PINE TWP, Allegheny County — Nearly 100 representatives from nonprofit organizations Tuesday received a heart-warming lesson about using the Internet as a tool to unite people from around the world to do good.

Bridget Policicchio spoke about spearheading the “Save Lucas” campaign, which is a movement that has helped her 2-year-old cousin continue to fight for his life while raising awareness for child organ donation. It started in the Pittsburgh region about two months ago and has gained momentum.

Policicchio was the featured speaker for the Pittsburgh North Regional Chamber’s fourth annual Nonprofit Conference at The Chadwick. The daylong event also featured skill-building workshops, networking opportunities and a trade show.

Policicchio, who is a merchandising analyst for Giant Eagle, explained how she and her family — none of whom are professional fundraisers — created a movement that got results and created buzz worldwide.

Lucas Goeller, whose family is from Indiana Township, Allegheny County, was born in March 2013 with a rare liver disease called biliary atresia, a life-threatening condition in which the bile ducts of the liver do not have normal openings.

Doctors at Children’s Hospital of Pittsburgh of UPMC operated on Lucas when he was born to try to make his liver functional.

He survived, but his condition continued to worsen as his body was unable to absorb enough nutrients.

Then about a year ago, doctors said Lucas only had about a year to live unless he received a liver transplant.

To make matters worse, his illness would require him to receive a whole liver with all of the connecting tissues, which would require a direct donation from a deceased person and would narrow down the already slim chances of finding a match.

Liver transplants can sometimes be performed by transplanting part of the organ from a living person because the liver can regenerate, but Lucas was not a candidate.

In June, after Lucas had been on a liver donation list for 18 months and was in end-stage liver failure, the family started telling his story through nearly all forms of media in hopes of finding a donor.

Policicchio said donor lists are regional, and the family hoped the exposure would expand the search to a national level.

Family and friends generated a lot of interest by creating a “Save Lucas” Facebook page. Through posting pictures and sharing the story, the page generated more than 130,000 engagements with users in the first month.

The family created an account on GoFundMe.com and exceeded its $20,000 fundraising goal by more than $10,000 to help Lucas’ parents pay medical bills and to pay for advertising to advocate for organ donation. Pledges came from as far away as Germany and Japan.

“We never thought this would go anywhere besides local,” Policicchio said.

“It went international, which is mind-blowing because (people from other countries) can’t do anything except spread awareness.”

Policicchio and family members also created a personal website for the campaign and set up accounts on Twitter and Instagram.

Their efforts led to blood drives held in Lucas’ name throughout the region to benefit other individuals, and national news outlets publicized the story, rasing awareness about child organ donation.

About a month into the campaign, Lucas had a match. The family of a 3-year-old girl in Nebraska with terminal brain cancer learned about Lucas’s story through Facebook. The two families connected, and when the young girl died June 30, Lucas received her liver.

More importantly, doctors transplanted organs from the girl into four additional children — including a boy on the same hall as Lucas at Children’s Hospital.

“She saved five lives and touched thousands others,” Policicchio said.

She said Lucas’ condition continues to change day to day, and he is fighting off infections.

However, the family remains hopeful he can continue down the long road to recovery.

Workshops the rest of the day touched on a number of topics, including planned giving programs, best practices for nonprofits, board development, turning a passion into a purpose, and recruiting and retaining volunteers.