Danny, the driving force behind the thriving #12for12k community, inspires a multitude of people to give and get involved, and he’s taught me the fundamentals of social media for social good.  He inspired me from our first conversation, and continues to do so with his relentless philanthropic endeavors.

While I was on a deadline around 1 a.m. earlier this year, I, naturally was on Twitter instead, and noticed my Twitter stream flooded with the 12for12k hashtag.  I was curious so I followed the tag, and surfed through the website.  I saw that a friend was also tweeting the hashtag, and felt secure to chip-in for a donation.  I thought for a second about what I could possibly contribute.  It occurred to me that I didn’t really need those new running shoes, and maybe I’d donate the money instead of feeding it back into my overflowing closet.

At 1 a.m. this seemed like a great plan, and allowed me to avoid my writing duties for a few more minutes.  We all hear the cliches about ‘every little bit’ making a difference, and it’s hard to imagine that your dollar changes a life.  But, Danny validated that my donation mattered in a personal thank you, and explained exactly what it meant to him and the charity.  It was at that moment that he created a brand ambassador.

Every week I learn more about social media, public relations, and marketing from Danny’s blog.  It rocks.  Much like Danny himself.

Danny is one to follow.  He engages authentically and genuinely cares about his community.  Also, he understands the power of ‘thank you.’

12for12k: What Does Social Action Mean to You? from Nicole D'Alonzo on Vimeo.