Robert on the End of (Red)emption

From the pen of Robert...

Well, our campaign to raise awareness and funds for the Stephen Lewis Foundation has come to a close and we are delighted to announce that we raised over $7,000 from 567 donors in 10 countries!

This has been a fascinating adventure for me.  Mike is an old hand at charitable works and fundraising but this was my first hands-on experience at trying to raise awareness.  The idea for an awareness campaign started after I heard Stephen Lewis speak in September and found I was unable to sleep afterward: my mind was racing with the hideous images he has described of toddler orphans in Africa.  I watched my kids sleep that night and tried to imagine how it could be that children no older than Emily and Adam could be on their own, with no one to protect them.  I talked to Mike about it the next day and we both got so riled up we convinced each other this emergency could not go on if people were only made aware.  The next thing you know, we were telling you terrible stories and hitting you up for $10...

I must admit it was a little scary at first, which may come as a surprise to some, not because I am embarrassed asking people for money (occupational hazard) but because I think I sometimes take a cynical pose and wasn't sure how this would be received.  I was a little concerned people would shrug it off, or look at me like I'd gone a little loopy.  I wasn't sure how I would react if people I was hoping to spur to action simply didn't.  I just didn't know how I would react.  I was really afraid I would be disappointed.

Thankfully, the first week laid my fears to rest.  We flew out of the chute and got close to 100 donors the first week and over 200 by the second week.  That's when the heavy lifting began.  Looking back, I think I was surprised by how reticent people were to ask their friends to participate.  I found that very frustrating because I discovered so early on that my friends were just like me, they care about this and want to help.  From then on, it became a simple matter of convincing people their friends would not react negatively to this but in fact, would welcome the opportunity to join us.  Those of you who did that know what I mean.  We got emails from people we didn't know thanking us for doing this.  That was the best.  The other thing that surprised me a bit was how reticent many people are about using the internet to pay for things.  I estimate we put through at least 250 payments through my bank account and credit card.  For a few weeks, $10 bills and cheques arrived at my home and office by the handful!

In the end, this has been a very moving experience. From the very beginning, I was blown away by the generosity of spirit of my friends and family (I don't use the term "clients" as any of you who contributed to this are either friends or family or both).

In closing, those of you who sent in money, thank you. To those of you who sent in money and spread the word, thank you.

To all of you, may we all have a happy and healthy 2007.

Comments

[Tim C.]

And thank you, Robert and Mike, for organising the whole thing.

[Rick Meigs (blind beggar)]

Thanks Robert for taking the lead on this really cool and beneficial project.

[Wes Roberts]

Robert...read my comment on Mike's part of the blog. Sure eager to meet you one of these days!