Crowdfuding for Social Good Excerpt

Crowdfunding For Boston Marathon Victims Shows Support From Around the World

This article appeared on Forbes.com on April 17, 2013. It is included in Crowdfunding for Social Good by Devin Thorpe and is reprinted here as an excerpt from the book.

Among the 170 wounded near the finish line of the Boston Marathon on Monday were Celeste and Sydney Corcoran, mother and daughter there to see her sister Carmen finish the race on Monday.

Sydney and Celeste Corcoran

Celeste lost both legs in the bombing and Sydney whose injuries were life threatening is expected to recover fully. Both women had additional surgeries today and anticipate more before their battle for recovery is complete.

Cousin to Celeste, Alyssa Carter reports that both women are in good spirits, with Celeste joking about becoming the “next Blade Runner.”

Alyssa, anxious to rally support for the family in the face of devastating emotional and financial costs associated with the treatment, recovery and long-term implications of the terrible injuries launched a crowdfunding campaign on the site GoFundMe.

Alyssa chose GoFundMe after talking to colleagues at work where she is involved in "online marketing." An executive of her firm recommended the site, but before making a final selection she set up accounts on several sites, finally choosing GoFundMe for its ease of use and reputation. "I tried to think of someone like my Dad using it," she says.

In just over 24 hours, $206,005 has been donated to the fund by nearly 3,000 people from across the country and around the world, with donations coming from as far away as Australia. The campaign got off to a quick start, Alyssa explains, with their “large Catholic family.” Once they all put out the word on Facebook and Twitter, the donations started to roll in immediately.

Sydney’s sister Carmen was stopped about half a mile before the finish line when the blasts ended the race. According to Alyssa, Celeste has seemed more disappointed not to have seen Carmen finish the race than to have lost her legs.

Alyssa notes on the campaign page that they are still looking to identify the heroes who saved Sydney’s life: “We are still trying to locate the heroes who helped at the scene as doctors believe they saved Sydney's life. Many of you have seen the pictures of Sydney. I won't post the pictures here, but can email them by request. There is one man in a plaid shirt, one with a grey t-shirt and blue baseball cap, and one with a red t-shirt which was used as a tourniquet on Sydney's leg. We owe them unspeakable gratitude.”