Help Deacon of Animal Collective Make a Difference in Mali Africa and Donate!

Joshua Dibb, aka Deacon of Animal Collective, has been invited to perform at 2010′s Festival Au Desert. The Festival takes place in Essakane, Mali, in the middle of the Sahara on January 7-9.

Originally Dibb had started a project on kickstarter.com to fund his trip, make a CD of field recordings and write a book about his experiences – which would only be done to to bring awareness to Mali, not for personal gain. Now, due to some conversations with helpful people, the trip will be funded by Paw Tracks (a record label who released Animal Collective’s early stuff ) and all the money previously allotted for Deacon’s expenses can go to aid Africa.

When he goes to Mali on January 2 Dibb will be supporting the anti- slavery campaign and help the region by infusing $25,000 raised from his music and donations made by Animal Collective fans. You can donate anywhere between $10 and $25,000, and if you donate $50 or more at kickstarter.com you’ll get a limited edition CD with new music from Deacon.

TEMEDT is the Mali organization receiving the funds and the money goes to support a law that abolishes slavery within the Tuareg people, set up legal support services for the Tuareg, create economic development in Tuareg communities, and create educational possibilities. TEMEDT teamed up with Ashoka projects, a group of cutting-edge social entrepreneurs with innovative approaches, to achieve these goals.

This is an excellent chance to give directly to people who REALLY need help this holiday season.

Donate and/or learn more here

posted by: Harold Johns III

Watch: Ugandan Widows Sing Edward Sharpe & The Magnetic Zeros’ “Home”

At the album release party for their debut Up From Below at LA’s Roosevelt Hotel in July, neo-psychedelic folk rockers Edward Sharpe & The Magnetic Zeros raised money for the Gulu Widows Group of Uganda, an African nation torn apart by nearly two decades of armed conflict.  The women used the band’s donation to start a farm to sustain their community. They recently had their first harvest; to celebrate and show the band their appreciation they made this video in which they sing the band’s song “Home.”

The video is courtesy of the good people at The Voice Project. Learn more about them, their efforts in Africa and how you can help here

This is the original version of “Home” by  Edward Sharpe & The Magnetic Zeros

posted by: Harold Johns III

FYF Fest 6 Presents: Save Our State Parks

FYF FEST (formerly F Yeah Fest) is here! This year the FYF Fest is taking place at the Los Angeles Historic State Park in downtown LA on September 5th, 2009. Tickets went on sale today August 4th, 2009 at noon (PST) for $20 a piece. They are sure to go quick so buy your tickets here.

The 2009 Lineup includes:
Lightning Bolt (first U.S. Festival performance), Black Lips, Tim and Eric (comedy duo from Adult Swim), F***ed Up, Lucero, Converge, Glass Candy, WAVVES, Times New Viking, No Age, Crystal Antlers, Telepathe, Mika Miko, Cold Cave, The Thermals, Japanther, Ninjasonik, AA Bondy, Matt Skiba (of Alkaline Trio), Carbonas, The Strange Boys, Har Mar Superstar, Peanut Butter Wolf, Kurt Vile, Eat Skull, Katie Stelmanis, Nobunny, Darker My Love, Avi Buffalo, and Dios plus more artists and comedians to be announced shortly.

But there is more to this festival than music and laughs. Recently California’s Governator decided to cut $14.2 million from the budget of the California State Park System, a move that may cause 100 of California’s State Parks to close indefinitely. FYF hopes that this event will send a message to all of the California state lawmakers stating that these parks are vital components of our communities and should not be cut.

FYF FEST is also donating $1 of every ticket to two organizations pushing for change within their communities on a daily basis, Homeboy Industries and Harvest of Hope. Good music, comedy, nature and giving back, sounds like a win, win, win, win situation to us.

posted by: Harold Johns III

Something to PITCH About

Apologies if you can’t stand puns…but what about puns that relate to a good cause, like a philanthropun? Creative Pitch is a collaboration of Chicago’s advertisers and designers who work together to salvage materials and supplies headed for the dump, and then redirect those materials to “under served art programs” in the Chicago metro area.

Brainforest, the founding creative agency behind Creative Pitch, is hosting “Something to PITCH About,” the second annual fundraiser from the Chi-town group. Hosted at Lumen (839 W Fulton Market St) on Thursday, May 28, 2009 from 6 to 9 pm, guests will be supporting the organization with a $20 donation in advance, or $25 at the door.

It’s no secret that arts programs are suffering from fiscal shortages in schools across America, so it’s refreshing to see a group of people organizing and supporting arts education. Even if you don’t live in Chicago and you can’t make it for the music and drinks, a donation to Creative Pitch will help keep the arts alive for future generations. Thanks to Creative Pitch for leading the way in the necessary fight to keep art alive in education.

posted by: Scott Starrett

Lawrence Give Back Card

The simplicity of the Lawrence Give Back Card is what makes it such a stroke of brilliance. As their website states, “All you need to do is present your Give Back Card with your purchase every time you shop at Checkers or dine at a Lawrence Originals restaurant. They’ll Donate a portion of every dollar you spend AND you will also Earn Rebates, which are redeemable at all participating merchants.”

What are Lawrence Originals you ask? They are locally owned and operated eateries like:

La Parilla
Local Burger
Pachamamas Restaurant & Star Bar
Zen Zero

The Lawrence Original will then donate five percent of your tab (excluding tax, tip and alcohol) to the cause you select from one of the charities supported that include but are not limited to:

Kansas Public Radio
Lawrence Habitat for Humanity
Lawrence Humane Society
Lawrence Memorial Hospital Auxiliary
Solar Panels for Public Library
Lawrence Public Schools

And you also receive rebate points that can be spent at any of the other participating locations. You earn one point for every dollar you spend. Once you collect 200 points $10 automatically gets loaded onto your card, good at any participating merchant (Dine in only, 100 max points per visit, and you can not combine it with any other discount, coupon or promotion).

We mentioned Checkers before, Lawrence’s locally owned market, well it works differently than the eateries. Instead of five percent, Checkers will donate one percent of your total bill (excluding tax) to the cause you select and you will earn one point for every five dollars you spend (excluding tax). Once you collect 200 points $10 still gets loaded onto your card, good at any of the participating merchants.

The best part is card is completely, absolutely FREE. No hidden fees, costs, contracts or any extra consumption needed to generate cash for great causes while generating extra money you can spend locally. I told you it was brilliant.

Learn more and sign up here.

posted by: Brent Carter