Domestic Violence Survivors are the New Face of Mobile Crowdfunding

LOS ANGELES, CALIF., April 15, 2015 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- MobileCause has partnered with Face Forward Foundation to launch a series of fundraising and communication campaigns to empower women who have been victims of domestic abuse or a violent crime. Face Forward Foundation helps victims of violent and disfiguring crimes put their FACE FORWARD leaving their physical scars behind. This campaign allows victims to increase awareness to domestic violence and help raise funds for themselves and other victims for the accompanying costs of reconstructive surgery. While the reconstructive surgery is pro-bono, the supplementary items surrounding their reconstructive surgery are expensive and many women require multiple operations. Unfortunately, there are also many women on the waiting list while the foundation raises funds with goals of helping an additional 10-20 survivors per year.

In an extraordinary act of technological empowerment, MobileCause, a leader in cloud based technology solutions for nonprofits, has partnered with Face Forward to assist victims of domestic violence to utilize their personal networks of friends and social networks to raise awareness and donations for themselves and other victims, in the process helping other women like them. The first three women to participate in these crowdfunding and communication campaigns are pre-approved by Face Forward and have treatment plans in place by renowned plastic surgeon Dr. David Alessi. Face Forward Foundation, founded by Dr. David Alessi and his wife Deborah Alsessi (a survivor of DV) provides pro-bono plastic surgery to victims of abuse and violent crimes and depends on donated funds for the costs and care surrounding the donated surgeries such as anesthesiologist, after care, travel and accommodations. Face Forward Founder Deborah Alessi says of the partnership, "We are so excited to partner with MobileCause on this exciting crowdfunding campaign which is empowering our survivors and enabling them to fund their own campaign while helping other victims, which facilitates them in feeling in control again of their life!"

MobileCause, a leading provider of cloud based fundraising and communication solutions for nonprofit organizations, makes it easy for donors to give and for nonprofits to raise more donations at a lower cost. The company provides a suite of products for a new generation of giving to strengthen an organizations brand by integrating mobile everywhere and increasing the speed and effectiveness of donor communication. MobileCause has developed an original campaign with the domestic abuse charity Face Forward, enabling the charity as a whole and its beneficiaries the power to raise more awareness of domestic violence and fundraise from the convenience of their mobile phones. The US now has 74% smartphone adoption changing donor expectations and new solutions are needed for nonprofit organizations to address the challenges and opportunities associated with a mobile first society. Many supporters research websites, watch videos, and make credit/debit donations directly from their mobile phone. MobileCause's fundraising platform makes it easy for donors to give from any device and focuses on helping nonprofit organizations gain donors, increase recurring gifts and engage supporters. The MobileCause Crowdfunding solution empowers nonprofit organizations to conveniently raise donations through their networks of volunteers, donors and staff. This solution is unique for Face Forward in that the survivors can take control of their future and assist others in the same situation, and anyone can become a fundraiser for this great cause and customize their page with photo, donation goal and personal message. When someone donates they can receive exclusive content and text messages to follow along with the progress of each Face Forward patient. The patients provide updates on their progress thereby keeping donors connected to the growth and success of the survivors. Each patient knows their personal surgery plan and what finances are needed to cover those needs and any additional money they raise will roll over to the next group of patients on the waiting list empowering these victims to help both themselves and others. The nonprofit itself is continuously fundraising for its patients but thought this was an incredible way to reach more people who can donate whatever they can or volunteer to fundraise for patients and capitalize on the theory that there is power in numbers. All the money raised will be tracked by the MobileCause software and available to be seen on the Face Forward website. Supporters can see these victims of abuse reach their goals as well they can see other victims rise up on the wait list. Updates and surgery reveals will be provided on each victim showing their progress to leaving both the physical and emotional scars behind them as they Face Forward to their future.

MobileCause CEO, Sean MacNeill commented on the extraordinary campaign, "We are thrilled to provide our mobile software fundraising solutions to an amazing cause such as Face Forward and are confident that this campaign will connect the world to these woman and many others like them while allowing crowdfunding to do what it does best with a personal connection to these brave survivors and worthwhile cause."

The campaign will soft launch the week of March 30th and go throughout October which is Domestic Violence Awareness month and can be viewed at www.faceforwardla.org.

About Face Forward Foundation

Face Forward's mission is to provide physical and emotional reconstruction for women and children who have been victimized by Domestic Violence or any Cruel Act of Crime. Face Forward vows that all individuals who cannot afford the fees associated with proper internal and external care will be treated Pro-Bono. Our team of skilled surgeons and specialists has been fortunate enough to impact the lives of many with truly life-changing results, but this is just the beginning. We work with community leaders and organizations around the nation and throughout the world, in order to identify victims of violence who are legitimately working toward recovery and who carry the physical evidence of past abuse.  We are able to provide our services to individuals who are committed to their recovery by partnering with local community centers, which offer complementary relief, housing, counseling, job searches and legal assistance. We are one humble part of the recovery puzzle; however, the immediate results of our healing efforts provide individuals with the confidence to literally put their best Face Forward once again. Face Forward is a non-profit organization, a 501(c)(3) registered in the State of California. Better than 90% of all donations are directed toward victim treatment and recovery. Since an average patient's treatment costs approximately $5,000, every penny helps.

About MobileCause:

MobileCause provides cloud based online fundraising and communication software for nonprofit organizations enabling them to raise more money at a lower cost. Each solution is designed to mobilize networks of volunteers, donors and staff while making it easy for people to give and stay connected from any device. Our suite of products including: crowdfunding for nonprofits, comprehensive online giving, dynamic event fundraising, text to donate keywords, mobile marketing and smart data records, is designed for a new generation of giving for mobile, online and social.  Customers can be up and running in hours with no technical skills required. MobileCause provides turnkey merchant and payment services at a simple flat rate that includes a specialized mobile payment app for nonprofits. Each plan includes dedicated strategy support from fundraising experts. Featured clients include United Way, The Salvation Army, American Heart Association, University of Southern California, Habitat for Humanity and many more. Visit us at www.mobilecause.com