We’re known as sticklers for standards, purveyors of good design and creators of beautiful things on the web, but do they know us for being supporters of a great cause?
This past May at the second annual RailsConf, the attendees of the Day 0 Rails Guidebook (by Pragmatic Studio) donated in total $12,000 to charity in order to gain entrance to the all-day session. The following day, in the conference opening statement, the organizers challenged the entire conference to also show how much the Rails community cares about important causes. They said that together we can make a big impact, if we all only gave just a little. The Rails community did not disappoint. They raised over $33,000. Thirty three thousand dollars in just a few days.
Wow.
We’re known as sticklers for standards, purveyors of good design and creators of beautiful things on the web, but do they know us for being supporters of a great cause?
Individually, I’m sure we all do something throughout the year to help any one of the thousands of charities. But through this fund drive to raise money for the Muscular Dystrophy Association we speak loudly as a group letting clients, friends and family know that while we may be constantly attached to our laptops with white earbuds glued to our ears, we are tuned into the suffering of others and care enough to do something to help.
Right?
I think so.

