# Sponsoring the Sponsors of the Summer of Code **URL:** \ **Category:** Ruby\ **Created:** [April 18, 2006, 6:44am UTC](https://www.ruby-forum.com/t/sponsoring-the-sponsors-of-the-summer-of-code/58070 "2006-04-18T06:44:03Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 4\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![agorilla](https://www.ruby-forum.com/letter_avatar_proxy/v4/letter/a/43a26b/32.png) [@agorilla](https://www.ruby-forum.com/u/agorilla)\ **Post date:** [April 18, 2006, 6:44am UTC](https://www.ruby-forum.com/t/sponsoring-the-sponsors-of-the-summer-of-code/58070/1 "2006-04-18T06:44:03Z")
I know that the folks at Ruby Central (David Black, Chad F., Rich Kilmer, et al) had a big impact on Ruby being added to Google’s ‘Summer of Code’. They tried last year, but they made it happen this year. Based on that, I’ve made a donation to Ruby Central [1] to support the work that they do (as I did last year). I’d love to see my (almost a) tradition spread. Do it, don’t do it. Announce that you did, or didn’t do it, or keep it to yourself. Either way, at least think about making a donation to support Ruby Central. It seems to be win/win. You support Ruby Central, they get Google to support ruby coders with a couple grand (and Ruby Central gets $500 per project, so your seed money can grow). The Ruby community gains new tools, and Ruby coders get paid to make them. If we ‘start a movement’ (ie: Alice’s Restaurant), well, maybe we can even revive the ‘Codefest Grants’ [2]. It’s tough to just pass on a deal like that (do I offer the free coffee mug now, or do I wait until our guest star appears?) Operators are standing by, so click that link now (I blame PBS)… [1] [http://www.rubycentral.org/pledge/](http://www.rubycentral.org/pledge/) [2] [http://www.ruby-talk.org/cgi-bin/scat.rb/ruby/ruby-talk/133197](http://www.ruby-talk.org/cgi-bin/scat.rb/ruby/ruby-talk/133197) – Bill G. (aka aGorilla) The best answer to most questions is “it depends”. ---
**Author:** ![agorilla](https://www.ruby-forum.com/letter_avatar_proxy/v4/letter/a/43a26b/32.png) [@agorilla](https://www.ruby-forum.com/u/agorilla)\ **Post date:** [April 18, 2006, 4:08pm UTC](https://www.ruby-forum.com/t/sponsoring-the-sponsors-of-the-summer-of-code/58070/2 "2006-04-18T16:08:53Z")
Great idea Bill. I just made a donation. Michael ---
**Author:** ![agorilla](https://www.ruby-forum.com/letter_avatar_proxy/v4/letter/a/43a26b/32.png) [@agorilla](https://www.ruby-forum.com/u/agorilla)\ **Post date:** [April 19, 2006, 9:11am UTC](https://www.ruby-forum.com/t/sponsoring-the-sponsors-of-the-summer-of-code/58070/3 "2006-04-19T09:11:16Z")
Hi Bill, > Based on that, I’ve made a donation to Ruby Central [1] to support the > work that they do (as I did last year). I’d love to see my (almost a) > tradition spread. Do it, don’t do it. Announce that you did, or > didn’t do it, or keep it to yourself. Either way, at least think > about making a donation to support Ruby Central. I’m definitely in favor of the tradition of supporting Ruby Central. This is the 3rd year in a row that I’ve been donating either a fixed amount or 1% of my gross income from Ruby programming, whichever is larger. I like to imagine it as a feedback loop: the more Ruby Central does to promote Ruby, the more Ruby contracting opportunities I get, so the more I donate, so the more they can afford to promote Ruby, etc. (Of course, I don’t seriously mean to imply that my modest contributions play any more than a very tiny part in all the great things the Ruby Central folks are doing.) Wayne * * * Wayne V. No Bugs Software Ruby and C# Agile Contract Programming in Silicon Valley, Domain Driven Designs ---
**Author:** ![agorilla](https://www.ruby-forum.com/letter_avatar_proxy/v4/letter/a/43a26b/32.png) [@agorilla](https://www.ruby-forum.com/u/agorilla)\ **Post date:** [April 19, 2006, 3:48pm UTC](https://www.ruby-forum.com/t/sponsoring-the-sponsors-of-the-summer-of-code/58070/4 "2006-04-19T15:48:30Z")
On 4/18/06, Bill G. [removed\_email\_address@domain.invalid](mailto:removed_email_address@domain.invalid) wrote: > Based on that, I’ve made a donation to Ruby Central [1] to support the > work that they do (as I did last year). I’d love to see my (almost a) > tradition spread. Do it, don’t do it. Announce that you did, or > didn’t do it, or keep it to yourself. Either way, at least think > about making a donation to support Ruby Central. This christmas a made a decent size donation (for a college student) to RubyCentral. After being a codefest grant recipient, attending the wonderful RubyConf 2005, and having the pleasure of hangin’ with dblack at NYC.rb / new\_haven.rb meetings, I plan to keep RubyCentral on the christmas list for a while 🙂