The Philanthropic Shopper ? Chegg for Good: 2012 Overview

Chegg started as a textbook rental company for college students, but they have evolved into something even greater. In 2011, the company launched Chegg for Good, which has done amazing things for education, the environment, and communities from around the world. This past year has especially been exciting for Chegg for Good ? they supported music education with superstar Taylor Swift and sent students to Zambia and South Africa to learn about social entrepreneurship, foreign aid, advocacy, and youth empowerment.

Although music education has sometimes been underestimated, or even neglected, Chegg has always recognized its potential. According to a 2007 study published in the Journal for Research in Music Education, quality music education instruction has been tied to improved academic performance. Specifically, it has been correlated to better scores on standardized tests, which, in turn, may help students get accepted into their desired college or graduate school.

Chegg wanted to give music education the attention it deserves, so they decided to create a contest which would give away $50,000 in music grants to schools! Each student was given an opportunity to enter by voting on Facebook, and the school with the most votes would also win an exclusive concert with the Grammy Award winning performer, Taylor Swift. Thousands of universities and high schools from across the nation participated, but only the top five schools with the highest participation rate could win the grants. Seton High School, Terra Environmental Research Institute, Bellarmine College Preparatory, and California Institute of Technology each won a $10,000 grant for music, along with Harvey Mudd College, which was given the generous grant and an exclusive performance from Taylor Swift on their campus.

?Taylor Swift is not only a talented musician, but is also an amazing role model for our nation?s students,? said Dan Rosensweig, President and CEO of Chegg. ?Chegg?s mission is to deliver value to students so we?re thrilled to partner with Taylor to bring a unique and intimate concert to her fans at one lucky school as well as provide music grants to five deserving schools through our Chegg for Good program.?

In addition to giving away grants, Chegg believes in making a difference in the world ? and they know that positive change starts with inspired youth. This past summer, Chegg teamed up with ONE, an international advocacy group co-founded by Bono of U2, to give college students a hands-on internship in Zambia and South Africa. The interns visited HIV and AIDS health clinics and learned about international aid programs, such as PEPFAR and USAID. The initiatives help reduce poverty in HIV/AIDS instances through education, counseling, and medication. One intern, who was a medical student at Loyola Marymount University, said that the experience has made her realize she wants to work at similar clinics after she graduates.

The interns also celebrated Nelson Mandela?s birthday with school children, and watched five year old students talk about their aspirations to be doctors and police officers. Despite their lack of resources, the interns learned how much people in other countries truly value education and how easily it can be taken for granted.

Furthermore, the interns visited the Apartheid Museum to learn about the history of these countries. It helped them understand where today?s struggles came from and how strides are currently being made.

After the humbling experience, students returned to their campuses promising that they would help raise awareness to the issues of extreme poverty, preventable disease, and the limited access to quality education faced by millions of African children. We have all heard about tragic stories occurring in foreign countries, but it?s so much different to hear about it coming from the interns who have interacted with these extraordinary people. Thanks to Chegg, the students gained a once-in-a-lifetime experience that taught them how to serve as catalysts for change.

Of course, it?s great to hear about all of this amazing work that Chegg has done?but if you?re a college student with a tight budget, you?ll need to get textbooks from a place with affordable prices. Fortunately, Chegg keeps that in mind. You can use the code from the image above and save 10% off 3 or more textbook rentals! Textbook rentals are an eco-friendly option, because hey, let?s face it ? you won?t be too torn up returning that Statistics book.

Source: http://www.we-care.com/blog/2013/chegg-for-good-2012-overview

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