Giving Back : Meet 2011 Judges
Meet Our Judges
To narrow down the pool of applicants for public voting, we've enlisted the help of some goodness leaders from around the country who share a passion for making a difference and supporting nonprofits in need of funding and volunteers. They'll be choosing the top 20 finalists and looking at criteria including positive impact, achievability and use of community volunteers.
Christie Garton
USA Today Kindness Blog editor
Christie Garton is the writer of the USA Today Kindness blog which provides positive stories that uplift in the news. The USA Today Kindness blog strives to be a daily source of inspiration and guide to making a difference in fresh and exciting ways. She is also the creator of Music Mentors, a music volunteer program she founded in college, and the author of U CHIC: The College Girl's Guide to Everything, a best-selling guide to college for women. Garton holds a J.D. from the University of Pennsylvania and a double degree in business administration and French literature from the University of Kansas.
Sam Davidson
Founder and President of Cool People Care
Sam Davidson is the co-founder and president of Cool People Care, an online media and merchandise company that helps people to live a more caring lifestyle. Since its founding in 2006, CoolPeopleCare.org has helped connect thousands of nonprofits around the US to young, local supporters while helping these organizations raise over $100,000 for various causes. He is a sought-after keynote speaker, discussing ideas related to nonprofit management, social entrepreneurship, and living a more passionate life. He is also the author of three books: New Day Revolution, 50 Things Your Life Doesn't Need, and Simplify Your Life.
Beth Kanter
CEO of Zoetica, Nonprofit Expert
Beth Kanter is the author of Beth’s Blog: How Nonprofits Can Use Social Media, one of the longest running and most popular blogs for nonprofits. She co-authored the book titled "The Networked Nonprofit" in 2010 that received Honorable Mention for the Terry McAdams Award. Beth is a also co-founder and partner of Zoetica, a company that serves nonprofits and socially conscious companies with top-tier, online marketing services. Beth has over 30 years working in the nonprofit sector in technology, training, capacity building, evaluation, fundraising, and marketing.