Four year-old Max Frank is battling cancer on Long Island. His mom, Sandi, is a former social worker turned stay-at-home mom. The divorced single mother of two can’t work due to the healthcare demands of taking care of Max and his six year-old brother. But social media put a real human face to the story and generated an emotional reaction from the public which spread rapidly.
Community newspapers used to be the venue to share such a local story, but because of the social media tools of Facebook, LinkedIn and Twitter, the little boy’s story also triggered an uptick in the fundraising capabilities of those who are trying to help the family. And it happened at the speed of light. The merging of our working and living experience is happening in every moment and this is a perfect example of the successful integration of the two worlds.
“Facebook alone has made the fundraising process more efficient and more economical,” says Kristine Marrale who for the last two years has been raising money for Max’s care. “If worded properly with pictures to back up your event, you can touch more people.”
Such widespread vertical tools enhance the e-mail process. Along with the human element which includes the little boy’s story and pictures, came the backing of a social network of trusted people. Marrale was able to cook up her latest fundraising effort within three weeks – as opposed to two months. A particular benefit to using her social networks was how colleagues and local businesses stepped up to the plate to help the cause.
Vista Hill lead singer, Sherman Arnowitz, said due to Facebook alone “we expect to get twice as many people at the concert due to that vertical range of social media.”
Here the rundown of the “trickle-up” impact of social media in this case:
- A local band called Vista Hill found out about Max and his needs through a friend.
- Vista Hill contacted Marrale to offer a fundraising event.
- The venue, The Metropolitan Lounge (details for event here as well) was donated.
- An event page was set up on Facebook for the evening concert.
- Within days the event was tapped by 600 people who started responding to the invite.
- Whoever hooked into the event site, sent out the event invite to their lists – now we’re probably talking more than a thousand people being informed.
- Local businesses found out or were solicited for raffle prizes which range from custom made jewelry to a ski weekend at a resort.
Now this. You have just become part of the process. The concert starts at 8pm Saturday night at the Metropolitan Lounge in Glen Cove. Hope to see you there!
