REACHING FURTHER

Over the past two years, American Friends of ALYN Hospital has made a major push to grow our social media presence and bring ALYN’s story to more people across the country. Through Instagram, Facebook, TikTok, and LinkedIn, we are sharing more of the hospital’s work, highlighting patient stories, and helping new audiences understand the impact of pediatric rehabilitation.

Instagram has seen the most dramatic growth. Less than two years ago, American Friends of ALYN Hospital had around 240 followers. Today, we are nearing 1,000. Facebook has also seen tremendous growth, helping us reach longtime supporters while also introducing ALYN to new people in an accessible and engaging way.

One of our most successful recent efforts has been the creation of two new video series featuring Marcela and me. In each video, we highlight either a product developed through ALYN’s PELE Innovation Lab or one of ALYNnovation’s startup partners. These short videos give viewers a behind-the-scenes look at the creativity, problem-solving, and innovation happening at ALYN every day. The response has been tremendous, and we are already planning additional series to continue building on this momentum.

Looking ahead, we are going to be more intentional about tailoring content to each platform. Not every post belongs everywhere. A short, casual video that performs well on Instagram, Facebook, or TikTok may not be the right fit for LinkedIn, where the audience often responds better to professional updates, organizational milestones, and mission-driven storytelling. At the same time, content created for LinkedIn may not always translate to the faster, more visual style of Instagram or TikTok. By adjusting our messaging for each platform, we can reach different audiences in ways that are most meaningful to them.

Social media is quickly becoming one of the most important tools we have for telling ALYN’s story. Every post is an opportunity to raise awareness about ALYN Hospital’s life-changing work. By continuing to grow our online presence, American Friends of ALYN Hospital can reach new communities, strengthen relationships with existing supporters, and help ensure that more people understand the vital role ALYN plays in helping children regain strength, independence, and hope.