Behind the Button

Elizabeth Fallon and Susan G. Komen for the Cure

Sometimes the simplest thing can turn into an amazing phenomenon.
Here's the story of Elizabeth Fallon, a button and why this could change everything!

A friend of mine happened upon Elizabeth on Facebook and asked if I would make some buttons using her profile picture. In our wildest imagination we could not believe what would happen next...

After receiving the buttons (badges) as they're known in the UK - LIz asked friends and family for donations in return for a button. That’s when the magic happened...people started posting pictures wearing the buttons on Liz's Facebook wall (see some pictures at bottom of the post) - over 300 pictures from five continents buttons on celebrities, on babies, on dogs, on statues, on a coconut and even on the top of Kilimanjaro! The Road to Recovery buttons had become a global phenomenon on Facebook!

In liz's words "but it doesn't stop there" remember Liz used the buttons as a proxy for donations to her local cancer charity Harbour cancer Support Centre so far she's raised over $3500 far more then she ever imagined.

So what could this mean for Susan G. Komen for the Cure? First there are lots of Elizabeth Fallons out there eagerly looking for better ways to engage and motivate people to participate and/or donate! It’s not enough anymore to post a donation plea on Facebook or Tweet, Tweet, Tweet - you have to grab people with something different - it’s even better if you can offer them something tangible.

 
Fundraising is about motivation, inspiration yes but also excitement and fun. Elizabeth’s cause awareness and fundraising success are due to giving people something fun to do, a task if you will - more than just mailing a check. When they order a button people think about where to take the picture and then start spreading it to their followers on Facebook* - at each step in the process they are fully engaged with Elizabeth and her cause. *And because of Facebook they are effortlessly spreading to hundreds and hundreds of friends!

You can see why I think this could be so HUGE for Susan G. Komen for the Cure - imagine over a million of your fundraisers doing what Elizabeth has done! Thousands of their friends, family and co workers spreading the word on Facebook ...well the numbers would be staggering! If 1000 fundraisers made buttons they could reach 130,000 friends...of course those people, have (130) friends too so...well do the math (16.9 million) - OK that may be a little hyperbolic but you get the point! 
**average person on Facebook has 130 friends

I’ve always felt making custom photo buttons one a time with no minimums (you really can order one custom button) was a simple yet powerful way to engage, motivate and inspire people to do remarkable things. My friend Elizabeth Fallon is but one of I think millions of people ready to do the same!

So here's some more really cool stuff about ELizabeth's Road to Recovery...

We set up a button gallery just for Elizabeth where people can order their buttons (a gallery like this could be set up for any Susan G. Komen fundraiser) http://budurl.com/LizFallonButtons


In Elizabeth's own words...she captures beautifully what Buttons of Hope is all about

 

WBTV's Molly Grantham has been one of Susan G. Komen Race for the Cure Charlotte's biggest fans and advocates. It shows in her wonderful interview of Elizabeth Fallon on day one of her Charlotte visit!

 

Just some of the over 300 Raod to Recovery button pictures from Liz's Facebook wall...

 

Elizabeth Fallon talks about Buttons of Hope

My friend Elizabeth Fallon talks about what Buttons of Hope means to her....

 

Across the Pond : A (very real) Fairy Tale

According to Wikipedia a fairy tale is... "Fairy tales typically feature** such folkloric characters as fairies (princesses), goblins, elves, trolls, giants or gnomes, and usually magic or enchantments. Often the story will involve a far-fetched sequence of events."  **and a happy ending!

Have I got a tale for you..... we have a goblin (cancer), a few delightful gnomes (Scott Helms, his mom Wendy Rawlings, Lisa Moon, Jennifer Sherrel and hundreds of elves) lots of magic (Purple wigs, lots of pink, photo buttons, Facebook, USAir & Susan Komen Race for the Cure | Charlotte
and of course a princess Elizabeth Fallon!

THIS JUST IN: watch & listen to Elizabeth talk about her "fairy tale" on WBTV

 

Our fairy tale is all about friendship, inspiration and hope, most of all HOPE! Before today only one of the people mentioned has even met Elizabeth - but we have all come to know her through the magic of Facebook - where hundreds of friends have posted pictures wearing Liz' iconic purple wig button (badge) check her out on FB an amazing & growing network of friends and family who support Liz in her continuing battle with the cancer goblin!

As I type this Liz is somewhere over the Atlantic - she is about to learn she is the honored passenger on USAir flight 733 - each passenger and crew all 300 are by now wearing Road to Recovery USA edition buttons of hope - in honor of Liz and every other person battling this goblin. Then Liz will be honored Saturday 10/2 along with thousands of cancer survivors at Charlotte's Susan Komen Race for the Cure

If you are one of the passengers on flight 733 - please drop us a note or maybe share your own story of hope. And please if you have a button of Liz please take a picture wearing it and post on the Buttons of Hope Facebook page. You can read more about Liz in my earlier post Elizabeth Fallon | A button (badge) that changed the world

and watch the short video she made about the BIG impact of these little buttons

 

Erin Ott "each step I take will be for her" | Susan G. Komen 3 day Walk Arizona

When Erin visited the Buttons of Hope website - she was a stranger now her story(s) and her passion are out there for everyone to see. Erin tells me she loves her buttons - but it's really not about the buttons so much as its about what those buttons say about the powerful stories she has to share. I love it when the light goes on and someone finds the photo button fundraising idea. When I see someone like Erin proudly wearing her buttons I know that while they are a powerful fundraising tool more than they are helping her be the change she wants to see in the world...wow!

From Erin...I would love to offer you my story, so here it goes:

"I initially signed up for the Susan G Komen Breast Cancer 3-Day (Arizona 2009) as a challenge to myself to commit to a wonderful cause and to better myself and those around me. I learned of the walk from my boss and her daughter-in-law.  I immediately said where do I sign up???? I registered and started walking a little each day...and then a little more and a little more...[if you've never done a Komen 3 day Walk it is one of the most physically demanding fundraisers]

My aunt is a TWO time breast cancer survivor, and multiple women and men that I work with are survivors.  So I started walking and started asking those around for donations.  Fundraising was tough, but I just kept asking and emailing and posting on facebook and finally I reached my goal of $2,300!!  Then something happened that made this walk much more personal than I ever thought imaginable.  My mom was diagnosed with breast cancer.  Her surgery date will be just days before my 3-day journey and each step I take will be for her.  My camelbak is decorated with buttons of hope so all who see me walk down the street will know who I walk for...I walk for my aunt, I walk for my co-workers, I walk for my sisters, and I walk for my Mom, my best friend for life!"

If you'd like to support Erin please leave a comment for her at the end of this blog post and / or if you like you'd care to contribute to her Susan G Komen 3 Day fundraising page - to make a contribution to Erin simply click on the button of Mom (really try it works)!

 

Damn the Lemons! Buttons of Hope a Finalist

Sometimes when you lose you win! A couple of weeks ago Buttons of Hope was a finalist at the Charlotte Research Institute's  Five Ventures Entrepreneurial Competition. It was truly an honor to be part of this prestigious competition ~ to make it through the semi-finals and then the finals.

It was tough and in the end I faced a real challenge having to do a mock sales pitch: Buttons of Hope to a fictionalized retailer Tall-Mart (yes that retailer). So I did what so many of my customers and friends in the non profit/fundraising world do every day I did my best to turn lemons into lemonade! My pitch...encourage Walmart to put a face on their corporate giving by having their two million associates wear photo buttons -- bold idea (see lemons above) I did not win came out third in a category of three...yikes!

As my sweetest daughter Emily cautioned me...
Dad, good luck with that!

I wished I had the opportunity to pitch Buttons of Hope to a Susan Komen, American cancer Society or March of Dimes. I had a great presentation at the ready talking about how custom photo buttons are a way to personalize a cause and a way to engage both fundraisers and donors alike. About how colored ribbons, wristbands and names scribbled on placards become anonymous and pale in comparison to the picture of a loved one or a friend! About how Non-Profits need to embrace bold, unique approaches...right now! (sorry couldn't resist)

Those of you (me) who have made buttons know what I am talking about ~ how the very act of choosing the picture, holding and pinning on the button makes such a huge difference - the button becomes a tangible expression of your pride, honor and love!

If you like...the Charlotte Observer's Kirsten Valle did a really nice job in her story about the competition and Buttons of Hope.

But, I'd still like to give that preferred presentation ~ so if you're a non-profit looking for a new way to engage motivate and inspire your grassroots fundraisers and donors well we need to meet. I am ready to talk. And to all my awesome customers if you know a fundraising event/cause that could use a little (or giant) push please tell them about Buttons of Hope!

One picture shows what Susan Komen Race for the Cure is all about.

> I received this note today from a fiend Diana who made buttons for her own breast cancer walk read her story here..I just thought this was so moving..."I am so sorry for their loss. Do you think it would be okay with Jennifer's friends and family if I bought a button and wore it in my Avon breast cancer walk? I know I did not know her but I read the blog and would be honored if they said okay!!!" Diana, I'm going to say it would be more than just OK!

_________________________________________________________________

I suppose I've seen Jennifer Goncalves face a few hundred times between making, packing and shipping 100 buttons for her friends and family to wear in the April 26 Susan Komen Race for the Cure in Newark, NJ. Much like Janine Kelker I feel like I know Jen ~ I wish I could have known her.

Jen's button is one a few I've made without any words and once you see Jen's eyes and smile ~ I think you'll see why words, logos, colored ribbons and wristbands pale in comparison to the powerfully simple message of a face on a button. Jen only 26 passed away from cancer two weeks before her wedding day.

Please check out the Jen's Breast Friends team page and consider making a donation ~ you might want to read this first from Jen and then from her Aunt Lucy Piccininni...

"Cancer took away my hair, my boobs, and my energy...
But it never took away my hope and courage to fight this horrible disease!"
-Jennifer Goncalves

My beloved niece Jennifer Goncalves was diagnosed with stage 3 breast cancer, at the age of 26, in January 2008. After 14 months of battling this disease she passed away on March 20, 2009, 2 weeks before her wedding!

She was unlike any other person on this earth. She was the very essence of compassion, strength, courage, beauty, happiness, intelligence and the list can go on and on. From the time Jennifer was a little girl she had a certain appreciation for the simple things that life had to offer. Her joy for life was clearly demonstrated through her beautiful smile and the sparkle in those unforgettable green eyes.

Jennifer was more than just a daughter, fiancé, sister, niece, best friend, etc.  She was everything to everyone that knew her and all of our lives are a million times better just because we had the privilege of having her in it.  Her time with us was short, but she managed to impact and touch more people than most do in an entire lifetime.   We will always feel cheated that she was taken from us so young and yet we must learn to be grateful that she came along at all.

Even during her most difficult moments, she kept a positive attitude. The strength and courage that she possessed this past year is beyond what anyone could've ever imagined and it shows what a truly remarkable woman she was. Jennifer had the most contagious laugh that could be heard miles away and she had the wonderful ability to brighten up any room that you walked into. (continued...)

Susan Komen Race for the Cure Charlotte | "Fights Like a Girl"

A week ago downtown Charlotte was "in the pink" as 14,000 people walked, ran and inspired in the Susan Komen Race for the Cure 2008. The event is all about people like Christie Horn and her team Fight Like a Girl...indeed! I was honored to make buttons for Christie's team, I asked here to share her story...

This year my family is celebrating my mom’s 15th year of being Cancer free after being diagnosed with Breast Cancer in May of 1993.  In year’s past my mom, dad and I have participated in the Race for the Cure.  We decided to celebrate this year in a big way and created a team.  Team “Fight Like a Girl” grew into a team of 40 members that raised almost $7,000!!  Our family was overwhelmed by the amount of support that we received.
 




The most emotional moment came when my mom was holding my niece and released her 15 balloons [one for each year of survival]. They both pointed and looked as the balloons floated into the air.  I hope that when my niece gets older that there will be a cure for Breast Cancer.
 
Our team had buttons made for the mother of a team mate as well as another team mate’s sister (Adriana) that are currently battling Breast Cancer.  They were both thrilled and excited to receive them.  We know for sure that we will have a team next year and that we will also have your buttons!!!  Thank you very much for everything!!