Consider yourself blessed. More than a billion people worldwide do not have access to clean drinking water.

Mother’s Day is this Sunday, May 13. A day set aside to honor our moms and thank them for the love and care they have given us. Sadly, this Mother’s Day, more than 4,000 moms around the world will lose a child due to water-borne disease.

What makes this heartbreaking statistic even more tragic is that the water crisis plaguing so many people around the world is completely solvable. No child should have to die due to dehydration or a lack of clean drinking water.

Mothers around the world work hard trying to provide water for their families. Many often face the difficult choice of whether to give their children dirty water, risking disease, or no water at all. Organizations like Water.org have been working with communities around the world to make clean drinking water a part of every day life for everyone, rather than a luxury for only a few.

Actors Jodie Foster and Matt Damon have teamed up with Water.org with the call to action to honor moms this Mother’s Day by transforming the life of another mom.

“Honor your Mother, Honor Another.”

Watch the “It’s Personal” video below and hear the challenge from Jodie Foster and Matt Damon:

This special Mother’s Day Challenge allows individuals to create a card and send a card to their mothers. Each card has a photo and a description honoring their mother, which is also displayed on the Honor Your Mother, Honor Another website. To submit a card honoring your mother, Water.org requests a simple $25 donation. Just $25 provides clean water for one person for life. Give to Water.org and help them continue their life-changing work providing clean water to people around the world.

Click here to get started.

If your mom never had to worry about whether or not you would have clean drinking water growing up, be thankful. And take a few moments to help other mothers around the world provide clean drinking water for their children.

Follow @Water on Twitter

Blake Canterbury, Founder, beremedy

beremedy. A concept Blake Canterbury came up with to “see the need, be the remedy.” As the founder and CEO, Blake founded beremedy in 2009 after recognizing the potential of social media in helping communities.

“beremedy is an organization connecting people who need help with those who want to give it via social media. We feel that most people would help if they simply knew the needs in their local community. Through applications like Twitter and Facebook, beremedy alerts people when someone in their community needs help. Members then respond to the message or pass on the message to those they feel can”

Every city has needs. Often these needs go unmet because the message doesn’t get out. There are those who want to help, but don’t know how. It is apparent that beremedy is an organization using social media to connect those in need with those in their community who can help. Take a look at this video clip from CNN:

“Via Twitter and Facebook, we relay messages of need efficiently and receive responses instantaneously! Help is in the hands so much faster than traditional methods. Imagine a world where helping others happens at the speed of social media!”

The Mission of beremedy connects those in need with the individuals who have the means to fulfill them. So often, community and social service organizations have no expedient outlet for their clients’ requests. They spend countless hours tracking down resources to fulfill basic human necessities. Those in need suffer because there is no quick or efficient manner to replay their message. While on the other hand, so many individuals and organizations want to help, but don’t know how. beremedy provides them with a reputable source for their resources and efforts. People give knowing their donation is going directly to those who need it most!

This is one example of a post from beremedy, as well as tweets, that went out along with the mention on the beremedy Facebook page. This need was met within 9 minutes!

“Could you imagine not being able to bring your baby home from the hospital? A local nonprofit has informed us of a family that needs our help. A single mom, who is working within their system to get back on her feet, is 2 weeks from being due and needs a carseat. The crucial step when bringing a baby home from the hospital is having a carseat. Without the carseat, a mother is not able to transport her baby home. Let’s help this family out and provide them with a car seat that will fit this little bundle of joy and keep them safe. You can either purchase one through the link below and email us to let us know you’ve purchased the item at info@beremedy.org “

By taking all these needs and matching them with people who can help, beremedy streamlines the process making it easy for both sides to benefit. Learn more in the video below:

Right now, beremedy is concentrated in Atlanta, but is looking to expand nationwide soon. To be notified when beremedy comes to your city, visit the website and fill out the form on the home page to keep track of their efforts and when beremedy will be in your city.

Want to know how can you get involved with beremedy? Get the word out through Social Media — Twitter, Facebook, and more. Sign up on their website for NeedMail and get all of the needs emailed to you and if you are able to help, contact them. Register your organization on their website as well. Let’s join together with beremedy and make a difference in our communities. Get involved with something that is bigger than yourself!

Follow beremedy on Twitter:

@beremedy

@blakecanterbury

Like beremedy on Facebook

Visit Blake Canterbury’s website

In this second year, Giving of Life founders Dan Maclellan and Russell Courtney of The SoulCare Project, and Kerry Bural, principal and founder of The Resonate Group, are gearing up for growth. Expanded partnerships with donors will allow for more than $150,000 in grants to be given to faith-based nonprofits in categories including disaster relief, food and water aid, healthcare, housing, orphan care and many others.

“Every day, small nonprofits impact millions of lives,” said Maclellan. “We are passionate about helping these organizations, with no strings attached or hoops to jump through. We just want to hear real stories from real people giving life each and every day.”

Giving of Life focuses on using social sharing and voting to encourage, support and provide for nonprofits. This is your opportunity to cast your vote and make a donation of any size for causes you care about.

New this year, Giving of Life debuted a blog to raise awareness for participating nonprofits by giving them a platform to share their hearts for the hurting.

Last year’s season was a huge success. More than 700 organizations applied for grants and 180,000 votes were cast. In total, Giving of Life gave $114,000 to 20 faith-based nonprofits.

One of those organizations was Heartline Ministries, which serves new and expectant mothers in Haiti. Heartline received the largest grant at $50,000 to bolster their maternity center, which provides a safe and sanitary birthing room, midwives, and classrooms where both prenatal and post-birth child development classes are taught weekly. Thanks to their 20+ years of service, Haiti has seen an increase in healthy pregnancies and births.

Check out this heartwarming video, as the Giving of Life founders give the good news to the recipient organizations:

“We have been blown away by the hearts of last year’s participants,” said Kerry Bural. “The more we’ve interacted with them, the more we’ve appreciated how these men and women are literally changing the world.”

Any 501c3 faith-based nonprofit with an annual budget of $4 million or less may apply. During the first season, grant recipients will be awarded a minimum of $10,000 on June 4, 2012, with additional grant giving seasons planned throughout this year.

Though not all participants receive grants, each receives exposure and promotion through social media outlets, creating the potential for new relationships, partnerships and networking opportunities.

Through The SoulCare Project, Dan and Russell offer leaders the opportunity to step out of the chaos of life and find an intentional place of rest and solitude. Through The Resonate Group®, Kerry and his team help individuals and organizations develop innovative brands that resonate through strategic and creative thinking, branding, and communications.

To learn more about Giving of Life, apply for a grant, vote for your favorite cause, or give a gift, visit GivingOfLife.com. To schedule an interview with the Giving of Life founders, contact Sarah Gallagher at 508-591-5433 or sarah.gallagher@givingoflife.com.

Like Giving of Life on Facebook
Follow @GivingofLife on Twitter

Share Our Strength’s goal is to end childhood hunger in America by 2015.  It’s not enough to make sure America’s children have enough to eat; we must make sure they are getting the nutrition they need to live healthy, active lives.

That is why Share Our Strength’s highest priority is to make sure that every child in America gets the nutritious food he or she needs to learn, grow and thrive. We are doing this by improving the access that families all across the country have to healthy, affordable food and by working at the state and city level. This is our No Kid Hungry strategy, and it has four key components that, together, provide children with the nutritious food they need where they live, learn and play:

• Creating public-private partnerships at the state and city level to map out comprehensive, measurable plans to end child hunger in those areas.
• Building public awareness about the problem of childhood hunger and solutions to end it.
• Investing in communities with grants to organizations whose work improves access to nutritious foods or that educate families about such programs.
• Educating children and families about nutritious, affordable eating. (via the Share our Strength website)

On April 14, Hunger Hits Home, a documentary about childhood hunger in America aired on the Food Network. Take 45 minutes to watch the film now:

Share our Strength measures their progress by measuring participation in effective, existing programs that provide nutritious food to children at home (SNAP, or food stamps, WIC, and nutrition education), during school (breakfast and lunch, and through nutrition education) and when school is out (after school snacks and summer meals).

Much of their progress in 2010 was in building capacity to put momentum behind the No Kid Hungry^® Campaign, which is happening now.

You can be part of Team No Kid Hungry, and have a hand in reaching our goal. Make a donation or take the No Kid Hungry Pledge. Getting involved and helping end childhood hunger is so simple.

More than 1 in 5 children struggles with hunger in America. Your support can go a long way in providing a long term solution to that problem. Donate Today.  Giving of your time and talents is vital to ending childhood hunger in America. Choose your favorite way to volunteer with a Share Our Strength event or program.

You can also help Share Our Strength end childhood hunger by joining some of their core partners, including: Food Network, ConAgra Foods Foundation and WalMart in a pledge to end childhood hunger.

Like Share our Strength on Facebook

Follow Share our Strength and partners on Twitter:

@nokidhungry

@billshore

@SOSWPG

@FoodNetwork

@ConAgraFoods

@Walmart

@TheJeffBridges

The myth of HIV/AIDS is being exposed due to The GrassRoot Project.  One of the beauties of this organization is it’s founder and CEO,  Tyler Spencer, a former collegiate rower.  At just 25-years-old, Tyler has 6 years of experience in HIV prevention education, organizational development, and program evaluation. He received a BA in International Health and Development from the University of Virginia in 2008, and an MSc in Evidence-Based Social Intervention from Oxford University in 2011, where he studied as a Rhodes Scholar. He has been recognized as a World Economic Forum Young Global Shaper, a USA Today Academic All-American, a Do Something! Award and Echoing Green semi-finalist, and a recipient of the Clinton Global Initiative University (CGIU) Outstanding Commitment to Action Award. Most recently, Tyler was highlighted as a “Young Innovator in HIV Prevention” at the CDC National HIV Prevention Conference. In addition to his role with The Grassroot Project, Tyler serves as the North American continental representative to the Global Youth Coalition on HIV/AIDS.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 1 out of every 20 adults in Washington D.C.is HIV positive.  Washington D.C. has by far the highest rate of new AIDS cases in the United States.  It is more than 10 times the national average – higher than New York City, Baltimore, San Francisco, Los Angeles, Chicago, and Detroit. (Source: DC Department of Health, 2007 and www.GrassrootProject.org.)

Increasing awareness about the importance of HIV testing isn’t a new public health battle, but experts said the current generation of young people presents an unprecedented challenge. Because this group of 16 to 24-year-olds has always lived in a world with HIV, the sense of urgency to eradicate the disease that dominated its early stages has largely been lost.

According to a national public health opinion survey conducted by the Kaiser Family Foundation in June, two-thirds of Americans named HIV/AIDS the most urgent health problem facing the United States in 1987. But over the years, that number has declined steadily and now stands at just 7 percent. Additionally, the study noted that the number of people who reported seeing, hearing or reading about the epidemic in the last year has decreased from seven in 10 people in 2004 to four in 10 individuals in 2011.

You can see the study at: http://www.kff.org/kaiserpolls/upload/8186.pdf

According to the Center for Disease Control, one in two sexually active young people will contract a sexually transmitted infections by the time they are 25 – although teenagers account for only a quarter of the sexually active population, they account for nearly half of all new STIs. Among cases of HIV, young people ages 13 to 25 account for 31 percent of all new infections and most reported contracting it through sexual contact, according to a January report on sexual health of young Americans by the Kaiser Family Foundation.

You can see it at http://www.kff.org/womenshealth/upload/3040-05.pdf

The GrassRoot Project said, “We are aiming to change these statistics, one student at a time and reach students at their level.”

The mission of The Grassroot Project is to use sports to educate at-risk youth in the community about HIV/AIDS awareness and prevention. Our curriculum focuses on creating a fun, friendly and safe environment in which youth learn healthy life styles. The programs allow kids to share their feelings and beliefs, increase knowledge, and develop healthy attitudes and behaviors pertaining to HIV/AIDS through the use of interactive games and activities. By using the vehicle of sports to influence social change, student athletes use the curriculum to combat the high rate of HIV/AIDS in D.C

In 2010, The Grassroot Project launched the Team Up campaign, a sports-based HIV/AIDS education program uniting 15 at risk youth in Washington, DC and Soweto, South Africa. Each student in DC is partnered with a ‘teammate’ in Soweto, and for six weeks they participated in the same program side by side. To promote discussion, they were be provided with their own Flipcams to share what they were learning and get to know each other on a personal level. The campaign will culminated in June 2010 with a ten day trip to South Africa where the teammates will met each other, participated in an AIDS awareness event and together attend a World Cup Soccer match. These youth are now actively continuing the momentum from this experience by implementing their own education programs back at home.

Good Morning America joins Grassroots at Raymond Education Campus during the Clinton Global Initiative University meeting:

USA TODAY wrote an article in December, 2011 titled College athletes use sports to teach kids about AIDS.  Tyler Spencer said, in this article … “My goal is to reach all kids in D.C. with this message, and to empower and educate them to make smart choices,” Spencer says. “This program has a positive impact on the college athletes as well, and I want to allow more of them to have the same experience that I had in South Africa.”  Watch this clip from CBS News:

Thank you to The Grassroot Project website for this information.  How can you get involved?  Donations are appreciated at every level. Their website is user friendly and a safe place to make a donation.

Follow on Twitter @GrassrootDC

Like their Facebook page 

Check out their website:  www.GrassrootProject.org

http://www.flickr.com/photos/thegrassrootproject/

http://www.youtube.com/user/thegrassrootproject

In 2006, American traveler Blake Mycoskie befriended children in Argentina and found they had no shoes to protect their feet. Wanting to help, he created TOMS Shoes, a company that would match every pair of shoes purchased with a pair of new shoes given to a child in need. One for One. Blake returned to Argentina with a group of family, friends and staff later that year with 10,000 pairs of shoes made possible by TOMS customers.

Why shoes?  According to the TOMS website, “Shoes are a fundamental resource for protecting children’s health and providing them with opportunity.”

“Shoes simply mean everything to a Zambian child. I am called a doctor today because of the shoes my father bought, which motivated me to keep going to school and to work hard. Shoes were and are still a luxury in this country…” 
– Dr. Fwasa Singogo, Zambia

TOMS Founder and Chief Shoe Giver, Blake Mycoskie

The TOMS movement stems from the heart of the founder Blake Mycoskie, and is about people making everyday choices that improve the lives of children.  TOMS is currently giving to children in more than 20 countries worldwide and are expanding, “thanks to our awesome customers.”

TOMS has expanded their adventure to ONE FOR ONE eyewear.  With every pair you purchase TOMS will give a pair to a person in need.

On April 10, 2012, millions of people around the world joined the “One Day Without Shoes” movement to go a day without shoes. Celebrities and stars came out to support TOMS in the efforts to bring awareness to the children without shoes. Check out the One Day website to read stories that will not only inspire you but bring you tears and awareness of needs that go beyond our immediate world.

Many stars, such as Miley Cyrus don’t only wear TOMS shoes, but they joined the movement on April 10^th and took off their shoes in support of TOMS mission.  If you missed this years “One Day Without Shoes,” no worries, there is always next year.

How can you support TOMS?  Of course purchase a pair of shoes.  Think about it.  Every time you purchase a pair, a pair is donated to a child.  POWERFUL.  Follow @TOMS on Twitter, check out their Facebook page and Like it.

As you read this story, be inspired by the fact that goodness does exist amidst all the pain and suffering in this world, and be prepared to have your imagination rocked by the ingenuity of this boy.

Caine Monroy in front of his cardboard arcade.

Caine Monroy is 9-years-old, and he spent his summer going to work with his dad in the family-owned used car parts shop in East Los Angeles.

When most kids would have been whining with boredom, Caine took advantage of his down time to do a little bit more than sit and pout. He gathered used boxes from around his dad’s shop, and out of those boxes, he built his own cardboard arcade basketball game. That first game was only the beginning of what is now Caine’s Arcade, a cardboard arcade in the front of his dad’s auto parts shop complete with a claw machine.

Caine didn’t only build his arcade to fill his own time, but he even built a business plan around his arcade! For $1.00 customers get three turns at Caine’s Arcade. For $2.00, they get a Fun Pass equal to 500 turns. Seems like a great deal!

For days Caine sat in front of his arcade, open for business, hoping someone — anyone — would stop by to play. But with his dad’s business mostly online and getting little foot traffic, nobody did. Day after day Caine would wait patiently, and night after night, the shop would close without Caine ever seeing a customer.

That is, until Nirvan Mullick pulled up in front of Smart Parts Aftermarket to replace a broken door handle.

Intrigued by the young boy and his cardboard arcade, Nirvan bought a Fun Pass — Caine finally had his first customer!

Whether it was luck, fate or divine intervention that Nirvan pulled up in front of Caine’s Arcade, the fact that he did, has changed Caine’s life — forever.

“that door handle was broken for a year. Then I got a fixity ticket for a taillight which finally set off a chain of events.” Nirvan said on Twitter (@Nirvan)

Nirvan, a “Filmmaker, animator, creative consultant, & digital strategist for social good campaigns,” asked permission of Caine’s dad, George, to make a short film telling Caine’s story. One problem — Nirvan was Caine’s only customer.

To fix that, Nirvan decided to plan a flash mob on October 2, 2011 to surprise Caine at his arcade. He organized the event on Facebook, and it went viral.

The day of the flash mob, George and Caine went to eat lunch and play games at a local pizza joint.  They returned to a mob of people ready to play at Caine’s Arcade. They also came to celebrate the creative genius of a boy who wasn’t put off by his inability to purchase a real claw machine, and instead made own from “a string and a hook” (and a cardboard box.)

View photos from the Caine’s Arcade flash mob here.

One brown-eyed little boy united his community with his ingenuity and his feel good story has inspired people around the world. (I guarantee you’ll tear up even a little when you watch Caine’s story in the short film directed and produced by Nirvan.) The short film was released on Monday, April 9, 2012.

Watch Caine’s Arcade:

In an effort to feed his creative intellect and imagination, Nirvan has set up a scholarship fund for Cain to help him go to college. In just one day, the fund raised more than $50,000. After three days, the goal of raising $100,000 to fund Caine’s college education was reached — evidence that one little boy can inspire hearts and spark creativity in the minds of thousands of people worldwide. (At the time of publishing, more than $115,000 had been raised for Caine’s Scholarship Fund.)

Caine’s story is a sweet reminder that we should never discount the capabilities of our children.

In the same way that his creativity and imagination inspired a small community of people in Los Angeles, Caine will, no doubt, change the world some day with his ingenuity.

Donate to Caine’s Scholarhip Fund here.

Download the Caine’s Arcade theme song by Juli Crockett, all proceeds go to his scholarship fund.

Follow Caine’s Arcade on Twitter @CainesArcade

Like Caine’s Arcade on Facebook

Follow Nirvan Mullick on Twitter @Nirvan

Like Smart Parts Aftermarket (Caine’s dad’s auto parts shop) on Facebook

“My mother and I have initiated a passion project. We call it the Born This Way Foundation,” Gaga said in a statement last November about the foundation, which takes its name from her hit single and album. “Together we hope to establish a standard of Bravery and Kindness, as well as a community worldwide that protects and nurtures others in the face of bullying and abandonment.”

This foundation is built upon three strong pillars and the belief is that having hands on these three pillars individuals will help “Born this Way Foundation” create a braver, kinder world.

1. Safety – creating a safe place to celebrate individuality.  The thought is that when providing a safe environment, young people are able to explore themselves and this foundation will provide support through an online community that will engage users in ways that celebrate their individuality.
2. Skills – teaching advocacy, promoting civic engagement, and encouraging self – expression are critical, therefore, the foundation will provide the skills, tools and resources needed to feel empowered and to be able to lead.
3. Opportunity – by providing ways to implement solutions and impact local communities through supporters like yourself.  The foundation is only as strong as their supporters.  That is why the foundation will provide opportunities for individuals to bring the work of the foundation to their local communities, spearheading efforts to promote charge and impact their own surroundings.

Lady Gaga enlisted Oprah Winfrey for her Born this Way Foundation launch. The singer and former talk-show host were joined by Mother Monster’s own mother, Cynthia Germanotta, at the Harvard University event on February 29 to launch the foundation, which aims to inspire young people. The affair was captured on camera and will be aired in a future episode of “Oprah’s Next Chapter” on OWN.

The Born This Way Foundation works with a number of partners, including the John D. & Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation, the California Endowment and the Berkman Center for Internet & Society at Harvard University. According to the statement, the foundation will focus on “youth empowerment and equality by addressing issues like self-confidence, well-being, anti-bullying, mentoring and career development and will utilize digital mobilization as one of the means to create positive change.”

Visit the Born This Way website where you can read stories of bravery and share your own stories.

Enter the Born This Way poster contest — Calling aspiring artists to think creatively and come up with a visual representation for the Born This Way Foundation. Details can be found here and the submission deadline is today, Wednesday, April 11.

Like Born This Way Foundation on Facebook

Follow Bortn This Way on Twitter @BTWFoundation

Follow Lady Gaga on Twitter @ladygaga

According to the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs, in parts of Somalia, 20.3 percent of people suffer from global acute malnutrition and 4.5 percent of people suffer severe acute malnutrition. Fifteen and five percent, respectively, are the emergency threshold rates. Simply put, Somalia is facing a food crisis.

Families who own livestock have lost their livestock to the drought conditions. This region of Africa typically receives “long rain,” which is a season of rain the people count on to fill reservoirs and provide water for themselves and their livestock. Without sufficient water, drought and famine conditions are inevitable. Shortage of food causes prices to skyrocket, and most families are simply unable to afford what little food exists in the region.

World Food Programme works to provide food to hungry people around the world, and has targeted efforts in Somalia and other regions in the Horn of Africa. WFP estimates that 9.6 million people in Somalia are in desperate need of food assistance. According an article in Irin News, WFP provided food for 150,000 Somalian people in February alone. Nearly 38,000 of those were women and children under five.

According to World Food Programme just $0.50 per day will feed a hungry woman or child.

World Food Programme has partnered with the Live Feed Africa initiative and British recording artist Sami Yusuf to raise money to provide food for people whose food supplies have been affected by the African drought, conflict and rising food prices.

Sami Yusuf has donated proceeds from purchases of his single, “Forgotten Promises,” to the WFP in an effort to end hunger in the Horn of Africa.  The cost of one download will feed a hungry mother and her child for a day.

Watch the “Forgotten Promises” video below:

Download the single now on iTunes.

Donate now to help save lives in the Horn of Africa.

Other humanitarian efforts Sami Yusuf has supported include Islamic Relief and Save the Children.

Follow Sami Yusuf on Twitter @SamiYusuf
Like Sami Yusuf on Facebook

Follow the World Food Programme on Twitter @WFP
Like World Food Programme on Facebook

Follow the United Nations Office for Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs on Twitter @UNOCHA
Like the United Nations Office for Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs on Facebook

Due to the amazing burst of success that artists such as Justin Bieber, The Band Perry, and others have experienced, it only made sense that the talented vocal coach of these two success stories among many other artist would start a foundation that would help aspiring artist achieve their dreams.

The Bridge Music Foundation is a unique non-profit organization that offers a new approach to artist development.  Jan Smith, Owner of Jan Smith Studios, Inc. for twenty plus years has been a prominent figure in the music industry either as a singer/songwriter, a producer/consultant or, most notably, the vocal coach/vocal producer who has tended to some of the most distinctive voices in the business such as Usher, Collective Soul, Drake, Monica, Sugarland, The Band Perry, Rob Thomas, Trey Songz and Justin Bieber, to name only a few.

Rob Thomas calls her “the bomb.” Usher calls her “Mama.” Scooter Braun calls her “the secret sauce.” Smart singers, producers, and label executives everywhere call her when they need a vocal coach/vocal producer par excellence.  This year, Mama Jan and Blue Hamilton’s production of a Diane Warren song on Justin Bieber, landed them a movie placement and a Grammy nomination.  Jan Smith is no stranger to the music industry, and now she is helping aspiring artists to create a future full of their own passion to create music.

Take a moment and watch this video introducing the people and mission of the Bridge Music Foundation:

Jan Smith, along with co-founder Jim Ramseur, also a native of Atlanta with a lifelong love of music and philanthropy, have taken their love for music and found Bridge Music Foundation. Bridge Music Foundations revolutionary model enables them to provide musical artists with the developmental and educational resources they need in order to create sustainable careers doing what they love, while simultaneously protecting them from many of the financial and contractual pitfalls to which they would otherwise be exposed in the modern music industry.

The Bridge Music Foundation believes that music is art, and that artists are capable of producing their best music when they have access to the proper development tools and mentors to help them refine their talents. Bridge Music Foundation and its board of directors leverage their relationships and industry insight in order to provide each selected artist with a world-class team that is custom-tailored to their specific needs.

That opportunity has now come to fruition with the formulation of the Bridge Music Foundation, an organization whose sole purpose is to provide philanthropic financial support and artist development for those talented musicians who would otherwise never have the opportunity to follow their own musical journeys. The remainder is yet to be seen, but I believe the rest of this story will be told by those artists who are lucky enough to benefit from such a groundbreaking concept in how to do music business. – Jan Smith

HOW DOES BRIDGE MUSIC FOUNDATION WORK?

Bridge Music Foundation uses an “open door” application system, meaning that anyone who meets our criteria can apply. Applications undergo a preliminary screening process by our management team, and are then forwarded to our board of directors, who make the final selections. Once an artist has been selected, their management team designs a completely unique, custom-tailored development strategy for the artist. Bridge Music then assembles a project team to execute the strategy, negotiate rates and prepare a development budget to be approved by the board of directors. With board approval, the development process begins.

Check out The Bridge Music Foundation website: www.BridgeMusicFoundation.org

As a not-for-profit organization, the Bridge Music Foundation receives contributions from philanthropic music lovers, both individuals and corporations, who want to get involved in helping aspiring artists. These contributions fund their operations and provide them with the capital to contract the development team for each artist. The Bridge Music Foundation’s Board of Directors allocates funding specific to each individual artist’s needs without the precondition of repayment. Thanks to their generous donors, Bridge Music Foundation artists do not incur the substantial costs of development that can cripple an otherwise promising career.

DO YOU WANT TO HELP SUPPORT THE BRIDGE MUSIC FOUNDATION?

Follow Bridge on Twitter: @BridgeMusicFdn

Like Bridge on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/bridgemusicfoundation