Information: www.luv4wrd.com
Using the power of social media, the mother and son team of Bridgette and Davis Morris found a way to give back to the local Atlanta community that would also spread positive messages.
“We wanted a way to help others and connect people in a positive way. We volunteer often and work with charities and noticed it can be difficult, especially for children, to be able to volunteer,” said Bridgette. “We also noticed people are sharing their lives for the first time through photos on social media channels like Instagram, Facebook, Snapchat and more.”
After seeing how one email getting forwarded numerous times raised money for her son’s school, Bridgette realized how much people want to help and how technology can most efficiently link people to what they love and help support the charities they love.
She teamed with Christopher Iansiti, now LUV4wrd COO, and developed LUV4wrd (read as “love forward”), a social network where people post the things they love to support causes they are passionate about. For each post, one dollar is donated to charity.
In December, LUV4wrd launched its #LUV4HomelessATL campaign for Mercy Care and Hosea Feed the Hungry. Sponsored by various companies in Atlanta, the 44-day campaign provided 7,000 coats, socks, hats and blankets to Atlanta’s homeless; raised more than $20,000 for meals and warmth for 12,000 Atlanta people living in poverty and homelessness.
Elisabeth Omilami, president of Hosea Feed the Hungry, believed in the power of LUV4wrd when she saw how the community helped them collect turkeys for families for the organization’s annual Christmas dinner.
“We got 1,200 turkeys and our dinner was a success,” said Omilami, whose father was civil rights activist Hosea Williams. “LUV4wrd resonated with the same idea that Hosea Feed The Hungry was founded on. We serve families, and were founded by family. It is really amazing to see this group give back to the community in a new way.”
The social media network has many projects in the works for Mercy Care and its goal is to help a new charity every month.
“We see a world filled with LUV, hope, kindness and people just need a way to connect,” said Bridgette. “LUV4wrd has provided that connection and people have blown us away with what we have accomplished in such a little time.”
In other news: Delta Community Credit Union presented three Atlanta charities with grants on Jan. 28 for a total of $10,000 to The Furniture Bank of Metro Atlanta, New Hope Enterprises, and The Center for Working Families.
About the Author
