Fund drive goal has been reached! Thank you!

[EarlG]

We have reached our fund drive goal in near-record time. Thank you so much to everyone who donated - your contributions are essential to the continued operation and upkeep of Democratic Underground.

Since this is the second annual "Valentine Hearts" fund drive, it seems appropriate that we should reach the goal on Valentine's Day. However, since only half the week has passed, most everyone seems to be enjoying it, and some people have not yet had a chance to give hearts to their fellow DUers, we've decided to keep the promotion running for the full week.

Most of the rest of the usual fund drive paraphenalia will be gone shortly (the interrupt pages, and in a day or two, the thermometer) - but you will still be able to buy and give hearts until midnight ET, Sunday February 18.

We'll be honest - the Valentine Hearts promotion is a great way to raise funds for the site. But it's also been really amazing to see you all "spreading the love" this week. It's a once-a-year chance for everyone on DU to feel good about their fellow posters and hopefully remember that (at least most of the time!) we're pulling together, instead of apart.

Thank you again for your support!

The DU Administrators

[dogday]

1. You bet it has and Thank You All

I have totally enjoyed spreading the love... what a good feeling....

[saltpoint]

2. Go, Democrats.

[itsmesgd]

3. it's worth the money

but I was hoping for a more graphic picture of shrub getting his due. Oh well, maybe next time.

[TransitJohn]

4. Thanks everyone!

:yourock:

[mcscajun]

5. What a lovely "Valentine" for DU

and a "lovely" present for Bush's cartoon -- a good BOP in the kisser. :rofl:

[blm]

6. I think this is the fastest knockout yet.

.

[Sydnie]

7. Thank you for running it and keeping it going

Many of us don't get paid until later in the week ... and I want to participate this year!

[redqueen]

8. Thanks for extending the hearts... I don't get paid till tomorrow.

:)

[MuseRider]

9. The hearts are always fun to give

and to get. Maybe you could think of something for each fund drive. Hugs maybe?

[in_cog_ni_to]

10. Thank YOU, EarlG!

I'm glad you're extending the drive. I just got some more hearts and need to hand 'em out still. Happy Valentine's Day!:hi:

[CrazyOrangeCat]

11. Thank you . . .

. . . for DU. This is an awesome community of patriots . . .

[terrya]

12. I'm glad you achieved your goals in record time.

That's good to hear.

[LisaM]

13. I wish there would be a shamrock promotion

for St. Patrick's day.........

[The Straight Story]

14. How about this idea for the future:

Each time someone donates they can give out charms for a DU charm bracelet. So we can add different charms (including a skull and cross bones..heh heh heh). Each charm is only displayed once but has a number indicating how many someone has, resets each fund drive but people can donate and spread them around anytime (and a link for the bracelets takes you to a donate page).

I dunno, just tossing it out there :)

[MissWaverly]

18. Yes, i would like a kicking blue donkey, please

and a mini-grovel bot, please.

;-)

[wiley]

15. More Valentines, Please!

I used all my Valentines in like three minutes. I try to pick people who have no valentines as well as people who post and never get a lot of responses. Maybe for a certain donation amount like $100, you could make people Cupids, who had an unlimited amount or just LOTS more Valentines to spread. Not getting a Valentine can be pretty sad for some people.

[Pithlet]

16. I'm glad you guys brought it back this year.

I loved the threads where DUers were pulling together to give hearts to DUers who didn't have any.

[Laurab]

17. Thanks for extending it!

I got a little carried away one day and donated 3 times, and was thinking of doing it again, just to give people hearts, but have to wait 'til I've got money in paypal. I don't know who I gave hearts to, except for one, but it was a lot of fun.

You guys should think of similar things for the other fund drives!

[OPERATIONMINDCRIME]

19. No Problem! It's An Awesome Promotion For An Awesome Site. Thanks To You As Well!

And it totally came at the right time. It has been quite uplifting to see all the good will spread around DU these last couple of days with the heart promotion. It has kept me lighthearted all week and I just know so many DU'ers have had their spirits lifted as well.

Thanks for all that you guys do and Happy Valentine's Day to all at DU!

Cheers mate!

:toast:

[peacebaby3]

20. Thanks to the person that gave me a heart! Happy Valentine's Day!

I hated to start a new thread, but many thanks for the sweet gesture!

Great idea!

[Adelante]

21. I do love the Valentine fundraiser

It brings joy :loveya:

[ninkasi]

22. I'm glad you're extending the drive

It's fun giving out the hearts, and this is the best site on the net. I only wish I were rich enough to give a heart to everybody here.

[tavalon]

23. I am of the opinion (and probably in the minority)

that you fine folks should make your goal number bigger. Make us work a little harder for this amazing site. I contribute monthly but during the fund drives (when I can) I sponsor five of my fellow DUtizens. It's almost as much fun as spreading the hearts. There were a number of folks who got anonymous stars and I know they weren't from me so I'm pleased to see that I'm not the only one who does that. I might have to donate some more in my own name though because giving just five hearts wasn't enough.

Thank you to all of you for the fine work and fine site you've given us.

[pinto]

24. :thumbsup:

:thumbsup:

[EFerrari]

25. My favorite part is when that mug no longer appears at the top of the page.

Omg, could you guys just use Satan or some other more neutral image. lol

:)

[GreenEyedLefty]

26. My kids like the thermometer

...starting them early. Heh heh:hi:

[Nicole]

27. Thanks for keeping it going all week

[Cha]

28. It has been great,

I it! Something about those little hearts.

[Ms. Toad]

29. Thank you!

This has been fun. I did have some initial worries that people would feel left if they didn't get any hearts, but there have been quite a few folks deliberately trying to make sure that everyone is included - and the whole strings of hearts have been given to DUers having rough days/weeks have been really delightful.

[NewJeffCT]

30. How about different give aways with each fundraiser?

Hearts this time for Valentine's Day...

Flowers for a May fundraiser? (it being springtime and all... april showers bring may flowers)

and something else for the summer and another for the fall.

[gratefultobelib]

31. Ditto, ditto. It's been fun! This has been my first experience and it rocks!!

[Bucky]

32. Spreading the hearts doesn't have to be only a once a year fundraiser. Some suggestions....

For the August fundraiser people giving to DU can award to various friends little GIF images that are associated with this season, such as little beach balls or surf boards. August is also both National Psoriasis Awareness Month in the US and "Buwan ng Wika" (or "Language Month") in our sister democracy, the Philipines. Perhaps little icons of people scratching their red, inflamed skin accompanied by them cursing and complaining in Tagalog or Cebuano (or even Waray-Waray, the indigenous tongue of Samar) would add to the festive holiday glee.

In November we can give each other little Great Pumpkins only to see them slowly morph into Snoopys dressed as a World War One flying ace. Ironically, WW1 ended on Armistice Day, which also falls in November, so really all us peaceniks would be celebrating that, too. If that's too complicated, we could just go with galloping Headless Horseman icons.

May is "National Bike Month," "Asian Pacific American Heritage Month," and "Aging to Celebrate Older Americans Month." In May, therefor, you can run a fundraiser in which DU donors give each other moving GIFs of little old Laotian guys peddling on their mopeds--I can see that becoming the hottest thing since the dancing banana GIF.

[newyawker99]

33. kick

:kick:

[sallyseven]

34. I want to contribute as I always do

but it seems that Pay Pal will not allow it. It is very confusing to me. I was unable to do anything about this. I still want to contribute but they are blocking me. Tell me what to do.

[ProudDad]

35. You're welcome

Glad to help...