YouTube channel provides ‘Big Give’ to Arizona Legion post
(Revu2u video)

YouTube channel provides ‘Big Give’ to Arizona Legion post

Two marketing/tech executives, Gary and Matt, got together to create the YouTube platform Revu2u. Working with Amazon, the pair review a variety of products – including musical instruments, go-karts and other items – and then stage three product giveaways a week to one of their channel subscribers who leaves a comment on a video. The pair also has provided products to charities and nonprofits such as Habitat for Humanity.

But on Memorial Day, the Arizona-based pair who wish to remain anonymous, wanted to expand their giveaway efforts to area veterans. That effort led the pair to Merrell-Mitchell American Legion Post 39 in Gilbert, Ariz., where Legionnaires were given items out of a trailer that included guitars, back massagers, zero-gravity chairs and exercise bikes.

“There was a post near where we live, and we just drove by there, unannounced and unplanned,” said Gary, one of Revu2u’s founders. “We started to talk (with a post worker) and told her what we were up to, and she looked at us like we were running some sort of scam.

“She came out to the trailer, and she couldn’t believe it. And so we had a couple conversations with some vets initially, and they came out, went through (the items) and it kind of snowballed. Everybody that was in (Post 39) ended up kind of walking out to the trailer. I just thought it was amazing.”

Gary said the reactions from the Legionnaires were “gratitude. Thankfulness. Just like ‘wow, why us?’ Almost like they didn’t deserve it.

“These veterans … they’re some of the most amazing, selfless people. Almost everybody in there went and selected something not for them, but for somebody else. That’s how these guys have probably rolled their whole lives: always thinking about others.”

Gary said this was Revu2u’s third such “Big Give” to a group. “This, to me, felt the best,” he said. “It felt like we were really making sort of a difference. It was the most gratifying and rewarding ‘Big Give’ we’ve done so far. I’d love to do more.”

Revu2u created a video of the giveaway at Post 39 that can be viewed via their YouTube channel.

“Introducing a charitable aspect into online product reviews gives our audience a sense of community and a much-needed feeling of giving back,” Gary said. “So much of the online product review world is riddled with phishing-bot-scams, or otherwise capitalistic approach. Matt and I feel very differently. We have thousands of products to giveaway and want to use them for good – to put a smile on peoples face.”