DoSomething.org Launches New Membership-Based Platform; Will Speak to Teens Using Text

NEW YORK, Nov. 30, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- DoSomething.org, one of the largest U.S. organizations that helps teens take action on causes they care about, launches a new membership model today. The goal of DoSomething.org membership is to build an army of doers 5 million strong by 2015. 

DoSomething.org will communicate with its members primarily through text messaging, as 90% of teens have a cell phone by age 15 and the open rate for text messages is nearly 100%. Membership not only gives teens the chance to make a real impact on social change, but also receive cash grants and prizes for school and cause projects, swag teens actually want (like movie tickets), and access to invite-only opportunities like the chance to meet a celebrity. Any young person 25 and under can join by texting "JOIN" to 38383 or joining online at www.DoSomething.org.*

"While the message is primarily the same, the medium has definitely changed," says Nancy Lublin, DoSomething.org CEO and chief old person. "With 72% of teens texting and 54% of them doing it on a daily basis, we want to beef up our SMS skills. Teens want things done their way, and we respect that. And, OMG, we just love text lingo!"

In addition, the organization is releasing data from their third annual Community Service and College Admissions Survey, officially sponsored by Chase, which is the only scientific report addressing how community service impacts the college admissions process. This year, the survey reports admission officers indicate long-term commitment to a cause or organization is very important.

Conducted in collaboration with Fastweb, the trusted scholarship and financial aid resource, the survey interviewed admissions officers from 32 of the top 50 colleges and universities listed in US News & World Report to identify the most important elements of a strong application. Some findings include:

• "Good citizenship" is instrumental, a skill developed in service activities (76% of officers reported leadership plays a critical role in admissions decisions)
• Specific language can be more effective: words like "passion" and "initiative," should be used instead of "required" and "brief"
• Applicants should indicate their community service in the specific area of the application and elaborate in the essay
• Community service ranked number four in importance of factors considered for admission – above reference letters, interviews and legacy

"Community service is increasingly a strong force in the admissions process," says Kathryn Knight, Fastweb expert on college admissions and financial aid. "Teens throughout the country should approach all volunteer activities with thoughtful consideration. DoSomething.org provides a new opportunity for teens to become part of an organization that is on the cutting edge of communicating with teens and imparts them with the means to act on social issues effectively."

The full Community Service and College Admissions Survey is published by DoSomething.org and can be downloaded here.

"This launch is the biggest organizational change for DoSomething.org since 2003," says Lublin. "By 2015, we'll have an army of social change agents 5 million strong who are being activated largely through mobile. Imagine the impact 5 million DoSomething.org members will have on crisis relief and our most pressing social issues." 

DoSomething.org has joined forces with media partners Alloy Media + Marketing, Fastweb, and ChaCha for the membership launch.

For more information, visit www.DoSomething.org.

About DoSomething.org

We love teens. They are creative, active, wired…and frustrated that our world is so messed up. DoSomething.org harnesses that awesome energy and unleashes it on causes teens care about. Almost every week, we launch a new national campaign. The call to action is always something that has a real impact and doesn't require money, an adult, or a car. With a goal of 5 million active members by 2015, DoSomething.org is one of the largest organizations in the U.S. for teens and social change. Join us at www.DoSomething.org.

About Chase

Chase is the U.S. consumer and commercial banking business of JPMorgan Chase & Co. (NYSE: JPM), a leading global financial services firm with assets of $2.3 trillion and operations in more than 60 countries. Chase serves consumers and small businesses through 5,200 banks branches, 16,200 ATMS, mortgage offices and online and mobile banking as well as through relationships with auto dealerships and schools and universities. Chase has also issued more than 90 million credit cards. More information about Chase is available at www.chase.com.

About Fastweb

Fastweb is the nation's recognized leader in helping students pay for school, by providing scholarship and financial aid information, as well as jobs and internships. One out of three college-bound seniors use the site, and more than 50 million* members have benefited from Fastweb's information and services. Fastweb lets students create a personalized profile that can be matched against its expansive databases of colleges and scholarships. As the oldest and most popular free online scholarship matching service, the database has more than 1.5 million scholarships totaling over $3.4 billion. (*9 million are active users of the site.) For more information, visit www.fastweb.com.

About Alloy Media + Marketing

Alloy is a leading provider of media and entertainment for the millennial generation. With a combination of original content creation, high quality production, and impactful distribution channels, Alloy connects with a high concentration of active youth and young adult consumers. Under the Alloy corporate umbrella, Alloy Entertainment creates Nielsen top rated TV shows, popular movies and industry recognized digital series, along with a record number of New York Times best-selling books; Alloy Digital operates the top ranked media and advertising network of youth targeted websites, according to comScore Media Metrix; and Award-winning Channel One operates the leading television news network for teens. www.alloymarketing.com.

About ChaCha

ChaCha is the leading source for free real-time information and answers. Through its unique "ask-a-smart-friend" platform, ChaCha has answered nearly 2 billion questions since launch from more than 25 million unique users per month via online (ChaCha.com), mobile text (242-242), iPhone app, Android app, and voice ( 1-800-2- ChaCha (TM)). ChaCha is one of the fastest growing mobile and online publishers according to Nielsen, comScore, and Quantcast. Follow ChaCha on Twitter: @ChaCha, @ChaChaMan, @ChaChaCMO.

*(Normal text usage rates may apply.)

SOURCE DoSomething.org