As I’ve helped spread the word about crowd-sourcing fundraiser platform, GiveForward, I’ve heard a few different sources of tension. Sure, we all want to help our friends and family in time of need, but when you start talking dollars and cents, an uncomfortable air fills the room. Money is complicated, and even when we know a loved one needs it…and potentially a lot of it…we get a little warm under the collar.
After all, we wouldn’t want to offend them. Sure, we want to help, but gosh, we don’t want them to be upset and feel like a charity case. Besides, we don’t even know how much they even need (and goodness we’re not about to ask! That’s personal!), and really, what if it’s a flop? What if we don’t raise much? What if no one donates? Won’t that make them feel even worse?
Actually, let’s stick to a casserole.
But the thing is, it shouldn’t be uncomfortable. And I truly believe this is one of those Life Things where What We Think, isn’t really How It Is.
I thought that perhaps the best way to get to the human heart behind this would be to ask Vanessa Hart. If you remember, she wrote a brililant series on childhood cancer for us. Her family was also the beneficiary of a GiveForward fundraiser a few years ago.
Here’s what Vanessa had to say about her experience with GiveForward:
Tell us a little about why a GiveForward fundraiser was initiated for you?
My son Brock was diagnosed with leukemia when he was 11 months old. During his first round of chemo, he had some very serious complications that caused him to have to stay in the hospital for 4.5 months. When he finally came home, he had a feeding tube, was on IV medication 6 hours a day, and had regressed to the point where he couldn’t roll over, crawl, talk, or eat. And he still had 3 years of chemo to complete. It was a long (expensive) road.
Nice article. Most of the time, money is a sensitive topic even to those who are friends. GiveForward did a great job. I want to know more of Vanessa Hart’s works, can you tell me where I read her stories?