Gift Card Giver – Card Me In The Park

Written by admin
Posted July 20, 2010 at 5:19 pm

Here is the update on the Card Me In The Park event. This is a perfect example of Small things making a difference. Tons of people helping out, ( I couldn’t believe how many people were willing to lend a hand! ) others donating their used gift cards, while having fun ( yes, it doesn’t have to be work! )

On Saturday, July 17, people from all over the Pittsburgh area gathered in South Park from 2pm to 6pm for a unique event – “Card Me in the Park.” Great free food, three excellent musical acts, and many free giveaways brought visitors to socialize, eat, drink, and learn about new ways to improve their communities through small acts of kindness.

gift card giver

PROSOUND DJ’s kept the music going all day long, and Gene Stovall, Bear Cub, and the Steel Hollow Band treated the audience to their own beautiful live sounds. As the bands set up, Liquid Flair Entertainment dazzled the crowd with a “flair bartending” routine, juggling, throwing, and catching bottles and cups as they poured. Many participants played “corn hole” and challenged the “rock / paper / scissors” expert to contests of skill. Others just listened, chatted, and enjoyed delicious burgers and hot dogs provided by 2 Little Piggies Catering.

One table represented “Tired For Tots,” www.tiredfortots.org ,a new concept in school fundraising founded by a teacher at North Hills High School. Other tables offered free “Pay it Forward” bracelets, candy, books (Doing Good Works, Pittsburgh – the Greatest City in the World, and The Power of Team), and other giveaways, and anyone who donated a new or used gift card to Gift Card Giver was eligible for a fantastic raffle for a wide variety of prizes, including signed artwork by Willie Hobbs representing the Pittsburgh Steelers.

gift card giver

Members of Gift Card Giver (from Atlanta, GA) came to tell the group about the importance of donating partially used gift cards to their charity. Over $8 billion dollars in gift cards goes unused every year in the United States. Gift Card Giver will take any gift card, even if it only has five cents left on it, to combine with other cards to give to charities and good causes. For instance, the many gift cards of various types that were collected at “Card Me in the Park” will be combined, and the dollar amount collected will be put toward a gift card to be used by Pittsburgh’s Conflict Kitchen. A similar event held at Duquesne University on Monday, July 19, will benefit an orphanage in Nairobi, Kenya.

The Grand Gift Card total has not yet been calculated, but the stack of cards looked rather impressive by 6pm, and (more importantly) everyone who attended enjoyed a free day of food, entertainment, and community spirit.

Duquesne University Photos :

Duquesne University Duquesne University Gift Card Giver