Now Buying French Fries Is an Act of Generosity

You get French fries. Local businesses draw in customers. Charities make money.

It's easy to imagine how one or even two of these events can coincide. But to make all three happen at once, it takes a project like the new charitable website founded by Annemarie "Annie" E. Ryu '13 and Leverett House affiliate Raviv Murciano-Goroff '09.

The pair recently started a site called GeneroCity Boston, which lets citizens donate to featured causes and receive vouchers for deals at local businesses in exchange.

Ryu said the project was inspired by her travels throughout developing countries. "I realized I can just donate 5 dollars and I can really make a difference and help people," Ryu said.

The sum can doesn't even have to be that high. Right now, if you donate $2 through GeneroCity Boston to Project Bread—an organization which combats hunger in Massachusetts—you will get a coupon for free fries or sweet potato fries from b.good.

"We worked up something that brings together community members and businesses and local charities, working in all their interests,"  Ryu said.

She and Murciano-Goroff aren't pocketing any of the proceeds; all the money collected goes straight to the featured charity.

What companies offering socially-conscious goodies will appear on the site next? "We'd like to keep that a surprise,"  Ryu said.