Fundraiser

PoP Weekend Picks (From Weekly Emails)

By Prince Of Petworth


Ed. Note: If you have events you’d like included in the weekend picks please email [email protected].

The closing weekend of Please Take A Number written and performed by Nia Orms
Atlas Performing Arts Center
1333 H Street, NE

During these times of contentious legislative activity, bankers running amok, jobless rates soaring and broken promises we could all certainly use a laugh. And whats funny during times like these you ask?

Welfare. Thats what.
Thats right I said it, welfare. Nia Orms one-woman-seven-personality performance “Please Take A Number” is a thought-provoking, laughter inducing homage to everyone’s favorite “entitlement” program. Better than a therapy session or an episode of In Living Color, Nia’s quick hour & a half play tells stories behind the lives of seven people waiting in a welfare office that will entertain and enlighten. I know It sounds like heavy content for a Friday or Sat night but believe me, you have no idea what you are in store for.

This award winning play has toured the country for three years and has one final weekend in Washington DC at the Atlas Theater, before hitting the road again. More info about the play and the characters is at www.niaorms.com

World Water Week
Next week is World Water week. Here is DC, participating restaurants (over 100) will ask their patrons to donate $1 or more for the tap water they usually enjoy for free and all funds raised would support UNICEF’s efforts to bring clean and accessible water to millions of children around the world.

There is also an art component and gallery opening next Tuesday to highlight artists rendentions of a water glass.

Visit http://www.tapdc.org for more information.

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Two Cool Concerts Tonight

By Prince Of Petworth

Charity Rock Show at DC9

What: Charity concert supporting DC Habitat for Humanity featuring local bands Collider and The Killer Balloons

Where: DC9 Nightclub (www.dcnine.com)
1940 9th Street NW, Washington, DC 20001

When: Wednesday, February 18th, 8:00pm

DC9, one of the District’s hottest concert venues, is hosting a charity rock concert in support of DC Habitat for Humanity. Rock away your post-Valentine’s Day blues while supporting a good cause with local acts Collider and The Killer Balloons. A $10 cover gets you in the door, and 80% of the proceeds will benefit DC Habitat for Humanity.

Local band, Mother, plays at Wonderland (11th and Kenyon, NW) for their CD release party at 9pm.

MLK Day of Service

By Prince Of Petworth

(Photo above from the window of a hair salon on H Street, NE)  I hope folks have a great MLK Day of Service. For those who are looking for something really interesting – check this program (in Bethesda) honoring the Tuskegee Airmen:

Open to All Ages! Public Welcome, with special invitation to Youth!

Martin Luther King, Jr. Day of Service

Inspirational Speaker

COME HEAR & CHAT WITH

Tuskegee Airman Joseph Gomer

Congressional Gold Medal recipient

About the role of the Tuskegee Airmen,

their influence and Joe’s life-long work for civil rights,

and his hopeful message for America’s youth

Monday, January 19, 2009

5:00 – 6:00 pm

Cedar Lane Unitarian Universalist Church

9601 Cedar Lane

Bethesda, MD 20814

301-493-8300

(3/4 mile east of Wisconsin Avenue & NIH-Medical Center Metro)

Please bring a canned or dry-goods food donation

for Manna Food Center
In March 2007, President George W. Bush presented the Congressional Gold Medal, America’s highest civilian award, to the elite Tuskegee Airmen group for their valor, exceptional skill, and patriotism as U.S. Air Force fighter pilots during World War II. Retired Air Force Major Joseph Gomer was among the Airmen present at the ceremony. For the Airmen, the Congressional honor came more than 60 years after the height of their military service to our country, during which they endured prejudice and segregation even as they and all African-Americans fought for their civil rights at home. After his military service, Joe Gomer continued his distinguished and passionate service to America as a Federal employee working for civil rights. Now in retirement – with wit, purpose, and enlightening historical recall – Joe Gomer educates and mentors America’s youth about the role of the Tuskegee Airmen, their contribution to American freedoms, and his inspirational message of the human spirit.

 

Make A Wounded Soldier’s Life A Little Bit Better

By Prince Of Petworth

The following was submitted by a reader who volunteers at Walter Reed Medical Center.

I began volunteering at Walter Reed Army Medical (WRMAC) in the fall of 2007 with CAUSE (Comfort for America’s Uniformed Services). CAUSE provides comfort and recreation programming for wounded soliders and their families. Founded by West Point graduates and their wives, CAUSE provides activities that seek to lighten the load for recovering soliders and their families. We host UFC fight nights, brunches, picnics, and video game tournaments. Monthly we bring in massage therapists and energy healers as well as hairstylists and nail technicians and provide a full service spa day. Our largest and most popular program is the CDEL library which provides DVDs, Video games and video game system rentals to soldiers and their families free of charge. Currently we stock Wii, PS2, PS3s and XBOX360s and their respective games (including guitar hero complete with guitars) in addition to first run and classic movies and TV series on dvd.

Because we relay on donations to stock our libraries we tend to get new releases slower then we would like but we will take donations of anything people no longer want. We accept in kind donations of gently used DVDs and video games and of course cash. All donations are tax deductible. We want all kinds of DVDs—many of these soldiers have their kids and their spouses—so animation, chick flicks, action, adventure, anything!

About 80% of the soldiers being treated are under the age of 30, with a majority being 19-25. Walter Reed specializes in the treatment of traumatic brain injuries and amputations.

You can drop your donations at the Petworth library at the address below. I believe its open Monday and Wednesday nights.

Petworth Neighborhood Library
4300 Kansas Avenue NW
Washington, D.C. 20011
202.541.6300

SimplySoles Time for Change Party, Wed, Jan. 14

By Prince Of Petworth

From an email:

Kassie is raising money for Suited for Change – a local DC organization which helps women in transition dress for job interviews.  As always, people can bring in a pair of gently worn shoes to donate and take 10% off their purchase year round, but on Wed January 14th, we’re going to have an Inauguration party and introduce the new lillybee shoe, the “Michelle”.

A Time for Change: Inauguration Celebration and Spring Lillybee Shoe Launch
A Simply Fabulous Night at SimplySoles benefiting Suited for Change
Wednesday, January 14, 2009

WHY:  Because CHANGE is always a good thing.

WHAT:
Please join SimplySoles for the unveiling of Kassie Rempel’s new lillybee collection for Spring 2009, including a shoe that was inspired by First Lady Elect, Michelle Obama.  Celebrate with champagne, a signature Michelle cocktail, and 10% off all pre-orders for the new lillybee collection, including the Michelle. Tickets are $25 per person and proceeds will be donated to Suited for Change, a DC-based non-profit helping women transition into the professional workplace. Tickets are limited. Reserve your space by RSVPing here http://www.simplysoles.com/product/755.  And as always, feel free to bring a pair of gently worn shoes to donate to Suited for Change.

For more information on Suited for Change visit www.suitedforchange.org and for more information on SimplySoles, visit www.simplysoles.com.

WHEN AND WHERE:
SimplySoles Boutique in Columbia Heights
Wednesday, January 14, 2009
5:00 – 8:00 pm
1438 Park Rd NW
Washington, DC 20010
(202) 232-0072

Charity Movie Screening Tonight of the new Jim Carrey Film – Yes Man

By Prince Of Petworth

From a reader:

“I thought you might be interested in posting an affordable local event benefiting those suffering from mental illness in your neighborhood. Woodley House, Washington DC’s Oldest Residential Facility, is located at 1221 Taylor Street N.W.

This year, Woodley House is hosting its 12th Annual Woodley House Movie Benefit with Special Screening of Jim Carrey’s YES MAN on Wednesday December 17th. Tickets to are only $100/2 people at The Uptown Theater at 3426 Connecticut Avenue. Tickets can be purchased online at Woodley House.

I know that it may seem difficult in these times to justify $50 on a movie ticket, but it is important to realize that although times difficult for everyone this year, the poor economy is hardest on those that are often left on the margins of society. Woodley House has been providing residential mental health treatment for the DC community for over 50 years. Attending the movie benefit would turn something routine—going to the movies—into an act of giving during this holiday season. Tickets to the benefit make great gifts and through generous support Woodley House will be able to provide for the DC community all year long.”

Catch The Award winning film “THE GARDEN”, Wednesday

By Prince Of Petworth

This is a fundraiser for the 7th Street Garden I profiled last week.

Wednesday, November 19th
a 7th Street Garden fundraiser to prep the new garden site!

THE GARDEN
A Film by Scott Hamilton Kennedy
with special preview of The Garden Cyclers movie trailer

At the Goethe Theater (812 7th Street, NW). Doors 6pm. Film Starts 6:30pm.

Enjoy seasonal foods and drinks

Tickets $20 each (though more is appreciated)

Available at the door OR online at America the Beautiful Fund’s web site. **If buying online you must write in the Comment box that you are purchasing tickets for The Garden movie.**

View the trailers:
http://www.thegardenmovie.com/trailer
http://womensgardencycles.wordpress.com/

THE GARDEN
BEST DOCUMENTARY, AFI SILVERDOCS FILM FESTIVAL
BEST DOCUMENTARY, CAMDEN INTERNATIONAL FILM FESTIVAL

This award-winning documentary chronicles the complex and emotional story of the destruction of Los Angeles’ South Central Farm. Created from the ashes of the L.A. riots in 1992, the South Central Farm was the largest urban farm in the United States until its destruction in 2006. “The Garden” follows the farmers as they organize and launch an impassioned public battle to save the farm. The film documents the farmers’ struggle against the city’s backroom deals, and exposes the underlying issues of money, power, poverty and racial discord. The film explores the fault lines in American society, raising crucial and challenging questions about liberty, equality, and justice for the poorest and most vulnerable among us.

Dear PoP

By Prince Of Petworth

“I’m suggesting this as a question of the day for your blog…

It’s the time of year when we Feds get to make our charitable donations through the Combined Federal Campaign. I always want to include a couple of local organizations but I never really know which ones are most worthwhile. Maybe you could ask your readers which DC neighborhood charities they contribute to, and which (if any) they tend to avoid?”

This is a good question. Back in February, I unsuccessfully tried to match funds for a local charity. Here were the finalists. Well only one person donated and a number of folks told me that the winner, First Time Computers, was completely unresponsive. So let’s try this again. Anyone have a favorite local charity or know of ones that should be avoided?

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