Sunmark Startup Grant voting leaderboard
The top 10, as of Thursday night.
We're just about at the halfway point in the voting to select the finalists for the AOA/Sunmark Startup Grant. The chart above has the top 10 vote getters, as of Thursday night (and 1,400 votes).
Two projects -- Fazana Saleem-Ismail's birthday parties for homeless children, and Katie Pray Designs -- have separated themselves as front runners. But we still have almost three days of voting to go. That's plenty of time for other projects, even those outside the top 10, to move into the top two.
The top two get a place in the finals. The Editors will choose the third finalist -- and it's going to be tough. There are a bunch of interesting ideas!
Voting ends at 6 pm on Sunday.
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Comments
Hard time believing Katie Pray Designs got so many votes... Not getting it.
... said -S on May 6, 2011 at 12:47 PM | link
Go, Katie, Go! Get it girl! :D
... said CAPow! on May 6, 2011 at 1:24 PM | link
I guess I'm the grinch, because birthday parties for homeless kids seems like such a middle class shallow self-indulgence as to be ridiculous. Even ignoring my gripe that half the contestants are apparently unfamiliar with the definition of "Startup" - These kids would be better off with money spent on about 100 other things instead of an afternoon of cake. Great, you get to spend time around some kids who are having fun, brightening your day, and you get to feel like you made a difference, but you didn't.
How about bus passes for homeless families, or job training for homeless families or a dental checkup for homeless kids. How about fresh fruits and vegetables for a homeless kid...
You're so used to the basics in life that an extravagant luxury for the poor, a birthday party, becomes some kind of silver bullet for happiness.
... said ike on May 6, 2011 at 2:31 PM | link
-S, it's called a popular vote for a reason.
... said B on May 6, 2011 at 3:08 PM | link
Instead of birthday parties for the kids, should there be an investment in the shallow guy trying to launch his "Jersey Shore/Hamptons" style event planning? That's got to be better than some of these, right???
:-)
... said Mike on May 6, 2011 at 5:56 PM | link
"Happy Birthday, Kid. Here's a bus pass and a carrot." or "Happy Birthday, Kid. You get a trip to the dentist." Do you get it now, Mr. Grinch?
... said a mom on May 6, 2011 at 6:16 PM | link
Private startup company, private startup company, private startup company, BIRTHDAY PARTIES FOR HOMELESS KIDS, private startup company, private startup company, private startup company.
Easiest predicted poll winner ever? I think so! It's like you were being labeled a bad person if you didn't vote for it. I think ike hit the nail on the head, but whatever... it makes people (and hopefully the kids) feel good about themselves.
... said second grinch? on May 6, 2011 at 6:44 PM | link
Great, we can make them feel good about themselves before we thrust them back into the grinder of homelessness. At least they'll have high self esteem!
... said mr slow loris on May 6, 2011 at 7:29 PM | link
Everyone applying for this grant is doing something that in their estimation will make the world a little more tolerable.
Why not take the energy expended by criticizing others and focus it on something you would like to change.
I can also think of a hundred things I would rather spend my money on besides cake, but none of them taste as good.
I think someone needs a trip to Chuck E. Cheese.
... said Dawn on May 6, 2011 at 8:31 PM | link
If Birthday Parties for Homeless Kids does win, however, a name change to something a little less obvious wouldn't be a bad thing.
... said Dawn on May 6, 2011 at 8:36 PM | link
It is May 7th and I just tried to vote but it says voting has ended! Thought the end date was May 8th at 6 PM
... said Karen on May 7, 2011 at 6:09 PM | link
@Karen: We had setting wrong in SurveyMonkey. Sorry about that. It's been fixed and voting is still open.
... said Greg on May 7, 2011 at 9:43 PM | link
Katie Pray rocks!
... said corey aldrich on May 8, 2011 at 5:29 PM | link
Wow. Slow, Mike and Grinches, maybe you should form a support group to get to the root of your anger towards homeless children. Did you not get that birthday pony at age 8? Regardless, these are all good local businesses that support their communities and contribute to job growth and tax revenues. If any of you are self employed you'd know how hard it is to make a passion profitable. Lass hating more voting.
... said david on May 8, 2011 at 11:49 PM | link
What, no mother and child sculpture? I loved that one!
... said donna on May 9, 2011 at 12:52 PM | link