Winner: Blue Key Challenge!

First of all, a great big thank you to all of you who participated in the Blue Key Challenge I posted last week (which, incidentally, hit right at the same time as all those Facebook changes, which I know affected the visibility of this challenge.) You are ALL winners in my book, because you took the time to learn about this important cause, and took the time to step up and make a difference. Thank you. From the bottom of my heart.

So the winner of the 1-hour of free social media coaching is….

Rheda Wilson-Duff! While I was over on the Gravatar site getting Rheda’s picture for this post, I came upon this lovely description she wrote about herself in her profile:

I am a firm believer that every single person is special, none more than another. We all have many wonderful things about ourselves that cannot possibly be covered in short profile. We are creatures wonderfully and magnificently made.

On a quest to complete the journey laid out before me. So much to do and nothing more to prove.

Well Rheda, you certainly demonstrated that with your support of the Blue Key program. Thanks for participating, and helping to get the word out. You are appreciated!!!

I’ll be contacting you via email to arrange for your free hour of social media coaching. I’m looking forward to it!

And for all of you that participated (or even if you haven’t yet), I’d like to invite you to consider becoming a Blue Key Champion, and helping us to spread the word. The goal is to have 6,000 Blue Keys in the hands of Americans by the end of the year. We’re more than halfway there, but we need your help to reach that goal! I’ve signed on as a Blue Key Champion, and I invite you to do the same.

Consider the scope of the international refugee crisis, according to UNHCR statistics released in 2011:

About 43.7 million people were forcibly displaced worldwide at the end of 2010, the highest number of people uprooted by conflict and persecution since the mid-1990s. That roughly equals the entire populations of Colombia or South Korea, or of Scandinavia and Sri Lanka combined.
Women and girls represent 49% of all refugees and asylum seekers.
Approximately 47% of persons of concern were children under the age of 18, 11% of whom were under the age of five.
Those uprooted by conflict within their own country grew by 4% to 27.5 million, largely the result of persistent conflicts in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Afghanistan, Pakistan and Somalia
Refugees voluntarily returning to their home countries fell to their lowest level in 20 years—197,600 in 2010 compared to the norm over the past decade of around one million a year
More than 270,000 refugees and internally displaced people were relocated to or asylum in the U.S., second only to South Africa as a country of refuge.

Let’s speak up for those who have no voice, and make a difference. Our goal is for 6,000 people to get their own Blue Key by December 31, and to tell UNHCR’s 6,000+ staff that their work matters. Will you be one of them?

Thanks to all of you, and Rheda, congratulations again!

coded by nessus

Rheda Wilson-Duff

September 30, 2011 | 12:19 pm

There are truly no words to describe what an hour with Jen has done for me. Now I suspect anyone reading this would assume she gave great advice for my business strategy. If you do, I would call you ‘hammer’ because you hit the nail on the head! She told me what I was doing wrong and told me the solutions. Key word there…Solutions.
Beyond what I expected was the emotional result of the most valuable hour I have spent gleaning from Jen’s knowledge. I am excited at the prospect of changing what isn’t working. She gave me insights into aspects of my goals that I didn’t even know. How does she do that? I believe she is a gift from God. Jen is a true professional who truly cares about others’ success.
Jen, from my heart I commend your excellence. From the questionnaires to the final thing you said to me, I know you have changed my life…and for that, I am grateful.

Jennifer Fong
September 30, 2011 | 3:48 pm

It was a privilege to spend that hour with you Rheda! As someone who does 6+ parties PER WEEK, you’ve definitely got what it takes to reach every one of your goals. I look forward to watching you make those tweaks we discussed, and see your business soar!

Thanks again for supporting Blue Key, as well. You rock!

Rachael Seda

September 29, 2011 | 8:38 am

What an awesome challenge. Thank you Jen for being a stellar Blue Key Champion and encouraging others to join the cause!

Shonali Burke

September 28, 2011 | 5:51 pm

Congrats to Rheda and YOU, Jen, for drawing such a great response! You’re the epitome of a Champion; you “get” the cause and you throw yourself behind it. People like you are what make the world go round. Thank you so much!
Shonali Burke recently posted..Baring My Gut… Literally

Lauren || Blue Key for Refugee Awareness

September 28, 2011 | 4:27 pm