The Fandom Gives Back

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Event
Event: The Fandom Gives Back
Participants:
Date(s): 2009 - 2011, 2012(?), 2015(?)
Type: auction
Fandom: Twilight
URL: thefandomgivesback.blogspot.com
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The Fandom Gives Back (also known as Fandom Gives Back or FGB) was a fandom auction organized within the Twilight fandom by ninapolitan, lolashoes, and tby789 in 2009.[1] In its first two years, the auction raised funds in support of Alex’s Lemonade Stand Foundation; funds were also raised for Autism Speaks in 2011.[2] The auction was expected to return in 2012 as well as 2015 to again raise funds for Alex's Lemonade Stand Foundation, but doesn't appear to have actually launched either year.[3] The original three auctions were timed to coincide with the releases of the Twilight movies.

Twilight actor Peter Facinelli's public support of Alex's Lemonade Stand Foundation has been cited as the reason for the organization's selection as the primary recipient of FGB's fundraising efforts.[4]

According to the official Fandom Gives Back page on the Alex's Lemonade Stand Foundation website, over $235,000 was raised for the organization through the FGB auctions. This amount is about $20,000 less than the total donations reported on the FGB Blogspot account; this discrepancy may reflect the difference between pledged donations and actual submitted donations.[5]

Origins

The organizers of the auction introduced the project by posting their mission statement on October 18, 2009:[6]

Mission Statement:

Dear friends, fans, and followers,

Did you know that every year over 200,000 children worldwide are diagnosed with a form of childhood cancer? We cannot ignore this shocking statistic impacting the youth of the world, and we certainly hope that you won’t either. We need your help.

Starting Nov. 15th, through Nov. 20th, you will have the opportunity to help in the fight against childhood cancer. We haven't set a monetary goal because we're firm in the belief that no matter what we set, you will surpass it.

Running this virtual stand is the biggest challenge we have ever faced – the challenge of raising awareness of just how serious the epidemic of childhood cancer is. The money raised will go to Alex’s Lemonade Stand Foundation for Childhood Cancer, a 501(c)3 public charity, to fund childhood cancer research projects. The mission of Alex’s Lemonade Stand Foundation is to raise funds and awareness of childhood cancer causes, primarily to support research into new cures and treatments; to encourage and educate others, especially children, to raise money for childhood cancer by holding their own lemonade stands; and to expedite the process of finding new cures and treatments, and bringing them to children with cancer now.

Please help support our efforts and this critically important cause by making a contribution through our virtual stand. You can make your donation online by visiting our Alex’s Lemonade Stand Foundation Fundraising page: Twilight Fandom Gives Back Donation Page. You can also help us by passing this message along to others who may be interested in visiting our virtual stand, or holding one of their own!

Thank you for your support.

Sincerely,

ninapolitan, lolashoes & tby789

Nina, Lola & Christina

In a follow-up post published October 24, 2009, the organizers described themselves further:

"The ladies behind this endeavor, would be three moms. Three friends that are spread literally across the country. Three Twilight fans and three aspiring writers that have found a second family thanks to Stephenie Meyer's creation. On Twitter we're Ninapolitan, tby789 & Lolashoes. In real life we're a teacher, a counselor and a scientist and we're all moms, wives, friends and fans."[7]

The auctions were hosted the FGB website; while the domain has since seemingly lapsed, archival snapshots are available via the Wayback Machine. Winning bidders made their donations directly to the recipient organization's website and were then responsible for forwarding proof of donation to the auction offeror(s).[8]

Responses to the mission statement

Comments on the initial mission statement post in 2009 appear to have been entirely positive:

I'm a childhood cancer survivor (going on 20 years) but the ramifications of it effect me everyday. ALSF is working to help develop more treatments and treatments that are tumor specific so that other kids won't lose legs (like I did) or suffer irreversable heart damage (like I did) or suffer from infertility for something that is used to cure them. Glad to be part of a giving fandom.

a comment on the 2009 Fandom Gives Back Mission Statement, left by Mrs. Flamingo on October 23, 2009[9]

Thank you ladies for showing this community what a group of empowered, intelligent women are capable of. Thank you for making me proud to be involved.

a comment on the 2009 Fandom Gives Back Mission Statement, left by Tiffany on October 24, 2009[10]

Ladies - I am so proud and happy to participate in Twilight Fandom gives back! I made my donation this morning - and as I did, my thoughts were with the three of you and how easy it was to feel that your creativity is worth so much - I was honored to donate on behalf of TFGB. My 16-year old daughter has been a survivor since her successful bone marrow transplant at age 5, so this cause is especially close to my heart. Added your AVI to my blog too...The Cougar's Den Thank you for being a voice for Alex! Mama Cougar

a comment on the 2009 Fandom Gives Back Mission Statement, left by Mama Cougar on October 26, 2009[11]

2009

Bidding opened on November 15, 2009, and over $12,000 was raised by the morning of the second day.[12] The auction concluded on November 20, 2009 - the same day The Twilight Saga: New Moon, the second installment in the Twilight franchise, was released in the United States.

Items offered

A variety of items were offered for the 2009 auction, including memorabilia signed by the cast of The Twilight Saga: New Moon and a meet-and-greet with Twilight actor Jackson Rathbone's band, 100 Monkeys.[13] Fanfiction authors, fanart creators, and podcasters also contributed items for the auction.[14]

Results

In 2009, Fandom Gives Back reported raising $87,640 for Alex's Lemonade Stand Foundation.[15]

2010

On March 26, 2010, the organizers of Fandom Gives Back announced the auction would return June 26 - July 2.[16] The Twilight Saga: Eclipse, the third installment in the franchise, was released in the United States on June 24, 2010.

A long list of Twilight fansites signed on as affiliates of the auction.

Items offered

Once again, a variety of items were offered, generally falling into three categories: memorabilia; crafts, art, and artistic services; and writing (original and fic).

Results

In 2010, Fandom Gives Back reported raising $147,537 for Alex's Lemonade Stand Foundation.[17]

Haiti relief efforts

On January 14, 2010, Fandom Gives Back shared a fundraising call from MsKathy to support relief efforts after the 2010 earthquake in Haiti.[18] FGB also hosted an auction of a print by Team6Pack; the winning bidder was expected to donate their pledged amount to the charity of their choice, so long as the organization "ha[d] funds benefiting the relief efforts in Haiti."[19]

2011

In 2011, Fandom Gives Back did not organize an auction - instead, authors were invited to contribute stories to a compilation, which was distributed to anyone who donated at least $5 to Alex's Lemonade Stand Foundation.[20] Both fanfiction and original works were eligible for inclusion. The organizers set a goal of $15,000 for the 2011 fundraising campaign, hoping to bring the total amount raised by Fandom Gives Back for Alex's Lemonade Stand to $250,000.[21] All works were due by November 19, 2012 - the day after The Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn - Part 1 was released in the United States.

Results

In 2011, Fandom Gives Back reported raising $19,820 for Alex's Lemonade Stand Foundation.[22]

FGB: Spotlight Autism

Throughout the month of April 2011, Fandom Gives Back raised funds for Autism Speaks; ultimately $3,659 was reported to have been raised in 2011 for the organization.[23]

2012

On January 1, 2012, the Fandom Gives Back blog updated with a notice to check back in November for the final auction in support of Alex's Lemonade Stand Foundation.[24] Presumably, this auction would have been organized in conjunction with the release of The Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn - Part 2 that November - but there doesn't seem to be any indication of a 2012 auction in the archived snapshots of the FGB website.

2015

On October 6, 2015, the FGB Blogspot account was updated with a post promising more details on a revival of Fandom Gives Back for the auction's tenth anniversary.[25] On Twitter, FGB organizer Nina indicated that the 2015 auction wouldn't offer stories written for the event - "just straight donations or bids on signed books/whatever."[26] No further update appears to have been posted on the FGB Blogspot account, and the FGB Twitter account appears to have been inactive since October 8, 2015.

References

  1. ^ "The Twilight Fandom Gives Back," Sarah Elizabeth, CNN iReport. Posted on November 16, 2009. Retrieved on March 13, 2018.
  2. ^ Fandom Gives Back Retrieved on March 13, 2018.
  3. ^ "The Fandom Gives Back Fundraiser Details," Alex's Lemonade Stand Foundation. Posted on November 1, 2015. Retrieved on March 13, 2018.
  4. ^ "The Twilight Fandom Gives Back," Kim Palacios, HollywoodNews.com. Posted on June 29, 2010. Retrieved on March 13, 2018.
  5. ^ The Fandom Gives Back Retrieved on March 13, 2018.
  6. ^ Mission Statement Posted on October 18, 2009. Retrieved on March 13, 2018.
  7. ^ Who we are and why Alex's Lemonade Stand? Posted on October 24, 2009. Retrieved on March 13, 2018.
  8. ^ Official Twilight Fan Fic Author Auction Posted on October 26, 2009. Retrieved on March 13, 2018.
  9. ^ Mission Statement Posted on October 18, 2009. Retrieved on March 13, 2018.
  10. ^ Mission Statement Posted on October 18, 2009. Retrieved on March 13, 2018.
  11. ^ Mission Statement Posted on October 18, 2009. Retrieved on March 13, 2018.
  12. ^ "The Twilight Fandom Gives Back," Sarah Elizabeth, CNN iReport. Posted on November 16, 2009. Retrieved on March 13, 2018.
  13. ^ "The Twilight Fandom Gives Back," Kim Palacios, HollywoodNews.com. Posted on June 29, 2010. Retrieved on March 13, 2018.
  14. ^ Official Twilight Fan Fic Author Auction Posted on October 26, 2009. Retrieved on March 13, 2018.
  15. ^ Fandom Gives Back Retrieved on March 13, 2018.
  16. ^ Fandom Gives Back: Eclipse General Information Posted on March 26, 2010. Retrieved on March 13, 2018.
  17. ^ Fandom Gives Back Retrieved on March 13, 2018.
  18. ^ MsKathy leads the charge for Authors for Haiti Posted on January 14, 2010. Retrieved on March 13, 2018.
  19. ^ Print Auction for Haiti Posted on January 22, 2010. Retrieved on March 13, 2018.
  20. ^ "Fandom Gives Back (aka Sometimes We're Nice People)," Twitarded. Posted on November 2, 2011. Retrieved on March 13, 2018.
  21. ^ FGB:BD1/ Participating Authors! Posted on October 23, 2011. Retrieved on March 13, 2018.
  22. ^ Fandom Gives Back Retrieved on March 13, 2018.
  23. ^ Fandom Gives Back Retrieved on March 13, 2018.
  24. ^ Mission Statement Posted on January 1, 2012. Retrieved on March 13, 2018.
  25. ^ Tenth Anniversary FGB Posted on October 6, 2015. Retrieved on March 13, 2018.
  26. ^ Tweet from @ninabocci on October 6, 2015.
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