GOOGLE Project 10^100, TOFA’s Submission

October 23, 2008 – 8:05 pm

May those who help the most win! Google’s Project 10^100 is helping you Impact Your World. On October 20th, people across 42 countries submitted their ideas for making the world a better place — and Google has committed $10 million to turning up to five of those ideas into a reality.  TOFA is committed to be one of those five!  Below is TOFA’s submission:

Optional: Submit a 30 second YouTube Video

Your idea’s name (maximum 50 characters):

TOFA™ - Token of Appreciation – www.TOFA.us

What one sentence best describes your idea? (maximum 150 characters)

Create a tangible symbol that represents gratitude, a Token of Appreciation, a coin that transcends our differences and speaks to the heart.

Describe your idea in more depth. (maximum 300 words)

Mankind responds to SYMBOLS that represent common heartfelt human emotions. There is a lack of a common, simple way of giving thanks to those who make a difference in our day or our lives. The TOFA™ (Token of Appreciation), with its own unique tracking number, is conceived as such a symbol. These tokens are the physical representation of a global movement both online and in the physical world of thankfulness and connection. Each token can be tracked and the stories shared at www.TOFA.us as it is given and received.
The token is a vehicle that through on-line registration and tracking creates an online community and connects people across the globe. The web site will include links and information about workshops, social awareness projects and sponsors and here the user can find tools to make a difference in their own lives and the world.
It is the “feel good” of giving and receiving that evokes people to visit the site and take action now on their visions and goals.

TOFA™ will host the annual TOFA™ Awards. These awards will be given in recognition of unsung heroes and as symbols of our common thankfulness. Production and broadcast of this annual awards ceremony will be another opportunity to promote the TOFA token as the embodiment of the idea of thanks which crosses color, borders, and social classes.
TOFA will also open Transformational Centers called “TOFA™ Boxes” to hold personal development workshops, Legacy Projects and Charity Events.

As the flow of TOFA™ tokens through the world increases it will become an uncomplicated and common way to give thanks. An internationally recognized metaphor for appreciation. A TOFA™ token is a simple, inexpensive way to create peace in your day, and in this world.

What’s in your pocket?

What problem or issue does your idea address? (maximum 150 words)

The endless black and white, us against them paradigm that is perpetuated by our political, social, religious and financial institutions masks our common humanity and potential for understanding. Separation and disconnection are impairing the way we relate to each other and is literally destroying the planet. There is a sense of despair and aloneness.
Despite this, a shift is occurring; a shift that pulls people towards helping each other; to connect and be outwardly focused. The world is waiting for TOFA™, for just the simple act of a “thank you” to a stranger, or for the larger scale social network where we can all gather information, support each other and make a tangible difference.
TOFA™ addresses the alienation and disconnection experienced in the world. It generates HOPE and through modern communications coupled with ancient physical symbolism, the TOFA™ token is the means to begin the reconnection.

If your idea were to become a reality, who would benefit the most and how? (maximum 150 words)

Giving and receiving of TOFA tokens immediately benefit those involved in the transaction. TOFA™ is a movement towards harmony and connection on all levels: in families, communities, organizations, corporations, and inside every human being. It is too painful to confront famine, rape, child abuse, wars etc, instead we disconnect and become separate. Consequently, we also disconnect from what’s good in all of us. This separateness causes us to move away from being our best selves and can cause depression, loneliness and despair. Thankfulness and receiving thanks are both physically and emotionally nurturing. The global connection of people by giving thanks will benefit the growing social network that promotes charities and transformation centers and facilitates connection to new volunteers and benefactors. Transnational projects contributing to well being will be facilitated. Creating connection between people through shared experience and appreciation will reduce conflict at every level. TOFA™ is a win/win for everyone.

What are the initial steps required to get this idea off the ground? (maximum 150 words)

Many of the initial pieces are already in place. TOFA tokens have been designed and minted and the first distribution has begun. The web site is up and running and initial press contacts have begun. The next steps involve scaling up for global distribution.

Quickly spread tokens to get them in circulation as this is the marketing tool.
Sponsor large events
Creation of Social Networking on the site, improvement of token tracking database and Google map plotting
Enable connectivity with other Social Networks
Plan and host the first TOFA™ Award Ceremony.
Celebrity endorsements
Contact corporate sponsors, like Starbucks (“Buy a Coffee and a Token and Make Difference”) or Hallmark (card including a TOFA token)
Open the first “TOFA™ Box” (transformational center) and populate it with workshops, social awareness projects etc.
Create affiliate programs with other non-profit organizations, transformational centers and workshops and enable enrollment directly from the TOFA™ website.

Describe the optimal outcome should your idea be selected and successfully implemented. How would you measure it? (maximum 150 words)

Just as Google is to “Search”, TOFA will be to “Appreciation”.
The optimal outcome is that TOFA becomes a popular household name for gratitude to promote connection, contribution and a commitment to making a difference all over the world. To shift our value system from placing importance on what we “have” to what we “give”.
Milestone measures are:
1M tokens in distribution in eighteen months, 10M by the end of 2011
Yearly broadcast of the TOFA™ Awards
3 “TOFA™ Boxes” operating by end of 2010 (3 major cities in the US) – Each Center has annual Legacy Projects with the goal to raise $1,000,000 for a specific, designated cause.
12 “TOFA™ Boxes” operating in the world by end of 2012
3 internationally recognized celebrity endorsements with accompanying publicity in place and connection to at least one internationally recognized event
TOFA is recognized as a global expression of thanksgiving and shared humanity.