Milwaukee-based Meta House Inc., will host its annual A Day for Meta House event on Friday, May 6 at Discovery World, Pier Wisconsin. To coincide with Mother’s Day on Sunday, May 8, the theme for this year’s event is “Celebrating Mothers, Rebuilding Families.” The organization has launched a fundraising campaign centered around the use of Facebook and YouTube to coincide with the event.
“In honor of the achievements of the women at Meta House, their children and the work they’ve put into their recovery we thought it would be appropriate to theme the event around mothers,” said Wendy Cozzens, director of development at Meta House.
Last year, the organization hosted a Tweetup and a 24-hour ‘Tweetathon’ to celebrate the event and to build awareness around the issues surrounding women’s substance abuse. “This year we wanted to increase engagement with our online community so we decided to utilize YouTube and Facebook to add a personalized video component to the event,” said Mandi Lindner, communications coordinator for Meta House.
Supporters can participate by simply watching Meta House videos on YouTube or by ‘liking’ the organization on Facebook, Lindner said. “The videos will feature Meta House women and their stories of survival, but will also include tribute videos from our guest speakers, sponsors and event attendees to their mothers.”
Those interested can provide their own video or written tributes to their mothers for inclusion in the overall event.
“We want people to engage and tell us how great their mom is,” Lindner said. “It’s a great way to pay tribute to our mothers just in time for mother’s day, but it will also allow guest stories to be woven into the overall tapestry of the A Day For Meta House theme, ‘Celebrating Mothers, Rebuilding Families.'”
Manpower Group will donate $1, up to $1500, for every YouTube view the organization receives from Monday, May 2 to Sunday, May 8. WaterStone Bank has also committed to donating $1,500 if at least 750 people like Meta House on Facebook page before Mother’s Day, Lindner said.
The organization will kick off the campaign by releasing tribute videos from event sponsors including: Bridget Carey-Ruffin of Manpower Group; J Pat Miller from Lake FM; Kelli Glatczak and her mother Sue of WaterStone Bank, Christina Steder of Clear Verve Marketing, and Eric Paulsen, Lake FM and this year’s emcee.
The event will feature three identical programs: breakfast, 8 to 9 a.m., lunch 12 to 1 p.m. or an evening reception from 5:30 to 7 p.m. at Discovery World Pier Wisconsin, 500 N. Harbor Drive.
A video booth will be set up at the event for attendees to record their own tributes on-site, which will then be uploaded to Meta House social media profiles.
“We’re hoping that the video and written tributes from the speakers, from attendees and even our online supporters will help bring us all together around the Meta House mission,” Lindner said. “It’s important for everyone to recognize the importance of a mother’s role in keeping family together and realizing the work that goes into it for some of our Meta House women.” For more information visit www.metahouse.org.
