As product manager for DonorPages, I often review the online fundraising pages our clients and their supporters use to raise funds for their causes. While my purpose is to look for ways to improve DonorPages, I’m often moved by the stories people tell about why they support a certain cause, as well as their creativity, passion and energy as they do the good works they do. Here’s a story I found particularly inspiring:

Wesley gets ready to camp out for Attawapiskat!

True North Aid has a supporter – a young man names Wesley Prankard – who set out to help people in the remote community of Attawapiskat, Ontario. Wes had heard how some people in Attawapiskat were left homeless and living in make-shift tent houses – and that gave him an idea. He decided to spend part of his March school break camping out in a tent to raise money for much needed supplies and shelter for the people living on the reserve. 11-year old Wes, with the help of his family, friends and hundreds of others he inspired to contribute, raised over $5,800.00.

With the help of his father, Wesley reached out using Twitter, Facebook, his dad’s blog and his personal fundraising page on True North Aids’s DonorPages site. As more people heard of his efforts, his camp out in support of Attawapiskat was published in newspapers, and he even found himself interviewed on the local radio station, promoting the cause. Hockey teams donated autographed sticks for raffle prizes, and Air Creebec, upon hearing of his efforts and how well he did, flew him and his parents to Attawapiskat to meet the people he helped, along with all the cargo for the homeless shelter for free – two full truck loads! When he learned he was taking his first real plane ride, Wes commented “Holy smokes!” in his DonorPages blog.

Wesley's personal fundraising page.

“We are very proud of him.” comments Wesley’s father, Bob. “Needless to say, this has been an amazing journey for Wes. Upon meeting the people he was helping, and spending time with the kids, he’s decided to launch his own organization. An organization of kids in the south who would cooperate with kids in the north to make their communities a better place to live. He wants to help supply playgrounds, recreational centers and sports fields, as well as making youth counseling services more readily accessible.”

Janie Kataquapit, of Attawapiskat, wrote on Wesley’s DonorPages message board: “What an inspiration to see such a young man as yourself taking the lead to help others. Kitchimeegwetch (with much gratitude) on behalf of our community. It has been a long struggle for Attawapiskat, and it only takes one person to make a difference.”

One person, like Wesley Prankard. Wes had an idea about how to help people who need it. He had the commitment and energy to make it happen. Happily, social networking tools like DonorPages, Twitter and FaceBook provided the tools that helped him rally and inspire others to support the cause.

One of the many rewards of my job is to see how ideas like his can help change the world. Sometimes, all a nonprofit organization needs to do is tap into the passion of their supporters, and empower them to do great things.

Kitchimeegwetch, Wesley!