Here's how it works!
Human Tribe Project: Social Media Meets Charitable Giving
Posted On: June 04
Despite the promises of health care reform, many people who face catastrophic illness also face massive medical bills and the threat of personal bankruptcy. These financial concerns compound emotional burdens that they face. The Human Tribe Project is a website that provides both financial and emotional support to a loved one in crisis.
The Human Tribe Project allows "tribes" to give money directly to a beneficiary in need. There are no parameters stipulating how money raised is spent. And all those who donate receive a wearable token of support in the form of a "Tribe Tag" in return.
Founded by Phoenix attorney Jaclyn Foutz in memory of her friend Kindra McLennan. When McLennan was diagnosed with cancer, her friends and family came together to raise money and to offer emotional support. Although McLennan lost her battle with cancer, she inspired the founders of the Human Tribe Project to create a website that combined social networking and charitable giving.
How the Human Tribe Project Works:
A "Tribe Leader" sets up a website on behalf of a beneficiary, who in turn has a space to blog and share her or his experiences. The blog can be viewed by invited members of her or his Tribe. Tribe members can provide financial support by purchasing the Tribe Tags and provide emotional support by reading, commenting, and sharing the site with others. As the Human Tribe Project website argues, "As the Tribe evolves, the personal networks of each of the Tribe Members can become Tribe Members as well. Human Tribe Project was founded upon the premise that all people belong to a larger Tribe, and that this Tribe can be a powerful resource when one of its members faces a personal or health-related crisis." As important as the financial support can be, this emotional support can oftentimes be just as sustaining.
Tribe Tags - much like a dog tag - are available for $20 or $100. The money raised ($15 of the former and $75 of the latter) is distributed to the beneficiary on a monthly basis. "Tribe Tags are the cornerstone of our site," said Human Tribe Project co-founder Jaclyn Foutz. "They offer monetary support to ease the Beneficiary's financial burden, enabling him to focus on getting better and act as a visible reminder of the constant encouragement and support the Tribe offers the Beneficiary."
Although health care reform promises to lessen some of the financial burdens for those facing medical crises, the need remains for projects that help with the fundraising and with the emotional support. The Human Tribe Project is an innovative site that tackles both.
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What it is
Human Tribe Project is a free website that allows friends and family to come together, show support and raise money for a loved one during a health crisis. It was founded upon the premise that all people belong to a larger Tribe comprised of their loved ones and acquaintances, and that this Tribe can be a powerful resource when one of its members is in need.
Human Tribe Project was initially created to help cancer patients bridge the gap between insurance coverage and real costs, and to provide emotional support along the way. According to a report released by the Kaiser Family Foundation and the American Cancer Society, private health insurance doesn’t protect cancer patients from high costs. Despite having insurance, many cancer patients incur large debts, in some cases causing them to file for personal bankruptcy, and even delay or forgo treatment simply because they can't afford care. In addition, research shows that recovery from cancer is significantly better if a patient receives emotional support during treatment.
The need for emotional support and relief from a financial burden is not confined to cancer. Human Tribe Project can be used to help any person in crisis, whether that crisis is the result of a medical diagnoses, premature birth, natural disaster or personal hardship. Whatever the cause, Human Tribe Project can facilitate the support.
Human Tribe Project is not a non-profit organization, and differs from many fundraising institutions. Instead of directing money toward research or through a large non-profit requiring extensive administrative and operational costs, Human Tribe Project gives money directly to individuals in need, at the time of their need. Unlike most other organizations, one hundred percent of the money gifted through Human Tribe Project goes directly to the individuals in need.
How it works
Human Tribe Project enables people to unite as Tribes and mobilize support quickly and easily through this website the instant that a loved one notifies them of a crisis. A Tribe Leader sets up a Tribe Page, on behalf of the Beneficiary, and includes the Beneficiary’s story and an explanation of why funds need to be raised. The Tribe Leader then unites friends and family by entering in their email addresses, thereby inviting them to join the Tribe.
Tribe Pages are used to keep the Beneficiaries and their Tribes connected. Each Tribe Page contains a blog, a guestbook, moveable web badges and an option to invite others to join the Tribe. Most importantly, Tribe Pages contain the Tribe Tag Store where Tribe Tags can be purchased to financially support the Beneficiary.
Each Tribe Page has both semi-public and private portions. The Beneficiary’s blog, guestbook and all posts are private and only viewable by invited Tribe Members. The Beneficiary’s picture and story and the Tribe Tag Store for each Beneficiary are public and viewable only when a person searches the Beneficiary’s name. Allowing these portions to be semi-public maximizes the number of Tribe Tags that can be purchased and thus maximizes the amount of support a Beneficiary can receive.
For more specific information about how Human Tribe Project works, please visit our
FAQs.
Tribe Tags
Tribe Tags are the foundation of Human Tribe Project because they offer both the emotional and financial support necessary to help a loved one through a time of crisis. They facilitate financial support in the form of Monetary Gifts, and emotional support by acting as a visible reminder of the constant encouragement and support the Tribe offers the Beneficiary. They unite the Tribe around the Beneficiary and exemplify how the humanitarian spirit connects us all.
The Tribe Tag design is inspired by a traditional dog tag, which is emblematic of a group coming together to overcome a struggle and an iconic form of identifying one individual in a group of many. Tribe Tags include three charms: a Human Tribe Project tag, a Tribe Print charm symbolizing the common thread that connects us all, and a personalized charm bearing the initial of the Beneficiary in whose support it was purchased. Tribe Tags are steel charms strung on a ball chain. They can be worn as a sixteen inch or eighteen and a half inch necklace or carried on a two and a half inch key chain.
Tribe Tags are sold in the Tribe Tag Store on each individual Tribe Page. Nickel Plated Steel Tribe Tags sell for $20, $15 of which is given directly to the Beneficiary as a tax-free Monetary Gift from the purchaser. Sterling Silver Tribe Tags sell for $100, $75 of which is given directly to the Beneficiary as a tax-free Monetary Gift from the purchaser. Monetary Gifts are paid out monthly, based on the number of Tribe Tags sold that month. One hundred percent of the Monetary Gifts, without any amount deducted for operations or processing, are given to the Beneficiary. For more information about the Monetary Gifts, please visit the
Monetary Gift Policy.
To purchase a Tribe Tag in support of your Beneficiary,
Find or Create a Tribe now.
I can tell you first hand that this is a beautiful way to keep family, friends and well wisher together in the fight for recovery. You see my dad became sick a short time ago.
Here is his Human Tribe Story.
My Dad is Ted Sarandos Sr,also known as "Captain Ted". He's the father of five ( Kathy, Jean, Terry, Teddy and Joey). My dad has always been a hard worker. He has the great ability and vision to go into a home or business, that is falling apart and make it beautiful. He was an electrician for 35 years and retired. He became " Captain Ted" after retirement. Now remember, I said he was always a hard worker so he really could not ever retire. He started a business called "Vehicle Distress". When a boat out at sea for the day became distressed,they would call the Coast Guard and the Coast Guard would call my dad, to come get them. I visited my dad for a week and every time the radio called in a distressed boat he would spring into action. It was very exciting. My dad loved being " Captain Ted" and I loved seeing him that way. A few years ago my dad suffered from a stroke. It really affected his speech. What this meant to my dad was the loss of his ability to be " Captain Ted". This was very hard to watch. He's worked so hard to get his speech back over the past few years. I'm very proud of him. Last night my dad suffered from another stroke. His speech has been affected again and he's very sad about it. He's in ICU fighting for his life but uncertain what that will mean for him. My dad is a proud man and has always taken care of himself. We all have offered my dad a home to live in but he loves living on his boat. I hope he will consider living with one of us so he can be safe. I know for someone that has never asked to be taken care of this is a hard thing to do. Please keep my dad in your prayers. Family and friends are all he has now to keep him safe and to help him remain proud. On behalf of all my brother's and sister's, I thank you for joining his Human Tribe. We will keep you posted on his progress.
Thanks again we love you all for your support.
Kathy,Jean, Terry, Teddy and Joey
Thank you so much Human Tribe Project!
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