Stephen Colbert Loves Birthdays and Classrooms

For my 9th birthday, my only wish was to eat like a farmer boy. I had devoured The Little House on the Prairie book series, and wanted to be like Almanzo Wilder, the protagonist of Farmer Boy, one of the later installments in the Little House series.

A week before September 27, my mother asked what I'd like for my birthday. I wanted to eat exactly what Almanzo ate, farm food of the 1870s. Mom pulled it off. To this day, I can taste the Fried Apples 'n' Onions, Almanzo's favorite.

I recount this story not because I want to be the subject of jokes around the water cooler in my office, which I will be (DonorsChoose.org team: please be gentle). Instead, I'm trying to illustrate that experiences deliver a lot more satisfaction than physical items, even when it comes to your birthday.

A recent study by Ryan Howell, assistant professor of psychology at San Francisco State University, found that experiential purchases, like eating out or going to a movie, are more likely to foster individual happiness than buying material goods. Powell argues that the human desire for social connectedness and vitality may partially explain his study's findings -- especially during the current recession.

A similar phenomenon seems to be fueling DonorsChoose.org. Since the recession began, the total number of donors to classroom projects at our website has increased substantially, even as the average donation size has decreased. We think that the recession has caused people to seek community and to help those in need, even when they themselves may be struggling. Supporting specific public school classrooms fulfills this desire. Donors become part of a compassionate online community and get to interact directly with the students and teachers they help. It's an experiential purchase of the charitable kind.

So how do birthdays fit in? DonorsChoose.org just launched a campaign called The Great Give-Back Birthday, which invites individuals to donate their birthdays to support classroom projects in high-need schools. Why not create a birthday experience that helps students and teachers?

As you may have guessed from the title of this post, Stephen Colbert generously donated his birthday (May 13th!) to DonorsChoose.org and created a video about it. Here it is:

He's set up a birthday giving page filled with some of his favorite classroom projects at www.donorschoose.org/colbertbirthday. Plus, he's managed to identify an additional benefit:

"This year, you can help needy classrooms on your birthday with DonorsChoose.org. And the great thing is, if you give your birthday away, you don't age that year. Look it up."

So here's to Almanzo Wilder and Fried Apples 'n' Onions and Stephen Colbert and birthdays and -- last but certainly not least -- every kid across America getting a terrific education.

Comments

[nuff said]

Sir Colbert really is the genuine article. Obviously, he doesn't have to do this stuff (most others don't) and he does it with his usual wit. Love this guy.

[ptobe]

Hilarious & awesome. Colbert deserves his god-like status. It's obvious he does this stuff for all the right reasons.

If all media blowhards did just one tenth of what he does to promote charitable causes, the world would be a much, much better place.

[Peacein09]

I love Colbert almost as much as I love the President! They both are just too cool.

[TheBlackCat]

What a great idea!

[bibb]

I just received this year's letter from my needy, Donor's Choose classroom, and I shared it with my fifth grade class. I teach in an affluent area, and during the holidays, we decided to "adopt" a needy class and donate supplies for them. My students just beamed when they received the pictures and letters, and the message was received. It does make you feel good to be generous to others.

Thank you, Mr. Colbert, for spreading the word.

[wagashi]

Adorable! I would like to see Colbert's counterpart Bill O'Reilly have the soul do anything for anyone else. Just the idea makes me chuckle.

[GoCards1978]

Dr, Stephen T. Colbert, DFA is a mensch's mensch and an American treasure. Thank you, sir, for your enthusiastic support of public education.

[Foreground]

Remember, he's actually a knight. Capitalize that "Sir," lest he smite us all, you churl!

[museumnicole]

Though I am not a big fan of Apple & Onions...thank you for this wonderful article! Many people forget Laura Ingalls Wilder's books are not just for little girls but for all ages and genders. It is the year of going back to the basics and Laura's books bring the basics to light! Reading the "Little House" series as a family and exploring the books in real life by visiting the many Laura sites, cooking recipes from the books or doing one of the many crafts Laura talks about in the books is a great way to start. Plant a garden (even if it is only in a window box), have a neighborhood spelling bee (great activity for adults as well) or just start journaling to keep track of your own history are in expensive ways to spend the summer.

[loislane88]

I'm a member of DonorsChoose.org and thank you, thank you, thank you for the work you do!! Btw -- my bday is 9/27 too.

Keep up the good work - I'll re-post your website info on my blog.

[jukesgrrl]

Mr. Best, you're the best. And now you've thought of a way we can deep-six our birthdays ... what a guy!

[SColbert]

this is amazing. he is so silly, but the man has a good heart! Love Colbert.

[MissKaren]

What a great idea!!!

Karen

[noplacelikerome]

cool idea. i liked the video a lot!

[just4shiggles]

Colbert is such a great guy! This world is a better place for having him in it!

[MerrieWay]

Awesome! Celebrating our birthday in honor of birthing youth's chance to learn is inspirational giving at it's highest. MerrieWay and the kids give Stephen Colbert a BIG HUG for joyously stepping-up with DonorsChoose.org ,and caring for our children.