May 23, 2016 by Andrea
Photo: Patreon
A self-proclaimed PAINter, Hertz Nazaire has been creating artwork depicting his experiences with sickle cell disease for years. One of his current projects? Collecting photos of warriors who've lost their battle, as well as photos of those who are still very much in the fight, so that he can make them into art and put them on display at his next show in September -- Sickle Cell Awareness Month. "I am a warrior [and] I struggle with the pain of sickle cell disease, so some of my art is created for the awareness of that struggle that is shared by many around the world," Nazaire says on his Patreon site.
In order for him to successfully carry out his mission -- for this project and others to come -- he not only needs photographic submissions, but also donations to help fund his work and its distribution. "It is frustrating when you want to give your heart to something, but you are held back by money. This drives a creative person to the point of madness," he writes. "So, this is the action I took as a result of my anger. I started this Patreon to ask for help to find patrons willing to support my voice and help me create my art."
Maybe you've been looking for a way to help the sickle cell community, but don't feel that you are able to organize a fundraising event or lead an educational session on SCD itself. This could be your opportunity to give back. It's easy to do and Nazaire says that even a couple of bucks a month can help. Simply click here to donate.
To submit photos for his current project, e-mail them to nazaire@gmail.com.
Category: Fundraising, Sickle Cell Disease, Sickle Cell Education Tags: Hertz Nazaire, patreon, sickle cell art, sickle cell awareness, sickle cell disease, sickle cell fundraising | Comments Off on How One Man Uses Art to Raise Awareness for Sickle Cell Disease
March 30, 2016 by Andrea
Photo: CreateHer Stock
Last year, we published a popular round-up of the Twitter accounts every sickle cell warrior should follow, and now, we're bringing you a similar list of Instagram accounts dedicated to sickle cell awareness and education.
Inspired by a recent tweet to us asking how people can turn what the McCourty Twins do into national awareness and fundraising, this list is the perfect start for gathering much of the inspiration you'll need to launch your campaigns. Of course, most events do not start nationally right out the gate, but begin on the local or regional level and grow from there. But who knows, maybe you'll end up pitching your newfound ideas to a national association that can help take your concepts to the next level a little bit sooner.
@sicklecell101
"Certified sickle cell educators | education + awareness"
@sicklecellmatters
"Connecting families, healthcare professionals, private and public entities worldwide to promote awareness and online funding campaigns for SCD."
@ssscfoundation
Samira Sanusi Sickle Cell Foundation based in Lagos, Nigeria
@shawnstestimony
"You will get awareness all day with us! A pinch of luv and a lil treasure on the side. U wanna learn how 2 advocate like no otha ... come join us!"
@sicklecell.life
"Sickle-cell anemia - facts Tips to live your life ... Motivation, Quotes, Treatment, Healthy food/drinks tips"
@nazhitheebaker
"12yrs Old Chef. Creator of Nazhi Thee Baker Angel Foundation Non-Profit Organization"
@scdaa
"Official Page of the National Sickle Cell Disease Association of America, Inc."
@sicklecellstories
"A place you can share your sickle cell experiences."
@paincrisis
"Sickle Cell Advocate. Breaking the silence one post at a time."
@sicklecellfoundationng
"Sickle Cell Foundation Nigeria. Bringing hope to the African Child."
Did we miss any of your favorite sickle cell warriors? Add their Twitter handles in the comments below!
Category: Fundraising, Resources for Parents, Sickle Cell Disease, Sickle Cell Education Tags: sickle cell disease, sickle cell education, sickle cell fundraising | Comments Off on 10 Instas You Should Follow for SCD Awareness and Fundraising Inspo
November 2, 2015 by Andrea
These tips are the seeds you can plant to give new life to your awareness campaigns. (Photo: Kaboompics)
Feeling like your SCD awareness methods have as much life as those Halloween ghosts? Put these four tips into play and breathe new energy into your movement:
1. Ask past participants to share photos of themselves at your events. Then, repost those photos on social media and your blog. Just as positive reviews can help sell products, photos of people positively engaging in your fundraising and volunteer programs can inspire others to get involved with your organization, as well.
2. Hold a Twitter Q&A. One reason for a drop off in activity may just be that not enough people are aware of what you're doing for the SCD community. Use social media to your advantage and set aside an hour or so once a week or once a month to answer questions people may have about your efforts. This will give you an opportunity to share information about upcoming events, any crowdsourcing campaigns you're running, and generally how people can join your team.
3. Rethink your events. Looking to attract an increased number of young people to join with your other established volunteers? Host an event that may interest that set more, such as a benefit concert or a game night. What's more fun that dancing the night away or unleashing your competitive spirit around friends, while raising money for sickle cell all at the same time?
4. Feel the love. Sometimes a lack of motivation can be the cause of your slump. It's not that you've completely lost your passion for raising awareness; you've just become a bit burned out. To combat this, start keeping a "love" folder in your e-mail, on your computer, or even in hard copy form. When that "meh" feeling starts creeping up, read all the positive feedback you've saved in your "love" folder and let that be the boost you need to step up your awareness efforts.
Overcoming campaign fatigue is simple once you decide to break out of your usual routine and implement fresh ideas. Which of these tips will you/have you used? How else have you brought new life to a volunteer slow down? Tell us in the comments below!
Category: Sickle Cell Disease Tags: how to reinvigorate your fundraising, sickle cell awareness campaign efforts, sickle cell disease, sickle cell fundraising, sickle cell volunteers | Comments Off on 4 Ways to Reinvigorate Your Sickle Cell Awareness Campaign
