There might be a swirl of controversy and mystery around the legendary Sir Richard Branson, head of the Virgin brand empire, but no one can help smiling when seeing him in a dress. Yes, that’s right – Sir Branson lost a funny bet and had to don women’s clothing, all in the name of charity. We wanted to share this fantastic story in hopes similar events could take place in partnership with CharityKick!

The silly events unfold

This has been in the making for more than two years, when he lost a bet to executive chief of Air Asia Tony Fernandez over Formula One results. Due to his ludacris schedule the spectacle kept being put off, and some thought it’d never be seen through. But last weekend, Sir Branson could be seen in all his glory, wearing a typical AirAsia stewardess outfit and boarding a 6-hour flight from Australia to Malaysia.

Not only did Sir Branson squeeze into the red dress, but he also let to accessory go by the wayside – he had matching shoes, lipstick and fishnet stocking to boot. No detail was left out – rumor has it the mogul even shaved his legs. His blonde locks already looked just like the hair pieces worn by some of the stewardesses, but it certainly didn’t help him blend in much, especially with the scraggly beard. Billionaire Branson was a great sport through the whole ordeal, even fielding cheeky kisses from winning Fernandez.

During the flight, Sir Branson gave the safety speech and served drinks like any other staff member, greeting some shocked guests in the process. At one point, there was an “incident” where Branson dumped a whole drink tray onto Fernandez who was seated, but it was staged and generated laughs among passengers and crew.

Good results from a fantastic occasion

The best part of the event was the good it did for The Starlight Foundation, a charity both AsiaAir and Virgin support. Roughly $300,000 was donated in lieu of the cross-dressing madness, which will be used for fulfilling children’s dreams while they suffer from illness. Proceeds go toward funding programs and making wishes come true for these little ones and their strong families.

What do you think about this event? Do you think it’s great to see CEO’s having fun and participating in charity dares?

Here at CharityKick, we encourage monetary donations to help back our dares, and funds are collected by the non-profit endorsing the dare. However, some people are wary of giving money and might want to donate items instead to help. This can be great on a local level, but in the long run, money is better used when people are in need to get them the best possible resources through buying the right kind of equipment, time and necessities.

Funds create flexibility

When the natural disaster occurred in Haiti, many people throughout the world rushed to aid the struggling country. Intentions were pure, but some health professionals say they were overwhelmed with the items send through to Haiti that could not be used. According to Aid Watchers, issues like Haiti and the hurricane in Honduras in 1998 were only exacerbated by the flood of donated items, like thin summer clothes and expired medicine, which could not be used. Some things, of course, were helpful, but the excess of unused items can slow down transport, mailing system and manpower that would be better spent elsewhere.

Streamlines process of giving

If funds come to disaster areas instead of items, it allows medical professionals to purchase the items most needed instead of regular people guessing at that might be helpful. Some donors might be worried that their funds will be ill-used or held up in a bureaucratic way, but with a little research, people can find out which organizations are most successful in using the funds perfectly in times of need. A safe bet to help out larger disaster is through groups like the Red Cross, Oxfam, the MSF and more. These non-profits, or NGOs, are staffed with many trained professionals who have spent years figuring out the best way to use donated money during disasters, for the downtrodden and to sponsor helpful programs in local communities.

CharityKick supports money donations

While every bit can help when it comes to generous donations, it’s been shown that the best way to help those in need is through monetary donations, especially in disaster situations. CharityKick is designed to bring these types of funds straight to the non-profit in need so it can be used accordingly. Even if the event doesn’t come into play, donors can choose to release the funds to the charity organization anyways, which makes the whole process a win-win situation.

Everyone gives back in different way, and sometimes people’s motives are what effects their habits the most. Those older, younger, richer, poorer – they all do things differently when it comes to charity giving, taking part in charity dares and more. In a recent article by The Atlantic, the facts illustrate that people with low income in the U.S. give a higher percentage of their money to charitable causes than the top twenty percent of the wealthy.

Who gives, and how much?

Some experts say that a lot of the giving has to do with status.

Can this be used to boost a charity dare?

Of course! While not all celebrities are constantly vying for the spotlight, many like to be a part of charitable causes to get a nod from the media. Others like to simply draw attention to the non-profits they are passionate about to give them extra exposure. Either way,

So, how does this link to CharityKick?

What’s so great about charity dares is that it doesn’t matter how much money you may or may not have. Absolutely anyone, from any demographic, can participate in various ways to be a part of something great. CharityKick is all about getting a crowd behind you, because a million donors can raise more than a single person with a million dollars to give. Of course it would be great for some big spender to throw in a couple million for the cause, but that doesn’t mean anyone’s involvement is any less important. Getting the word out, attending the event if applicable and cheering on your peers to see the dares come to life. While it can be exciting to be a part of a charity dare that has big publicity, consider taking part just for goodness sake, and any celeb status you may have at home or at work can be the added bonus!

Nothing may be quite like the dares and events hoping to be pulled off through CharityKick. However, there is plenty going on in the world of non-profit fundraising and we are thrilled about people’s giving spirits. Now only should people involved in charity giving be aware of the trends, but it can be really inspiring to see what others are accomplishing to help you come up with the next big thing.

Tennis stars battle it out for a good cause

During an exciting exhibition match held at The Queen’s Club in England, tennis pro Andy Murray will go up against his coach Ivan Lendl in honor of those overcoming cancer. This is a rare chance to witness some top tennis gurus play on the court in a friendly, yet competitive, event. It makes us think about what other fun sporting activities could be carried out in the name of a charity dare!

Big charity recognized for their efforts

Especially in the U.S., most people are aware of the great projects The Boys & Girls Club organization is involved in. They specialize in after school initiatives, mentoring programs and much more. Recently, the non-profit sector in River Country was recognized by Charity Navigator, a leading charity evaluator, as a four-star organization. Only ten percent of charities ever reach this level worldwide. Congrats to The Boys & Girls Club for their stellar job in helping young people aim for bright futures! Wouldn’t it be great to have one of our dares be endorsed by them?

Helping out in the wake of tragedy

Although it’s a tough subject, we at CharityKick are deeply saddened by the recent events that took place at the Boston Marathon. Keep in mind sudden heartache that can take place everywhere, anywhere, can truly enlighten people to reach out and assist their neighbor.  Although it’s incredibly difficult, issues like these can be a strong spark to help bring a dare to life with passionate backers.

Do be aware though, that if you would like a charity that helps the victims to back one of your dares, it should be legit. Unfortunately people will take advantage of a sad situation, so you want to triple check with charities you might contact to ensure all proceeds are going towards those in need. A great one to start with is the One Fund Boston organization, supported by the mayor and governor in Massachusetts.

All the amazing inspiration popping up on CharityKick, we wanted to take some time highlighting new, fresh and funky dares that are ready to take on some sponsorship! Take a look at each of these fantastic inspirations and choose which ones you’d like to support, through social media promotions, donation or by contacting your favorite charity to tell them about it. These dares will quickly take off and start making headway, so be a part of the excitement by finding out their details and watching the action unfold.

I Dare Donald Trump To Ride A Bicycle With Us From Trump Organization, 5th Avenue, New York, NY To Ground Zero. 6 Miles. !

This is a really thrilling idea dreamed up by the group Pedaling Music. These guys are biking from North Carolina all the way to New York City, and hope to incorporate a charity dare into their last leg of the journey. Side by side with the infamous Donald Trump, the goal is to have fun with a big-time celebrity and raise awareness for their Save the Children cause. This is exactly what CharityKick is all about, so we hope to see an official charity endorsement and company sponsorship soon!

I Dare Drew Villabroza To Inspire Cancer Patients To Surmount Their Fear By Spending A Week In A Haunted House Alone!

Spooky, scary and all in the name of helping people going through long term illness. User Katherine Grace wants to see her friend Drew defy the odds and spend a long period of time in a haunted house, all the while raising money for the charity that chooses to back this dare. This dare is a mirror of the courage it takes to tackle disease and overcome fears!

I Dare Gina Pennington, Terry Knipe And Les Brown To Busk For Charity On Kendal High Street!

Kendal High Street is a super busy place in England. This dare has been created by a local, asking their friends to put themselves out there are raise awareness out on the streets. The goals is to have the Anthony Nolan charity back this type of dare, which focuses on helping those suffering from blood cancer. This could turn into a hilarious demonstration of determination and fun if it comes into volition.

I Dare Jamie Oliver To Eat A Buht Jolokia Chili Pepper And Act Like Nothing During A Show!

Now, spicy chilies are no joke, but neither is celebrity chef Jaime Oliver. In honor of health and medical research, user “Claire” would like to see this celebrity’s taste buds put to the test in the name of a good cause. And Buht Jolokias are some serious chilies – some of the hottest on the planet. We hope Jaime gets on board with this one, as it would be quite the sight to see.

Even if you have perfect event planned in your head for a charity dare, some setbacks along the way are bound to happen. Don’t get discouraged – it might just not be time for your idea to take off just yet. There are some things you can do in the meantime to ensure everything goes well, or how to approach your next idea perfectly so things go as smooth as possible. It takes work a little bit of luck to create something viral, so be a little patient and let things run their course.

See what works and what doesn’t

Look online to explore the possibilities in dares for charity. This can cover your bases in several ways, as it helps you avoid repeated ideas and will illustrate which types of events were deemed most successful. This goes for looking on CharityKick at the various dares posted, as well as other websites that offer info and news on giving back through dares for charity. It will maximize the interest and exposure your unique idea receives.

Don’t give up when there are hiccups

If a week has gone by and you’ve only reached a few interested people, it might just take some time for the dare to come into volition. Making sure a dare is “green” or has a long timeline can help you connect with more people over a period of time. If the dare is not picked up by a charity or business right away, it may just be that organizations are waiting for more tangible interest to surface. Reach out anytime if you are feeling unsure or need some advice!

Look at your charity dare with a fresh mind

If it’d been a few days, weeks or months, take a short break from the dare. You don’t have to lose sleep over it- simply take a day or two to rest and re-think your approach to decide if changes have to be made. Have a friend look at your statement, or maybe ask those involved in giving on social media what could build the dare’s audience effectively. If you want to start over again, that’s fine too! Leave the dare as is to be promoted by others, or start fresh with a new idea or event. We are learning alongside you and hope that with a little practice, we’ll have many top notch dares become reality in the future.

Let’s say you have the best idea ever for a cool, innovative and challenging charity dare. Now you might want to appeal to your friends and family, but perhaps you’re aiming to promote the idea on a larger scale. This is where events can take place that involve celebrities. While it might be a little more difficult to begin due to not knowing the star personally, if you have enough interest and the dare is clever, it could be bigger than ever with a high-profile individual involved. However, approach this kind of dare can take a special kind of effort to help it off the ground.

Research the celebrity’s background in charity

While the dare should be fun and even a little spontaneous, it can be worthwhile to check out the star’s schedule and reputation in giving back. Maybe your favorite basketball star would want to be in a special shootoff,s but if he’s injured his knee and is out of the season he won’t be able to participate. Or, perhaps a new silver screen starlet could be dared to be in a burger eat contest, but make sure she’s not vegetarian first!

Build suspense for your charity dare

Before you even have your dare approved, you can start talking about your thoughts. This is especially handy if you’re active on social media and like to engage your friends and larger audience. Maybe you can even find some people who can help you tweak your final idea to make it perfect before it goes live.

Enlist the help of others

Working on dares for charity is no small task, so it is likely you’ll need a little bit of help. First, make sure those close to you realize what you’re up to and are willing to help promote. Make sure you reach out to the right people who are either fans of the celebrity specifically or simply like to get involved in these types of happenings.

After petitioning to those in your immediate circle, consider some more “long-shot” networking tactics. For instance, check out who the celebrity publicist and write an e-mail informing them of the dare. Figure out the star’s friends and tweet them a link to your event on CharityKick. Whilst this might seem a difficult, perhaps even impossible task, tools such as Twitter and Facebook have helped make celebrities more accessible than ever before. Furthermore, some sites specialize in providing celebrity contact information which can prove useful in reaching the celebrity for your charity dare! (i.e. http://contactanycelebrity.com/cac/)

Get creative and leave no stone unturned so your dare is sure to be successful!

Tapping into the unlimited resource pool of the web is a fantastic way to get started on a charity dare. If you’re sitting on a goldmine of an idea and are not sure where to start, this technique can be an excellent resource. While the idea of requesting money from large groups of people for projects is not new, the idea is beginning to reach a global scale in recent times. Now that you have the plan of your next dare in mind, why not make it come true by appealing to your friends, family and the entire world to help get the party started!

Types of crowdfunding

So what is crowdfunding? Basically, once you have a fundraising or business idea in place, you pitch this to various outlets that have a giving audience. For example, there are websites that let you advertise your plan, or you can simply use social media and a link to a donation page. Offering great stories about your goals helps entice more people to link, share and eventually donate to help you succeed. When you’re involved in CharityKick, you’ll be focusing on “donation-based crowdfunding”, which offers a charitable reward for their efforts (like knowing that x amount of money is going towards this dare and that cause). Other types include “reward-based” which offers tangible items and prizes or “lending-based” that require the money to be paid back in time.

Can this method benefit CharityKick?

Crowdfunding couldn’t be more perfect for CharityKick. When you decide on your dare, you can link back to your idea through social media and other promotional websites to start raising funds. This also works for charities and businesses involved in the dares, who can also promote giving by offering facts on their organization and ways people can monetarily help. With a little time and ingenuity, this can truly benefit your dare big time. The bigger the audience, the better of course, as you are more likely to have enthusiastic donors when your message is presented to the masses. The rewards are great – have donations for your event and then all of your generous participants can watch the action unfold, knowing they played a part in making it all come true!

I don’t know about you, but when I envision a charity dare, I picture people up and MOVING. That’s what really makes thing exciting, isn’t it! The pulse of a concert crowd, a great workout or and adventure travel trip with friends can all be some of the most exciting events to experience. However, in order to think outside the box and move away from typical charity runs, dares should be unique and have special calls to action beyond running around a track.

Why are these types of events beneficial?

With information being more plentiful than ever in the health and wellness world, exercise and eating right is a booming trend worldwide. New types of gyms and diets are popping up constantly, with all types of people swearing that this or that works flawlessly. But it seems many of these people indulging in extra fitness forget that moving is supposed to be fun! Illustrate this point though a well-thought out charity dare and blend together people’s love of exercise with the idea of helping others.

Great ideas for active charity dares

You can approach your fitness-themed charity dare in a variety of ways. Maybe your two tough-talking male co-workers could have a push-up competition wearing tutus. Perhaps you could dare a best friend to organize a massive pillow fight in the center of your local park. Or, you could make those dreams of seeing your favorite celebrity lead a yoga class come true by daring Jennifer Garner or Liam Neeson to get fit with you and whoever else wants to participate. Think of wackier ideas too, like daring stars to play against you in paintball, breakdancing battles, bellyflopping or even Quiddich.

Marketing a charity dare that’s fitness-centered

Appeal to all those friends of your posting their CrossFit workouts, Paleo diets and fitness goals on Facebook! Those are the exact kind of people who would get behind and donate to something helping others get into shape. Contact charities that are involved in health, such as Boys and Girls clubs that work on programs to keep kids active. You could even network to get some celebrity interest, especially stars who are in great shape and love volunteering to campaign for public wellness. But spend a good chunk of time first coming up with that fantastic dare that will really wow people, so when you do start contacting charities, your friends or celebrities they won’t be able to say no!

There’s countless roads to travel when it comes to fundraising event planning. However, once of the biggest differences in charity dares is your audience – whether it will be a fun event with a few hundred friends or something on a bigger, international scale. Both have their benefits, so you need to decide your demographic in the beginning to ensure success.

Perks of a community charity dare

A smaller group of people breaking your ideas for charity dares does not mean it will be any less of a thrilling event. The best part of focusing on your immediate social circle is that people will personally know you and, in turn, will want to help. You know this group of folks best, so it can be easier to come up with a dare that is most likely to intrigue others around you. This also works when a local charity pairs up with your event, as it will be a relatable cause that directly assists the local community.

Appealing to a wide audience with challenges for charity

While first alerting your buddies about a dare s a good start, maybe you want your event to take place somewhere exotic, or even online amongst a bunch of people. This means you’ll need to entice potential participants all over the place, no matter if they’re are celebrities or everyday folks. Luckily social media does make this easy, as well as several web outlets such as crowdfunding forums and charity/nonprofit websites. You might have to do extra work in the beginning if you really believe in your charity dare, but once enough people back your vision, it has the potential to go viral and grow exponentially.

Why not try both?

If you are the super ambitious type and just want everyone to get excited about your fundraising event, you could easily work with both your immediate circle of friends and family as well as strangers worldwide who might want to be a part of it all. Begin with small social media campaigns among people you do know, then encourage them to share it with their friends in other countries and those living far away. Post to walls on relevant groups and their fan pages to generate interest as well. With a little determination and a great idea in, you can impress your friends and start something viral that will ultimately be able to help a lot of great people.