The hardships life throws our way are often unfair, if not traumatic. But what’s truly unfair is having the ability to help those in need and not take the action to assist. Ignoring the problem only causes multiple waves of harsher repercussions that percolate into the riptide of systemic issues in America’s zeitgeist.

1. How Charity
Fundraisers Can
Inspire Us to Rebuild
Puerto Rico
J A K E C R O M A N

2. Puerto Rico
It’s been nearly two weeks since Hurricane
Maria tore through Puerto Rico. Still, 3.8 million
U.S. citizens are suffering from a major
humanitarian crisis. Much of the island lacks
power, clean water, and medical supplies.
In lieu of time, what can I do to convince
people to donate to a cause they may hold no
emotional attachment to? How can I get people
to care about a community that is remote from
their own? The answer may be a mix of emotion
and long-term economic purpose.

3. Give Me Emotion or Give
Me Purpose
Many people give to charitable causes
because there is an emotional draw or the
opportunity to satisfy some personal
and/or financial purpose. In fact, studies
show that there are a myriad of reasons
people give to charities.
One main reason people are driven to give
is the knowing that there is an identifiable,
single benefactor with an emotional story
that helps us identify with or empathize
with others’ suffering.

4. I feel empowered knowing myself and other donors can potentially help
provide basic necessities or other forms of support for those struck by
Hurricane Maria’s devastation. But as a student of American Studies
with a concentration on Jewish History in WWII, I remember the stories
of friendly neighbors who fought to provide protection, service, or
protest against adversity at crucial moments.
The Crisis: Why I Created the
Fundraiser

5. Caring about Other Communities —
Not Just our Own
There are many subsets of privilege throughout
the United States. Obviously, there are
numerous political and socio-economic factors
that separate us, but that means we need to
start recognizing our privilege, educate
ourselves, and channel it into positive and
actionable support for in-need communities.
Not only does charitable giving help support
short-term assistance, but it can also empower
people with long-term recovery programs.

6. Charity
The divide between communities shouldn’t be an ocean, a wall, or a computer
screen. If we have that ability to build bridges and help relieve human suffering
then we’ve got a lot of building to do together. And whether that means raising a
$1 or $5,000, the impact of giving and supporting others can last a lifetime. Please
help support my fundraiser and, together, we can start the healing process in
Puerto Rico.

7. For more information,
please visit:
www.JakeCroman.co