THE STORY

The GOOD GONE VIRAL wearable billboard movement was created on March 17, 2020 by Linda and Steve Coonan during the unprecedented Covid-19 pandemic in their home state of Minnesota. It was their first night of self-quarantine on the eve of restaurants shutting down. That night they’d embark on a journey to help others like themselves find peace, solidarity and connectivity during a trying time.

“We created the ShirtBOARD™ garment as a wearable billboard for my Fairy Garden children to feel like they’re being heard and seen.” explains Linda aka Fairy Queen Mum, as featured in Lake Minnetonka Magazine. “Moreover, it gives them and their loved ones a chance to come together through positivity instead of fear.”

“After reading an email from my mom earlier that day written to her Fairy Garden children calling for community empowerment, it was clear that we needed something tangible - a quick fix - that could unify and calm our friends and family, either remotely or from a safe distance,” mentions Steve Coonan. “This became especially clear to me the next day while taking my working dog for a walk. Unrest, uneasiness and isolation filled the faces and body language of those we passed in our community. Undoubtedly, this must have been the experience of millions of others throughout our nation and world. I wanted to bring us together.”

Over and above unifying Americans joining the movement, this project helps us occupy the mind. Inherently, it fills the forefront of the mind with all the good that is (and will be) in the world. “As an ancillary effect, we hope that this will push aside the junk thoughts, behavior and worry, which ironically help us catch illnesses in the first place!” mention the Coonans. The founders reiterate that for the most part we have no control of the situation and what will be will be. This is especially significant in a world that seems to focus on negative adjectives, verbs and nouns. With ShirtBOARDS™, more positive words can be introduced into vocabularies. “Your thoughts can also move from wah-wah to positive as a ShirtBOARD™-wearer. When? Anytime. When you look in the mirror (while washing your hands, of course) or looking down while you’re in the kitchen prepping dinner,” adds Steve.

Not only does the project occupy the mind with positive thoughts, it helps us pass the time! “My original project was primarily intended to occupy their time. Before COVID-19 spread virally, I had assigned my Fairy Garden children a project to honor their parent’s wishes and do good deeds while they’re away from normality,” mentions Linda aka Fairy Queen Mum. “When you are in service to others, you’re not thinking about yourself or your present situation!”. Because the virus appears to be more long-term, this project could be passed on to other Americans, not just fairy gardeners, to help fill time while out of the office or class.

With an eye toward the future, COVID-19 behind us, the project has will become multi-faceted in creating many other short and long-term changes.  The Coonans conclude, “Down the line, if we can make an impact on new issues by advertising on ShirtBOARDS and donating proceeds, we would be floored. It would allow our people to have a voice for what they believe. And, most importantly, it would allow us to put money where our collective mouths are. That is really impactful.”

Whether creators’ efforts will simply fill their own time out of office as a neighborhood hobby project, or, too, serve as a viral movement for good is still to be determined. In whatever way possible, however, the Coonans are resolute in curbing the panic and projecting goodness to friends, family and hopefully beyond. If compelled, donate or grab a ShirtBOARD™ to be a part of making goodness go viral.