Wikipedia Fundraiser Surpasses $6 Mil Goal
The foundation that operates some of the largest collaboratively-edited reference projects on the Internet achieved its goal of raising more than $6 million to sustain Wikipedia -- one of the world's 10 most-visited Web sites -- officials announced Friday. Over 125,000 donors gave to what they said was the most ambitious and successful in the Wikimedia Foundation's history. The funds will be used to maintain and grow its technical infrastructure, which includes managing global traffic for Wikipedia.
Wikipedia founder Jimmy Wales wrote a thank you letter to supporters saying that the fundraiser "has proven that Wikipedia matters to its users, and that our users strongly support our mission: to bring free knowledge to the planet, free of charge and free of advertising." Wales, who has been increasingly active in Washington in recent years (including testifying before the Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee in late 2007), posted a personal appeal online Dec. 23, which resulted in more than 50,000 contributions and closed the gap toward the revenue goal.
Meanwhile, the Valleywag gossip blog reported Saturday that Wales may be out of a job. His seat on the Wikimedia Foundation's board was set to expire Dec. 31. CNet, however, quoted officials saying Wales was sticking around. "Jimmy is a much-valued board member of the Wikimedia Foundation, and I expect he will hold that role permanently: I know of no reason for anyone to speculate otherwise," a spokeswoman said.
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