Yesterday we launched SXSW4Japan (SXSWcares) to rally the interactive community here to raise support for the Japan Tsunami Disaster. It’s amazing to see the Tweets, the posts, and the chatter all around this event.
One of the fundraisers, Taro Radke, has blown away this fundraising effort. So far, he has raised over $1000 for disaster relief — 16% of the total amount raised so far. Here is a quick interview we did with him.
Tell us a little bit about who you are.
I’m currently working and living in Hawaii, enlisted in U.S. Navy. I was born and raised in Japan; spent my high school and college years in Tampa, Florida.
Why did you decide to fundraise for SXSWcares?
I decided to fundraise for SXSWcares because I just simply wanted to help. I was searching through websites where I can at least donate my contributions somehow. Japan is near and dear to my heart, and I just couldn’t sit around and keep watching the news clips and videos of such devastation in epic proportions. I also have great many friends and colleagues in Japan. I still haven’t gotten in touch with my relatives there. Just the culmination of those things led me to American Red Cross/SXSWcares. I’d like to thank my friend on Facebook, Lita, who introduced me to your page.
Who did you send your fundraising page out to?
I sent the fundraising page to my friends and colleagues.
What methods are you using to get people to come to your page?
I sent the fundraising page in many ways/methods possible: I posted and re-posted it on Facebook, my only blog website; e-mailed to pretty much everybody I could muster (close to 400) in the aliases; phone calling; texting to my friends (about 300) and last but not least, word of mouth.
How has fundraising been so far? Any tips you’d like to share?
This is my first time promoting a fundraiser by myself in this manner. I feel I’m accomplishing something greater than myself and would like to keep this momentum. If everybody knows/feels/discovers that you are passionate about doing something and they can see your efforts, even through internet, I think people will come. I’m still skeptical that I’m not doing enough to help. My heart goes out to my family and friends in Japan.
