Surfing for a Cause

by Awl Sponsors

Learn how to get started giving back at http://www.bing.com/rewards/signup/sggetstarted.

The next time you have surfer’s guilt — you know, that feeling of regret for putting off whatever task needs your attention by poking around on the web — there may be a way to excuse your procrastination by turning it into something charitable. As part of Bing’s ongoing commitment to support education, the Bing Rewards program lets you earn credits for searching and exploring the web with Bing and then donate them to charity.

Who would have imagined that your searches could go to help others? To get started earning, simply go to the Bing Rewards page and complete the registration process. It only takes a few minutes and you’ll earn 250 credits just for signing up! Furthermore, with Bing you can find information more quickly and get help making decisions like finding a place for a quick bite to eat or choosing the right time to book your next airline flight.

As you earn more credits, head to the Rewards redemption center to choose a charity. Are you passionate about education? If so, there are several excellent education-related charities you can choose to receive your donation. One such option is DonorsChoose.org, which raises funding for classrooms in need. Or you can opt for the Mr. Holland’s Opus Foundation, which provides musical instruments to children. Other charities in the redemption center are Summer Search, Teach for America, and the Kids in Need Foundation.

What you don’t need to worry about with the Bing Rewards program is having to buy anything, commit to anything, or send payments for anything — even the shipping is free if you decide to choose a reward instead of donating your credits to charity. Rewards include gift cards for stores like Best Buy, Target and Crate and Barrel and movie tickets and free music downloads.