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LIVESTRONG meets SXSW

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What do you get when you mix South by Southwest (SXSW) interactive festival with LIVESTRONG? Awesome tattoo fundraising geniuses, a rad party at the Belmont, a record breaking feat and insightful panels.

Cancer survivor and director of online community for Gogii, Drew Olanoff, asked his fans last year to donate to a cause by bidding on tattoo space. The winner got her name permanently emblazoned on his body and the charity received the funds. This year, that charity was LIVESTRONG! Ben Huh- creator of the internet sensation of ICanHazCheezburger.com bid $4,000 for a spot in history. The tattoo has yet to be designed, but I have suggested “I Fietz Canser”.

Non-profit social media consultant and CMO of Zoetica, Geoff Livingston, did a fund drive for LIVESTRONG and got a tattoo in honor of his brother-in-law battling cancer. Geoff’s fans raised over $5300 for the foundation and Geoff got a really sweet tattoo.

Gowalla, a location-based social networking site, hosted a party benefiting LIVESTRONG at the Belmont Monday night. For every user of the site that “checked in” LIVESTRONG received a $1 donation. Over 700 people checked in and several others made additional cash donations at the door.

The Gowalla party wasn’t only a fundraiser, but a venue to host a record breaking feat. A brave woman named Saffron set the record for the most wristbands put on in one minute- 77 to be exact. The event was recorded and entered into the books by the folks at Universal Record Database and a generous donation of $500 was given to the foundation in honor of the record by our friend and social media giant, Chris Sacca.

77!

76!

Our friend Chris Sacca hosted a party for LIVESTRONG and some of the brightest minds in social media. Folks from DIGG, Twitter, Gowalla, FormSpring and many more came by to have a cocktail and show their support for the foundation.

SXSW isn’t all about parties, it’s also about panels and keynotes. LIVESTRONG was invited to sit on a panel titled “Debunking the Myth of Social Media Fundraising“. Many say that you can’t raise funds online. This weekend proved them wrong. Thanks to all that donated, checked in, squeezed on 77 wristbands and took part in the panel discussions. Can’t wait for 2011.

(pictures courtesy of Chris Gomez @ScratchEx)

  • Bill Deal

    Happy Spring everyone,
    This has nothing to do with crazy tattoo ideas, but it does have to do with taking action. How does a person go about getting an Armstrong Challenge event in our town? I am a runner in Indianapolis where we have lots of running races throughout each year. One of them, I think, should be for the purpose of raising funds for cancer research. I have a race in mind and am friends with the race director. I just need to know how to go to the next level.
    My wife is winning her battle with the help of the Indiana University Simon Cancer Center here in Indy and we want to do something to give back.
    Bill and Jennnifer Deal
    Indianapolis.

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