Zip the Cure

by Monica , age 15

(Click photos to enlarge)

Community Issue
Social Impact
Plan for Change
Innovation
Sustainability

Community Issue

Zip the Cure (www.zipthecure.com)is working to find a cure for diabetes by raising funds for research. Diabetes affects over 24 million people in the United States alone, and costs the economy over 200 billion dollars each year. I believe that people everywhere can agree that this disease needs to be cured, as everyone has a connection to diabetes, whether it is a relative, neighbor, friend, coworker, or acquaintance.

Social Impact

I started Zip the Cure with a simple goal; raise $100 in every zip code of the country for diabetes research. This may seem like a simple concept, but when we reach our goal we will have raised $4.2 million! I hope that as a result of my project, promising diabetes research is funded, so that a cure is closer for diabetes. I think that my idea presents a step towards change because it is an entirely online-based non-profit, with all communication and tax receipts sent via email. It shows that if everyone participates, a huge impact can be made. I have already involved others in my attempt to create change. I have state captains, most of whom are young adults, in over twenty states who are responsible for promoting my non-profit. I will be able to easily evaluate my project’s success by my map. The entire project is based on a map (www.map.zipthecure.com) which turns from yellow to green as each zip code is sponsored. I can monitor my success by the gradual change in color.

Plan for Change

I would make change happen by raising $4.2 million for diabetes research. In addition, I am promoting awareness about diabetes as I work on my project. I am raising awareness by contacting the media: there have been multiple articles written about Zip the Cure. These articles promote awareness about the disease and my project. I am contacting people from all over the country to try to raise awareness, spread the word, and raise money. I have already faced many obstacles, and have been able to overcome them by remaining positive and persevering. I will accomplish my goals by working as hard as I can to solve any problems that may arise.

Innovation

My project is innovative simply because it has never been done before. The technology is a new use of Google Maps, which was available only recently. I am connecting people with diabetes from across the country to help me achieve my goal of raising $4.2 million for diabetes research. It is also unique in that it uses very little resources, virtually no paper, and low overhead. It is also intergenerational both in terms of people supporting the project and benefitting from it. It will help our community work towards change because it is a new way of fundraising. This project is exciting to me because it is a brand new experience and I am learning so much. I have been able to connect people from across the country to spread the word about my project and raise money and awareness of diabetes.

Sustainability

If I were chosen as a winner of this contest, I would use the money to sponsor zip codes, in order to try and reach my goal. I think this is an entirely new method of grass roots fundraising that other non-profits will eventually use. I hope that my partner organization, JDRF, will continue and expand my project as a biannual fundraiser to involve more people with diabetes for funding for research. Everyone will benefit from this research, but approximately only five percent of people with diabetes support the JDRF. This is a new way of fundraising that can reach people everywhere. This is a way that people can contribute a small amount to collectively raise a huge total.

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