Luke McDonald {CELTIC7 Studio}

This year will be the first full year of working for myself under my business CELTIC7. When I started CELTIC7 in January 2010, one of the first things I did was join 1% For The Planet (1FTP). In short, as a member of 1FTP, I donate 1% of my sales to a network of environmental organizations worldwide. I was excited this year in particular because it was my first full year of working for myself and would be the largest donation I’ve made, both personally and as a business.

I looked forward to finding an approved 1FTP Non-Profit that I was interested in and could contribute 1% of my earnings toward. With well over 2,000 approved 1FTP Non-Profit organizations, I wasn’t sure how I would go about finding just one. In the end, I decided that each year I will pick one Non-Profit organization based on a set of criteria. The criteria may change from year to year, but this year I wanted to make it personal. Below is the criteria for my 2011 selection, which the name of the chosen Non-Profit will follow.

Non-Profit Selection Criteria

• Location: Bozeman, MT
  I was born in Bozeman, MT and spent every summer running around the outdoor trails, mountains, and rivers. In past years, more and more people have moved to the area to take in it’s beauty. I wanted to support a Non-Profit that helps keep bozeman beautiful, the way I remember it.
• Website
  I build websites, so it was a must the Non-Profit have a website. Bonus points for a nice, kept up website :)
• WordPress
  Without WordPress, I wouldn’t be where I am at now. I thought it be a good fun idea to support a Non-Profit that utilized a tool that helped support me and my business.
• Interest
  I wanted to have a genuine interest in what the Non-Profit was doing.

With the criteria in place, it turns out there was one Non-Profit that fit the bill perfectly…

Giving Thanks

I wanted to give a special thanks to the following business’s and people who have helped make a difference by working with me or have purchased one of my products. Everyone has been a part of making an environmental difference with our donation to the great organization of Gallatin Valley Land Trust .

Thank You:

• 2011 CELTIC7 Clients
• Josh Schamberger (Iowa City Coralville Convention and Visitors Bureau)
• Jason Schuller & Press75.com
• Soundcheck & Debut WordPress theme buyers
• WordPress
• Those websites who host with CELTIC7 Hosting