Fundraising/Valentines Day 2019
In January 2019, the Wikimedia Foundation fundraising team asked our donors a single question: Is there anything you want to say to the volunteers who make Wikipedia possible?
The result was enchanting. More than 5,000 donors took the opportunity to express their thanks, gratitude, and love for the contributors who give the world the joy of free and open knowledge.
Here is just a sample of their messages to you.
| “ | My education was very limited to only 2 years of high school. I have endeavored all my life to learn about this world we live in and Wikipedia is my main source of information. I am now 86 years old and still learning. Thank you! |
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| “ | I write, and speak for several friends I know, to express my thanks to you good people who read, study, write, “code, translate, upload,” edit and contribute your insights to Wikipedia. I am so very impressed with the concept and with those of you who, without remuneration, make it possible for me to access information and knowledge at my desk whenever the spirit moves. I have learned much through your efforts and I am very grateful. Kudos to you all, and best wishes. |
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| “ | I wished for something like this my whole younger life--honestly saying "I wish I could buy a book that would tell me all these random things about culture or history or the world that I wish I knew." Encylopedias didn't cut it--they'd be outdated so fast. And then along came the internet and YOU. You did it. You made my wish materialize before my eyes. And you STILL DO IT. You've allowed me to dive into fascinating species with my 18 year old son, and have whales talk to us. You allow me to look up the history on a person/political situation so I don't judge it so harshly. With that knowledge comes compassion. Thank you. |
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| “ | Thank you for being a big part of what is good about the internet. Here at the beginning of the 21st century, we may not have flying cars, but we have Wikipedia. And I wouldn't trade it for a flying car! |
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| “ | As a fellow volunteer, I am so proud of our vast Wiki community! It fills my heart to see so many people passionate about sharing knowledge and information. Let's keep the ball rolling this year, let's continue to be objective and informative volunteers! <3 |
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| “ | Thank you -- especially those of you who keep entries up to the minute. "Maintenance" is never as much fun as original writing but it makes the difference between useful information and ornamentation and makes Wikipedia the reliable resource it is. A bow in your direction.. :-)! |
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| “ | It may be tempting sometimes to minimize your volunteer Wikimedia role as simply updating random facts on a web page that someone might hopefully look at someday. But what you are actually doing is opening up a world of factual knowledge and experience to me and people like me who may not have the means to travel the world nor have friends who are experts in every imaginable field (although some style themselves as such). Wikimedia projects combat ignorance and intolerance simply by being an authoritative source of information. Is there really a scientifically proven link between vaccinations and autism that “they” don’t want “us” to know about? Are there legitimate criticisms of the Holy Bible/Christianity that no one in my social circle knows about (or will admit)? Ask Wikipedia. Can I teach my children about the beauty of great works of art without visiting every museum in the country? Can I experience breathtaking natural wonders without traveling to every locale the world over? Look on Wikimedia commons. Your work is probably (no hyperbole) some of the most valuable in the world. It is literally changing lives by enabling all of us to grow up not only smarter, but wiser and more understanding of ourselves and of each other. |
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| “ | Just when I thought I was a good writer and had some knowledge, I thought about what a Wikimedia volunteer does, and I was humbled. Thank you for your contribution of time and detail to make learning available to anyone who wants it. |
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| “ | I lead tours for school children at the Houston Museum of Natural Science, thanks for all the information and interesting facts as well as pictures and graphics we use to awe and inspire the children. |
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| “ | Individually, your knowledge of your topic and your tenacity in getting the facts straight, is amazing. Collectively, your end product is astounding. I grew up with hard cover encyclopedias usually found at libraries. You were lucky if you had a set in your home, and if you did, it was probably five to ten tears old, or older. To have a perpetual encyclopedic knowledge source like Wikipedia...wow. I don't blink when making a donation. Yeah, it's "free," but because of all of you, it's priceless. |
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| “ | Keep me informed, keep me dreaming, keep me entertained, keep me educated, keep me thinking, keep me striving, keep me reaching, for the the moon, the stars, and the cosmos. All that we, the People of Earth are; all the knowledge we share, to break boundaries, and further our humanity. Keep me in the Wiki-Know, in the Wiki-now. Thank you. |
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| “ | Good Day! I randomly checked the change logs of one of the pages I was reading one day and clearly, there is much work that goes into keeping the trolls away from information. Thanks so much for trying to maintain accuracy out there. If we all only knew what it takes to keep watch! Be well truth seekers!!! |
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| “ | Thanks for providing such an international pool of information. In the late 18th century a group of French philosophes hoped to put into writing all of the world's knowledge - you have far eclipsed their wildest dreams. |
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| “ | In a time when criticism is amplified and praise rarely gets its due, the volunteers of Wikipedia deserve a standing ovation. Together we have compiled an encyclopedia of human knowledge magnitudes better than previous attempt in terms of detail, depth, breadth, and accessibility. Naysayers will always abound. Ignore them. Please keep up the good work of providing the connected world with the beauty of our vast sum of knowledge. |
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| “ | The only path to a peaceful compassionate world is through equity of all the riches that life offers. Knowledge and information is part of that elusive equation. Your help through Wikipedia is so greatly appreciated and will be by all future generations in our journey to a more peaceful place. Thank you. |
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| “ | I work in agricultural science and had to make several presentations for growers about insects. Wikipedia articles are an incredible resource for educational purposes for referencing and starting off your research. From helping me complete my master's degree to continuing to stay educated to helping others understand and communicating, Wikipedia has been priceless. Please know that your efforts are appreciated... |
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| “ | The persistence of memory is one of the most powerful things known to man, but the persistence of truth is unwavering. Continue to seek out knowledge and aid others in doing so, it is truly the noblest pursuit. |
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| “ | Thank you for being a catalyst in my ongoing discoveries. I’m one of our family’s genealogists and find confirmation and new information about our ancestors on Wikipedia. I would be so lost without you! Cheers!! |
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| “ | I wanna be a Wikipedian only because the knowledge Wikipedians have offered me over the past 20 years is priceless. Without Wikipedians an undeniable and unmatched source of knowledge would be lost. I am forever grateful to each and every one of you, and I am proud to continue supporting the team with funding :) Thanks so much :) |
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| “ | Thank you so very much for supplying me with information I require on an almost daily basis. it takes a special person to volunteer for anything, for any period of time especially in this day and age. You supply information to what has become my favorite site ! Hats off to everyone on the volunteer team. I don't know what I'd do without you. |
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| “ | Thank you for helping save and advance our species (and countless others!) at a time when ignorance -- both innocent and intentionally cultivated -- poses such a dire threat. Thank you for being a light in what has the potential to be another dark age. |
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| “ | Your time and effort has made this world a little bit smarter, a little bit more self aware, a little bit more educated and a little bit better informed on life in general. All those "little bits" add up to make a big deal. Thank you for all you do. |
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| “ | In the 1960's' researching for high school papers meant driving to local university libraries, navigating the card files and pouring over pages to find the information I needed. This kind of information treasure hunt may may continue for serious matters, but the ability to access the broad range of information posted on Wikipedia has made getting answers or routes to solving problems so much easier and faster. Now, even something I am only casually interested in can be blessed with an understanding of the matter by pulling up a couple of Wiki's. I am in awe of the technology. I am ever grateful to the people who work with it to provide the information that fills in all the gaps for me, and so many others around the world who crave to learn. |
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| “ | I use Wikipedia daily, it is such a necessary part of my life and I can't thank you enough for making it happen every time you volunteer. The vast amount of knowledge contained and curated on this site is a testament to your efforts and I believe it will be considered one of, if not the most, important repositories of knowledge. Thank you! |
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| “ | Thank you for your dedication to, not only the desire to make all levels of information readily available, but identifying areas where verification might be challenged. Regular improvements to the site have also been outstanding. |
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| “ | You do what others are to busy to do but yet we thrive for this knowledge. Thank you very much from my wife and I who have enlightened conversations because of you. Thank you for giving me useful and useless knowledge as both are valuable in their own way. |
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| “ | Free dissemination of knowledge is of vital importance to everyone worldwide. It brings us closer together as a world community and helps to ensure that false information is weeded out from our free knowledge based online sites—such as Wikipedia—which I find myself using more and more every day. So, thanks to all that help keep this great knowledge source alive and well and free to those that may not otherwise benefit from this rich source of knowledge. |
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| “ | Your unselfish involvement, by the giving of your time and efforts for the enrichment of knowledge for all others, is an evidence of the hope that so many of us have for the future of humanity. Thank you all. |
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| “ | You have made the world a wonderful place via your expertise and willingness to share it. To think -- we now have the world in the palm of our hand! Wikipedia is without a doubt the biggest blessing of the technological age, and we wouldn't have it without you. Thank you! |
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| “ | As a small boy, I wished that knowledge was available to me and all others who were discriminated against because of lack of information and knowledge, Thank you so very much for all the effort and care you give when you add to Wikipedia! May all of humanity bless you! |
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| “ | Dear Volunteers, I'm so grateful for the important work you do at Wikipedia! Our online world simply would not be the same without your contributions. If you will keep giving, then so will I. Thank-you! |
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| “ | As a child, I treasured encyclopedias, but they were expensive to own and quickly became outdated. Now, because of volunteers like you, we all have a wealth of information right at our fingertips. I am very grateful for your contributions to Wikipedia. Thank you so much! |
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| “ | Thank you for your belief in us helping one another to understand our world, its history and its present. Thank you for the time you spend selflessly working for the educational benefit of thousands of people you will never meet! |
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| “ | Millions of people graduate high school or college, and they decide that they never want to go back to the world of citations and cross-references. But you all recognize and understand the vital importance of cohesive and beautiful information, and you donate your life to achieving that vision. Thank you for your service. |
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| “ | Knowledge is the foundation of an enlightened society. Your work to make knowledge available is the most important endeavor we have to combat the senseless tragedies and events in the world. Thank you for your help in making knowledge available to the world. |
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| “ | Thank you for all your time and effort! In this era of "fake news", it's important to have access to as much information as possible from a variety of sources. I especially appreciate the editorial comments at the top of articles which your editors have determined that contain insufficient reliable citations, appear to be written as advertisements for the individual or item, or otherwise don't meet your standards. |
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| “ | Thank you for donating so much to the open and free exchange of knowledge. Knowledge is power, and thanks to your efforts, the power is shifting from the social elites to the common person — through free access to quality knowledge. Thank you. |
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| “ | Thank you for making the the most useful site on the Internet a reality; without your efforts, the Internet content would be more fiction then fact, more dubious then credible, more sparse or empty then concise and informed. |
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| “ | There seems to be so few things today we can do in our lives that actually touch the broader world, that can help not just today but far down the road, that enriches all without impoverishing some. Your work is among that unique slice of human effort that achieves this goal. Thank you for being there in each sphere of endeavor and interest I wanted to learn more about. Your work is of the highest importance to humanity at this time! |
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| “ | THANK YOU for the work you do, that makes Wikipedia my 'go to' for information. I take it completely for granted, so it's nice to be reminded that it's only through others' dedication that I have the world at my fingertips. It is greatly, hugely, enormously valued and appreciated!! |
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| “ | Somehow I use Wikipedia everyday. It is amazing to think a question and instantly be able to get unbiased information. The world is truly a better place when each of us uses our talents and abilities to benefit our communities in some way, whether our local community or the global community. Thank you for recognizing that you have a skill and being willing to donate the time to use that skill for everyone’s benefit. |
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| “ | Thank you so much! Not only do you end arguments w facts, you teach! You help ppl like me who have not had the best or a full education. It's so important that we have this tool especially in this climate of faux-facts coming out of so many with power. I can't thank you all enough. <3 |
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| “ | When the Internet first crept into our lives, people talked of all the great things it would bring, the global archive of knowledge, the human connections that ignore boundaries, the virtually universal access to information. No one predicted the abuse, malice and horror that would accompany these gifts. But the amazing volunteers of Wikipedia are realizing and delivering on that initial promise, every day. They show how useful, how powerful, and how beneficial the Internet can be. I thank you all, with all my heart. |
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| “ | We truly appreciate the work you do! I appreciate Wiki's vision and purpose to provide knowledge and information to everyone no matter their nationality, ethnicity, gender, political affiliation, religion, belief system, economic, or social status. Your efforts are the first step to inform individuals to learn and research for the truth, so they can proceed with the next step, which is action! It takes a village! |
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| “ | I would be in the dark without you. From info about movies/TV, to medical information applicable to my family’s health, to historical perspective, to scientific overviews, to ... Thank you for all you do to keep me informed. I literally use Wikipedia daily. |
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| “ | In a world that sometimes feels to be all selfishness and greed, you choose to shine and stand up by doing something good that you will never see, that will help millions of people you will never meet; you do it not because you have to, but because you want to. And that friend, makes you truly magnificent. |
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| “ | Thank you all for your time, dedication, talent, discipline, creativity, inspiration, determination and spirit; all of which have given me knowledge, enlightenment, hope, beauty and a sense of feeling connected to the world. |
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| “ | I'm forever seeking answers to the world around me. And Wikipedia is always the first place I turn whether for a glimpse or an in-depth write up on a subject. As such, Wikipedia is one of only two organizations I donate to every year. Thank you for your tireless dedication; indeed, you are making the world a better place. |
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| “ | I became an expert in a couple of small areas in my career, which made me painfully aware of how difficult it is to achieve and maintain expertise. Thank you for sharing your expertise with the rest of us, so that we can enjoy the fruits of your labors, as we enjoy the benefits of knowledge gained from you with almost no effort by us at all. |
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| “ | You are the ones that make the promise of the internet a reality - I always thought that's what it was invented for: to be a reliable source of knowledge, educating and entertaining... It makes me believe in the future of humanity again. |
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| “ | I think, just a thank you is not enough. These are the people, thinking of whom fills my heart with serenity, joy, and love. What they are doing should be the inherent human instinct, selflessness. |
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| “ | I don’t remember what reference material I used before Wikipedia. I probably didn’t have internet back then or used the library instead. Now, I visit your pages every day. I think your work is my favorite site on the internet and if I could only visit one site ever, this would be it. Thank you for this work. You are doing something important for the world. |
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| “ | You are facilitating weekly, and almost daily education to me and so many others. It might be as mundane as checking the age of a Hollywood actress, to explore a hidden part of the world, or to brush up on my history. Thank you for all that you do to keep me amused, entertained and informed. |
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| “ | I sincerely thank you for your work in making an immense amount of information available to anybody who has an internet connection, and to improving the accuracy of that information every day. Maybe I will join you. |
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| “ | Wikipedia is, to me, a reassurance that many humans do indeed have a cooperative, sharing, community-minded streak in them, and a love of knowledge. Wikimedia is the happy place where all those things come together... to produce Wikipedia, a major contribution to advancement of 'civilization'! |
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| “ | Oh, wow, I’m grateful for so much. But one thing in particular is how helpful the very existence of your work has been permitting me to assist my students experience the dynamic nature of knowledge. In many of my classes they have found that they can participate in creating and updating our knowledge of the world. |
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| “ | Nearly every week, I end up falling into a wiki-labyrinth; a friend posts something on Facebook referring to some person or concept, and I go look up the details of the person/concept, to fully get the reference, just a quick skim, right? Two hours later, I've gone from St. Nicolas to reading about umpty-billion different competing versions of early Christianity and who was on which side, with a side trek into the geography of the European side of Turkey, to... wait, how did it get to be midnight? Anyway, I don't play Candy Crush, so I guess Wikipedia is my computer addiction. Thank you for making it so easy to navigate, and so vast in topics. |
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| “ | Thank you for believing in giving back to the community, as there are not many. We may don’t think about it and thank you everyday, but it is definitely noticed and appreciated by the ones that like to learn and want the information that is provided to us voluntarily. Dankeschön!! |
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