If you are interested in fan-based volunteering
beyond what is compiled here, check out Transformative
Works and Cultures, an online journal launched in 2009
that looks at various aspects of fan fiction (fan-created
fiction inspired by their favorite movies, TV shows and
books), comic book fandom, movie fandom, video game fandom,
comic and fan conventions, and more. Specifically, see The
media festival volunteer: Connecting online and on-ground
fan labor," a 2014 paper by Robert Moses Peaslee,
Jessica El-Khoury, and Ashley Liles, which uses data gathered
at Fantastic Fest in Austin, Texas, in September 2012.
This information is taken from the organizations' Web site.
This is by no means a comprehensive list of fan-based
activities in 1999, but it is a good sampling of what was
happening. Not all of these groups are still active, but the
Web sites, probably all archived at archive.org, provide a
good record of their activities:
- Susan's La Femme Nikita Message Board
http://www.InsideTheWeb.com/messageboard/mbs.cgi?acct=mb66652
Members of this online community raised $12,000 Canadian to
benefit the Mira Foundation, which provides helper dogs to
people with disabilities; the money represents one dog fully
trained and ready to be assigned.
- Fans of Nicholas Lea - Focused on Making a Difference
http://www.nickleague.org/
During an interview in July 1998, actor Nicholas Lea of the
"X-Files" said of his fans, "I just think sometimes that the
focus is a little misplaced... I would love to see everybody
here take a third of that energy and put it into their
family or their community, or the people on the street who
need our help." His fans did just that, creating "The Nick
League" to organize fund raisers, on and offline, to support
various charities. They are planning their first online
auction for Summer 1999, and through e-mail requests to
fans, have already raised more than $1500 for charity.
- Elvis Connection
http://home.navisoft.com/planet/elvis.html
Formed in 1993 with Graceland's approval. They are not a fan
club, but an organization with a mandate to unite fans and
raise money for charity. To date, nearly $7,000 has been
donated to charity.
- STARFLEET International
http://www.sfi.org
Founded by Star Trek enthusiasts in 1974, chapters
(Starships) of this group "offer opportunities to have fun
while you serve your community. We recognize crew members
who have done extra service or distinguished themselves in
service to STARFLEET. In keeping with the problem-solving
themes of Star Trek, our members do more than meet and talk
about the show. The crews of the Fleet are active in support
of charity. We believe that time is our most valuable gift,
so we donate time to help persons and charitable
organizations. We conduct fundraisers and volunteer our
services to help our community." Charities which STARFLEET
takes part in include the Overseas Coupon Project, Stampede,
and the Hershey's Chocolate Project.
- Support Our Sentinel
http://world.std.com/~sentinel
Fans of the TV show "The Sentinel" have engaged in several
philanthropic efforts, through online and off-line efforts.
Most recently, the fan club for the star of the show,
Richard Burgi, held an online auction that raised more than
$6,000 for the National Audubon Society. Most of their many
off-line philanthropy efforts have had an online component
for outreach.
- PEACE - Adrian Paul Fan Club
http://members.aol.com/peaceapfc/
Dedicated to the PEACE (Protect Educate Aid Children
Everywhere) Fund, joining corporate America and Hollywood to
generate aid for children in need whether it be financial or
educational. Founded in the Fall of 1998 by Adrian Paul,
under the auspices of Athletes & Entertainers for Kids.
- Meat Loaf UK Fan Club
http://www.mlukfc.com
Holds fundraisers for the Cleft Lip & Palate
Association, and use the Internet to coordinate and promote
their philanthropic efforts. MLUKFC will be hold an online
charity auction soon, with all proceeds again to CLAPA.
- International Fans of Shania Twain
http://www.shania.com/stfanwk.htm
Works to support the singer's favorite charities, including
Second Harvest, Kids Cafes Fund, and Breakfast for Learning.
- Christian Bale Fan Club
http://www.christianbale.org/cbfc.htm
Proceeds from the fan club are directed towards Christian's
charities which include: Greenpeace, The Redwing Sanctuary,
the Dian Fossey Gorilla Fund, and the Happy Child Mission, a
school for street children in Brazil.
- New York Rangers Fan Club
http://www.monmouth.com/~drogers/rangers/Team/nyr_club.html
They raise money to help with the fight against Leukemia,
Cancer, child abuse, and other charities that the RFC
supports.
- Mac Attack Pack!!! Cardinals Care
http://www.macattackpack.com/
This not-for-profit organization, formed in 1997, says it is
"already one of the most successful fan clubs in the Major
Leagues", with members in more than 40 states. "Cardinals
Care" is an "expression of the St. Louis Cardinals'
commitment to its Community. The focus of Cardinals Care is
on "Team Play" and on "Giving Something Back" to the
community that has supported the Cardinals through the
years.
- Circle of Friends / Casey Biggs Fanclub/ AIDS
http://www.muohio.edu/~thomasrd/fomoh.html
This non-profit charity organization supports the
philanthropic interests and professional activities of actor
Michael O'Hare. Charities supported include House of Ruth, a
shelter for battered men, women, and children; Hale House, a
facility caring for children with AIDS; Gay Men's Health
Crisis Center, a center providing assistance to all AIDS
victims; Foundation for Community Encouragement; the Sierra
Club; Muscular Dystrophy Association; and the Motion Picture
and Television Fund Foundation, a support agency for anyone
in the industry in financial need
This page is a companion piece to Fan-Based
Online Groups Use the Internet to Make a Difference
These resources were developed originally for The Virtual
Volunteering Project and were written and compiled by Jayne Cravens, unless noted
otherwise.
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