Paying it forward: Dishwasher for Charity.

Crowdrise has inspired me to expand my giving standard. 

As Dishwasher Carl, I wash dishes part time at the Ninety Nine Restaurant in Massachusetts and donate the money to charity. I am marketing communications manager, so I could take the easy way out and just write a check to my favorite causes. Instead I have chosen to earn what I donate by doing something difficult, unpleasant, inconvenient. This helps me on my spiritual path for lessons in humility and sacrifice as well.

A special feature of “Dishwasher for Charity” is that I don’t just give to my favorite charities. When a cook has a birthday I make a donation to his/her favorite charity equal to their age. This way I am giving to something important to someone else.

But wait, there’s more! I have found that washing dishes does motivate people to support me. Doing unpleasant things is a common tool used to raise money. Examples are dunking pools, pie throwing events at county fairs, or even body waxing. To inspire people and help me reach my goals I drew up a “behavior change contract” (think Biggest Loser TV show). I get “points” depending on what I do. These are awarded for not completing required tasks, asking for time off, whining and a whole host of other things.

Each point earned requires a $1 donation to charity. Points make this about more than just money and are also used to make me to go out in public as a Human Billboard walking around the Mall in my full dishwashing uniform (you know, like those sign wavers on the side of the road dressed up like the Statue of Liberty). Waiters from the Cheesecake Factory or chefs from Legal Seafoods can walk through the mall without drawing any attention to themselves, but a guy in a rubber apron that says “DISHWASHER” in big letters on it gets a lot of second looks. When I stop and talk to people, I get to promote the restaurant and talk about giving back. By going out in public dressed as Dishwasher Carl, I am also making a statement that workers - ALL WORKERS- deserve to be treated with respect and dignity.