Post by digangidl on Oct 9, 2014 21:10:35 GMT -5
Susan G Komen is the largest breast-cancer awareness foundation in the United States. Originally called The Susan G. Komen Breast Cancer Foundation, the foundation was created in 1982 after founder Nancy Brinkman's sister passed away of breast cancer and Brinkman promised her she would do everything in her power to end breast cancer.
This kind of powerful, personal story is not only behind the inception of the Komen foundation, but at its core when it comes to all of Komen's fundraising and awareness efforts. Because of the additional breast tissue women have, breast cancer is one of the few cancers that disproportionately affects women (along with such cancers as cervical and ovarian) and it has had the most success when it comes to awareness raising, due in part to how it is more common than other "female" cancers and also in part to how successful the Komen foundation has been in, in a sense, "marketing" the fight against breast cancer. When we think breast cancer, we think mothers, grandmas, sisters. We think of women. The pink of Komen is inextricably linked with the idea of breast cancer, which is in turn inextricably linked to femininity and the female role in our culture.
We know what kind of stories go viral on the internet and through social media. Funny stories, shocking stories, cute stories, and sad/inspirational stories. That last one is key. It is easy to play on pathos through the internet because the internet is an inherently immersive experience. There is something intimate and voyeuristic about watching someone's private moments as shared online, and we recognize the privilege of being able to share in these moments. We are deeply touched by watch clips of veterans returning home from war and reuniting with their children or spouses. And we are also touched at stories of women who have survived breast cancer, or who have been lost to it.
In The Spark Mill hangout with Sarah Milston, Milston brought up how ease of donating and keeping in contact with a non-profit is key to fundraising efforts (For their part, The Spark Mill, though not itself a charity, has presence on all major non-video social media outlets). Komen is very easy to donate do, offering many options through their website (simple cash donation, having your gift matched by your employer, leaving Komen part of your estate, donating in memory of a family member or a friend, or being sponsored in a walk for the cure). Komen's walks are very popular and featured in television ads which contain talking heads from survivors and people who have lost family members to the illness who are taking the walk.
This method of donating also ties into what Gloria Huang of FEMA brought up when she talked about how each person has a unique thing to contribute to a relief effort and that solving any problem requires a combined effort. Not everyone can leave Komen part of their estate, but many can find someone to sponsor a walk or get their employer to match a donation.
This kind of powerful, personal story is not only behind the inception of the Komen foundation, but at its core when it comes to all of Komen's fundraising and awareness efforts. Because of the additional breast tissue women have, breast cancer is one of the few cancers that disproportionately affects women (along with such cancers as cervical and ovarian) and it has had the most success when it comes to awareness raising, due in part to how it is more common than other "female" cancers and also in part to how successful the Komen foundation has been in, in a sense, "marketing" the fight against breast cancer. When we think breast cancer, we think mothers, grandmas, sisters. We think of women. The pink of Komen is inextricably linked with the idea of breast cancer, which is in turn inextricably linked to femininity and the female role in our culture.
We know what kind of stories go viral on the internet and through social media. Funny stories, shocking stories, cute stories, and sad/inspirational stories. That last one is key. It is easy to play on pathos through the internet because the internet is an inherently immersive experience. There is something intimate and voyeuristic about watching someone's private moments as shared online, and we recognize the privilege of being able to share in these moments. We are deeply touched by watch clips of veterans returning home from war and reuniting with their children or spouses. And we are also touched at stories of women who have survived breast cancer, or who have been lost to it.
In The Spark Mill hangout with Sarah Milston, Milston brought up how ease of donating and keeping in contact with a non-profit is key to fundraising efforts (For their part, The Spark Mill, though not itself a charity, has presence on all major non-video social media outlets). Komen is very easy to donate do, offering many options through their website (simple cash donation, having your gift matched by your employer, leaving Komen part of your estate, donating in memory of a family member or a friend, or being sponsored in a walk for the cure). Komen's walks are very popular and featured in television ads which contain talking heads from survivors and people who have lost family members to the illness who are taking the walk.
This method of donating also ties into what Gloria Huang of FEMA brought up when she talked about how each person has a unique thing to contribute to a relief effort and that solving any problem requires a combined effort. Not everyone can leave Komen part of their estate, but many can find someone to sponsor a walk or get their employer to match a donation.