GoFundMe is an online platform used for raising money that allows individuals, groups and non profit organizations to gather funding for various causes. In a current example GoFundMe pages were created after multiple celebrities lost their homes in the devastating California wildfires. Mandy Moore became a popular topic due to her promotion of a specific GoFundMe. This resulted in an array of reactions that show how modern times can be used in the pursuit of assistance or connection.
Understanding GoFundMe
GoFundMe functions to enable the general public to ask for monetary donations for a great range of purposes from medical expenses to community projects or disaster relief . These campaigns operate entirely online allowing any who wish to take part to participate in financial support.
User Intent
User intent includes many actions whether it's informational with just looking up what GoFundMe actually is or to create or donate to campaigns. All use the information on the web platform for their needs. This all highlights how GoFundMe has been used as a form of resource.
Mandy Moore and Family Support
A large focus in one aspect of GoFundMe's usage centers around when Mandy Moore shared that her family , specifically her in-laws, had their home destroyed in the California fires. In addition she herself with her family had to evacuate her home in fear of their lives. Many shared their support with different actions taken.
The Created GoFundMe
A close friend to the family named Matt created a page to raise money for their home losses. This caused Mandy to ask all those who had been following to donate to the cause. The intention is to support them rebuild. The responses that followed showcased support along with a mix of differing viewpoints about her asking for assistance.
Backlash and Response
Though support was received there was some disagreement from online users. This included criticism stating that Moore herself should personally cover all costs. Some made a point about celebrity wealth as a way of arguing with what seemed inappropriate according to certain viewers.
Mandy Moore's Statement
Moore addressed the complaints by pointing out how her friend started the fundraiser and how much devastation she had experienced herself stating she herself lost many things in the fires too. Her tone used to address those statements was blunt as she demanded that she is not one to be critisized. Her frustration with those outside her situation created her point even more.
GoFundMe Usage and Motivations
The various examples from different events help to explain how often people are reaching out for financial assistance through various digital forms with an interesting trend on how people are motivated to act. Also the speed at which fundraisers can gain support which is another factor in a successful digital push.
Community Support
This new form of digital resource allows a quick easy way to rally communities to help in a moment of need. They are also seen for causes like supporting artists or any variety of emergency related situations. This form of raising money allows for a large amount of people to be included in whatever event is being supported.
Ethical and Moral Questions
When high profile people ask for donations it will raise the ethical questions of individual obligations with monetary support. This brings attention to how wealth should be used to support others. Those viewpoints differ widely from person to person and often show varying degrees of compassion.
Other Instances of GoFundMe Campaigns and Large Events
Aside from the situations related to Mandy Moore there were several other people that lost their homes in the LA fires. Those individuals from actors to artists were also affected and had multiple funds created to help them. The scope of damage ranged wide as those that are familiar or unknown each had different pathways to finding solutions for housing and assistance.
Celebrity Losses and Community
When such devastation had occurred for others like actress Jhene Aiko and the families who lost homes it creates both connection but also calls attention to the class distinctions. With homes burning it showcases the disparity within our system on how some may recover and others will not depending on their background. Each account for people’s situations differ wildly.
GoFundMe's Impact
The platform has proven to be very useful by allowing individuals and organizations to seek relief in difficult times. It does however require scrutiny from the users since it can at times require further oversight. GoFundMe brings attention to a change in community engagement using a variety of social networks.
Community Engagement with GoFundMe
These public events may make the platform even more notable to an audience to where more unique support can be reached. However more support from local agencies are needed as a supplement to properly create the full support that communities need in emergencies.
Key Takeaways
- GoFundMe is used for various situations for gathering monetary assistance that ranges widely in purpose.
- Mandy Moore and her family had experienced a loss due to fire but her request for support was challenged by the public online.
- The GoFundMe is very helpful but at times raises scrutiny among users on ethics with use of influence for certain requests.
- Many celebrities that have been in different fires across Los Angeles also experienced devastating situations causing the internet to provide methods of connection to resources.
- GoFundMe serves to connect communities for the support of recovery but needs a strong focus on appropriate resources for maximum effectiveness.