Meghna recently showed me a book of be-the-change ideas she had picked at Chain Reaction, and all of us leafing through it immediately expressed our oooohs-and-ahhhhs at the beautiful aesthetic that accompanied the be-the-change actions.  Plant a tree suggestion comes with a packet of seed on the right side; appreciate someone idea come with a sheet of gold-star stickers; "pass it on" idea is listed with an actual piece of paper on which you can write your name before passing it on.  It was just really well done and all of us wanted a copy. :)

As Meghna frantically tried to give away her only copy, I noticed the UK publisher and dropped a note to Trishna to find the book, and gift a couple dozen copies to our India posse, where we would spread it to many educators.  Trishna, being who she is, not only chose to gift *several dozen* copies for India, but she sent a few dozen more to CF's Intergalactic headquarters in Santa Clara. :)

The books were certainly expensive but Trishna's gift-economy heart didn't even think twice.  And that's when the story takes a CharityFocus turn. :)  Here it is in Trishna's own words:

There's a great story about the book order, which totally follows in the gift economy spirit we all know and love!

She liked the sound of that and said that coincidentally their warehouse was shutting down on Friday (I phoned on Weds) and that she'd try and squeeze the order through.  She said she'd give me all the books for free and just ask me to cover the cost of shipping, as the books are being given away for free!  Check out a snapshot of the invoice I received, which has a 100% discount -- I was smiling from ear to ear when I received it, have you ever seen anything like it? :)

The amazing thing about the gift economy is that it creates abundance in ways that otherwise seem unimaginable!

Posted by Nipun Mehta | comments (0) | permalink | more 'Inspiration' |