Provided by Imagine
One Northern Virginia marketing firm proved that good can come from bad, with its “Blessings from Curses” campaign. Imagine, Inc. turned its office swear jar into a fundraiser, inviting friends and clients to swing by to blow off some steam for a good cause, with all funds going to the Youngs, a family displaced from their Montclair home by fire this past summer. Imagine staff, clients and friends together raised $585.
Emma Young is a freelance writer involved in a number of local causes. “We knew that any support that we could give Emma and her family would be paid back to the community tenfold,” said Imagine CEO Patrick King, adding that he and his staff were also inspired by Young’s positive attitude throughout the ordeal.
He noted that even as the family of three lived in a hotel for almost six months, Young expressed gratitude for simple fortunes, such as having clean water with which to brush her teeth. Immediately after the fire, she started GoFundMe campaigns for neighbors also displaced by the fire, while seeking nothing for her own family.
Even after a car accident this fall totaled the family car and left her husband unable to work for several weeks, Young retained her sense of gratitude. King reported that when his staff approached Young about the fundraiser her initial response was, “Me? But I’m so lucky,” as she began listing her blessings.
The first purchase to be made with the donated funds? “We promised [our daughter]that she could pick out a new panda,” said Young, explaining that her four year-old’s favorite stuffed animal was destroyed by the fire.
With Blessings from Curses wrapped up, King said that Imagine is now promoting its annual “We Fight Ugly” contest, which encourages the public to nominate worthy nonprofits in need of an online facelift. Imagine selects one winner to receive a brand-new custom website valued at up to $15,000. “We have a pretty simple philosophy about giving at Imagine. If you can help, you do,” said King.
To nominate an organization for the chance to win a free website designed by Imagine, visit ImagineDC.net/WFU2016.
