Post by donajelli on Oct 9, 2014 17:13:56 GMT -5
For our sixth online discussion I chose to write about Livestrong, which I also wrote about for a previous online discussion. Livestrong is a nonprofit dedicated to helping those affected by cancer, and was founded by former pro cyclist and cancer survivor Lance Armstrong.
The name of the organization wasn’t always Livestrong, however. When it first began in 1997 it was called the Lance Armstrong Foundation and it wasn’t until 2004 they changed the name to Livestrong. The name change came with the launch of a new website, as well as new yellow rubber bracelets that would change nonprofit fundraising indefinitely. Livestrong teamed up with Nike, one of the most popular brands in the world to create elastic bracelets with simply “Livestrong” printed on them. For only a dollar each, the bracelets were becoming a fashion trend for people and within the first year Livestrong sold approximately 50 million bracelets, according to Sal Ruibal of USA Today. I remember when the bracelets first became popular amongst my peer group in 7th grade. Anybody who was anybody had a bracelet, and it lead to other companies, not just nonprofits, to reproduce similar bracelets. Popular public figures like John Kerry and celebrities like Ben Stiller and Will Ferrell have been spotted wearing Livestrong bracelets in public, only furthering the strength of the campaign.
Recently the Livestrong foundation has gone through a rough patch with the doping scandal involving the founder of Livestrong Lance Armstrong. In 2012 he was found guilty of using performance-enhancing drugs and had to come clean to the whole world. Bad news for Lance Armstrong and Livestrong, as the former 7-time tour de France winner could no longer be affiliated with organization in order to protect their image. They even lost their sponsorship with Nike, according to CBS, which further hurt the reputation of the nonprofit.
usatoday30.usatoday.com/sports/cycling/2005-05-12-livestrong_x.htm
CBS
The name of the organization wasn’t always Livestrong, however. When it first began in 1997 it was called the Lance Armstrong Foundation and it wasn’t until 2004 they changed the name to Livestrong. The name change came with the launch of a new website, as well as new yellow rubber bracelets that would change nonprofit fundraising indefinitely. Livestrong teamed up with Nike, one of the most popular brands in the world to create elastic bracelets with simply “Livestrong” printed on them. For only a dollar each, the bracelets were becoming a fashion trend for people and within the first year Livestrong sold approximately 50 million bracelets, according to Sal Ruibal of USA Today. I remember when the bracelets first became popular amongst my peer group in 7th grade. Anybody who was anybody had a bracelet, and it lead to other companies, not just nonprofits, to reproduce similar bracelets. Popular public figures like John Kerry and celebrities like Ben Stiller and Will Ferrell have been spotted wearing Livestrong bracelets in public, only furthering the strength of the campaign.
Recently the Livestrong foundation has gone through a rough patch with the doping scandal involving the founder of Livestrong Lance Armstrong. In 2012 he was found guilty of using performance-enhancing drugs and had to come clean to the whole world. Bad news for Lance Armstrong and Livestrong, as the former 7-time tour de France winner could no longer be affiliated with organization in order to protect their image. They even lost their sponsorship with Nike, according to CBS, which further hurt the reputation of the nonprofit.
usatoday30.usatoday.com/sports/cycling/2005-05-12-livestrong_x.htm
CBS