Last Minute Mother’s Day Digital Gifts (Free Ones, Too!)

May 7, 2011 Update 5-8: To Mama With Love.org is a smidge away fm receiving a fund match; just $1K more in the next 8 hours to get $5K.extra. Can you help ’em?

Ready to put your mom on the map?

When I wrote “Mother’s Day Media Worth Forwarding to a Friend” I added a link list of meaningful gift gestures and ideas (recapped at the end) and am excited to update it with NEW positive picks for 2011.

My number one favorite for being both powerfully purposeful AND personal is the Epic Change campaign To Mama With Love.

To Mama With Love is a collaborative online art project that honors moms across the globe and raises funds to invest in remarkable women who create hope in our world. (I know, I know, I promised full media freebies I’m gettin to them after the jump) but this cause-marketing site is amazing.

You literally ‘put your mother on the map’ with a short sentiment and photo, donate what you can to help Mama Lucy in Tanzania and other mamas worldwide (matching funds are underway, so start lobbing those love-laden missives as fast as you can to meet their goal before day’s end) and then elaborate if you wish to tell your mom in ‘longer e-card form’ (under 1000 characters) and attach special visuals, share socially, tweet, the works.

Here’s my own card to MY mom, Beth Jussel, who was surprised to hear it was ‘retweeted’ in ‘less than 140’ and zinging’ all over the web…(the words, not the images) but hey, what better “privately public” way to give mom a shoutout from the rooftops and tell her you love her, am I right?

Mind you, MY mom still tells the “burnt toast with M&M décor” stories, and I’ve got tissue paper bouquets that were labors of love now faded and ratty but untossed, so homemade heartsongs rock…BUT if junior needs a little last minute nudge to add some pro media prowess here are a few customizable freebies to add to our positive picks for 2011…

Tweens and teens forget to get your mom a card?

Check out the clever JibJab “Mom Rap” sendable.

Free, fun, mama media for the musically inclined…Want a feature film starring your mom instead? The fabulous Mom’s Rising.org taking millions of actions in support of families each year hosts a creative “movie trailer starring your mom” which never disappoints. They’ve done this for consecutive years now in different variations and they are always favorites of mine.

Veer more toward freebies that are pragmatic? Cool Mom Tech writes about a 3-FREE app bundle that moms might actually USE…including kid tracker tech via GPS location, Insta-Playdate, and Cozi for family organizing.

These are ALL fun little finds that flowed through my ‘twitter stream’ and caught my attention like a branch caught on a rock redirecting me to explore further. This also answers the inevitable question, “Why are you on Twitter?” splendidly, since smartster gender educator and critical pedagogy mom @lizjmeyer answers it so succinctly, and I can add ‘it cuts my research time in half finding cool stuff like this!’

More for Mother’s Day?

A favorite cause card freebie this year was behemoth retailer Macy’s who managed to team in a non-cheesy, “like us on Facebook” way by creating a “Thank-A-Mom” movement designed to send free e-cards matched by $5 contributions each with all proceeds going to 5 ‘mom-approved’ charities, donating “up to” $400,000.

Participation vaulted into six-figures for sending e-cards, and though they’ll still honor free sending of cards though Mother’s Day, they’ve maxed their limit on donations/funding. I’d say they can call it a success indeed.

I received one of their cards on my Facebook wall from Elin Waldal author of Tornado Warning, who designated “Futures Without Violence.org” (formerly Family Violence Prevention fund) as the designated charity. I love that Macy’s gave folks the choice of how they wish to align, to customize cards for multiple moms. Sweet. (And savvy.)

Finally, the TRUE MEANING of Mother’s Day comes to light most eloquently with the “Roses for Peace” Ploughshares campaign, particular poignant with the recent death coverage and kids reactions to terrorist Osama Bin Laden along with the mixed media messages that surfaced among many moms with the news of the day.

Pink roses have a special family connotation for me on a personal note too, so it was great to see their strategy of ditching mass commercialized cards instead offering to “send a handwritten card and roses to your mother, letting her know that she inspired you for a more peaceful world.”

Ploughshares recapped the purpose of the holiday into a meaningful message in soundbite form: “In 1870, abolitionist and suffragette Julia Ward Howe penned the “Mother’s Day Proclamation,” as a way to organize women to work for the peaceful world they desired for their families in the wake of America’s most deadly conflict.

The initial purpose inspires critical thinking far beyond appreciation of mamas everywhere and the non-mamas that support us…It also serves as a reminder to remember with compassion those who no longer HAVE their moms living and be extra sensitive to them on this very special day.

Sending hugs and love to all of you out there for supporting the spirit of our work on behalf of children everywhere, and to all who simply thank their moms for bringing them into this world. Now, back to the burnt toast and kid creations…

Stay tuned for more positive picks in media and marketing as we continue to spring forward…

Next up? A post about STEM/science, technology, engineering & math, along with a heads up that Girls Inc is hosting a May 12 3pm ET Twitter chat on #girls & #STEM. #STEM4girls I hope to be there!

More Mother’s Day Gestures & Amy’s Posts Here:

Shaping Youth: Lackus Appreciatis/Mom-A-Thon Card Giveaway

Shaping Youth: Act Out With Your Mom Find your authentic voice Improv Theater session led by ‘mother of the Rugrats’ Hollywood actress Melanie Chartoff and “act out with your mom” in positive ways

Shaping Youth: Mother’s Day Media Part One

Shaping Youth: Moms Who Inspire; Non-Moms Who Support

Elsewhere on the web:

Top Positive Portrayals Of Moms in Movies

Project Happiness: Mother’s Day Gifts From the Heart

Special Things Kids Can Do For Mom (From ‘Kids Turn Central’, a compilation of ideas, ‘herstory’ of the occasion, a place to post a tribute online and more)

Playing for Change: Songs Around the World DVD I wrote about here

Britt Bravo’s Mother’s Day Donation Ideas (8 great ones)

A Women’s Investment: Worldshapers (Inspiring FREE e-book coming soon from Aussie social media guru Jasmin Tragas featuring those of us struggling to make change in the world!  She’s looking for sponsors to keep it a freebie, so tell all your industry gal pals)

Marine Mammal Center: Adopt Delta & Dawn (mother and calf humpback whales who veered off-course and won the hearts of Ca.)

Sea Turtle Restoration Project:  Adopt A Nest For Mom!

Reason for Hope Book and also Jane Goodall Institute: Chimp Guardianship (mother–child bonds in chimpanzee society last throughout life–just as ours do)

Free Mother’s Day Poems For Non-Commercial Use (Better yet, write your own)

Moms Rising FREE e-card Viral Video: (Infant Aerial Stunt Team Onesie Jumping, to make a point with your Mom’s Day message)

BlogHer Mother’s Day- Best/Worst Media Moms (fun videos from sweetney to remind us that we’ve all got a ‘role’ in the media mix)

Homemade Mother’s Day Gifts/Kids Crafts

Moms Rising FREE e-card Viral Video; She’s A Newsmaker

“Beth Jussel Wins Mother of the Year Award” (hey, m0m that’s quite a tat!)

Weirdest Animal Mothering Tricks (LiveScience)