Campaign Sets Guinness Record

October 29, 2009 | Read Time: 1 minute

An effort to raise money on Twitter and Facebook for four cancer charities has set a Guinness World Record for the most widespread social-network message in a 24-hour period.

People around the world were invited to use the phrase “#BeatCancer” as part of the online fund-raising effort. Every time the phrase was used on Twitter, Facebook, or a blog, eBay and MillerCoors agreed to donate one penny. Individuals were also encouraged to contribute to the effort.

Contributions are to be split among four cancer-related organizations — Alex’s Lemonade Stand Foundation, Bright Pink, Spirit Jump, and Stand Up for Cancer.

During one 24-hour period in October, the phrase was mentioned more than 209,000 times. Guinness has since verified that total as the most widespread social-network message.

In that stretch, the online effort raised more than $70,000 for the four charities, organizers say.

To get there: Go to http://beatcancereverywhere.com.

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NICOLE WALLACE

Features Editor

Nicole Wallace is features editor of the Chronicle of Philanthropy. She has written about innovation in the nonprofit world, charities’ use of data to improve their work and to boost fundraising, advanced technologies for social good, and hybrid efforts at the intersection of the nonprofit and for-profit sectors, such as social enterprise and impact investing.Nicole spearheaded the Chronicle’s coverage of Hurricane Katrina recovery efforts on the Gulf Coast and reported from India on the role of philanthropy in rebuilding after the South Asian tsunami. She started at the Chronicle in 1996 as an editorial assistant compiling The Nonprofit Handbook.Before joining the Chronicle, Nicole worked at the Association of Farmworker Opportunity Programs and served in the inaugural class of the AmeriCorps National Civilian Community Corps.A native of Columbia, Pa., she holds a bachelor’s degree in foreign service from Georgetown University.