Twelve Pis of Christmas: We’re auctioning off the first model As!

Last year, we auctioned the very first Raspberry Pi Model Bs to come off the line to raise money for the Raspberry Pi Foundation. We’re doing the same this year, but instead of raising money for Raspberry Pi, we have selected (and asked some of our closest partner organisations to select) twelve other charities to benefit from the funds raised. Each of the trustees has also chosen a charity – you’ll get to find out what those were as the auctions progress.

The Pis we are selling on eBay are the first production sample Raspberry Pi Model As to come off the line. They’ll have a tantalisingly low serial number, and you will be one of the first people in the world to own one. We’ll also be bundling some other goodies too, including a Pi Plate from Adafruit, a signed copy of the Raspberry Pi User Guide by Eben Upton and Gareth Halfacree, a lovely Raspberry Pi t-shirt, and a signed certificate from the Foundation stating that you are the owner of one of the very first Model As ever to be made.

The first two auctions went live this morning. RS Components have chosen CLIC Sargent, the children’s cancer charity, to benefit from the funds raised from their Pi, and the manufacturing team at Sony in Pencoed (the people who build your Pis) have chosen NSPCC Cymru, the Welsh arm of the National Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Children. Each auction will start at £20 ($32.49).

We’ll be releasing another Pi every day until all twelve are gone: get bidding!

20 comments

Billy Scott avatar

I’m sure I’m not the first to suggest it, but perhaps Sandy Hook school charity should be one of the charities as that is one of your target markets.

Thanks

Billy

E. avatar

First line of the Sandy Hook Wikipedia page: “Sandy Hook is an affluent village…”

The last thing they need right now is money. They can’t just buy their kids back.

JamesH avatar

I think this is rather too an emotive subject to be discussed here, so please, no more comments on this subject here please.

Bird avatar

GiveWell.org is an organization that evaluated many charities to find out which ones are most effective. If you want your spent money to be of most use, you should head over to their website and find a charity that suits you most.
In the area of Education Charity, GiveWell suggest the top charity “Pratham”, as you can read on .

If you want to make the world a better place, it is important to choose your charity well ;)

liz avatar

Folks: I should point out that all the charities have already been chosen, and they’re all charities which are particularly meaningful for each of the people selecting them. If you would like to support another charity, there is nothing stopping you making a donation on your own behalf!

tzj avatar

Something very odd…

One of them is returnable, the other is not…

Why is that?

liz avatar

I think Lorna just made a mistake when setting the auction up!

Lorna avatar

Sorry, folks: it’s my first time eBaying anything! I’ll see what I can do to clarify the listing.

liz avatar

No probs at all – I really don’t think it’s a very big deal! (Seriously: if anyone tries to return one of these we will be FLABBERGASTED.) Oh, and everybody, meet Lorna, who is currently working as our trademark-enforcement pixie.

Lorna avatar

Hello everyone!

clive avatar

Hi Lorna!

ukscone avatar

Hello Lorna

tzj avatar

Hi Lorna :)

poglad avatar

Hi Lorna :-)

Dan avatar

This is why i love the Raspberry Pi Foundation. Any other company would sell these limited units for profit.

Thats what makes the Pi so special, you make these devices for the people and not for an extra ££££ in the bank!

Merry xmas!

clive avatar

Careful, could be a scam – the sellers have only got 1 feedback.

eben avatar

But at least it’s 100% positive!

Anon avatar

When they release more of model B, then I shall pay for one.

Gee (rabid Inventor) avatar

do these model a pi’s have the first 12 serial numbers simmilar to the model B auctions back in the day (well earlier in the year)

James avatar

Surely a missed opportunity for these to start at $25?

Comments are closed