Years ago, when I was running Investor Relations for EMC, a little voice in my head said, "This is fun and all, and gee, a lot of people are making a lot of money thanks to these efforts ... but one day, it would be nice if I could really and truly feel as though I was also working toward making the world a better place."
... and now I see our folks in IR, Marketing (including me!), Human Resources, and every where else here, making differences in ways well beyond commerce. Yes, our technology inventions and services keep the world of on-line everything humming every day ... and we're also helping families. We're helping to save a life. Not in a slogan sort of way. Truly.
[About the illustration: This artwork is hung on the walls of our Mothers Rooms. These rooms are set up to be Oasis' for our nursing mothers, so that they can continue to keep their focus on their family, while knowing that the EMC family supports them doing just that.]
Enter the story of Nick Glasgow.
Exactly 30 days ago, EMC's EVP, Jack Mollen, heard that Nick, a 28 year-old EMC employee needed a bone marrow donor in order to save his life. His doctors told him there was zero chance of a match due to his Asian/Caucasian mix. In minutes, Mark Fredrickson, VP of EMC in Marketing, was engaged and asked to see what we could do to help. Within an hour, our PR and Marketing Communication/Social Media abilities and practitioners worked to help get the word out to see if we could help Nick find a bone marrow donor that could match his needs ... F-A-S-T! (I think most every EMC blogger, micro-blogger and Facebook user put out the word to their network as soon as they got the news.)
The full, and still unfolding, story of this journey is documented on a blog, "The Race to Save Nick Glasgow," Mark and Dave Farmer, our head of Corporate PR, set up to help rally more interest and help while keeping everyone informed of the progress.
The most recent chapter can be found here, in an email Mark sent to all 42,000 EMCers tonight. (Shared with permission from Mark.)
Hope has been Found: Two Matching Donors Located.
_____________________________________________
From: Fredrickson, Mark
Sent: Thursday, June 18, 2009 4:55
PM
To: EMC ALL-Employees
Subject: Nick Glasgow: Great
news on an employee in need
In the weeks since we first shared Nick Glasgow's desperate situation with the EMC community, thousands of you have responded with action, support and kindness in ways that have provided tremendous hope and encouragement to Nick and his Mom, Carole -- both EMC colleagues in our Content Management & Archiving business based in Pleasanton, California.
This week, Nick and Carole received the best news they have heard since his ordeal with Leukemia first began -- the hope of two potential bone marrow donors who appear to be extremely well-matched and willing. I am forwarding Carole's message about her son's encouraging news, as so many of you have asked to be kept informed.
Nick still has a challenging road ahead of him. What is clear is that the heart of EMC people, which quickly spread beyond our company and into many other communities and businesses through the speed and efficiency of social networking, really can make a difference in ways beyond the work we all have in common.
Nick's story has brought unprecedented attention to the need for more people to register as potential donors, and the volume of new registrations has skyrocketed. We truly hope that Nick's life is the first of many to be saved by this compassionate response -- and that anyone considering joining the registry will do so.
For those who wish to follow Nick's
progress, this blog will continue to be updated:
The Race to Save Nick Glasgow
Best,
Mark
Nick, we're with you.
----------------- Talk Back ------------------
What are you thinking right now?
A big "thank you" for the efforts to find a match goes to EMC customers, partners, employees, bloggers, Tweeters, and most of the entire tech industry for contributing in ways such as: getting tested personally, setting up and funding testing centers,and getting the word out to others via Facebook,Twitter, phone calls, emails, and personal pleas.
http://www.pollypearson.com
http://twitter.com/pollypearson
ShareThis
