Couponing for Charity

Couponing for Charity

Getting a multitude of good deals and supporting a charitable cause? It might seem too good to be true, but one local web site makes both a reality. Read on to learn how!

Think Groupon for a cause. Yes, you still get the fantastic daily deals sent to your inbox. And you even get some of the clever descriptions of the deals. To top it off, 10 percent of the money you spend goes straight to charity — a local charity at that.

No need to pinch yourself. This is the reality with Yo!Deal. Started by Keith Kollstedt, Steve Landry and Jude Stepaniak, this coupon site runs one daily deal for just a fraction of the value. If enough people want to take part in the deal, it's on!

The charitable side of the coupon is that for every dollar spent on Yo!Deal, 10 cents go toward the charity of the week. (This week you can help raise money for CancerFree Kids and the Hyde Park Blast, an organization providing equal donations to The Wellness Community of Cincinnati.) When the site kicked off May 17, Susan G. Komen for the Cure Greater Cincinnati was the spotlight charity.

"We actually got a compliment from Susan G. Komen as far as our transparency," Kollstedt says. On the last day Yo!Deal featured Susan G. Komen, the site showed that $1,332 were going to Komen Cincinnati, and that was the exact amount on the check. "We don't try to hide anything as far as the charity that's involved nor to the user, so once you make your purchase, you'll see those numbers continue to go up on our site," Kollstedt says.

The whole goal of Yo!Deal is to create a beneficial situation for all involved. The featured businesses gain patrons, the charities receive support and the couponers get a good deal as they help a good cause.

The charity angle has helped make the deals even sweeter for the purchaser. "We've already landed some [businesses] that specifically said that they turned away from Groupon but loved ours because of the charity angle," Stepaniak says.

As Yo!Deal builds their charity base, they are accepting recommendations, and businesses interested in participating in the Yo!Deals should fill out the contact form on the site.

For more information and to check out today's hot deal, head to YoDeal.com. To start receiving Yo!Deals in your inbox, subscribe on their site. Enjoy your savings, and give yourself a pat on the back for a good deed well done!

PHOTO CREDITS
Photographer: Neysa Ruhl
Model: Keith Kollstedt
Location: Lofts@4120

Linda Palacios -
	Linda Palacios is the editor of Cincy Chic. Send her an e-mail at This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it .Read More >>

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