GiveForward

Those that know Megan Caper say they would describe her as kind, generous, and always willing to help others in need. But now, she needs the help of her community.

Four years ago at age 33, Megan was diagnosed with Stage IIIb colon cancer.   Unfortunately, having a job, health insurance, and savings was no match when it came to the medical bills that have accumulated throughout the past years.

After battling the cancer for years, Megan is now healing and completing a master’s program in Occupational Therapy so she can help others going through medical problems. However Megan has struggled to pay for school, treatment co-pays and monthly insurance premiums that have increased seven-fold since her diagnosis.

Knowing all this, Megan’s family and friends, stepped up to get Megan the help she needs to finally pay off those medical bills.  They started a GiveForward fundraising page on her behalf and are already gaining momentum.

Everyone here are GiveForward is proud to give love and encouragement, and of course send out lots hugs to Megan and her friends.

Faced with a rare bone disorder many family members and friends stepped up to help in a GiveForward fundraiser for Maggie. The fundraiser exemplifies the true definition of generosity.

Here is Maggie’s story:

As dear friends, Chris and Jenna Bailey awaited the arrival of their sweet baby girl, Maggie Katherine Bailey little did they know their lives  – and those of family and friends – would be forever changed with blessings and challenges never imagined.  On December 29, 2009, Maggie Katherine was born with a rare bone disorder called Osteogenesis Imperfecta (OI) or Brittle Bone Disease.  She was diagnosed with Type II OI, the most severe and often fatal form, at two months old.  Unlike most babies with OI, Maggie miraculously had a successful delivery and has suffered no broken bones to date.  She continues to “baffle” her doctors with this amazing statistic, but it is thought that an additional diagnosis of  Mosaicism, is possibly responsible for lessening the effects of the fatal type II mutation.

As the months progressed and healthcare costs increased, the desire to help this precious young family grew. Conversations among five of their closest friends led to discussions of raising funds in Maggie’s honor and one of the participants was familiar with the organization GiveForward.  This seemed the perfect solution in every way, as these five women lived in five different cities and the website offered easy access to a multitude of people.

The entire experience with GiveForward was wonderful: the fundraiser was easy to set up, we received great customer service any time we had questions, and the donation process was very user-friendly.  We were able to update the website as needed, including changing our goal as donations increased – which by the way changed 4 times, increasing each time by thousands!  We were also impressed with how quickly and easily news of the fundraiser spread among our circle of friends and beyond. We were Careful not to get the word of the fundraiser to Jenna and Chris, as we wanted this to be a surprise. We sent out a letter via email with the link of the GiveForward site attached. Many found it an added bonus to donate with the option to be anonymous. Both the amount and the person that donated were kept anonymous with multiple donations. We really contribute this feature to the comfort of the giver and perhaps the encouragement to give more, keeping this information confidential as some people that gave to the fundraiser didn’t want Chris and Jenna to know.

The effects of this fundraiser are far from over as the overwhelming generosity of the human spirit was captured and shared with the help of GiveForward.

The specific goal was to help offset the immediate costs of a planned trip to Nebraska in which Maggie and her family would meet with an OI specialist, since there are no specialist in their home state of Alabama. With the plan in place and high hopes of raising  $5,000 in two months time, we proceeded to spread the word. Little did we know how much love and support Chris and Jenna would receive and what blessings would flow.

Within five weeks, over 1800 people visited the website with friends, family, and complete strangers donating a total of $13,810.

Curious who the two ladies are that are featured on our homepage of GiveForward? We have that answer right here for you.

For sisters Jessica and Amy, there is hope despite the trials of life.  When Jessica went into kidney failure in 2009 and needed to raise $100,000 for a kidney transplant her little sister Amy was there for her even when the medical world said there was nothing they could do.  Woman in FOCUS magazine recently profiled these amazing sisters about how they found great meaning in the strength of the human spirit and the generosity of friends and family. It’s a wonderful story about the power of hope and exemplifies the GiveForward philosophy.  Check out the whole article here! Woman in FOCUS

For many Americans the words, “medical bills” imply stress and creates headaches. Medical bills are sometimes so gruesome that they can even effect many individuals credit scores. In the New York Times article, “Unpaid Medical Bills and Your Credit” author Karen Barrow unravels the turmoil behind these bills and how they effect people’s lives.

If you or a loved one has unpaid medical bills that are negatively effecting your credit, Karen states you are not alone. She estimates that roughly 14 million Americans have had their medical bills take a gash on their credit.

The CNN article, “Medical Bills Prompt More than 60 Percent of Bankruptcies” states that between the years of 2001 and 2007 bankruptcies due to unpaid medical bills increased by an alarming 50 percent.

We at GiveForward know how overwhelming medical debt can be.  We’ve put together a few helpful resources that can help relieve some of the burden:

Cancer Legal Rights Center

A Helping Hand in Healthcare

American Cancer Society Support

Patient Navigator Program

With the Holidays upon us many people are in the giving spirit and are filled with the desire to give back to individuals around the world. Amidst this cheer there is an equivalent amount of families and people that can benefit from Fundraising. Ever wonder how you can make an impact?

If you are in the spirit to give or receive you will benefit from these 3 simple tips:

1. Increase Awareness - Whether you are looking to give back to your community, family, or an individual in need, knowledge regarding the subject is imperative. Raising awareness on a subject can be as simple as talking to your friend at a Holiday party about a site that your family friend has created for Cancer funds.

2. Personalization – Everyone wants to feel like they are connected to that which they are giving to or receiving from. With that said, personalization is key to ensuring that individuals feel as though they are truly having their needs met, or giving to that which their heart desires. Next time your friend talks to you about their fundraising page really take the time to listen to their story. You may find their story touches your heart.

3. Engagement – Often times in the hustle and bustle of the Holidays users question how they can really engage the audience and individuals that they hope to give to or receive from. Perhaps using Social Media strategies such as creating an event on Facebook or even Twittering about a cause that seems appealing. Or maybe you are moved by reaching out to a group of fellow cancer survivors this Holiday Season. Whatever it is that moves you, know that you really are making a difference through engagement with your audience.

May Christmas cheer and giving fill each of your hearts this Holiday Season. Happy Holidays from GiveForward!

Over the years we have had the awesome opportunity to hear many of our users  stories. Fortunately, many of our users have taken the time to share their personal experiences with us that have brought them to GiveForward. These stories are so inspiring that we wanted to share them with the community. Each week we will be featuring one story within our blog. This is the first of the stories about a man diagnosed with cancer whose friends helped him raise $88,000 on GiveForward.

How many subject lines do we see in a day?  A month?  A year?  Most are mundane – until you get one that says “Johan has cancer.”  Only a few days after Christmas my friend Stephanie sent me and 5 other friends this message:  “My husband has cancer, he is dying, and I need your help.”

A skin lesion that was considered nothing ended up being a sign of Stage 4 Renal Carcinoma.  Johan was given 10 months to live.  The only option was a treatment he could not get in Holland and that his insurance company would not cover.  I could feel Stephanie’s panic.  As a friend I wanted to help but was in Colorado, so far from Holland.  Thank goodness, my husband found GiveForward.

I couldn’t rush to my friend’s side but GiveForward gave me the opportunity to do much, much, more. I immediately contacted my 5 friends, Kelly, Kathy, Lisa, Erin, and JJ.  We decided to try and raise money.  Regardless of whether insurance came through or not, out-of-pocket expenses would be extraordinary and Johan’s life might be extended through treatment.

I put the GiveForward page together with the initial goal of $10,000.  That sounded like a dream but why not aim high?  All of us dove into the project without Johan and Stephanie’s knowledge.  We began by emailing everyone we knew.  My expectations were low, but it gave me something to focus on  – a small sense of power and action, and maybe even a little hope.

Within 48 hours I began to realize something special was happening.  We were pushing people through email and Facebook to GiveForward, and they were coming.  Soon a viral network of friends, acquaintances and total strangers had blasted through the $10,000 mark and we couldn’t reset our goals fast enough – $20,000, $30,000, $50,000, and higher! An Uncle connected us to Johan’s coworker’s in Holland who picked up the cause, long ago school teachers reached out, my next door neighbor, cancer survivors, strangers who had lost loved ones to cancer and wanted someone to beat it.

There were as many different reasons for the giving as there were donors, but one common theme emerged:  GiveForward gave us all the chance for power, action, and hope.

Over $88,000 raised in a few short months.  One might call it a miracle, a gift from heaven, or simply a remarkable act of human kindness.  In the end though, it all goes back to Johan and Stephanie.  They have lived their lives in a gracious, generous, and compassionate manner without the thought or expectation they would ever be repaid.  We may not be able to give them what they truly deserve, but GiveForward has given over a thousand donors a chance to try.

Not all Cancer can be fixed through treatment.  Not all Cancer can be fixed with kind-hearted donations.  Johan has responded well to treatment.  It may be that his life has been extended, whatever that means.  Johan and Stephanie are strong, they are surrounded by love and they face this challenge every day.  With or without GiveForward this would be true.  But with GiveForward, something different has happened.  They are facing the future– moving to the United States, paying extra medical costs, staying out of debt, and putting aside funds for their children.  They are able to prepare for the inevitable but live every day.  In a nutshell, Stephanie says that the money, “…has given us peace.”

GiveForward, especially Ethan, spent countless hours on the phone with Johan, Stephanie, and I.  They knew how to help all of us to reach a goal that none of us ever anticipated.  Everyone should know about them.  Giving is exactly what Johan has always done.  I’m so happy that I could find a way to give to him.

Stay tuned everyone for weekly inspirational stories from our users….

A huge thank you to everyone who came out to the 3rd annual GiveForward Pub Crawl this past weekend that welcomed 300 plus cheerful individuals.  Because of your support we were able to raise nearly $3,000 for Imerman Angels, an organization with the mission of providing one-on-one support for individuals touched by cancer.

For many individuals, families, and friends that have have been impacted by cancer in their lives your generosity is greatly appreciated. Check out the pictures of the fun:

Facebook Ugly Sweater Pub Crawl 2010 Album

Stay tuned, GiveForward will be joining Imerman Angels to run in the Austin, TX Livestrong marathon in February…Perhaps we will be running in our ugly sweaters.

This Saturday December 4^th GiveForward is hosting our 3^rd annual Ugly Sweater Pub Crawl. Come join GiveForward as we dash through many bars wearing the ugliest sweaters possible.

To make this debauchery all the more celebratory, there will be a contest with a $100 cash prize for the person wearing the best/ugliest outfit. Don’t be shy, the tackier the better. Who says your grandma’s 70’s sweater in the back of her closet shouldn’t make an appearance? The one with the hideous designs and clashing colors; wear that.

To join in this day of guilt-free fun and claim your $2 drinks at each bar, donate now. The crawl will start at 12 PM at Mad River (2909 N. Sheffield Ave)! Wristbands will be available at the door but they will cost $30.

All proceeds go to Imerman Angels, an amazing one-on-one cancer support network.  Don’t be late—the first one hundred people in the door at Mad River will receive Custom GiveForward Santa hats!

For more information on the crawl go to: www.uglysweaterpubcrawl.com

Cheers and wishes of pure sweater ugliness to you!

I hope everyone’s holiday celebrations have been great.  I decided to take a little time away from planning my new year to tell you all about our great new interns here at GiveForward.  They have all taken some time away from their work to give me information I’ve been badgering them for.  Since we usually save the best for last, I’m going to start off by telling you a little about myself.

My name is Rob Vizza, and I work with Public Relations and Marketing for GiveForward.  I am currently in my fourth year at DePaul University where I keep busy with my fraternity (Phi Kappa Psi) and play for the Men’s Rugby Team.  I love Arnold Palmer’s, Italian food, the Chicago Bears, Its Always Sunny in Philadelphia, rock music, Kevin Smith Movies, and going on random nightly adventures.  I can’t stand cheese, low ceilings, and Nicholas Cage’s acting.  In my free time I like to do community service, write screenplays, play sports, and just have a great time with my friends.  I got involved with GiveForward through a meeting I had with Ethan about doing fundraising for my fraternity.  He informed me that he was looking for interns, and I was excited to work with GiveForward.  This experience has been great.  I have never worked in a more positive environment.  Enough about me, lets meet Leigh.

Leigh Johnston grew up on the east coast in Stafford, VA—a small area that can’t seem to decide if it wants to be part of the Washington D.C. city life or not. She went to school in Blacksburg, VA at the ever-fabulous Virginia Tech, and then earned her Master’s in Pennsylvania at Carnegie Mellon. Despite being an east coast girl for so long, Leigh isn’t sure how she ended up in the Midwest, but is okay with being here. “My favorite things in the whole world are zombies, diet coke, sushi, Neil Patrick Harris, pumpkin spice-flavored berry chill, good paperbacks, stellar concerts, Threadless t-shirts, and my cat. Oh, and my fiancé. I like him too.” Leigh said.  In her free time Leigh likes to watch zombie movies, drink diet coke, eat sushi, swoon over Neil Patrick Harris, eat berry chill, read books, go to concerts, buy things at Threadless, and throw cat toys for her cat.  Leigh chose GiveForward because Ethan’s craiglist ad for a social media maven required burrito-eating skillz, and she figured there’d be a lot of Chipotle involved in this internship. So far, she hasn’t been disappointed. Leigh said, “GiveForward is doing great things and I’m stoked to be a part of it.”  Leigh is our Social Media Maven here at GiveForward  Next is our Fundraising Coach Extraordinaire, Erica Trzeciak.

Most GiveForward users know Erica as the girl who sends them all those nice emails.  As our fundraising coach, Erica works to make sure users get the most out of their fundraising experience and guides them on the road to a successful project.  Erica grew up in La Grange, IL.  She graduated last year from the University of Massachusetts with a B.A. in Psychology.  She is currently studying for the GRE’s to go to grad school next fall for Forensic Psychology.  Erica loves the color green, football (Go Bears!), finding new music, watching karaoke (not participating), gummi worms, gummi bears, and gummi peaches.  She watches the travel channel with hopes of one day visiting every continent, maybe even every country if her future finances allow it.  She is a terrible liar, but admits to reading the Twilight series multiple times and seeing New Moon in theaters at 3:15A.M.  She can’t stand Miley Cyrus, claiming that evens out her Twilight obsession.  She loves Christmas music, and is very critical of tacky Christmas decorations. “I chose GiveForward because I wanted a new perspective on giving back to the community.  I’ve done so much work with philanthropy, community service and fundraising on my own, that it’s nice to be helping on a large scale now.  Helping other people help the causes they care about so much is more rewarding than I could have ever imagined,” said Erica.  Lastly lets meet Sarah Seely.

Sarah grew up in Wrentham, Massachusetts.  She is currently studying sociology at DePaul University where she is putting the super in super senior.  Sarah likes incorporating guacamole into every food she eats, listening to trashy rap music, and wowing people with her extensive football knowledge.  When Sarah isn’t working at GiveForward she enjoys watching Cash Cab, starting but not finishing books, smiling at babies and dogs on the street while completely ignoring the adults attached to them, and constantly ignoring the pile of dirty dishes in her sink.  When asked how her experience with GiveForward has been Sarah said, “I love GiveForward!!!! Ethan and Desiree are awesome bosses, we’re like one big happy beer and burrito loving family.  It’s wonderful to help people and organizations that are doing awesome things.  It warms my heart everyday.”  I hope you all find our GiveForward Interns as awesome as we do!  Good luck with sticking to your new year resolutions!

-Rob

I found something I thought was pretty cool on Twitter the other day.  Like many of our users on GiveForward, Nicole Knox is currently fundraising to help her friend Jenn pay for the treatments she needs to beat breast cancer.  Jenn is currently going through chemotherapy, a process that makes you lose your hair.  What’s really amazing is how Jenn’s community of friends and family have rallied around her in this time of need.  Not only have they raised over $2775 but a few of them have really gone the extra mile.  Meet Delton de Armas.  In an awesome display of solidarity, Delton decided to shave his head to support Jenn’s fight against cancer.

I think this is cool because it is a very unique and meaningful way to show support.  GiveForward is very thankful for not only our users, but people like Delton who support those going through tough times.  We just wanted to share this little bit of holiday cheer with everyone.  From the entire GF office, and we hope everyone has a happy and healthy Thanksgiving shared with friends and family as awesome as the hairless Delton!