close the window, it's cold in here!

The university I attended has a financial support group called Partners for Progress, whose main mission is to raise capital for different university projects. Aside from highlighting the typical endowments and ongoing unversity needs, they annually pick one specific way alumni can give back to help improve the school. Today I got a letter from them asking if I would like to purchase a window in a 5-building apartment complex on campus. The windows apparently have not been changed in over 50 years, and a serious draft manages to blow through the cracks/gaps each winter, raising both the energy costs and number of complaints from frozen students. Total cost of the project is $500,000, and for a gift of $500 (half a window), each donor will have a small brass thank you plate conveniently attached.

I must admit, the writeup was convincing. I would like to give a little something to help out my shivering college chums, especially at Christmastime. What charities/donations are you asked to give to? What interesting items (like a window, brick, children's sock, etc.) have you ever been asked to purchase?