were matched by Auban, Inc. A total donation of $2800 to the Foundation was generated by a simple blog and the generosity of the audiology blogging community.

To read or subscribe to A.U. Bankaitis' audiology blog please visit aubankaitis.wordpress.com/