By Cheechee Lin
Ryan Cummins (’11) is a storyteller turned entrepreneur.
Cummins has always been enthralled by the art of storytelling. As an undergraduate at Stanford, he studied video production alongside eventual partner Matt Pohlson. After a couple of years in the field working with Nobel Laureates, Pultizer Prize winners and Oscar winners, Cummins found that his work didn’t satisfy his thirst for doing good.
It all started when Cummins and Pohlson went to a benefit hosted by Magic Johnson for the Boys & Girls Club of America. The two fans were thrilled at the prospect of joining their childhood hero for courtside seats at a Lakers game followed by a dinner. The auction at the benefit reached $15,000 — which, as starving students, Cummins and Pohlson couldn't outbid. But this fundraising opportunity got them thinking about how they could make life’s most amazing experiences accessible to the public, while making a greater impact through charity.
Enter Omaze, a storytelling platform that leverages the power of technology to transform lives. The idea is simple: Omaze’s online platform offers everyone the chance to have a once-in-a-lifetime experience with a celebrity for as little as $10. Omaze has partnered with celebrity-supported charities to connect ordinary donors with the likes of Robert Downey Jr., Ben Affleck, Cyndi Lauper, Mario Batali, Arnold Schwarzenegger and Charlize Theron.
To date, Omaze has told countless stories, utilizing the power of the Internet to bring people together for charitable causes. “We’re still very early on in the growth of the company,” Cummins says. “We’re creating an ecosystem for making something fun and easy. We want to get people to understand the idea and actively contribute, matching the growth of our company.” Since launching in 2012, Omaze has supported over 125 charities and received donations from over 175 countries.
With so many worthy causes out there, how is the Omaze model changing philanthropy? Cummins emphasizes the democratic nature of his organization's campaigns. “Only 6 percent of charitable giving occurs online,” he says. “Omaze brings experience-driven fundraising online and makes it fun and easy for everyone. Omaze is unlocking a previously untapped network of donors.”
Cummins is thrilled to hear about Anderson’s initiatives to promote social innovation. “It’s nice to hear Anderson is placing emphasis on social impact. If I had a piece of advice, I’d say that you should get out there and meet as many people as you possibly can. Asking questions and learning as much as you can, talking to C-level executives to simply learn — that’s an opportunity only students are afforded. Identify what you’re passionate about, and go out there and effect change!”
Watch what happens when people find out their donation has landed them a celebrity experience:
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