by Channel 2 News staff
Wednesday, April 7, 2010
ANCHORAGE, Alaska -- Seventy emerging leaders from United Way of Anchorage took a stand for the less fortunate Wednesday by partaking in a flash mob downtown.
A flash mob is generally made up of a group of people who gather suddenly in a public place, perform a pointless act, and then disperse. The United Way group posed like mannequins with signs touting statistics about hunger and homelessness.
Flash mobs are usually organized by social media and other personal forms of communication, rather than formal notices.
The event was part of the "Give 5" campaign.
The idea is that those who participated will go online and encourage five friends to give $5.
Organizers point out the uniqueness of the event as a way to get the message out that breaks away from pushy methods.
"It is cool. It's exciting. It's a peaceful way, instead of picketing or instead of knocking on doors or other ways of soliciting attention and fundraising, it's just a peaceful fun way to get attention," said participant Michelle Brumfield.
