Following the horrific murder of Sophie Lancaster, her family wanted to ensure a lasting legacy to their beautiful, bright creative daughter and so The Sophie Lancaster Foundation was established and it became a registered charity in 2009

The Charity.

(number 1129689)

The aims and objectives of the Charity are as follows:

• To create a lasting legacy to Sophie.
• To provide educational group-works that will challenge the prejudice and intolerance towards people from alternative subcultures.
• To campaign to have the UK Hate Crime legislation extended to include people from “alternative subcultures” or “Lifestyle and Dress”

So far, to meet these aims and objectives we have promoted the Foundation nationally and internationally, ensuring Sophie is recognised in the media and elsewhere. This has involved Sylvia Lancaster being interviewed many times for TV and Newspapers and many magazines have included features on Sophie’s death and the work of Sylvia in setting up the Foundation. Including a “Tonight With Trevor McDonald” special.

The partnership with Illamasqua and Propaganda has proved invaluable and The Foundation is proud to work with them. Their profile in the beauty and business world has carried the work of the Foundation into new areas and brought new supporters and collaborators to join us.

Their creation of Dark Angel to commemorate Sophie’s 23rd birthday was inspirational. It is a profound, powerful animation that was premiered in Manchester city centre and on MTV. Please watch it above if you have not yet seen it.

Through Propaganda, the Foundation was introduced to Huthwaites, an international training company, and they have worked with Sylvia to develop educational group-works which will incorporate the Dark Angel film and a game that challenges the perceptions of young people and hopefully professionals about people who are from alternative subcultures. The SOPHIE educational resource is now being used in schools and we offer a training course for ecuational and youth workers. Please see the “Education” page for more information and dates of training sessions.

Other partners include The Anne Frank UK Trust, who include Sophie and Rob’s attack and death in their touring exhibition and in January 2010, Sylvia was invited to light a candle in memory of Sophie at the Holocaust Memorial Commemoration Lunch at Park Lane Hilton. They correctly recognise that Sophie’s death was a Hate Crime and represents the face of prejudice and intolerance in 2010.

Bizarre magazine have created a “Proud to be Different” page in their monthly magazine, dedicated to the work of the Foundation and they have supported our work from the onset. The political and social campaign to highlight the issue of the prejudice and hatred faced by alternatives has been very high profile and has led to Sylvia now being on the Hate Crime Advisory Board to the UK government and is working closely with the people responsible for writing the Police Association’s Manual.

Having met with the Justice Minister, Jack Straw, at The Ministry of Justice in May 2009 to discuss the need to update the legislation, The Foundation was pointed to examples of good practice in Local Government who were addressing the issue. Bolton council had extended their definition of hate crime’s to include “life style and dresscode” following Sophie’s death. Sylvia is now on various LA boards helping them shape their policies and procedures.

Socially, the S.O.P.H.I.E campaign has been very well supported and we work closely with musicians of all genres.

The Bloodstock Festival 2009 renamed one of their stages “The Sophie Lancaster Stage” and Beholder released their single “Never take us Down”, all proceeds to the Foundation.

Many bands and in particular, Goldblade, The Damned, The King Blues and The Levellers have supported us by inviting us to speak from their stages during gigs and sell our wristbands from their stalls. Individual artists like Robin Ince, Attila The Stockbroker and Alun Parry have performed to support our work. Others wear our S.O.P.H.I.E. wristband as a show of support, like Gary Numan and the band on his latest tour, The Saturdays and actors from Coronation Street and Emmerdale.

We hope to build on this and have a bigger presence at festivals in the coming months and years.

We recently attended the Hole gig in London and met with Courtney Love who is a big supporter of the campaign. She proudly wore her S.O.P.H.I.E wristband when on Jonathan Ross, at The Brits and NME awards. All the photos from the gig show her wearing it. She got to know about the campaign through Illamasqua.

Obviously funding is crucial to the Foundation and we are grateful to everyone who has played their part in raising money for us, be it by holding gigs, tea-parties or doing marathons, it all helps greatly !

Funding has come from The Lancashire Criminal Justice Board, who awarded the Sophie Lancaster Foundation £30,000 in December 2009. This enabled the Foundation to prepare to and deliver the educational group-works and set up a small office.

To donate to the Sophie Lancaster Foundation please go to the donate page on this website for our bank details.

Just Giving donating is now available, the number for the charity is XT 28806. This enables us to claim 25% extra on your donation from the government if you are a UK tax payer.

We also have an account with Everyclick.

We have recently set up a Missionfish page on Ebay so people can donate part or all of their sales profits to the charity. We can also hold auctions to raise funds to further our work.

All details are on the “Donate” page.

http://www.sophielancasterfoundation.com

https://www.facebook.com/thesophielancasterfoundation

https://twitter.com/SOPHIE_charity

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A Broader View Volunteers is a 501(c)(3) based non-profit organization based in Pennsylvania. With a love for humankind, and a motivated spirit to help others, A Broader View was created on the belief that one person can make a difference in the lives of others. Our US office is operated by an enthusiastic staff with almost 20 years combined travel and hospitality experience.

We offer volunteer travel placements in many countries which support local organizations in low income communities.

A Broader View community-based projects in Countries in development allow volunteers to live and work side by side with local people in a range of fields such as orphanage work, day care, community development, teaching and much more.

With our volunteer projects, we offer travelers the opportunity to explore a new country while taking part in meaningful, rewarding service work.

Gain A Broader View of the World: Volunteer your time and efforts to improve the lives of those less fortunate.

https://www.abroaderview.org
http://www.facebook.com/abroad.volunteer
https://twitter.com/abroaderview

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OUR MISSION

The Rock School Scholarship Fund (RSSF) is the first 501(c)3 non-profit which provides scholarship funds and instruments for children ages 7 to 17 years of age who want to attend ANY rock music school in the U.S.A. A rock music school teaches kids to play music by teaching them rock and roll, with a curriculum that includes Led Zeppelin, The Who, AC/DC, Pink Floyd, Frank Zappa, The Beatles, and Black Sabbath….the Classics!

The Fund will provide instruments and scholarship funding to cover tuition expenses based on a student’s financial need combined with their desire to actively and passionately participate in a rock school program, and not on “talent” per se. If a student wants to attend a rock school but his or her parents cannot afford full tuition, they may apply for a scholarship based on financial need. To be considered, the student will need to demonstrate to the RSSF that he or she is passionate about learning and playing rock music, and that they will practice and work hard, support their fellow musicians, and will be a contributing member of the student body. Beginners are welcome to apply!

One of the inspirations for the RSSF was El Sistema in Venezuela. Here is a brief 60 Minutes piece about the power of that amazing music education program.  We hope to one day be a “rock” version of that, in the US!   Why “rock”?  Because it’s cool, and fun – and it’s been proven that kids learn faster when it’s a combination of fun and work.

The RSSF will identify rock schools whose students may benefit from the scholarship money and instruments. Initially, the Fund will only include schools in the United States. Schools may apply to be added to the Fund’s approved school list.

OUR VISION & HISTORY

The charity was founded by Wendy Winks and Carl Restivo, who formerly ran the School of Rock in Hollywood.   At $325 per month, that tuition was out of reach for many families, so the RSSF was created  to help those kids rock!

Restivo and Winks left the School of Rock in November 2010, and are putting their passion for helping kids rock into building the charity into a nationwide program, eventually serving hundreds of schools and thousands of kids.

TESTIMONIALS

Some kids just need to rock!  Here’s a story from one parent:

“My son was enrolled in rock school as part of our strategy to help him overcome severe depression when he was 10 1/2 years old. We were looking for something that would make him feel special and allow him to regain confidence in himself, find a different social group, and in the process learn about music. He had shown aptitude and interest in guitar previously. Initially, his skill at playing rock had a very positive effect on him. Then it actually became a burden, when older kids spurned him and didn’t let him perform with them. The rock school changed all that with a great and positive atmosphere, wonderful teachers, and kids who all shared a common goal. (He) is a bit older now, he has overcome his earlier depression, and is just all around healthy.”

Your Donation Will Help Kids Rock!

Click here to donate!

http://rockschoolfund.org
http://www.facebook.com/RockSchoolFund
https://twitter.com/RockSchoolFund

 

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We believe the best way to learn music is to play music. We take students from the lesson room to the stage, developing both their confidence and musicianship with programs designed for all skill levels.

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Fallen Blue

Fallen Blue was created as a means to provide support, both emotional and financial, for the families of police officers who are killed outside the line of duty (i.e. car accidents, suicide). It is our sincere hope that those in need reach out to Fallen Blue in their time of need, so that we can help them cope with the loss of their beloved officer.

Like several people on Fallen Blue’s Board of Directors, I have dealt with the loss of a friend during an off-duty accident. Officer Pascal J. Hall lost his life in a motorcycle accident on August 26, 2009. One of the toughest things I have done was carry Officer Pascal’s casket, especially when seeing his mother during the ceremony and afterwards when we carried his casket into the back of the hearse.

To this day, his death still continues to run through my head, especially during National Police Week every May in Washington, D.C., when those police officers that were killed in the line of duty are rightfully honored for giving their lives. It made me realize that something had to be done that would honor those officers that did not die in the line of duty, as well as help provide for the families of these officers who are left in the dark.

More often than not, the agencies will not cover funeral expenses, pay for counseling, or help the families financially besides the basic requirements, just because they were not killed in the line of duty. To me, a badge is badge, no matter who wears it, however they should perish.

It is my goal that Fallen Blue will be the shining light for these families.

John Guarnieri

President, Fallen Blue

http://fallenblue.org

http://www.facebook.com/pages/Fallen-Blue/135139886558757

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 Kids Are Heroes

Kids Are Heroes^® is a non-profit that empowers, encourages and inspires children to become leaders through volunteerism and community involvement. We do this by showcasing and supporting children who are making a difference through their selfless acts of giving.

 

We teach children to follow their passions at an early age. This will instinctively stay with them throughout their entire lives.

Kids are indeed heroes and each one has the power to change the world.
To see how kids are making a huge impact, and to see how YOU can become a hero, click on “Meet the Heroes“.  

Our kids are drilling water wells in Africa, helping orphans in India and building homes in Haiti. They are recycling and cleaning up their neighborhoods, helping their local animal shelters and making life better for their neighbors. And guess what? They are ALL just like YOU!

http://www.kidsareheroes.org

http://www.facebook.com/KidsAreHeroes

https://twitter.com/KidsAreHeroes

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The Heroes Project

The Heroes Project is an organization that works with the veterans, solider and military families community on all levels. Its mission is to improve the care and protection of heroes through individual support, community empowerment and systemic change. The core work of the Heroes Project includes three initiatives:

• Climbs for Heroes – Under the leadership of Tim Medvetz, the Heroes Project supports climbing programs for wounded soldiers and veterans. After a serious accident left Tim injured and in long term physical therapy, he vowed he would climb to the summit of Mt. Everest, which he ultimately did in 2007. The comeback Tim experienced in conquering that challenge transformed his life. It also inspired him to share the challenge and triumph with those who need it the most – wounded warriors – which he has done in a volunteer capacity. On August 16, Tim reached the peak of Elbrus in Europe with a wounded veteran. Tim is now planning climbs to the seven summits of the world, each with soldiers and veterans, as part of the Heroes Project. Video footage of the climbs will be used as part of advocacy and empowerment programs.

• Hope for Heroes – The Heroes Project aims to encourage and expand community service programs that support our nation’s heroes. The Heroes Project promotes and augments the good work of organizations working with this community across the country.
• Voices for Heroes – Finally, The Heroes Project plans to conduct media campaigns to highlight success stories in veterans care as well as conduct education activities to decision makers and the general public about the needs and successes in caring for veterans and military families.

http://theheroesproject.org

https://www.facebook.com/pages/The-Heroes-Project/206820152675215

https://twitter.com/HerosProjectUS

 

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STRATEGIC PARTNERS FREEDOM TO ROCK & THE UNITED STATES ENTERTAINMENT FORCE

Freedom To Rock, a 501c3 non-profit organization (Loretta Palacios CEO) has become a strategic partner with The United States Entertainment Force Inc, a 501c3 non-profit, proud home of The Hopes and Dreams Project (Jerry Payne, CEO, and former USO producer).  Our union will touch the lives of our military through Music, Art, Film and Services. This partnership will bring two entertainment organizations; with over 25 years of experience in serving our Armed Forces. Together as one force; we make a difference with a positive outlook for our military (active, veterans), their families, children who are critically Ill, and Children in Crisis.

This strategic partnership has developed into one major Military Entertainment Organization, reaching out to the communities where they serve under one umbrella. Together we bring our gift of music to boost the morale of our service members regardless of where they are stationed.  We also address the serious needs of the military families. The Hopes and Dreams Project uses art and film to embrace creativity, hope, enrichment and social interaction for children affected by multiple deployments, death of a parent, divorce, and PTSD. In addition, children who are critically ill, or in crisis, get to star in their own movie taking them away from the fear of living or dying. Our goal, is to make a difference, one person at a time

Loretta Palacios has dedicated herself to support the Blue Star Mothers of America, and now is an Associate Blue Star Mother member.

Music is a great form of physical and mental therapy. Freedom To Rock brings wounded soldiers something positive to work toward and helps to get their minds off of their injuries. Music also helps get our wounded soldiers out of their environment and interested in socializing with others. Freedom To Rock works with other groups and non-profits to help better the lives of soldiers that were wounded out in deployment. Please take a look at our Supporters and Friends page to see all the amazing folks involved with us.

Freedom To Rock will be a yearly event to the installations featuring new headliners and upcoming bands. Freedom to Rock has offered production (stage, light, sound) of the show, with quality live music entertainment and a laser. Promotions will be directly on installation with flyers, marquees, email, and posters. Approval process for outside promotions with sponsorships, media, radio, and live concert internet streaming, will be processed through Freedom To Rock.

This untapped military market is a large, isolated, family-oriented community. Target the young adults and families that make up the military market. Many young service men and women are making first time brand choices and building brand loyalties. This is an opportunity to get military consumers to see your product up close, and be able to get more information, samples, of your product. Most significant to your company is the ability to reach specific markets through the sponsorship of many different events. There are many distinct demographic segments within the Armed Forces. On each performance, the tour comes into a ready made, nationwide active duty audience between the ages of 18-24 make-up 80% of our market, and 20% are young family members and retirees. Total attendance depends on the artist / genre performing. Armed Forces tour attendance averages 5,000 to 50,000 at each military installation with no maximum ceiling. A full U.S. Armed Forces Tour (ex: 20 military shows, depending on artist) can bring in an estimate of 500,000 Armed Forces + dependents, and Department of Defense (DoD) civilians. This will be a great opportunity for sponsors to get their product in front 5000 + of our military heroes per show. Show your support for our troops.

Without the Armed Forces, we would not have the:

FREEDOM TO DREAM, FREEDOM TO LIVE, FREEDOM TO ROCK.

http://freedomtorock.org

http://www.facebook.com/freedomtorock

https://twitter.com/freedomtorock
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Wounded Warrior Project

Mission

To honor and empower Wounded Warriors.

Vision

To foster the most successful, well-adjusted generation of wounded service members in our nation’s history.

 

Purpose

• To raise awareness and enlist the public’s aid for the needs of injured service members.

• To help injured service members aid and assist each other.

• To provide unique, direct programs and services to meet the needs of injured service members

 Core Values

Meet FILIS. Each of her five fingers stands for a WWP core value – fun, integrity, loyalty, innovation, and service. Here at WWP, we hold FILIS near and dear, living out each core value in our daily work.

Armed with FILIS and a culture of teamwork, WWP staff work to foster the most successful, well-adjusted generation of wounded warriors in our nation’s history.

• Fun
• Integrity
• Loyalty
• Innovation
• Service

http://www.woundedwarriorproject.org

http://www.facebook.com/wwpinc.fans?ref=ts

https://twitter.com/wwpinc

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Rock the Autism is a non-profit organization dedicated to offering children and adults living with Autism a lifetime of musical expression. Today, 1 in 110 children and 1 in 70 boys are diagnosed with Autism. RTA is going to make a difference by raising awareness and giving those living with autism an opportunity to express themselves through music. We achieve this by offering participants an opportunity to experience many different musical instruments. Whichever instrument that child or adult gravitates toward, RTA will donate the proper equipment and partner them with a specially trained musical instructor for free private lessons, either in home or at RTA studios. Please help us take these children on a lifelong musical journey and Rock the Autism!!!!!

http://rocktheautism.org

http://www.facebook.com/RockTheAutism

https://twitter.com/RockTheAutism

 

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The Key Alliance is a 501(c)3 nonprofit organization dedicated to raising awareness and funds to end homelessness in Nashville. We are partnering with the Metropolitan Homelessness Commission to help implement permanent solutions to homelessness as described in the city’s 10 Year Plan to end chronic homelessness and reduce overall homelessness in Nashville by 2015.

To do so, The Key Alliance builds strategic partnerships with corporations, foundations, service providers, community leaders, faith-based organizations, and government agencies. No one entity can end homelessness. The Key Alliance operates under a board that raises and allocates the money needed to implement permanent solutions to homelessness. The forming of The Key Alliance, building key collaborations and promoting sustainable solutions will reshape Nashville’s approach to solving homelessness.

Housing First

Housing First is a nationally recognized program that moves homeless individuals and families directly from the street into permanent housing where they receive intensive case management. Once stabilized in housing, an individual or family works closely with a case manager on issues related to mental health, addictions and/or physical limitations. The goal is to move people toward self-sufficiency. The costs of health care (including ER visits and medical detox), jail time, court and other services diminish quickly when a person is no longer attempting to survive on the streets. Housing First differs from the traditional approach of trying to stabilize homeless individuals while they are still without a permanent home.

The Housing First Formula of Success is:

Housing + Case Management + Income = Reduction in Homelessness

Vision Statement

The Key Alliance’s vision is to end homelessness in Nashville.

Mission Statement

The Key Alliance raises awareness and resources to assist with the implementation of the city’s plan to end chronic homelessness and reduce overall homelessness in Nashville. Through collaboration, The Key Alliance is reshaping Nashville’s approach to housing, case management and prevention services.

Core Values

Housing is a basic human right.
We believe in long-term solutions rather than band-aids.
No one entity can end homelessness, but through collaborations we can end chronic homelessness and reduce overall homelessness.

The Key Alliance is the nonprofit fundraising arm of the Metropolitan Homelessness Commission.

800 Second Avenue North, Nashville, TN 37201
Phone: (615) 862-6974

http://www.thekeyalliance.org

http://www.facebook.com/TheKeyAlliance

https://twitter.com/TheKeyAlliance

http://thekeyalliance.wordpress.com

 

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Cancer Rockstar is a non-profit organization for cancer fighters and survivors. Although our organization is incorporated as a non-profit in the state of Michigan, we work with Cancer Rockstars across the U.S. Our motto? Never Give Up.

Our mission is to give something back to the Cancer Rockstars we know. We want to connect them with the rock stars of their favorite band or music group, and from any genre. Whether they’re into rock n’ roll, country, bluegrass, rap, R&B, jazz, or even classical, we believe that the term “Rockstar” is universal.

How do we plan to connect Cancer Rockstars with their favorite band? Through free concert tickets, artist meet & greets, autographed merchandise, free CDs, or a personal message of encouragement from a member of the band.

To report a Cancer Rockstar sighting or learn how you can partner with Cancer Rockstar to make dreams come true for cancer fighters and survivors, email: Meredith@CancerRockstar.org

Email:  CancerRockstar@Live.com
Website:  http://www.cancerrockstar.org

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Project Meet Me Halfway was born in Jimmy Wayne’s kitchen in December 2009. He had turned up the heat on his thermostat in his house in Nashville, and stood with his cup of coffee, remembering the great year he’d had playing music on the “American Saturday Night” tour with Brad Paisley and Dierks Bentley, and he felt very fortunate.

“This guilty feeling came over me,” Wayne says. “Here I am living life. I’m comfortable. I’d been on the Brad Paisley tour for a lot of the year, and I just didn’t feel like I’d done anything to make a difference. I got to thinking, and I said, ‘What if I walk halfway across the country to raise awareness [about youth who age out of the foster care system with nowhere to go]?’”

A month later, Jimmy Wayne had layed out his plan: he would walk from Nashville, TN to Phoenix, AZ in the middle of winter.

Jimmy Wayne called his project “Meet Me Halfway” as a play on words, so that it had layers of meaning – the walk would be halfway across the country, he would find supporters who would “meet him halfway” by volunteering and helping to spread the word, and he would interview with media outlets to generate publicity and awareness of the issue. Always, the central focus was the youth in foster care who were at risk of aging out without resources, who were in danger of ending up on the streets. Ultimately, they would need to do their part as well by taking advantage of their opportunities and working to make their own lives better.

“Because I was helped when I needed it, I want to try and help now,” Wayne said. “If the bit of celebrity I have can help me raise awareness of this situation –that there are kids and young people out there who need our help, then I feel like I have accomplished my goal. I’m not asking people to come out and walk with me, but I am asking them to meet me halfway by getting involved – donate money, adopt a kid, learn more about the foster child/foster parent program in your local community. There’s so much one person can do, and so many ways they can make a difference. It just takes one person to help someone to a better life.”

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MISSION-To see one million Americans in a pair of Boot Campaign “give back” boots!

Yes, our mission is quite robust and to some may seem unattainable. However, we believe the American spirit encompasses a deep-rooted love and appreciation for freedom and the will to do the impossible! That’s why our mission has double-whammy impact!

MILITARY SUPPORT
Did you know there are over 1.3 million Americans in active duty today? What if for every active duty service member there was a civilian sporting a pair of boots in their honor? That action alone sends an important message to our troops. It says “thank you” for their service to protect and maintain our freedoms, often doing so in dangerous and life-threatening situations. It provides the opportunity for a public and active display of gratitude. It unites ordinary hard-working people regardless of political or religious views. It serves as a reminder that when we put boots on, there are people just like us who donated their lives to protect ours.

FINANCIAL SUPPORT
The natural benefits from purchasing signature boots from the Boot Campaign are funds available to provide a positive impact in lives of wounded returning combat military. We support existing charities working with veterans who are severely injured and/or suffering from Post- Traumatic Stress Disorders (PTSD). 100% of the net proceeds from boots and other BC merchandise are donated to our charity partners for things such as specialty clothing for injured veterans through the Lone Survivor Foundation and assisting charities who provide help for PTSD, and so much more!

Given the cost of freedom, perhaps buying boots is more like making a donation to honor our servicemen and women around the world. In return, you get a ginormous thank-you card for your donation in the form of boots that you can wear proudly any day of the week and for every occasion!

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According to the UN, there are currently 43,000,000 people in the world right now in need of humanitarian assistance. Many of these are children. Those of us who are parents know that children need more than just food, shelter and medical care. They need hugs and hope, emotional care as well. Some of these children have seen things, experienced things, and heard of things that children should never have to endure and bear the scars not just in flesh but in tender hearts and minds.

In disaster zones, refugee camps, and orphanages around the world compassionate workers struggle to keep up with the overwhelming numbers of children who need care. This is where OperationSAFE is making a difference and so can you.

OperationSAFE teaches children five important principles to emotional recovery and even survival. A proverb states “The spirit of a man will sustain him in sickness, but who can bear a broken spirit?” With stories, crafts, songs, and games, children learn at their level, make friends, share their experiences and regain hope. Easily run by volunteers and short-term teams, OperationSAFE frees up professional counselors to work with the most severe cases and helps to identify which children need the most help.