Devin D. Thorpe's Blog

Guest post by Shaun King, founder of HopeMob.

By now you have heard the news of the devastation caused by the tornado in Moore, OK. The stats are history in the making: a rating of EF5, winds 166 to 200 mph, an estimation of size to be at least two miles wide at one point as it moved through Moore. And while these stats are mind shattering, it’s the stories that are most heart breaking. 38,000 people without power.  Vine videos from @GeminiTiger86 right in the midst of devastation. Highways completely shut down. An elementary school full of children demolished.

In the days and hours following natural disasters like this one, social and online platforms are critical tools not only for information sharing, but also for fundraising. Crowdfunding sites make it easier for people to donate to victims of tragedies, to help restore buildings and pay hospital bills, funeral costs, and more.

As soon as I heard of the tragedy in Oklahoma, I knew that I could mobilize a community on my crowdfunding website, HopeMob. We’re a mob of kind-hearted strangers who are banding together to raise money and awareness on HopeMob. HopeMob is the first site of its kind and it’s exactly what it sounds like – a mob of people bringing hope. The revolutionary part? It’s the first site in history to offer fee-free fundraising. While most sites charge between two and 15 percent service fees, HopeMob is not charging anything to users and, additionally, we are covering the transaction fees by going out and fundraising on our own from corporations and foundations. 

Our initial plan to help was simple. We partnered with Convoy of Hope and aimed raise $15,000 in 7 days. Why 7 days? In these first 7 days the town of Moore, OK will be consumed with clearing out destruction and accessing their needs. Once those needs are known, Convoy of Hope will be able to give them the funds to help them rebuild.

Convoy of Hope has served more than 55 million people throughout the world through international children’s feeding initiatives, community outreaches, disaster response and partner resourcing. Year after year, they are lauded for their effectiveness and efficiency in mobilizing tens of thousands of volunteers for community outreaches and during times of disaster response.

Leadership communicator Andy Stanley once said, “Do for one what you wish you could for everyone.” We know we can’t help everyone. But we can help SOMEONE. Fortunately, we’ve surpassed our goal, but naturally, we want to continue to raise as much money as we can over these next 7 days to help victims of this devastating tragedy.  Join us in our effort to raise this money in the next 7 days. We believe in giving, we believe in you, and we believe in Oklahoma. Please visit the fundraising page for Moore tornado victims and donate $5, $10 or whatever you have. Share the link with your friends and family and join the mob of hope. 

This is a guest post from Alex Binkley, a Harvard and Boston University educated corporate lawyer. He has worked for and run numerous small businesses throughout his life, ranging from a small local recycling company to a rowing shell manufacturer. But it was after spending years helping both startups and public companies build and grow that he really noticed a lack of options for small businesses that needed capital. He helped start Funding Community with the goal of helping businesses gain greater control over their own destiny.

My local New York City coffee shop has a problem… its espresso is good but not great.  The owners are itching to improve, but they have a business to run and baristas to pay so they just cannot afford expensive improvements like a better espresso machine.  The shop’s cash flow is solid, but because the business is relatively new it does not yet have reserves for major improvements.  And if you have followed small business news over the past few years you likely know there is little chance a bank would lend to my coffee shop.

Personally, I want to see this business take off, but I am only one person and despite my best efforts I cannot fund these improvements buying $2 cups of coffee all day.

Like many Americans, I have worked hard and always saved my money.  I put a little in the market, but most stayed in the bank where it would be safe and grow with interest.  Recently, however, my hard-earned savings has been wallowing in a bank account earning just 0.5%.  Meanwhile my bank has been turning around and lending my money to its other consumer clients at 23%!

This is why we started Funding Community, the first US crowdfunding platform for small business loans.  Funding Community lets small businesses borrow money on better terms and allows individuals to lend to support these small businesses’ loans.  If my coffee shop were to start a campaign to buy a $5,000 espresso machine Funding Community would post the loan campaign to the platform at www.fundingcommunity.com where just about anyone from across the United States could lend anywhere from $25 to $1,000!  Each month the coffee shop repays principal and interest, and at the end of nine months its loan is fully repaid.

That’s not all a lender gets though.  We ask each borrower on Funding Community to provide a “reward,” like 10% off, to its lenders.  That way lenders like me who already support the borrower are encouraged to come in more often, while other local lenders are encouraged to become customers and new champions of the business.  Because I am lending to local businesses I want to patronize I get the opportunity to shape my own community’s growth!

While we would love all borrowers to be fully funded locally, there may only be enough local interest to fund a portion of each loan.  Because our primary goal is to find funding for these great local businesses we will not leave out someone in San Francisco just because she cannot take advantage of the discount at my coffee shop. 

She can still lend to the business because she likes how the shop looks and operates and has found Funding Community to be a better place to put her money.

Funding Community is trying to change how individuals can shape the small business landscape of the United States, while doing better financially at the same time.  By lending in Funding Community everyone can do well by doing good.

Earlier this week, I had the opportunity to attend the Milken Institute Global Conference 2013. For me, this was a once-in-a-lifetime (so far) experience that ranks high on my list. I wrote a piece for Forbes on some of the great panels on impact investing that I attended.

While Al Gore was there, I did not get a chance to visit with him.

By special arrangement, I was able to get an hour one-on-one with four-star General Wesley Clark, the former NATO commander of allied forces in Europe who ran for President in 2004.

In an upcoming article in Forbes, I’ll be writing more about my interview with him, but let me just say that he is an extraordinary person. He is as articulate off the cuff as anyone I’ve ever met and clearly as smart as they come. 

General Clark serves on the advisory board to Vital Capital, which is led by Eytan Stibbe of Tel Aviv. Vital Capital has partnered with Impact Capital Strategies in the U.S. Eric Weinberg and David van Adelsberg joined Mr. Stibbe at the conference. They arranged for me to meet with the General.

General Clark was immediately impressed by Mr. Stibbe when they met in Milan years ago and immediately traveled with him to see his projects in Africa. Vital Capital is a large, private equity firm that does impact investing—investments made with a social impact objective—there in Africa. Vital has provided the equity for several billion dollars of affordable housing in Sub-Saharan Africa.How’s that for impact!

I’m eager to tell you the whole story, but you’ll have to wait. Next month I’ll be going to Africa to see the projects myself. When I return, I’ll write up my report in Forbes and perhaps do a longer report in a Kindle Single. I’ll also share thoughts and insights here—don’t worry.

Devin D. Thorpe

This afternoon I had the pleasure of meeting John Shavers, the founder of the Interethnic Health Alliance which is a small nonprofit serving the people of Uganda. 

Originally, the organization was founded to serve Utah women in the prison system who had HIV/AIDS or were at risk for contracting and spreading it. When their state funding ran out, they refocused their efforts on Uganda and have been working there since.

Shavers, the gray-haired gentleman near the center of the photo of women supported by IHA microloans, is a clinical psychologist. He will leave in two weeks to Uganda for the 8th time in the past several years. 

IHA describes its mission as follows:

OUR MISSION IS TO ASSIST THE RURAL COMMUNITES OF DEVELOPING COUNTRIES, PRIMARILY UGANDA, IN OBTAINING ADEQUATE HEALTH CARE, EDUCATION FOR THEIR CHILDREN & AN ADEQUATE WAGE. WE DO THIS THROUGH ENGAGING IN DIALOG’S WITH COMMUNITY MEMBERS AROUND ISSUES IDENTIFIED BY THE MEMBERS THEMSELVES. OUR CURRENT MAJOR INITIATIVES ARE; ASSISTANCE IN STARTING SELF-SUSTAINING BUSINESSES PROVIDING RESOURCES FOR SCHOOLS AND ORPHANAGES MITIGATING THE IMPACT OF DECLINING FUEL RESOURCES.

Presently, IHA is focused on five inititatives:

Micro loans to women-managed groups.
Clean water in rural schools.
Solar power and lights for rural schools.
Reusable hygiene kits for women.
Computers for refugee families.

It is always a pleasure to meet someone like Shavers, with a real passion for action. He is not content to stand by while others suffer.

Yesterday, I posted an article for Forbes about Rotary International, the global organization that sponsors local service clubs all around the world.

For the article, I connected with dozens of Rotarians from around the world who have been volunteering time and donating money to causes they believe in.

It was amazing to see the power of the organization. Rotary International has been leading the fight to exterminate polio around the world. When they started the effort in 1988 there were 125 countries where polio was still a threat; today there are three.

But the work of Rotary at the club level was the focus of my article. It was inspiring to see how this organization with millions of members around the world has the ability to identify a person who needs to have his car repaired and can’t pay for it—and then to pay for it—while at the same time having the organizational wherewithal to donate $1.5 million to build a new food bank. 

Rotarians from my Salt Lake Club work in the Wasatch Community Gardens to provide fresh food for low income families.

It is clear that each club has its own culture and priorities, but over and over again I heard the Rotary motto repeated: “Service above Self.” This particular value is universal among Rotarians.

It appears to me that the current generation of professionals—those we call Gen X and Gen Y or Millennials are more focused on social good than any prior generation. They would love what Rotary is doing, but few are even aware.

While the average age at my club, the Salt Lake Rotary club, appears to be north of 65, there are some younger people involved. Not enough, however. If ever there were a natural home for people who believe in doing good regardless of religion, race, gender, sexual orientation or any other potential identifier, Rotary is that place.

Rotarians don’t wear funny hats—not that there is anything wrong with that. They don’t take secret oaths or use special symbols. They do openly pledge to treat others fairly and honestly and to build friendships with others in and out of Rotary. They also sing patriotic songs and, in America, recite the pledge of allegiance. 

While the Rotarians I know are deeply patriotic, they are not in the least xenophobic. Instead, they are globally minded citizens of the world whose passion to serve is fueled by a genuine hope for peace.

If you know a Rotarian, count yourself lucky. Ask her if you can join her at the next meeting. If you don’t know one, just show up at the next meeting. They’ll be excited to have you!

Martin Richard made this poster in school last year. On Monday he was killed by the bombs in Boston.

Let’s make sure the world remembers Martin and his message.

With my fellow Utah-based Forbes Contributors on Thursday evening I enjoyed a lavish dinner at Cucina Toscana downtown Salt Lake City, just a few blocks from my home.

As I walked past the Rose Wagner theater on Broadway, I saw a homeless guy apparently sobbing and begging as the patrons filed out of the show. My reaction wasn’t any different than the theater patrons; I thought he was putting on a pretty good performance.

Nevertheless, having walked past him, I felt impressed to turn around and ask him if he wanted some food, to which he responded, “I want some money to buy some food.”

Again, I asked, “Do you want some food?”

Sensing, I suppose, that he wasn’t going to get any money from me nor from the theater patrons, he said, “yes.”

We walked a few blocks to McDonalds where he ordered three cheeseburgers, a large milk shake, two fruit pies, and a sweet tea.

As we walked toward the McDonalds and while we waited for the order to come up, we visited. He started his story by saying, “Have you ever met a mental health patient?” He didn’t wait for an answer before continuing, “Well, I am one.”

He went on to tell me his name was Andy. His speech was hard to understand. That was partly due to a cut in his mouth that he said he got from eating garbage from dumpsters.

He said he had two daughters, ages six and nine when he last saw them. He split with his wife, he said, when he found her doing drugs with the girls watching. The girls, he says, are now in foster care in Seattle. 

When I asked how old the girls were now he said he didn’t know. 

“How long has it been since you saw them?” I asked.

“Nine months.”

Andy also explained in ragged detail that didn’t provide anything like a complete narrative how he’d been kicked out of the homeless shelter for a benign reason having something to do with bed bugs. 

As we waited for his dinner order, he asked me to wait and talk to him. I agreed and we visited for about ten minutes until his order came up.

As we waited and chatted the night manager emerged from the back of the restaurant; Andy greeted him like they were old friends. The night manager responded, clearly recognizing Andy though not calling him by name.

When the food came up, I helped him get it all to his seat. I then explained that I would now leave. He got angry, displaying a sense of feeling betrayed.

It was an awkward moment for me. I said, “I’m sorry that you don’t think this food is enough, but I have to go.”

And, I did go. I went home to my high-rise condo to sleep in my sumptuous king size bed with my beautiful wife.

The next morning I arose and went for a run. Near the end of my run, half a block east of the Rose Wagner theater where I’d found him the night before, I found Andy outside of the Peery Hotel eating what appeared to be a fresh, hot breakfast burrito.

As I ran by, I yelled, “Hi Andy” and waved. 

He responded with a quick “Hi buddy.” He seemed much happier than I’d left him the night before, but I’m not sure he recognized me.

Later that morning, I was walking along Main Street and passed the relatively sheltered entrance to the old Utah movie theaters between First and Second South streets, a favorite spot for the homeless to camp for the night. I noticed a cheeseburger still in its wrapper and a small pile of McDonalds wrappers, including two empty cartons for fruit pies. 

As much as I felt I’d done for Andy I can’t help but think I should have done more. What do you think? What more should I have done for Andy?

Live Video Interview with 3 Teenage Change Agents Using Crowdfunding

We’ll be live with these three great teens at 4:00 Eastern on Monday, April 8, 2013. Don’t miss it!

Abigail “Astronaut Abby” Harrison: An aspiring astronaut who is crowdfunding on RocketHub to go to Russia and participate in a space launch.

Logan Gardner: Founder of Kids for Kids, an organization that helps teens with social entrepreneurship as a means to teach youth to be successful in life and business.

Jared Kleinert: Founder of Synergist, a crowdfunding site focused on social good.

My dear friends Brian and Heidi have a three-year-old son who has been battling cancer for over two years. No family should have to go through what they’ve faced so bravely. Please join me in the fight to prevent childhood cancer.

Here is Ike’s story in Brian’s words:

In January 2011 Israel woke one morning with a significant head tilt. After a week of various tests, an MRI revealed a tumor on his brain stem. The next day, February 1, he had surgery, and the tumor was completely removed. The biopsy showed it was anaplastic ependymoma, a rare brain cancer that forms in the lining of the ventricles of the brain.

The standard treatment when completely removed is radiation only, with 33 doses. However, because he was so young, he only received 30 doses, which is standard for children under 3. He then began regular follow-up scans to check for any regrowth.

In November 2012, during a follow-up scan, we found out that the tumor had begun to grow back in the same spot. They were able to completely remove the tumor again. After consulting with the ependymoma experts at St. Jude in Memphis, we decided to treat him with a full treatment (33 doses) of radiation plus chemo. His cancer doesn’t have a great success rate with chemo (about 30%), but we are hoping that since we are just trying to kill any remaining rogue cells instead of a formed tumor the chemo will be effective.

A week before chemo was scheduled to begin, we discovered that the bone flap they cut out to remove the tumor in November had not fused back into place. He had to go in for a third surgery to repair it.

We are very lucky that he has not had any permanent side effects from any of this. In spite of all the surgeries, treatments, injections, blood draws, and every other annoyance, he continues to be a normal and incredibly happy and positive three year old. His attitude is really what is getting all of us through this.

Ike’s journey is not over and thousands of kids like him face their own life-threatening fight—and every child in the world is at risk.

On June 20 and 21, for Ike’s sake I’ll be joining a group of “Wacky Warriors” to run the 200 mile Ragnar Relay Race from Logan to Park City, Utah to raise money to fight childhood cancer.

This is a fight we can win if we all pull together. As I’ll be running about 17 miles of the 200, I’d like to invite you to donate $17 for Ike’s sake. Just click here and then enter the number of dollars you’d like to donate and choose my name to identify the runner you’re supporting—and remember I’m running for Ike! If you can’t give $17, please give something. If you can give more—may God bless you for doing so!

Whether or not you can donate to the cause, please help us share the story by clicking the links at the bottom of the page. We’re not only fighting for Ike, but for all the children who face the risk of getting cancer. Together we can do this!