Have you had the opportunity to check out Humans of New York? For the past ten years, Brandon Stanton has been giving his followers (more than 20 million on social media) daily glimpses into the lives of strangers on the streets of New York City and all over the world.
His most recent storytelling project, “Tattletales from Tanqueray,” chronicles the life of 76-year-old Stephanie Johnson over 32 posts. Johnson (AKA Tanqueray) was a former New York City stripper and shares the wildest tales about her life.
Stanton initially intended to make Johnson’s story into a podcast, but a bad fall last winter left her unable to walk. Stanton decided to expedite sharing her story and solicit donations for Johnson’s medical treatment. So far, “Tattletales from Tanqueray” has brought in more than $2.5 million on GoFundMe. Stanton wrote that he was sharing Johnson’s life’s tale to raise enough money to ensure she “can live the rest of her life in comfort and dignity.”
In addition to the money raised, during the course of the storytelling, readers tracked down Johnson’s son who she hasn’t talked to in several years. The two were reunited for a wonderful afternoon.
$2.5 million and reuniting with a child! Storytelling is so powerful!