TECH ENTREPRENEUR Frank Hannigan has found a novel way of raising money for his favourite charity. He’s going to bare all on Twitter.
Next Tuesday Mr Hannigan will be raising awareness for the Irish Guide Dogs for the Blind by running a Twitter campaign called “#dearfrankie”. For one day he will transform into a twittering agony aunt and answer any question no matter how strange or personal it is. “I’m basically going to be trading in my personal privacy in return for raising awareness,” says Mr Hannigan, director of WeddingsOnline.ie and chairman of project management start-up Goshido.
“The Irish are a sarcastic bunch so I’m expecting plenty of weird questions but it should be a lot of craic,” he adds.
Mr Hannigan is assuming that some of the questions will be from budding entrepreneurs hoping to gain some insight into online business. “If anyone asks for major advice I’m planning to follow-up with further information too.”
The reason for choosing Twitter as a platform for charity involvement was simple, says Mr Hannigan. “You can use Twitter to capture data you’d never find through Google. It’s becoming a place where online content is made relevant because people you trust have recommended it.”
This “tell all” session will take place on Twitter from 1pm to 10pm, Tuesday 17th of May.
From the Press Release
Frank Hannigan launches #dearfrankie
Date: Tuesday 10 May, 2011
News Summary:
A novel fundraising event will take placefrankie on twitter the social media and microblogging site next Tuesday 17th of May called #Dear Frankie. Frank Hannigan, Cork based serial entrepreneur, will answer questions on any topic whether it’s personal, business, online advice, political…anything.
News Content:
“If serious business questions are asked I will answer them seriously. I expect there will be more than a few less serious questions asked and I will answer them accordingly” says Frank Hannigan. “It should be a lot of craic, and hopefully it will raise a lot of money for Irish Guide dogs”
The public can simply ask a question via twitter using @frankhannigan in 140 characters and just wait for Frank to send his reply.The event is completely free – but each person is asked to make a donation to Irish Guide Dogs for the Blind (IGDB). To make a donation all you have to do is click on www.guidedogs.ie/donations and select the “Dear Frankie” campaign from the drop down menu option.
“Irish Guide Dogs for the Blind changes peoples’ lives. In a very concrete way they allow people who are visually impaired and families of children with autism to achieve their full potential” Frank continued.
The #dearfrankie initiative is in support of IGDB’s national SHADES fundraising campaign which runs during May. Each year, hundreds of volunteers and supporters rally around the organisation to help raise funds towards the provision of vital services for people living with sight loss or autism. Over 80% of the organisation’s income is generated through fundraising and voluntary donations and all services are offered free of charge.
You can read more about Frank at http://www.linkedin.com/in/hanniganfrank
