Recipient Spotlight: Randy Manaigre
Every now and then we like to get feedback from our outstanding members. MicroGiving would like to acknowledge one of our fantastic recipients, Randy Manaigre for his involvement and support within the MicroGiving community!
1. What made you decide to put a request on MicroGiving?
After years of identifying my medical issues and trying to research a resolution to my challenges, and realizing that the least intrusive medical procedure for me, was Laser(Laser Spine Insititute, Tamapa, Florida, I need financial help and started to research what was out there in the web-world and I found MicroGiving. Being cautious, I researched your site and was impressed and amazed at the entry process and the whole concept.
2. How do you feel about being a part of the MicroGiving community?
Being part of the MicroGiving Community is empowering, especially when you have no means for help.
3. How do the other members make you feel? Have they offered you emotional support or ideas to help you raise funds on your own?
The other members are amazing! The important aspect is, regardless of our needs, we all share the same commonality… we need help.
4. If you had a friend in a similar situation as yours, would you recommend MicroGiving? Why or why not?
I would highly recommend any friend/person in need to MicroGiving because they provide a great way for people in need to acquire assistance. In addition, the verification process is impressive, thus reducing false applications.
5. How is MicroGiving different than other online fund raising websites?
MicroGiving does the background checks, thus giving donors a peace of mind that the donations will be used for a real person in need.
6. How is MicroGiving different than local (in person) fund raising?
MicroGiving connects donors and recipients world-wide, allowing donors to give to anyone from any place in the world. Plus, MicroGiving allows donors to choose exactly who they believe has the greatest need. They present a world without boundaries – making the whole process amazing in helping those in need anywhere. This improves the success of the need being met faster and changes the term “community” to be the whole planet… amazing.
7. MicroGiving is serious about helping only those who truly need help, how do you feel about the verification level program?
I was impressed with the process and documentation to become verified… MicroGiving leaves ‘no stone unturned’ to verify and confirm recipients with real needs.
8. Was it difficult for you to reach the highest and most successful level?
Reaching the highest level does take great effort and requires recipients to provide a lot of supporting documents. However, once those supporting documents are submitted, MicroGiving verifies and confirms the highest level to valid recipients . The effort is well worth it.
8A. If you had difficulty during the verification process, please explain why you are (or were) having trouble and what the team did to help you successfully reach the fully verified status.
In my process of applying to be verified and reaching the highest level – a learning curve was evident on my part. All my questions were answered quickly and in a clear manner. This allowed me to respond with the required documentation via mail/post.
9. Have you visited the forums?
Yes I have visited the forum and have commented to many members, as they have with me.
9A. If yes, what brought you to the forum?
Once again – it is the commonality that we all have; both in finding that we need to reach out for help and supporting each other in this process. Asking for help has always been a challenge for me. I am used to helping/giving, not receiving.
9B. Did the forum meet your expectations?
Yes, the forum met my expectations and more. Members are amazing and the honesty and comments to each other bring us all closer together, regardless of where we live.
10. Are you using the journal to keep donors informed of your progress?
I have used the journal. I sometimes feel that I do not have much to say – my physical condition is what it is and I do not want be perceived as a whiner. I believe in addressing the challenges in my life and moving on. Once my goal is achieved and my surgery is complete, I will have a lot to tell in my journal about the medical process and my improved state of physical health and quality of life.
10A. If yes, do you feel it’s a valuable tool to help donors decide whether or not to give you some help?
I am sure donors like to read the journal, but I also believed that they realize we all have basic activities in daily living that we all must do(regardless of one’s abilities). I think and feel that to write down daily factual information would be too much information – I believe in writing in my journal when something either positive or negative occurs in my life. While it’s important to keep Donors posted about any progress in your life, they do not have time to read excessive information..keep it simple.
10B. If no, what do you think would make a good way to keep donors informed of your progress?
The journal is fine as it is, donors can read about my progress. I would not change anything. Unless you wanted to ad a private section that Donors could submit to and recipients could only access..sort of a one to one private avenue for this new connection to each other.
Thank you John, Michelle and the MicroGiving Team.
Yours truly,
Randy Manaigre
Tags: recipient spotlight, Spotlight
