During TED2010, TED Prize winner Dave Eggers co-hosted a lunch with TEDster’s Rick Smolan and Holly Jones. After learning of Dave’s newest writing center, 826DC, several attendees rallied to show their support for the same cause and work that so inspired the TED community 2 years ago during Dave’s TED talk. They brainstormed with him about ways to grow the support base faster. They offered contacts in design and construction firms to help build the physical center that will house 826DC from this summer. They also offered donations to help cover the upfront construction and rent for the center so that 826DC and the District students can enter the 2010-2011 school year with a full schedule of tutoring and workshops. Wil Shipley and Dean Ornish offered challenge grants totalling $15,000 that they would donate if matching funds were raised within 48 hours. The TED community needed just 24 hours to raise the $15,000 match. Paul Simon then generously donated $15,000 and 826DC is now halfway to the funds needed to open its doors this July!

If you’d like to hear more about 826DC, please email Holly Jones, holly@826dc.org. Dave, Holly and the 826 family thank everyone for their support and look forward to welcoming you to the center this summer.

This entry was posted on Monday, February 22nd, 2010 at 3:27 pm and is filed under Dave Eggers' Wish Blog, TEDPrize Updates. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.