donation 2

8/12/2019 Donation 2

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GiveForward has raised $91,362,283 for medical and other causes

Personal Donation Website

Why I started my own personal donation website

Many people may feel uncomfortable asking for money from friends or family or starting a personal donation website for themselves. However, when an unexpectedillness brings in mounting medical bills, starting a personal fundraiser can beway to share your story, your updates, and your milestones. A personal donationwebsite can also allow friends and family to show support, and help them answerthe question, how can I help?

Karen Spies started a personal donation websiteKaren Spies, an entrepreneur andmother of two explains why she started an online personal donation website and how it worked for her.

When I went to the doctor and heard that I had to have an emergency hysterectomy

in 4 weeks, I was beyond panicked. I had been self-employed single mom scrapingby for years- without health insurance for myself. To think that I had to submit to major surgery and be incapacitated for at least a month was terrifying. I talked with my boyfriend and he suggested working longer hours. Yet, I had already thrown my back out two times and hurting myself again would delay the surgery

I went home and called a friend to help me calm down. My friendswife got on thephone and said to me Karen, this is no big deal. How much money do you need? $10,000? Just get 100 people to donate $100 each and youll be fine. That statement wasa turning point for me. I realized that I was not in combat against a huge adve


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rsary but that I really could go to my community and be cared for.

I went to the hospital to talk with the financial counselor. When he told me the deposit that I had to put down to schedule the surgery, I felt pretty capable,but when he told me the total amount that it was going to cost, I felt like I was falling down a well. I walked out in a daze and sat in my car for 10 minutes.I couldnt believe that I had to let someone cut me open, that it was urgent andthat I had to pay SO much for this horrible experience.

When I told my mother I planned to start a personal donation website, she was offended. You are going to beg your friends for money?she asked. Its not begging!etorted. I was asking people that I knew and loved, people that I had been there for, if they would step up and help me.

Yes, I was embarrassed. Yes, it was painful. Yes andI felt as if it was the onlyway to get this done.

We had a successful fundraiser and raised more than enough to cover the cost ofsurgery.

The most amazing thing about my personal donation website were the comments andencouragement that I received both on the GiveForward site and in person. In contrast to my mothers opinion, I had people that I didnt even know telling me abouttheir similar experiences and people who had not been present in my life for ov

er 20 years stepping up to help. People were thanking me for my vulnerability, and people told me that they were grateful that I had given them the opportunityto help. Truly it wasnt about the money. In fact, I think that the comments thatpeople put on the site when they made their donations were the most healing partof my whole surgery experience. To know how many people love you is an invaluable gift.

In this virtual age, sometimes we think that humanity is cold and binary. We hear the propaganda that technology is destroying community. Those naysayers dont understand that the power of human connection is so strong that it is fostered byany communication, regardless of distance or media. They dont understand how a Midwestern girl in Boulder Colorado had people all over the world reaching out toconnect to her and support her. The ability of personal donation websites like G

iveForward to mobilize community is truly a way in which we can be there for each other.

If you have a medical need, I would strongly suggest that you step forward and let people who care know whats going on with you. Dont let shame stop you from feeling the love that people in your life have for you. No one can feel good about helping if there isnt anyone asking for help.

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