Last week, the ABC News magazine, 20/20, featured three different stories focusing on the experience of people living with disabilities. All three were interesting and generally positive. However, one story is especially provocative.
Kevin Connolly is a photographer who traveled the world and photographed people staring at him because of his disability. His Web site, "The Rolling Exhibition", features photos of his journey and the people who stared. Kevin says on his Web site, "Everyone tries to create a story... we want to know how someone different, strange, or disfigured came to be as they are. Everyone does it. It's natural. It's curiosity. But before any of us can ponder or speculate—we react. We stare... [it is] more reflex than conscious action—that makes us who we are and has been one of my goals to capture over the past year. Looking at each face, I saw humanity. Rolling through their streets, I found the unique cultures and customs that created an individual."
FL UCP Affiliates Fight Dependency Issues with Americorps VISTA grant
United Cerebral Palsy of East Central Florida (UCP-ECF) located in Daytona Beach, is the lead agency for a grant from AmeriCorps*VISTA that will impact 21 counties throughout the state of Florida. VISTA which stands for Volunteer in Service to America is part of AmeriCorps, a network of national and community service programs that each year engages more than 70,000 American citizens in intensive service to meet critical needs in education, the environment, public safety, and other areas.
The goal of this grant is to systematically and administratively address the issues of self sufficiency and develop employment and housing opportunities for individuals with disabilities. UCP-ECF is collaborating with UCP of Northwest Florida and UCP of South Florida in these areas. Kelly Johanessen, Vice President of Operations for UCP-ECF said, "We envision this project serving as a catalyst for developing stronger relationships with both business and housing industries which will allow them to better understand and respond to the needs of individuals with disabilities and create greater access to individuals with disabilities to employment and affordable housing options in their community." For more information, see the UCP-ECF press release, visit the UCP-ECF Web site or visit the Americorps*VISTA Web page.
Redefine Your Approach in the New Year
Want to reach a younger audience of potential donors, activists and volunteers? Forget about the traditional methods of using the phone, direct mail and workplace campaigns. Try MySpace, Facebook, Globalgiving.com, Change.org, Idealist.org, blogs and e-mail. This idea goes beyond conventional methods of using websites to collect donations—an idea that grew after immense worldwide giving that poured into relief agencies after disasters like the tsunami and Hurricane Katrina in 2005.
In a November 2007 article by The Miami Herald, "How Generation Wired is reinventing philanthropy" discusses this topic and how it is a crucial necessity for nonprofits to get involved online.
Many methods are available for reaching the "Generation Wired" including utilizing an email campaign to send updates about a project and provide links for donors to collect donations so recipients can use it to promote favorite causes. Recipients will forward any particular e-mail to encourage families and friends to fund-raise and then pass the message along—"the classic 'you tell two people, and they tell two people and so on and so on' taken to the nth degree—until it becomes 'viral.'" In fact, Andrea Soto, communication director for Hands on Miami, a nonprofit that runs dozens of community projects each month, from school renovations to community cleanups, says their supporters "can register online...submit a project proposal online...[and even] donate online. And we send out 10,000 copies of our weekly updates by e-mail" to inform everyone in their online community about the progress of a given project. Today's users want to be involved and know that their funds are being used for some good.
Another nonprofit, Kiva.org of California, participates in Second Life and uses the feedback approach of interacting with its supporters to build a relationship. Kiva.org acts as an agent to microfinance third world businesses in impoverished communities by allowing an individual to "sponsor a business" when they lend as much as $25 through Paypal with a return on the loan within 6-12 months. These loans, however, are repaid without interest, but many don't seem to mind as it is doing the world some good and often, the lender reallocates the money to another loan upon return. Periodically, the individual will hear back from the sponsored business to keep them informed on the progress of the business and updates are also available by email. Kiva.org grew significantly in September 2007, when Oprah Winfrey featured the organization on her television program. That day, "211,000 uses...lent out a total of $18.7 million" according to ABC News, funding every loan available that day. As a result, loan contributions are now limited to $25 per person and the average loan is fulfilled in about "0.97 days." As a leader in the Second Life online community, Kiva.org participates each week in meetings held at the Nonprofit Commons, a place in Second Life, hosted by TechSoup where nonprofits come together to share ideas and discuss issues to strengthen the overall nonprofit presence online.
The American Cancer Society (ACS) has held a virtual "Relay for Life" event in Second Life for the past three years and each subsequent year yields more success. The first year brought in $5,000, the second, $41,000 and this past year, $115,000. ACS was able to accomplish this feat with the help of a partnership with Infinite Vision Media (IVM), a Boston-based media firm that works exclusively in Second Life, helping absorb most operations costs in Second Life.
Many would assume that Second Life participants are twenty-somthings, but statistics have shown that many people interacting in Second Life are in their 30-40s and "are older and more rural that you'd think, a lot of moms who don't work," according to the Nonprofit Times article, "Nonprofits Getting a Lease in Second Life". Further, this kind of success found in Second Life and online isn't limited to organizations; individuals, acting alone can make a real difference.
Nick Anderson, a teenager using a Web 2.0 approach such as social-networking sites Facebook and MySpace, encouraged fellow high school students to raise $306,000 in his Dollars for Darfur campaign. According to a recent Chronicle of Philanthropy article, Anderson said, "The effect that one person can have on their community, as a whole, in educating people on an issue and stirring people to action is really quite remarkable."
There is more to reaching today's "Generation Wired" than a one-sided relationship. It involves reciprocal relationship building and constant feedback. "Grassroots electronic campaigns work with 'Generation Wired' because they have a different mindset," says Alberto Ibargüen, CEO and president of the Miami-based John S. and James L. Knight Foundation and former publisher of The Miami Herald. "They have a different notion of privacy than their parents, a different idea as to what information they share in a public forum like the Internet." As a result, methods used to reach this generation will likely be different than ever before. Adoption and adaptation will serve as the key to finding common ground to tap into this resource group. "I think it is so critically important to explore ways to reach the younger demographic on their own terms," said Ibargüen. "I think it's critical for foundations to experiment and share what they discover with everyone who might benefit."
Founder of a Nonprofit Is Punished by Its Board for Engaging in an Internet Ruse New York Times, 1/8/08
A founder of GiveWell, a new nonprofit research organization that seeks to assess the effectiveness of charities, has been demoted after admitting that he promoted the organization on a Web site by posing as a prospective charitable donor seeking information.
45th Annual UCP Telethon iBerkshires.com, 1/7/08
Brenda Curry, President of UCP of Berkshire County has announced the 45th Annual United Cerebral Palsy Association of Berkshire County Telethon. Co-Chairing the event are Fran Marinaro and Dan Dillon.
UCP welcomes donation of medical equipment The Tribune-Democrat, 1/4/08
What can be a tedious training process for people with cerebral palsy is being made a little easier through the donations of one locally owned medical supply company.
Rezk Medical Supply, with corporate headquarters in Carrolltown, has donated five wheelchairs and five electrically operated beds to United Cerebral Palsy of the Southern Alleghenies Region.
New Civil Rights Movement: Passionate Crusade for Inclusion of People with Disabilities American Chronicle, 12/30/07
"'Sesame Street' is rare. For almost 40 years the writers, producers and administrators have been committed to including people with disabilities to truly represent society. But, how often do you see people with disabilities in commercials, television shows, film or theatre?" writer Emily Perl Kingsley asked.
Bea Wellens Receives UCPN
Lifetime Achievement Award Three Village Times, 12/28/07
Almost since the time that United Cerebral Palsy Association of Nassau County, Inc. (UCPN) was established in 1948, Bea Wellens has been on the scene helping and volunteering. Her integrity and sincerity has been witnessed by many people who were influential in the growth and success of the agency through the years including political leaders and corporate executives and most importantly, the consumers and the families who benefit from the programs and services at UCPN.
Woman arrested after Cerebral Palsy donation box swiped WIS News 10, 12/28/07
The woman police say helped her daughter steal a Cerebral Palsy donation box from a St. Andrews convenience store is in jail, according to police.
Donated Computers Help Disabled Children ABC 7 News, 12/16/07 (Video)
Eleven years ago, United Cerebral Palsy of Greater Chicago established ATEN - Assistive Technology Exchange Network.
"It takes in donations of used computer equipment, upgrades, adapts and modifies the equipment for kids with disabilities," said Greg Grill, program director.
