Here’s a good idea: Give $10 million to five people that come up with the best ways to help as many people as possible.

Well, that’s exactly what Google did.

The massive Internet search engine announced Sept. 24 it would award $10 million to five individuals who find a way to help the most people.

Dubbed as “Project10100,” the venture is a contest for anyone who has an idea to help others.
After the Oct. 20 deadline, Google will choose 100 contestants and then allow the general public to vote online for the top 20 ideas. From there, Google will choose the top five ideas and award those contestants $10 million to help get their ideas off the drawing board and into reality.

The ideas can be complicated or simple, implemented or still on the drawing board, just as long as they have the potential to help a large mass of people.

Categories include health, energy, environment, education and shelter.

Criteria for the ideas include how many people are reached by the project, how big the impact will be, how fast it can be implemented, how cost-effective it is and how long the idea will last.

One idea that Google favors is the Hippo Water Roller.

In developing countries, inhabitants’ only way to get fresh water is to walk several miles with five gallons or more of water on their heads.

The Hippo Water Roller is a 24-gallon container that is wheeled around and far less laborious for the inhabitants.

Google’s innovative strategy is a brilliant idea and a great way to celebrate the company’s 10th anniversary.

It’s refreshing to see a big company like Google, which is valued at about $140 billion, to go on a crusade not only to encourage intellectual stimulation, but to go out of its way to help, well, everyone.

If only other multi-billion dollar companies would follow in Google’s footsteps and genuinely make an attempt to help people, and not just get good publicity, then corporate America would take steps in the right direction.

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