Ellensburg Downtown Revitalization Efforts Get a Boost from Internet Search Engine
The Ellensburg Downtown Association has a new partner in their efforts to revitalize this central Washington downtown. The association has teamed up with the philanthropic search engine GoodSearch , a yahoo powered search engine that allows users to raise money for their favorite Non- profit just by searching the web.
Founded by Ken Ramberg (the former founder of JOBTRAK, now a division of Monster.com) and JJ Ramberg (an MSNBC anchor and the former Director of Marketing at Cooking.com) when they realized what a fraction of the $6 billion generated annually by search engine advertisers could do if it were directed towards organizations trying to make the world a better place, they launched GoodSearch in 2005. “We all have a cause we care about - whether it's finding a cure for cancer, saving the environment, finding homes for abandoned pets or so many other worthwhile endeavors. But what we don't all have is the time or money to support these efforts as much as we'd like. So, what if we could raise money for our favorite charities and schools by doing something we do every day — searching the Internet?”
GoodSearch is a search engine which donates 50-percent of its revenue to the charities and schools designated by its users. It's a simple and compelling concept. You use GoodSearch exactly as you would any other search engine. Because it’s powered by Yahoo!, you get proven search results. The money GoodSearch donates to local causes comes from its advertisers — the users and the organizations do not spend a dime!
For the Ellensburg Downtown Association the new partnership is the latest in their efforts to harness the power of the internet to help revitalize this communities once thriving downtown. Late last fall the association launched two websites, www.ellensburgdowntown.org which serves as their main website with information about the association, their efforts and their membership, and www.savedowntown.org which is a stand alone fundraising site to support their efforts. The fundraising site has generated donations from across the country as far away as Virginia and Mississippi in addition to local and regional donations.
“Goodsearch.com is an example of what we call ‘the Good Web,’ says Internet search expert Michael Benidt of HiddenBusinessTreasures.com. “Goodsearch is a company that harnesses the power of the Internet to help make the world a better place. The fight to save downtown Ellensburg is a ‘Good Web’ story, too. Tiny Ellensburg, Washington is harnessing the Internet’s power to reach out to people all over the world.”
“We talk to our local business owners all the time about what a powerful tool the Internet can be for their business” according to association Board Member and owner of Kvalley Computers and Internet, Chris Schmidt, “by utilizing that tool as an organization to help revitalize our downtown we have the opportunity to lead by example. And, when the tools are as easy to use as Goodsearch.com there’s just no reason not put those tools to work locally”. Literally it’s as easy as telling good search you want to donate to the Ellensburg Downtown Association and then search the web just like you already do” .
For more information contact the Ellensburg Downtown Association 509-962-6246 or email timothy@ellensburgdowntown.org
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