Human Tribe Project

Happy Anniversary!

Human Tribe Project — Wed, 28 Jul 2010 20:42:37 GMT

Last week marked the first anniversary of Human Tribe Project’s website launch. We didn’t have any big celebration but we did take time to think about all that has happened in the past year. On a personal level, my life changed dramatically when my son was born at the end of March (which explains why I haven’t posted a blog since March, sorry). For the website, we have grown to 4,500 users and over 200 Tribes and have gifted almost $60,000. For the individual Tribe beneficiaries, many have gone through cancer treatment and come out cancer free, others have successfully rehabilitated themselves after car accidents, some are no longer with us and many are still fighting with the help and support of their wonderful Tribe Members.

A lot can change in a year; this year proves it. But, as the saying goes, life is the journey, not the destination. It’s what happens in between the anniversaries that means the most. So, instead of looking forward to our second anniversary, I’m focusing on our Tribes and how Human Tribe Project can help them support their loved ones. I welcome your feedback and suggestions!

Lessons from the Today Show

Human Tribe Project — Mon, 08 Mar 2010 20:19:40 GMT

A few weeks ago, the Today Show’s Nancy Snyderman did a piece on 7 Ways to Simplify Your Life and how simplification can improve your health and well-being. The first thing on her list? Give back!

Giving back might be a strange suggestion for a medical expert to give on how to improve your health and well being, but plenty of other experts have weighed in on the health benefits of altruism. Whether you believe the reports that giving back makes your heart grow stronger, slows the aging process or just gives you a “helper’s high,” there is plenty of evidence that giving to others can be good for yourself.

In the midst of the aftermath of the hurricanes in Haiti and Chile, and local problems affecting our own communities, there is never a shortage of places, people or organizations to give back to. Oftentimes however, there is an equally great need to give back to a loved one in need. Human Tribe Project is here to make it as easy as possible to give to your loved one facing a health crisis. Who knew that buying a Tribe Tag could not only support your loved one but improve your health as well!

Whether you are a member of a Tribe or not, take a moment to give back to someone. You’ll feel so good about it, you won’t even realize the benefits you have reaped yourself!

Feb 17th HEAL dinner

Human Tribe Project — Mon, 15 Feb 2010 21:44:12 GMT

For those of you in the Phoenix area, please join one of our Tribe Members as she raises money for the Happily Ever After League at Wildflower Bread Company in North Scottsdale from 5-8pm on February 17th. Just bring the attached brochure and 15% of the cost of your dinner will be donated back to HEAL....

Happy New Year

Human Tribe Project — Mon, 04 Jan 2010 16:36:12 GMT

It seems natural to begin each new year with a look back at the one that just ended. 2009 was a rough year for many of us. The economy tanked and however directly you were affected, we’ve all had to tighten our bootstraps. It was a rough one for me personally as well. My friend Kindra died in January and my grandfather died a few months later. Friends got sick, my mother was diagnosed with cancer, friends’ parents passed away . . . .

This last year had its fair share of heartache. Yet, with each tragedy, we were able to learn and live life a little better because of it.

2009 also had plenty of joy! Four of my close friends all had healthy happy babies this year and a handful more are pregnant now. New relationships have blossomed, family has celebrated and Human Tribe Project was launched.

It is impossible to remember the past year without thinking of the people we’ve shared it with. Some are no longer with us but most have helped us make it through. It is these relationships that carry us along, make the sad times bearable and the good times better. These are the relationship that make up our Tribe and help us along the way.

To my Tribe, thank you for your love and support this year. I’m looking forward to whatever 2010 has in store for us all!

The Wellness Community

Human Tribe Project — Thu, 03 Dec 2009 22:24:55 GMT

From my experience, when an otherwise healthy person finds out she has cancer, she goes through a multitude of emotions. Disbelief, denial, fear, anger, frustration, depression and loneliness to name a few. Apparently, these emotions are all very common. And, if the patient is able to express them, they are actually all very healthy. The trick is to eventually move beyond these negative feelings to focus on the positive. This isn’t always easy to do and it’s definitely not easy to do alone.

That’s where websites like Human Tribe Project and organizations like The Wellness Community can help.

Human Tribe Project allows you to connect with and receive support from your loved ones and your community. It’s a forum that lets loved ones remind you how important and loved you are. And, it’s a way for your community to show support by purchasing Tribe Tags to help fundraise to alleviate the cost of treatment.

The Wellness Community provides a different type of support. It’s a nationwide organization with local chapters in over 50 cities. Its mission is to provide support, education and hope to all people affected by cancer. All services offered are free to cancer patients and caregivers. Instead of connecting you with loved ones, it connects you with strangers, but strangers that know exactly what you are going through because they are often going through the same thing themselves. It can be hard to open yourself up to a support group of this type but when you do, the rewards are great. Oftentimes, the best way to lift your spirits is by helping to lift someone else’s.

These two organizations may take different approaches, but both are coming together to “connect and celebrate everyone touched by cancer” this Saturday, December 5, 2009 at the Cancer Connections Walk and Hope Café in Phoenix, Arizona. If you are in Phoenix, please check out the [website] (http://www.twccaz.org/events/cancerconnectionswalk.aspx) and join Human Tribe Project in its support of The Wellness Community. When we can all come together like this, we can all stay positive and have hope for the future.

Strong Beyond Belief

Human Tribe Project — Wed, 18 Nov 2009 21:33:39 GMT

I had the privilege of meeting many of our Tribe Members yesterday and spending time getting to know three of our youngest Tribe Beneficiaries and their families. Whether they had lymphoma, leukemia or tumors, these children were just children. They watched television shows, made crafts, liked to play with gadgets and loved ice cream. They were beautiful, wonderful and happy, despite whatever was happening within their bodies.

Their parents were equally wonderful. They were all very positive and making the most of what life has given them.

I also got the chance to meet the siblings of these children. All three have a brother or sister - beautiful, healthy children that require equal attention from their parents and families. It dawned on me that these families more to handle than just a sick child. They have to be strong enough for their sick child, their healthy child and others in their life. These parents are not only wonderful, but they are strong beyond belief.

I want to thank them all for letting me get to know them yesterday and let them, and all of the rest of our Tribes, know that Human Tribe Project is here to help. We can’t begin to fully understand all you are going through, but we have been through some hard times too, and we want to be here for all of you. Please let us know if there is anything more we can do.

Drivers Wanted

Human Tribe Project — Thu, 22 Oct 2009 16:25:03 GMT

It’s not magic.

Human Tribe Project isn’t a miraculous website that just sends money to people in need. It’s not the saving grace of sufferers and it is definitely not a last resort. Think of it as a Flintstone car; you get in with a place in mind to go and then you move your feet to get there. We are powered by you.

It can’t be emphasized enough that we are not a non-profit organization. It scares people. But in the scheme of things, we aren’t really a for-profit either. Our tax status is as such, so we have the ability to sell the Tribe Tags and direct the money to the specified individual. According to current tax code, it is not legal to sell a product and donate the money tax-free. We would have to pay tax on the entire transaction in order to make it work for the IRS but unfortunately, that doesn’t work for Human Tribe Project and it definitely wouldn’t work for the Human Tribe Members. Human Tribe Project doesn’t rely on outside donations to pay the electric bill and we don’t hold annual fundraisers in high society venues to glad-hand powerfully rich people. We are not a non-profit organization.

That’s where the other part of the “project” comes into play. Will it work? I don’t know. It’s part of the excitement of doing it in the first place. Is there enough trust in the world to sustain a business that is not veiled by the sacred letters “NPO”? Do people have enough motivation in general, to power the vehicle that could bring healing to the aide of a friend? I don’t know. But I like to think they do. I also like to think they can see the sense in having the power to direct their money where they want it to go instead of it being swallowed and rendered into pennies before it hits its target. Please don’t get me wrong. There is a place for everyone at the table. Research needs money to solve the problems that we face but not in lieu of the people facing them personally.

Non-profit organizations are their own worst enemy. What would happen to the organization for cancer research if a cure was discovered? That would be a glorious day but there would no longer be a need for that organization. Our business model works because there will always be people paying for treatments and other expenses related to health crisis and there will always be people wanting to drive the car that brings them answers; Even if they have to use their own feet for power.

There’s a reason people turn to Human Tribe Project for help--It works. But being off and running doesn’t mean that it won’t stop. It stops when motivation is gone, it stops when they are not fresh in your mind, it stops when your legs get tired, it stops when you do. As long as there are people suffering from disease and bills, Human Tribe Project will have the vehicle ready and waiting for them to come to the rescue. Motivation is not an option. Drivers wanted.

A Little Deeper

Human Tribe Project — Tue, 13 Oct 2009 21:24:12 GMT

Although we didn’t launch Human Tribe Project until July 21, 2009, we had been working tirelessly on it since September 2008. At that time, I was coping with my friend’s cancer diagnosis and learning about ways to better support her. Since our launch, I have met many more cancer patients, survivors and caregivers through Human Tribe Project. I am always saddened to hear their stories, hopeful for their recovery and inspired by their courage and optimism. I have also met with health care providers, social workers, administrators, support groups and cancer support organizations to introduce them to Human Tribe Project in the hope that they would pass the information on to those that need it. For someone who has thankfully never been diagnosed with cancer, I am knee deep in the cancer world.

Last week however, I got in a little deeper. My mother, who is my best friend, was just diagnosed with breast cancer. It is in the very early stages and at this point we believe it is 100% curable, but it doesn’t change the fear, helplessness and yes, anger, in receiving the diagnosis.

I share this with all of you to let you know that I am no different than the rest of our Tribe Members. I’ve worked really hard this last year to make Human Tribe Project available to all in need, but at the end of the day, I am just a Tribe Member myself. I am struggling to find a way to support and help my mom through cancer treatment. I am watching her worry about medical bills, surgery and losing her hair. I want to help her in any way that I can. So today, I’m starting a Tribe Page for her.

Our Way Works Better

Human Tribe Project — Mon, 21 Sep 2009 21:07:17 GMT

One of the first questions we always get is, “Why aren’t you a non-profit?” It’s a reasonable question. I can understand the cynics’ concern that we’re profiting off of sick people. I get it, but it couldn’t be farther from the truth.

The truth is that we can’t operate our business and give back as much money as we do if we were a non-profit organization. According to the IRS, we can’t sell a product and give away profits the way we do if we were incorporated as a 501(c)(3). So, instead of giving up on our dream, we came up with an innovative way to give to those in need.

When we sell a Tribe Tag, there are two elements of the sale. The first is the straight sale of the necklace for $5. It’s a necklace that could easily retail for more than $20, so the $5 retail price of the necklace is not only reasonable, our business advisers thought it was crazy.

The second part of the sale isn’t actually a sale. It’s a monetary gift from you to your friend for $15. Essentially what we’re saying is that in order to get this necklace for slightly more than it costs, you have to give your friend $15. That’s it.

So where does that $5 go to? Well, first of all it pays for the necklace itself, which also has an extra 2 inch detachable chain so you can convert it into a key chain if you prefer. And we throw in a free website to boot. That website allows your friend to communicate with family and friends about their ordeal. It allows you to build them a living pillar of support in their guestbook, complete with photos.

It pays mundane stuff like our rent and our maintenance on the site. It pays for our phones and our server and internet connections. It doesn’t yet pay for any salaries. We all work as volunteers right now. We hope to someday pay ourselves modest salaries, but we’re getting ahead of ourselves.

Non-profit organizations are wonderful institutions that provide funding for a number of much needed projects. But we want to help people as individuals. We want to use our capitalistic talents for socially responsible purposes. Since we don’t fit into the traditional non-profit organization framework, we had to be creative as to how we could accomplish that goal.

We’re pretty proud of what we have accomplished. We can help give more money to more people in need, in a very efficient way. We don’t rely on outside funding and we don’t seek donations from any other agency. We are 100% self-sustaining. We hope to have started something that causes people to re-evaluate how they look at business and support. Human Tribe Project is as much about changing business as it is about changing lives.

That’s why when people ask why we’re not a non-profit, I’m happy to have the opportunity to explain. The truth is, well, because our way just works better.

The Direct Option - Addressing Health Care One Tribe At A Time

Human Tribe Project — Fri, 04 Sep 2009 17:09:50 GMT

At the center of the ever-popular and over-exhausting current health care debate is the cost of health care in the United States. National health care spending is expected to reach $2.5 trillion this year1 and projected to represent nearly 20% of the United States’ gross domestic product by 2017.2 These figures are fueling the debate and motivating our leaders to propose various options to overhaul health care. The numbers are shocking but they fail to adequately humanize the problem. The real issue isn’t the percentage of GDP or total spending, it is the cost to individuals at the time of their need.

Approximately 62% of all personal bankruptcies filed in 2007 in the United States were filed due to medical expenses (nearly 80% of those were filed by people with health insurance).3 In addition, approximately 1.5 million families lose their home to foreclosures every year because of unaffordable health care.4 For breast cancer alone, it is estimated that out-of-pocket expenditures and lost-income costs for women with insurance coverage average $1,455.00 per month.5 In 2006, twenty five percent of cancer patients reported to use all or most of their savings dealing with cancer.6

This reality has sparked a growing trend towards “compassion technology” or social networking websites that help facilitate support for those enduring a health-related crisis. Some websites facilitate emotional support and some promote charitable giving, but one website stands out above all others.

Human Tribe Project is the only social networking website that targets both the financial and emotional burdens of health crises. Initially created to help cancer patients bridge the gap between insurance coverage and real costs, and to provide emotional support along the way, Human Tribe Project allows friends and family to unite, raise funds and show support for a loved one during a health-crisis. Human Tribe Project sells Tribe Tags - tangible tokens of support that remind a loved one that she is supported financially and emotionally.

Human Tribe Project combines the progress of technology with the power of the humanitarian spirit to tackle the costs of health care one health-crisis at a time. While our political leaders are debating the public option and the single-payer option, Human Tribe Project is providing a direct option to help those in need at the time of their need.

Siska, A, et al, Health Spending Projections Through 2018: Recession Effects Add Uncertainty to The Outlook Health Affairs, March/April 2009; 28(2): w346-w357.
California HealthCare Foundation, “Health Care Costs 101.” www.chcf.org/documents/insurance/HealthCareCosts08.pdf.
Himmelstein, D, E., et al, “Medical Bankruptcy in the United States, 2007: Results of a National Study,” American Journal of Medicine, May 2009.
Robertson, C.T., et al. “Get Sick, Get Out: The Medical Causes of Home Mortgage Foreclosures,” Health Matrix, 2008.
"The Financial Burden of Cancer: Estimates From A Study of Insured Women With Breast Cancer." The Journal of Supportive Oncology, May/June 2004.
USA Today/Kaiser Family Foundation/Harvard School of Public Health Cancer Survey (conducted August 1-September 14, 2006).