My Reflection on a Nonprofit's Social Media

Rather than expound upon a current trend or evolving story within the realm of social media and our collective online conscious as this class-assignment-inspired-blog would dictate, I want to relate to my dear readers my experiences working with social media, digital marketing, and digital advertising in the best job I will never get paid for. That little phrase is how my coworkers and I colloquially refer to our organization and our positions within it but 'payment' is a subjective term here. There may be virtually no monetary compensation, except for a Starbucks, Jittery Joe's, or Chick-Fil-A gift card from a caring friend every now and then, but the missing wage is overly reimbursed by the overwhelming joy and fulfillment my job provides.

My "job" is a position serving on the Executive Board for a campus organization called UGA Miracle. UGA Miracle is a type of organization known around the country as Dance Marathon; we call ourselves something different but still end the year with an eponymous Dance Marathon event staged to celebrate the lives of children who have been able to overcome incredible odds in some capacity. As a fundraising, non-profit we donate all proceeds to Children's Healthcare of Atlanta. Specifically the division that UGA Miracle funds is the Comprehensive Inpatient Rehabilitation Unit, or CIRU for short, where children receive rehab treatments for motor difficulties, speech impairment, prosthesis use, and so forth. Our over 1000 members work individually and in teams to get donations for the hospital. As a UGA Miracle team member, you have the opportunity to apply for 11 committees that serve a different purpose in the day-to-day, monthly, and yearly operations of the organization.

I have been so fortunate to serve on the Board as Media Co-Chair for the past 2 years. I get to create and design the appearance of our social media accounts and of our advertising campaigns; the content of UGA Miracle's social presence is directed by the Public Relations Chair. I have even gotten to help re-brand the organization. Our social media presence is the most important means of uniting the organization. Our visual records reside primarily in the servers of Facebook and YouTube. The calendar most accessible to the whole organization is maintained by event pages on Facebook. Being a part in demonstrating to the world what it means to be FTK (For The Kids) visually and creatively, as is my passion, has brought me the most growth of any on-campus involvement. Naturally, I have littered this post with some of my work leading up to this years Dance Marathon.

While a brief description of UGA Miracle's purpose and formal institution is necessary, the ultimate purpose of this essay-of-sorts is to invite and convince you, the reader, to attend Dance Marathon 2014. Dance Marathon at the University of Georgia is the greatest 24 hours of your entire life starting at 10 AM on Saturday, February 22, 2014. Yes, I said 24 hours. It is 24 hours of chaotic, incessant fun in Tate Grand Hall where many kids who have been treated at Children's attend, with their families, the most fun party of their lives. For some of these children who still require semi-regular treatments, Dance Marathon is a humongous distraction from any illness or issue. It is a never-ending fairy tale of a adventure that both the children and the older children like me get completely and wonderfully lost in. All of the "Miracle Families" get to share their story of their experiences with Children's Healthcare of Atlanta with the entire crowd throughout the 24 hours. You get to participate in scavenger hunts across campus, watch the Accidentals and Noteworthy a cappella groups, win eating contests, witness a step show, give your all in a dance-off, and so on and so forth. Then, of course, there is the big dance. At DM, you get to learn a roughly 10 minute long dance along to a mash-up of some of your favorite songs. Every hour or so we learn one song-segments-worth until the final performance at 10 AM Sunday morning.

I could continue to ramble about the amenities and activities of Dance Marathon but the real joy comes from the time spent with the children. These kids have experienced far more difficult situations that most of us ever have. Despite histories of painful treatments, disabilities, or diseases, the heartwarming laughter and positivity of these kids is infectious. This will be my 4th and final undergraduate Dance Marathon. It is less than 2 weeks away and is my sole focus. right now We jokingly say "FTK is greater than GPA" but somehow that actually becomes the truth. As far as work experience, UGA Miracle has taught me how to perform as creative director of a brand and lead a committee of 36 students. As far as life experience, UGA Miracle has infinitely provided me a sense of gratitude with the health and circumstances that I have been blessed with. I spent a short time at Children's Healthcare of Atlanta in infancy but, by no means, did I ever experience the trials that some of the 'Miracle Kids" face. UGA Miracle is the greatest team that I have ever been a part of. The mere fact that a very large group of college kids can unite under the idea of helping to save children's lives is the one of the greatest satisfactions of being involved in this organization. $25,000 is an average number for what it costs to save a child's life. However, $30 might save a life and so could $70,000. Every single dollar counts and, therefore, so does every single member of UGA Miracle. The most humbling feature of Children's is that, because of donors such as UGA Miracle, the Atlanta Falcons, Home Depot, Wal-Mart, and others, the hospital will not deny care to a family that cannot afford it. If a family cannot pay the bills, then essentially we do. I will be forever grateful for the friends and fun that being involved in UGA Miracle has given me. Watch the video I attached above and then watch it again. Watch this and this and this (just a few of my favorites). Please join us on February 22 and 23 for the best 24 hours of your life.

Here is a link to the event: Dance Marathon 2014

Also if you would like to donate to my total I would be extremely appreciative. Thank you!
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