I’m not sure if you know this or not, but I’m a complete and utter romantic at heart. That’s right, those classic characteristics of naivety, optimism, and unwavering devotion are all rolled up in the bearded bundle that is me. I’m a sucker for the charms of rom-coms, I can fold origami hearts with precision and a certain passion, and, perhaps more importantly, hold my loved ones in the highest regard. It’s people like me, and most assuredly people like you, who MassMutual is hoping will participate in their latest philanthropic campaign being held on the Rose Kennedy Greenway Tuesday.
The spot on the Greenway near the Carousel and Boston Harbor Islands Alliance Pavilion, across the street from Christopher Columbus Park, is the site MassMutual opted to erect its photo booth on, so that lovebirds can swoop in, snap a picture, and inadvertently contribute to Easter Seals.
The campaign is aptly dubbed ‘Love is a Gift’ and MassMutual has pledged $1 for every time someone takes a photo of themselves and a loved one, writes a brief yet descriptive caption about why that person is important to them, and submits it to the Love is a Gift website, for up to a total of $50,000.
“It’s an opportunity to reinforce our overall support for those that matter most in our lives,” Kathleen Mayko, MassMutual’s social media director, told me. “We’re bringing that to action through a social media campaign and turning photosharing into something positive.”
Seeing as how we live in a social and digital world, using the MassMututal photo booth isn’t the only mode of taking part in the initiative. People can also upload photos directly to the site, or tag Instagram photos with the hashtag #LoveIsAGift. The website just launched on Tuesday and already images of happy couples, lovable families and amiable friends are adorning it.
“The gallery on the site is so folks can get a sense of all the love that others are sharing through this campaign, and also hear the stories folks are sharing,” added Laura DeMars, a public relations specialist for MassMutual. “People look at the photos and get that overall feeling.”
The Greenway was chosen from Boston’s abundance of public parks, Mayko and DeMars said, because it garners great foot traffic, is a place where people congregate, and its proximity to attractions like the carousel and the nearby New England Aquarium – destinations passersby are more likely to attend while accompanied by someone special.
The photo booth will be available for everyone from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. and if the feel-good notion of contributing to charity isn’t enough to sway you to partake, participants will also be receiving a freshly baked cookie courtesy of Perfecto’s Caffe.
If you’re unable to make it down to the Greenway on Tuesday, fret not. The photo booth will also be set up this weekend at the historic Topsfield Fair on Friday, Saturday and Sunday but people will also be able to upload their photos online or using Instagram until November 30.
