Special thanks goes to Adrian Meissner from Boundless, who drove TWO HOURS to come and talk to all of us about the incredible work they do.

Also many, many thanks to Allan and Yvonne Isfan for providing their beautiful home for the show, to Cheryl Gain of Ottawa Tonite for organizing everything, to Bob LeDrew for providing Ottawa’s most comfortable House Concert chairs and for his ongoing support, to Jamie Calder for providing a big long ethernet cable for the live stream, to 12for12k’ers Jon Aston and Richard Marti for spreading the word.

And, between yesterday afternoon and today,  we raised about $200 for Boundless and introduced a bunch of new people to the good work of Boundless and 12for12k. Yay!

It takes an army of people to make events like this happen, and I’m grateful to everyone who took the time to listen and share.

Here’s the recording of the show….sorry, the first part got cut off due to UStream issues….

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Post tags: 12for12k, boundless, house concert, ken voita, lindsay ferguson, ottawa tonite

For more information on tonight’s performers, visit lindsayferguson.com and www.myspace.com/kenvoita.  You can also catch a sneak preview here. Adrian Meissner from Boundless will be on hand to talk about the good work they do!

Please spread the word! Many thanks to Ottawa Tonite for their support and for inviting 12for12k to participate!

**Donations using that widget to your right are welcome and greatly appreciated!**

© SuzeMuse for 12for12k, 2010. | Permalink | 2 comments | Add to del.icio.us
Post tags: house concert, ken voita, lindsay ferguson, ottawa

As a special addition to the evening, we’ll also be raising some money and awareness for 12for12k’s April Charity, Boundless. Adrian Meissner from Boundless will be on hand to talk to the audience about the great work they do, and I’ll be there too to share the message about 12for12k.

If you are in Ottawa, I hope you can make it! The show starts at 7pm ET, and you can purchase tickets here.

If you’re not in the Ottawa area, all is not lost! We’ll be live streaming the show on this site and also over at www.ottawatonite.com, the web site that is hosting the concert.

Special thanks to Cheryl Gain of Ottawa Tonite and 12for12k’er Allan Isfan for putting on this terrific event!

Here’s a special sneak preview of what you can expect on Friday night!

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Post tags: allan isfan, boundless, house concert, ken voita, lindsay ferguson, ottawa, ottawa tonite

So we feel it’s only right to recognize that, and this regular snapshot will do just that.

First up is J A Heinlein, who describes himself as a “Publishing & Marketing Professional. Proud Father. Mid-life Adventurist. Social Media Enthusiast“. J A (or Jay) is the Principal of Heinlein Publishing Services, a publication group that aims to provide expertise and resources to help produce and market published material.

If you look at Jay’s Blogger profile, you’ll see he’s a prolific reader of both printed and web media across many categories – always the sign of a great publisher. He’s also a classic rock fan and that’s never a bad thing!

A loving family man, Jay has been a 12for12k supporter for a while now and always shares with his other connections, as well as on his blog. We’re more than happy to have Jay as our first featured supporter, and hope you’ll check him out too.

• Jay on Twitter:
• Jay on Facebook:
• Jay on LinkedIn:
• Jay on YouTube:
• Jay’s blog:
• Jay’s company:

Thanks Jay – and here’s to our next featured supporter soon!

© 12for12k for 12for12k, 2010. | Permalink | 4 comments | Add to del.icio.us
Post tags: 12for12k, featured supporter, j a heinlein

Established in 1984, Boundless is dedicated to improving the lives of marginalized youth, adults and children at risk through a unique combination of counselling, social rehabilitation, alternative education and outdoor adventure.

Working in partnership with Ontario-based community agencies, mostly from Toronto, their program strives to prevent crime, promote alternatives to drug abuse and strengthen the bonds of families and communities ravaged by poverty, violence and mental illness across the Canadian province.

As well as their outdoor programs, Boundless also run community leadership initiatives, the issuance of high school credits, counselling/tutoring and social rehabilitation training. Their mission is to employ a non-traditional approach to education that is sensitive and motivating, and which builds the focus, vision and independence of participants.

Boundless works in close collaboration with roughly 50 agencies that represent health care providers, children’s mental health agencies, community centres in at-risk neighbourhoods, drop-in and recreation programs.

Their programs include:

• Youth. Supporting at-risk youth to complete their high school education and integrate into the community.
• Family. Supporting parents and children with social skill development and decreased aggressive behaviour.
• Mental Health. Using social rehabilitation to help those suffering mental health issues to feel less isolated and become more independent and healthy.
• Aboriginal. To help native youth in foster homes and receiving treatment for substance abuse to re-acquaint with their culture and nature, in collaboration with Native Elders.
• Acquired Brain Injury. A dedicated program centre to help sufferers of acquired brain injury to rehabilitate into everyday life through work, fitness, education and friendships.

As you can see, Boundless isn’t tied to one cause, but helps across a huge amount of need. 12for12k is delighted to be supporting them for April, and extremely grateful for any support you can offer for this wonderful organization.

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Post tags: 12for12k april charity, boundless, youth and mental health programs

One such organization is the XXI Century Kids 1st Foundation, based in Chicago. The main aim of the foundation is to combat the lack of self-esteem and childhood obesity. To do this, the foundation raises funds to organize summer camp programs, after school programs, healthy eating programs and much more.

The foundation is currently in the running to be awarded $50,000 towards their goals by the Pepsi Refresh Project. This is a great grassroots initiative by the soft drinks company that donates the funds to the charities that receive the most support and recommendations through their site.

12for12k would love to help XXI Century Kids 1st Foundation to help get closer to their goal, and would love your help to do so. All you need to do is head over to their page on the Pepsi Refresh site and vote for their cause (you can even do this by using your Facebook account).

Thanks for your help and support as always – you’re awesome!

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Post tags: pepsi refresh, xxi century kids 1st foundation

The first one was last night, a special music event to support Haiti. Held at the Boston Manor in Burlington, Ontario, Canada’s top Foo Fighters tribute band, Stacked Actors, played a hell of a set to help raise funds for our current charity, Hope for Haiti. The band was on fire and really made the event one to remember.

Making it happen were the very kind sponsors who donated an amazing collection of prizes for our raffle. These included a bike, snowboard, car detailing, Molson Canada goodies and much more. So far, the total raised from the night is over $1,000, with the final total still to come.

The second example is from Mike Schaffer, a great PR and social media guy over in Washington, DC, who made this fantastic snow angel video on behalf of 12for12k from a Twitter challenge.

12for12k only works because of people like the Boston Manor, Mike Schaffer, and you. We just provide the ideas – you guys make it happen every month, and I’m really proud to know each and every one of you. Thank you!

© Danny Brown for 12for12k, 2010. | Permalink | 2 comments | Add to del.icio.us
Post tags: 12for12k supporters, boston manor, mike schaffer, stacked actors

There are fears that there could be more than 100,000 fatalities and countless more injured and missing. This is the immediate impact. Long-term there is the threat of disease, illness, malnutrition, and much, much more. 12for12k is asking for your support to help the people of Haiti.

We are partnering with Hope for Haiti to raise much-needed donations to send to this humanitarian emergency. The immediate funds will go to helping the survivors with aid, shelter, food, medication and other essentials. Then there is the long-term need from there.

I know this is just after the holiday season. I know this is coming off the back of a year when people suffered financial strain. Yet we showed last year how much the 12for12k community cares, and the change we can make in whatever way we can. Please help us help Hope for Haiti and show our continued caring. You can use the donation widget below, which uses Paypal and goes directly to Hope for Haiti itself. 100% of your donations go to Hope for Haiti (12for12k is a fully volunteer-based call-to-action with no admin costs), and $0.95 of every dollar goes to the humanitarian program needs.

Thank you, and let’s make whatever difference we can. And please, we’d love you to tweet this on Twitter, share on Facebook/display as your status, email folks to come here – we can really help together. You can also copy the embed code and display the widget on your own blog/site to spread awareness.

• Suggested tweet: We all share the same planet – here’s how to show our brothers and sisters in Haiti we care http://bit.ly/8XelzH #12for12k

• Suggested Facebook status: 12for12k is supporting Hope for Haiti – please help however you can http://12for12k.org/2010/01/13/12for12k-supports-hope-for-haiti-please-help/

You can read Hope for Haiti’s press release about their aid program here. Additionally, you can follow their progress in Haiti via the Hope For Haiti Twitter account.

• Hope for Haiti is a registered 501-c charity and has 4-star approval of Charity Navigator.

© 12for12k for 12for12k, 2010. | Permalink | 46 comments | Add to del.icio.us
Post tags: 12for12k, haiti earthquake, hope for haiti

This is how much we raised for charity in 2009. You all freakin’ rock and should be incredibly proud of yourselves.

Thank you!

Danny Brown
Founder, 12for12k

© 12for12k for 12for12k, 2010. | Permalink | 32 comments | Add to del.icio.us
Post tags: 12for12k, amazing people, donations

Instead, 12for12k wants you to think of ways that you can physically help. To this end, and with the help of Mark Horvath and various homeless organizations, we’ve come up with these 12 suggestions for you. Themed around the 12 Days of Christmas, this is the 12for12k version – the 12 Days of Christmas Homeless Push.

It’s up to you which ones you choose, although obviously choosing all 12 will make the biggest impact. And whatever you decide to do, record it. Photographs, videos, blogs, social networks – your choice. Sharing can only make more people aware, and encourage more help – and that’s always a good thing.And 12for12k will share your stories on our community, so please consider joining if you haven’t already.

So… on with the 12 suggestions.

1. Day 1. Contact your local homeless shelter(s) and ask what they need. Make a list and work from there.
2. Day 2. Gather 10 friends each (family, friends, colleagues) in preparation for Helping Day.
3. Day 3. Challenge these friends to a bake-off. Bake a bunch of homemade goodness – soup, stews, cookies, etc – ready for Helping Day.
4. Day 4. Clean out your closet (especially your husband’s, 12for12k wives!), and pack up all the old clothes that you find. Coats, socks, underwear, shoes, jeans – anything and everything.
5. Day 5. Go through your linen closet and think of what blankets, sleeping bags, duvets, etc, that you no longer need.
6. Day 6. Check your pantry – do you really need all these tins of soup or canned stew? Collect and store.
7. Day 7. Invite a homeless person for coffee. Go to a Starbucks or McDonald’s, buy a combo, sit and talk. Get to know the person behind the story.
8. Day 8. Go grocery shopping. Find 2-for-1 deals and buy what you can afford. Save the second item for Helping Day.
9. Day 9. Kids are homeless too. Collect all your childrens’ unwanted toys and box up. This includes books as well.
10. Day 10. Go to your local fast food/coffee house and buy a bunch of gift cards ready for handing out.
11. Day 11. This one’s an easy one – share with your networks what’s happening and get them involved.
12. Day 12. This is Helping Day. Go to a shelter, take everything you and your friends/family have collected, and help. One hour; six hours; all day – it doesn’t matter. Help – serve food; give out packages; talk to people; befriend someone. Simply put – be human to another human being.

This isn’t an exhaustive list; it’s simply suggestions. Please, feel free to leave other suggestions in the comments, or join our community and let us know what you’re doing. And make sure you follow 12for12k on Twitter for all the latest updates on what everyone is doing.

Christmas is a time for giving; let’s give to those that need it the most. Thank you.

© 12for12k for 12for12k, 2009. | Permalink | 21 comments | Add to del.icio.us
Post tags: 12 days of christmas homeless push, 12for12k, homelessness