In response to the recent terrorist attacks in Paris, two Boston technology entrepreneurs have stepped up to create an online fundraiser, inviting fellow Bostonians to show support for the Parisians who have suffered from the recent violence.
This campaign, launched by Philip Beauregard and Matt Lauzon, isn’t the first time there has been a public display of friendship between Boston and Paris.
“When looking at our culture and our history with France, France was our oldest ally,” said William Keylor, a professor at Boston University’s Frederick S. Pardee School of Global Studies said. “You can still see between the strong connection between French people and American people.”
The camaraderie spans to even more recent events, specifically when Parisians contributed to an online fundraiser in response to the 2013 Boston Marathon bombings that killed three people and injured more than 260. With the help of Paris and many other cities around the globe, the victims and their families received a total of $353,000.
“We realized that in the process of hearing about these horrific attacks, there was a little bit of corollary there … So we felt like it was the right thing to do and the right moment to do this,” said Beauregard, one of the fundraiser’s creators and founder at Unpitch, a New England association for venture capitalists.
Within two hours of the violent attacks in Paris, the fundraiser was publicly launched, Beauregard said. With a goal of $10,000, the campaign has already exceeded that amount with thirteen days left until the fundraiser closes.
A message on the fundraising page described the effort, and said the goal of the fundraiser was to “reciprocate [France’s] gifts of friendship and humanity” and show the world that Bostonians stand united against the violence.
“[It’s] fostering a kind of support between two great cities in their times of need,” said Alexander Wittkop, a freshman in the College of Arts and Sciences. “Even though these are both tragedies that have occurred … it’s a way of one nation, one city supporting another in their time of need.”
The unwavering support from Bostonians has “underscored what Boston feels in relation to these attacks on Paris,” said Joseph LiPuma, a lecturer in the Questrom School of Business. “These activities that are brought up, be it fundraising or other events, just give a sense for how broad and how deep the feelings are in the Boston, New England area.”
What truly sparked the momentum for this fundraiser for Lauzon was a viral tweet that he posted Friday. The tweet featured a picture of the American flag laid out in front of the iconic Eiffel Tower, emphasizing a sense of togetherness and support from France to the United States after the Sept. 11 attacks.
“France’s culture is so similar to our culture. France’s world is so close to ours. Their views are aligned with ours,” said Sydney Siwinski, a freshman in CAS. “I think that just grabs people at least here in this area and more.”
Yet in the wave of support, some have been quick to criticize the magnitude of efforts made for Paris over a place such as Lebanon, where more than 40 people were killed in twin suicide bombings in Beirut Nov. 12. However, others said that anything is better than nothing.
“We should be concerned about all terroristic acts and not differentiate or discriminate against one or the other,” Keylor said.
Katrina Myers, a post-graduate law student, said giving money to victims is often the best way to help from across the world following a violent attack.
“It’s really great anytime that we unite and show support for other countries in times of need,” she said.
However, the decision to choose Paris was not intended to diminish the need in other cities across the world facing the effects of violent attacks, Beauregard said. After seeing the flood of support on social media for Paris, he said “it was what we could get our hands around.”
“In hindsight, having really thought about it, I do think that it would be much better for the world if we were doing fundraisers across the board for many different countries,” he said, “and focusing not just on ones in the European Union or ones that are right in front of us at all times.”
