Jessica & Jeff Van Squigglebottoms

The Van Squigglebottomses
  • My Goal:
  • $1,000,000
  • Raised So Far:
  • $9,141
  • # of Donations:
  • 159
$9141 of $999999.99 goal

So Long, and Thanks for All the Fish

Update #9  •   Posted 3731 day(s) ago

Jessica here. I just gave my final Van Squigglebottoms interview and the reporter asked, "What's next?" Honestly, I don't know! But if you have a crazy, wacky idea that might change the world, fundraising for Oxfam America is a breeze - just visit the website, click on donate, and then "Fundraise for Oxfam."

We didn't quite make it, but I cannot tell you how much fun the last 5 months have been for us - thanks to everyone who donated.

12/23/13 Will We or Won't We?

Update #8  •   Posted 3747 day(s) ago

The next eight days will determine whether Jeff and I shed our last names for the Van Squigglebottoms moniker! We have visions of family crests dancing in our heads.

We've still got a LOOOOONG WAYS to go, but give what you can. Give to celebrate everything that brings you joy. (Safe shelter, clean water, plentiful food -- we are blessed!) Then pass along our fundraising page to everyone you know.

Our fundraising campaign ends at midnight on New Year's, so think of us as you're watching the ball drop. We will post one final update on New Year's Day to let you know how close to our goal we've gotten, and if we're all very lucky, to tell you when we're filing the paperwork to make good on our promise. ;)

Thanks as always for your support.

11/8/13 All It's Gonna Take Is Eleven Bucks

Update #7  •   Posted 3793 day(s) ago

We're in the final stretch of our fundraising for Oxfam America. We have until December 31st to raise $1 million.

The fact that we are $993,775 away from becoming the Van Squigglebottoms family may seem daunting to some (e.g., My San Antonio, which by the way, named us a "favorite office time waster"). But when we crunched the numbers, we concluded it's not.

In fact, we can reach our goal -- to provide $1 million to bring justice and alleviate poverty and become the Van Squigglebottomses -- if one person donates eleven bucks each minute.

Eleven bucks isn't much. Most of us who live in the United States or Canada drop eleven bucks on a movie ticket without giving it a second thought.

But in other parts of the world, eleven bucks can make all the difference. Eleven bucks is about what it costs to get seeds to a family who needs them. Times sixty -- one hour of giving -- and we can plant a forest and help a woman entreprenuer begin her own business.

I bet you know someone who could spare eleven bucks right now and would feel good about putting it to such good use. If you do, would you please pass our page along to them? Match their donation if you can?

Thanks, as always, for your help.

10/28/13 Three Months In - We've Got Two to Go!

Update #6  •   Posted 3803 day(s) ago

Hi everyone! Three months ago today we launched this crazy project, and we've been delighted by your support. 

The past two weeks have been crazy for us -- we've both had birthdays and we celebrated our ninth wedding anniversary -- and we've also been featured on WUSA-9's 11 pm News and mentioned on the Huffington Post (again!).

Keep on getting the word out! Tease us on Twitter, flatter us on Facebook, discuss us over dinner, boast about us on the bus -- you get the idea. And thanks as always for your support.

10/14/13 Keeping On Keeping On

Update #5  •   Posted 3818 day(s) ago

Wow, we had another great week!

First, we had the great pleasure of meeting Angie Goff of NBC-Washington, who did a great piece on us for the 4pm News. Then Jezebel picked up the story.  And now our guest post is up on The Minimalist Mom!

Thanks to your kindness and generosity, we're up to 105 donations for Oxfam America, totaling $5,535.  Now that the word is out there -- in fact, we'll be on the local tv news again this week -- this could really happen!

We appreciate hearing for you, so if you have ideas for getting the word out or have a burning question to ask us, please contact us via facebook or twitter!

Thank you for all your support from the future JVSes.

10/7/13 Will Van Squigglebottoms Go Viral?

Update #4  •   Posted 3825 day(s) ago

We are amazed by the terrific response we've gotten to our fundraising efforts for Oxfam America. Check out our page -- together, we've made 83 donations totaling $4,550! And our silly videos have appeared on NBC-Washington, North Dakota Today, and the CBS affiliate in Connecticut.

Will our Van Squigglebottoms-for-Oxfam America campaign go viral? It's up to you! We hope so ... well, up to $999,000, that is! ;)

If you want to give us a real scare and raise some big $ for Oxfam America, please join us in getting the word out:

1. Share on Facebook.

2. Follow us on Twitter and tweet about the Van Squigglebottomses.

3. Vote our video up on GOOD, a website for progress.

4. Leave a comment on our YouTube video with your ideas for what the Van Squigglebottoms family crest should look like. (You can use a gmail account to login.)

5. Spread the word by telling your friends, blogging about us, and sharing our story with that friend you know who's got 5,000 Facebook friends and 50,000 Twitter followers.

Thanks as always for your support. Here's to another great week!

9/30/13 What a Week!

Update #3  •   Posted 3832 day(s) ago

Did you see our new web videos? We posted not one, but TWO, amazing new web videos this past week!

The good-news website HooplaHa posted the first one, filmed by Peter Von Kahle, which also appeared on BuzzFeed and Huffington Post.

Independent filmmaker Katy Daily, based here in Washington DC, created the second video, which is on YouTube. In it, we reveal what the supporters to the Van Squigglebottoms family crest will be. Be sure to check out the comments for some very creative ideas on what else should appear on the crest, and add your own suggestions!

As a result of these fun and funny videos, many new contributors have joined our efforts to help Oxfam America and become the Van Squigglebottomses. We're excited to report that we've now raised $4,068 over 70 donations. One of our favorites this week came from Maggie, who donated $5 one evening and another $5 the next morning with this note: "Five more dollars and one less trip to Dunkin Donuts because you actually took time out of your day to thank this broke college student for her measly donation. You guys are the bomb."

Actually, we think you all -- our kind and constant supporters -- are the bomb! Thank you for all you do to right the wrong of poverty and make the world a better place.

Stay in touch with us via Facebook and Twitter -- we'd love to hear from you!

9/23/13 Van Squiggy Update

Update #2  •   Posted 3838 day(s) ago

It's hard to believe that just a couple months ago the name Van Squigglebotttoms was just something we called each other in jest! We've learned so much over the past eight weeks about the amazing and awe-inspiring work that Oxfam America does to right the wrong of poverty, and every time we begin to get cold feet about becoming the Van Squigglebottomses, we are reminded that what we're doing is powerful and that together, we can save lives. So laugh a little at our expense -- go on, tease us on twitter, we don't mind -- because now more than ever, WE HATE POVERTY! 

Stay tuned ... we will have a cool web video for you soon. And keep in touch! We're dying to hear your ideas for how we can continue to make this project funny and fun and a little bit crazy.

Thanks for all you do for making the world a better place, and for your donations and your "likes" and your passing along our web page to your friends. You inspire us!

9/16/13 Update - Van Squigglebottomses for Oxfam America

Update #1  •   Posted 3845 day(s) ago

We're 50 days into our fundraising campaign, and we've received 50 donations totalling $3,400. Our goal is to hit $4,000 by Wednesday. Can you help us make it? 

Now is a great time to give! Oxfam America says that $20 is enough to buy water collection and storage containers for an entire household of Syrian refugees. $40 is enough to provide a family with a blanket, mattress and pillow. $125 is enough provide two weeks' worth of food vouchers for a refugee family. And $240 can build a shower to serve 50 people in a tent settlement.

Remember, every dollar you give goes directly to Oxfam America immediately. Thanks as always for your support!