crazy planning.

I've been spending a ton of time every day making calls and planning out what I will be doing for my Hero Project at FTHS this year. I am so excited that progress is being made! So far this is what I have planned...

I would like to put together a Benefit Concert where the proceeds would go towards Invisible Children, a non-profit organization that helps to rescue northern Uganda’s night commuters and child soldiers.

About Invisible Children:

Here is a short description from the Invisible Children website of what Invisible Children works towards:

· “Invisible Children hopes to educate and inspire individuals in the Western world to use their unique voice for change. Through education and innovative economic opportunities, we partner with affected communities and strive to improve the quality of life for individuals living in conflict and post-conflict regions…All of our programming is a partnership between those of us at Invisible Children and those in the Ugandan community. We focus on long-term goals that enable children to take responsibility for their future and the future of their country. Our programs are carefully researched and developed initiatives that address the need for quality education, mentorships, the redevelopment of schools, resettlement from the camps, and financial stability.”

Hopes for My Project:

· Date of show: a Friday or Saturday night in February 2010 [Hopefully Friday, February 19, 2010]

· Venue: The Lodge (Zoey’s Café) located in Ventura, CA

· Bands: Thrice, Timmy Curran, Jon Foreman, Lee Koch, Aushua, (and maybe I Saw Black You Saw Stars and/or Rey Fresco)

Other Objectives for the Project:

I would love for other charity organizations to be involved in this benefit concert:

· Invisible Children (of course)

· I am a big fan of TOMS shoes and their cause, so I am working on getting some TOMS representatives down to Ventura to man a TOMS booth at the show where they can sell TOMS shoes to raise money.

· I also recently heard of an organization called Falling Whistles (they raise money to help save children in the Congo who are struggling to escape the war-region or who are forced to the frontlines of war armed with only a whistle. For every whistle purchased, 100% of the proceeds are used to restore the lives of war-affected kids through rehabilitation programs and stateside advocacy.

Progress So Far:

· I have contacted Invisible Children, and talked with Talitha Baker, a woman in charge of the Invisible Children representatives who are sent out at different times of the year to volunteer on street teams at different events.

· She loved my idea of hosting a benefit concert, and she said she would contact me before anyone else once she started creating the schedule for the Invisible Children spring street teams.

· I told her what bands I would like to be involved in the concert. She responded by saying that Invisible Children has worked a benefit concert with Thrice before, and that it could definitely be a possibility for the future.

· With regards to the date of the show, she said that, realistically, the first team that would be able to attend the event would be available around the third or fourth weekend in February (either the 19^th, 20^th, 26^th, 27^th). I am hoping to shoot for Friday the 19^th of February.

· I have contacted TOMS shoes to try to plan things with their cause, but they have yet to return my emails.

· I have also contacted Zoey’s Café and am awaiting a reply.

Many people have also volunteered to donate their time and efforts into making this vision a reality, and I hope that you have been encouraged to join in as well! Any help is appreciated!

More Info on non-profit organizations mentioned:

· Invisible Children: www.invisiblechildren.com

· Falling Whistles: www.fallingwhistles.com

· TOMS Shoes: www.tomsshoes.com