Katie Sands Is The Do-Good Influencer We All Need To Follow

Why do we follow people we don't know? To shop their closets for pieces we want to buy. To learn about the latest beauty trend. To grab the scoop on where to go out for dinner. Those are all fair things to be interested in, but perhaps the most interesting thing we should all be following, especially right now, is grace.

Katie Sands (@HonestlyKate) is without a doubt the most thoughtful influencer I've come across. Since finding herself a subject of interest to over 200,000 people, she's taken the responsibility that comes with influence very seriously. And now more than ever, she's putting her money (and her platform) where her mouth is. 

Read below for how Katie is doing her best to spread positivity, change, and hopefully inspire others to do the same #GOODFLUENCE!

ON HER PERSONAL PLEDGE...
I have pledged to donate 10% of ALL sponsored content over the next two months toward local hospitals in Long Island and NYC. Although, most of my partnerships have been put on pause, I realize how fortunate I am to still have partners and brands that want to continue working together with a WFH storyline. I realize how fortunate I am to be able to create content without leaving my home. 

The fact that I am still getting work while others are not is the reason, as an influencer, it's my duty to spread the love with people on the frontlines that need it most, and to use my influence to ask other influencers out there to take this pledge with me.

ON USING HER PLATFORM...
With the help of my followers, family, and friends I was able to raise over $40,000 for the Northwell Health COVID19 Emergency Fund. I feel so lucky that I have built a community that trusts me to bring awareness about the hospitals that are in most need of help. There are so many people out there that want to help and don't know the correct places to donate. At this point everyone is an influencer and can use their connections, friendships, and family as sounding boards. With influence comes responsibility, and I remind you all to use it wisely. 

ON CHAMPIONING MENTAL HEALTH ADVOCACY...
The thing I am most proud of is using my platform to take my mental health awareness advocacy to the next level by having my own live therapy sessions with Dr. Stephanie Lesk. This puts me in an extremely vulnerable position, as I am literally sharing my most personal moments with over 200,000 people weekly, but I am committed to showing my audience that it is okay to ask for help and it is okay to feel down about certain things. We are all in this together. I also know that many people right now need help and are not able to afford it, so I have them send in questions prior to the session so I can ask Dr. Lesk her professional opinion. 

I have never received a more positive response from my audience before. I am so happy that I can help the community I've built with their mental health during this time. It is SO IMPORTANT. I want to build the most inspiring virtual community for all of us to get through this together and of course stop the stigma around therapy/

ON TURNING HER ACCOUNT INTO A POSTING BOARD...
I have turned my account, specifically my stories, into a posting board for companies that are currently hiring remote positions. The majority of my friends and followers have been either furloughed or laid off at this point, and I know how horrible this is for both our physical, financial and mental well being. I have continued to share companies as well as the number of positions that they are hiring on my stories daily! There is so much information circulating out there that I have edited through and posted what I think my community will benefit from most. 

ON HER TOY DRIVE...
As a member of the Make A Wish Foundation board I was devastated to hear that so many of our wish kids will no longer be receiving the wishes they have been waiting for, and worse, most of their families are not allowed to be near them in the hospitals or even at home right now. 

There is nothing that is going to fix this devastation, but if my family and I could use my platform in any way to ease the pain by raising money to donate toys, games, activities to the children's hospitals we had to. This way we are supporting all the toy stores that are being hit hard as well as giving the childen something to look forward to. My younger sister Gracie started a fund and reached out to as many toy stores as possible that had products that were in the guidelines of safety to be donated to the Cohen Children's Hospital on Long Island. We then used my platform to raise money from my community. Even $5 goes such along way in the toy world. 

[Photos via @honestlykate]