…for bringing us to life!!

SMAC! Delivery & New Hair

You did it! You brought SMAC! Sock Monkeys Against Cancer to life in November through an awesome crowdfunding campaign and we cannot thank you enough. We are more than ready to get to work, helping those with/impacted by cancer SMAC! it. So, where are we?

During the crowdfunding campaign, we were aiming for a January monkey delivery date. Unfortunately, that didn’t work out with our manufacturer, so we will now be coming to your doorstep in May. Our sincerest apologies for the delay. We (our prototypes) have been getting many make-overs in the meantime, which now also includes new hair for both of us.

The yarn used to make our crazy hair, in the picture above,  is no longer available, so we are literally “hair hunting” as we type this. No worries, though, we will still look cool. More importantly, we just want to get the heck out of dodge and into the arms of those who need some love and comfort. We have LOTS to give.

Please Claim Your SMAC! Rewards

“Claim Your SMAC! Rewards” Email

Before we can actually knock on your door, if you pledged your financial support via PayPal on the crowdfunding campaign site, StartSomeGood, we need a bit more information from you before we can send you your much-deserved rewards. Many of you have already responded to the emails we have sent your way to claim your campaign rewards. Wahoo! Now, we just need to snag the rest of you.

We know inboxes are crazy (and we hate to add to that craziness), but your generosity has earned you some some incredible stuff and we want to get it to you! So, please be on the look-out for another email with the subject line “Claim Your SMAC! Rewards” soon. In the meantime, if you want to check your inbox for our previous messages, a quick search for “SMAC” should do the trick!

 SMAC! Ink

Forbes.com

Look what else your generosity resulted in – this awesome feature on Forbes.com: “Crowdfunding Success Stories Include $35,000 for Sock Monkeys and $2,000 for a Dry Composting Toilet.”  Huge thanks to Forbes.com contributor, Devin Thorpe,  for writing it. Be sure to check it out!

 Pre-Order SMAC! Monkeys Now

In case you didn’t know, you can now pre-order SMAC! monkeys right here (also for delivery in May). We can’t wait to be “unleashed” and help SMAC! cancer EVERYWHERE!! So, spread the word, SMAC!-ers. Again, thank you SO much for bringing us to life. We can never say that enough.

Also, we have lots of news to share and stories on how YOU are helping US make a difference, so be sure to join SMAC! Nation and sign up here for SMAC! updates. 

SMAC! on friends!

wuv,

NoMo & Phoenix

Phoenix & NoMo

Pre-order your SMAC! Monkeys now. It’s easy as pie. Just click here and go on your merry way! l

SMAC! on friends. SMAC! on!!

Now, you’re probably wondering what the next steps are regarding getting your rewards from the crowdfunding campaign….and then…how and when you can order SMAC! monkeys online!!!

Thanks a bazillion!

1). Since the campaign just ended (November 30), all the crowdfunding transactions have now been processed by PayPal. However, due to the lag time between the time you pledged and the time the transactions were actually processed, we’re told there are always some “snags” that take place in that some of the transactions can’t be processed. For example, you may have switched your credit card or didn’t actually have the amount you pledged in your account at the time of processing. The Start Some Good platform has sent emails to those whose transactions didn’t go through and offered guidance on how to “re-pledge.” If you received an email regarding this and can’t, or don’t want to, mess with PayPal, you can write a check (info posted below).

2). You will soon be receiving a THANK YOU email that also includes a form that asks a variety of questions, such as, “Which monkey(s) do you want?” “Do you want to keep or give your monkey(s) to someone with cancer?” After you fill out the forms, we can move forward on distributing the rewards!!

3). While working on rewards distribution, we are also working as quickly as possible to get our ecommerce and fulfillment services up and running so that online orders for the SMAC! monkeys can take place. So, please stay tuned. Coming soon. You can also sign up for SMAC! newsletter updates sent directly to your inbox, too.

Want to write a check to “re-pledge” or still support SMAC!? Here is the address:

Make check out to: Leslie Lehrman SMAC! Memorial Fund

Send check to:
Gothenburg State Bank
P.O. Box 81
Gothenburg, NE 69138
Please add a sticky note: “To be deposited into account # 944041”

Again, THANK YOU! Cancer is in for a major SMAC!-ing.

wuv,
NoMo

NoMo the SMAC! leader

NoMo is the ringleader of  ”SMAC! – Sock Monkeys Against Cancer”, a gang of monkeys that provides tangible support to those with cancer, reminding them no one fights it alone.

Right now, NoMo is just a prototype.

But, with YOUR help, NoMo and his SMAC! buddy, Phoenix, can soon be in the hands of those with/impacted by cancer to help them SMAC! it, by pledging your financial support here.

(Check-writer only? See bottom of this post for details).

Funds pledged to my SMAC! campaign on the Start Some Good crowdfunding platform are used to launch my startup – the SMAC! Sock Monkeys Against Cancer product line, which so far includes two SMAC! monkey prototypes:

        NoMo, the ALL cancer fighting monkey

        Phoenix, the “WTF? (Where’s the Funding) for Lung Cancer?” fighting monkey

SMAC! Monkeys Phoenix & NoMo

I have one month to raise approximately $35,000 to launch the SMAC! monkey product line (November 1-30). You get some sweet rewards for pledging. Check them out here.

My ultimate goal: Create a custom monkey for each type of cancer.

My ultimate dream: Anyone diagnosed with cancer gets a SMAC! monkey from their hospital.

The Big Why

This whole entrepreneurial endeavor isn’t just about some random monkeys and attaching cancer to their name. It’s about my Mom… and too many others like her.

The SMAC! monkey line was inspired by my Mom, Leslie Lehrman, who was diagnosed with Stage IV lung cancer six years ago. No, she never smoked. ANYONE can get lung cancer (‘nother whole story).

Mom snoozing with NoMo & Phoenix.

Cancer can be a very lonely existence. Family and friends can’t always be there. My Mom lives more than 1,200 miles away, making her appointments, tests, scan results and treatments that much harder for both of us.

This is why I created SMAC! — to give Mom a “buddy” she could hug to remind her that I am with her.

It’s hard for me to describe how my boys (NoMo and Phoenix) make me feel. I look into their little eyes and they just make my heart melt. It may sound silly, but when I get up, I say ‘good morning’ to them too. They just make me happy…even on my darkest days.
                                                                                          -Leslie Lehrman (Mom)

Mom has taken her SMAC! monkeys everywhere – to chemo, doctor appointments and to the couch for some much needed rest (and snuggle time). She says they are now part of the family.

SMAC! Nation

Mom and I want to build “SMAC! Nation,” a global movement in the fight against cancer that arms those with/impacted by this dang disease with cancer-crushing companions of the sock monkey kind. 

With YOUR help, SMAC! Nation will be built with great philanthropic purpose, with giving at the heart of it all.

The SMAC! Mission

Tangible Support: Provide constant comfort, sock monkey “mojo” and a cancer-busting buddy to those moving through their cancer journey.

Giving: “One SMAC! = Two” Business Model:  When you buy a SMAC! monkey, one will be given to someone with cancer (model to go into action the minute the company can financially sustain it).

Create Social Change: By giving to those impacted by cancer, you will also be contributing to advances in cancer research and programs (model to go into action the minute the company can financially sustain it).

So, doing good to create good – all bundled together in one package.

Mom with NoMo & Phoenix at chemo.

Corporate Giving

Following the implementation of One SMAC = Two, my next giving goal is to direct steady SMAC! corporate funds to the following:

National Coalition of Oncology Nurse Navigators – Professional organization that supports oncology nurse navigators assist patients and families to receive essential support services that help ease the burdens during cancer treatment.

Liz’s Legacy at the UNMC Eppley Cancer Center – One of 66 National Cancer Institute (NCI)-designated cancer centers in the U.S. Funds will be directed to lung cancer research.

I’m a huge advocate for ensuring people understand where their money is going when they give to any cause.

Jane and NoMo going for a spin.

Conscious Capitalism

Yes, there is such a thing as conscious capitalism and I’m a big believer. “SMAC! Sock Monkeys Against Cancer” will operate under Jennifer Windrum Inc. as a socially conscious for profit company.

A good and successful example of combining a for profit with a social mission is TOMS Shoes. Like TOMS, SMAC! is more than just a product. It’s a movement that inspires people to want to help – to want to give – to want to be part of a larger mission to do good.

Please know I will be open, honest and forthcoming about where your SMAC! dollars go throughout the startup process and beyond.

Little SMAC!-ers spreading the word!

Join the Movement

For kids and adults alike, the SMAC! monkeys are ready to get down the business.

Join the movement! Help bring NoMo and Phoenix to life to help you and/or your loved ones SMAC! cancer.  Pledge here!  

Pledge today!

ps…if you only feel comfortable pledging by writing a check, you can send a check to the following (needs to arrive by November 28th):

Gothenburg State Bank
Leslie Lehrman SMAC! Memorial Fund
P.O. Box 81
Gothenburg, NE 69138
Please add a sticky note: “To be deposited into account # 944041”

Those who write a checks are, unfortunately, not eligible for campaign rewards, but you will still help send SMAC! monkeys to cancer patients at the Nebraska Medical Center.

 pps…Feel free to hang out with the SMAC! monkeys online. They kinda think they are social media super stars.

Facebook

Twitter

YouTube

Google+

Flickr

Pinterest

The crowdfunding campaign to help bring the SMAC! monkeys to life kicks off November 1st.  Just a few more days!! In the meantime, check out the rewards you will receive in return for your pledges.

SMAC! Crowdfunding Campaign Pledge Rewards

For those who pledge to my campaign, they will get SMAC-ed! with some sweet rewards based on fundraising tiers, ranging from $10 to $2,000+ pledges. 

As a start-up, it is really impossible right now for me to pinpoint exactly when I can fully implement my One SMAC! = Two business model. However, I will put this model of giving into action during the campaign with a few options.

All pledge levels $50-$2000+ get to decide the following:

1.  Which SMAC! monkey(s) you want to order:

• NoMo – ALL cancer fighting monkey (and/or)
• Phoenix – WTF? lung cancer monkey

2.  How many SMAC! monkeys you want to keep

3.  How many SMAC! monkeys you want to be given to someone impacted by cancer

Campaign Pledge Levels and Rewards 

$10 Pledge

• Cool thank you ecard from NoMo and/or Phoenix
• Honorable mention listing on website as SMAC! founders
• Follow the campaign progress

$25 Pledge

• Personalized social media shout-outs via Facebook, Twitter & Google+
• Follow the campaign progress
• + Rewards from previous level

$50 Pledge

• 1 SMAC! monkey
• Downloadable SMAC! adoption certificate
• Follow the campaign progress
• + Rewards from previous level

$100 Pledge “Barrel of Monkeys” Bronze Founder

• 2 SMAC! monkeys
• Name/company logo to be placed on SMAC! website as a Bronze SMAC! founder
• Name/company logo to be placed on SMAC! Bronze Founder Pinterest board
• Follow the campaign progress
• + Rewards from previous levels

$250 Pledge “Sock Monkey Mojo” Silver Founder

• 5 SMAC! monkeys
• Name/company logo to be placed on SMAC! website as a SMAC! Silver founder
• Name/company logo to be placed on SMAC! Silver Founder Pinterest** board
• Follow the campaign progress
• + Rewards from previous levels

$500 Pledge “Go Bananas” Gold Founder

• 10 SMAC! monkeys to be given to cancer patients/caregivers at the Nebraska Medical Center
• Name/company logo to be placed on SMAC! website as a SMAC! Gold founder
• Name/company to receive plaque stating it as a SMAC! Gold Founder
• Name/company logo to be placed on SMAC! Gold Founder Pinterest** board
• Name/company to receive a photo book of the patients who received the SMAC! monkeys
• Personalized social media shout-outs via Facebook, Twitter & Google+
• Follow the campaign progress

$1000 Pledge “Planet of the Apes” Platinum Founder

• 10 SMAC! monkeys to be given to cancer patients at a special SMAC! event at the Nebraska Medical Center
• Special event to be livestreamed online
• Name/company logo to be place on SMAC! website as SMAC! Platinum Founder
• Name/company to receive plaque stating it as a SMAC! Platinum Founder
• Name/company to receive a photo book of the patients at the special event who received the SMAC! monkeys
• Name/company logo to be placed on SMAC! Platinum Founder Pinterest** board
• Personalized social media shout-outs via Facebook, Twitter & Google+
• Follow the campaign progress

$2000+ Pledge “Major Monkey Biz” Double Platinum Founder

Supporters giving $2,000 or more will receive the following:

• 1 personalized/custom-made SMAC! monkey
• 10 SMAC! monkeys to be given to cancer patients at special SMAC! event at Nebraska Medical Center
•  Special event to be live-streamed online.
• Company logo placed on SMAC! website as SMAC! Double Platinum Founder
• Company to receive plaque as SMAC! Double Platinum Founder
• Company to receive photo book of patients at special event who received SMAC! monkeys
• Company logo placed on SMAC! Double Platinum Founder Pinterest board
• Personalized social media shout-outs via Facebook, Twitter & Google+
•  Receive campaign updates

_____________________________________________________________________

You will receive a form to make these selections AFTER the crowdfunding campaign is complete (and successful).

**What is Pinterest? Pinterest is a virtual pinboard showcasing items users find around the Web that went viral, rapidly signing on millions of users. As of September 2012, Pinterest has an estimated 23 million users.