Creator of Make A Promise Day Gives “Standing O” Award to Gates and Buffett for Giving Pledge

March 25, 2011 - PRLog -- March 25, 2011 – Author and guest speaker Matthew Cossolotto, creator of “Make A Promise Day” (May 4th — May The Fourth Be With You!), today announced that he’s giving a “Standing O” award to Warren Buffett and Bill and Melinda Gates, founders of The Giving Pledge project they launched last August.  

“The Giving Pledge is an inspiring example of the power of making a promise,” Cossolotto said.  “So I’m proud to give the founders of this uplifting project a ‘Standing O’ award.  Indeed, all 59 families and individuals who have taken The Giving Pledge deserve a Standing O.  The fact that these wealthy Americans have promised publicly to donate at least half of their wealth to charity speaks volumes about their philanthropic instincts.  It also speaks volumes about the unique power of making promises in shaping our destiny.  And so I applaud Pledge founders Warren Buffett and Bill and Melinda Gates.  They’ve shown enormous vision and compassion by spearheading this worthwhile project that promises to improve the lives of millions of people around the world.”  

Watch this video for more information: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ejvqj0n5zKQ



In a December 8, 2010, press release welcoming 17 additional families to growing list of those taking The Giving Pledge, Warren Buffett said:  “In just a few short months we’ve made good progress. The Giving Pledge has re-energized people thinking about philanthropy and doing things in philanthropy and I look forward to many more conversations with families who are truly fortunate, and whose generosity can and will change lives.”

In his letter announcing his Giving Pledge, New York Mayor Michael Bloomberg wrote:  “For decades, I've been committed to giving away the vast majority of my wealth to causes that I'm passionate about -- and that my children are passionate about. And so I am enthusiastically taking the Giving Pledge, and nearly all of my net worth will be given away in the years ahead or left to my foundation.”

Cossolotto is encouraging all of those who have taken The Giving Pledge to support widespread recognition of May 4th as “Make A Promise Day.”  They can do so by urging local, state and national leaders to adopt a “Make A Promise Day” Proclamation similar to the one passed by the Yorktown, New York, Town Board on February 15, 2011.  

Here is the proposed text of a resolution that could be adapted and adopted by appropriate authorities in jurisdictions around the world:
   
DRAFT “MAKE A PROMISE DAY” PROCLAMATION

Whereas, the Town Board of Yorktown, New York, unanimously adopted a resolution on February 15, 2011, proclaiming May 4th of 2011 and each year thereafter to be Make A Promise Day;

Whereas, Make a Promise Day is the only unofficial “holiday” dedicated to personal empowerment, goal achievement and integrity enhancement;

Whereas, Make A Promise Day encourages individuals to turn important goals into heartfelt promises thereby increasing the probability of reaching those goals;

Whereas, celebrating Make A Promise Day will have the effect of enhancing accountability, personal responsibility and integrity;

Whereas, the (INSERT JURISDICTION/OFFICE) recognizes the value of highlighting the power of making and keeping promises on the part of local students, teachers, community organizations, businesses and political leaders;

Now therefore be it resolved, that the (INSERT JURISDICTION/OFFICE) hereby designates and proclaims May 4th of 2011 and each year thereafter to be “Make A Promise Day” and encourages organizations and individual members of the community to celebrate “Make A Promise Day” in a manner they deem to be suitable and appropriate.

Cossolotto, a former aide to House Speaker Jim Wright and Congressman Leon Panetta, launched the first annual “Make A Promise Day” last May 4th as part of his ongoing mission to share the power of making a promise with millions of people around the world.  He’s writing a book about the power of making a promise with a foreword by Jack Canfield, co-creator of the Chicken Soup for the Soul series.  The book includes stories about real people who have made and kept important promises in their lives.  

Here is a brief excerpt from Jack Canfield’s foreword to Cossolotto’s forthcoming book:  

"When Matthew first told me about the heartfelt promise he made to his mother and that he was launching a special day called “Make A Promise Day” on May 4th, I was hooked. You could say he had me at “I promise.”… Contributing the foreword to this book and being associated with Matthew’s inspiring “Make-A-Promise” project is totally aligned with my life’s purpose." http://www.JackCanfield.com

Cossolotto knows about the power of making a promise from personal experience.  He made a promise to his mother on her deathbed that he would finish writing a book he had been discussing with her, get it published, and dedicate it to her memory. The resulting book, complete with Cossolotto’s dedication to his mother, is HabitForce! How to Kick the Habits of FAILURE and Adopt the Habits of SUCCESS.

To underscore the power of making a promise, Cossolotto cites several high-profile examples:
•   Oprah Winfrey made a promise to Nelson Mandela that she would build a school for girls in South Africa.
•   Nancy Brinker, author of Promise Me and founder of Susan G. Komen for the Cure, promised her sister and breast cancer victim Suzy that she would help find a cure.
•   Before his daughter’s wedding, former president Bill Clinton made a promise to Chelsea that he would watch his diet and take care of his health.

Finally, Cossolotto invites people around the world to submit short summaries of their uplifting true stories of promises made and promises kept for possible inclusion in forthcoming books, presentations, and interviews.  Send a few sentences describing your promise to:  Matthew.Promises@Gmail.com.

About The Giving Pledge:   The Giving Pledge is an effort to help address society’s most pressing problems by inviting the wealthiest American families and individuals to commit to giving more than half of their wealth to philanthropy or charitable causes. The pledge is a moral commitment to give, not a legal contract, and it does not involve pooling money or supporting a particular set of causes or organizations. http://www.givingpledge.org.

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About Matthew Cossolotto (aka "The Podium Pro"): A former aide to House Speaker Jim Wright and Congressman (now CIA Director) Leon Panetta, Matthew Cossolotto served as a CEO-level speechwriter and communications executive at MCI, Pepsi-Cola International, and GTE. The author of several books including The Almanac of European Politics, All The World’s A Podium, and HabitForce! Matthew offers a range of executive communication services and guest speaking programs. Please visit http://www.ThePodiumPro.com; http://www.MakeAPromiseDay.wordpress.com; http://www.MakeAPromiseDay.com. Follow
Matthew and “Make A Promise Day” on Twitter: http://www.Twitter.com/MakeAPromiseDay.