Last week I had the privilege of presenting to the entire Social Media Club of Kansas City. I shared the story of how myself and my friends took a homegrown, no-budget benefit party from a just dream + an idea …to reality + success. In just 2 years, we’ve thrown two sold-out parties and raised over $25,000 for our favorite local charity, Operation Breakthrough. Myself and my friends dedicate time each year to plan this party. We aren’t affiliated with any one organization – we’re just a group of friends who want to give back to our community.

Below is a video of the presentation I gave that was recorded and live-streamed. In the preso, I discussed how our event is social-media-fueled, and our efforts in promoting the party are purely digital. I also share “stupid simple tips” and lessons that we’ve learned.

I’m still pinching myself, thinking about how much we’ve already accomplished in giving back to Kansas City + Operation Breakthrough. However, the one thing I know is true …the best has yet to come.

…annnnnnd I hope you can make it this year. You are invited.
The party is on December 10th! You can buy tickets online now! (buy soon, it sells out every year!)

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I’ve been anxious to share this great news with you for a while. Many of you already know that myself and 12 of my friends dedicate our free time to organizing the Ugly Christmas Sweater Party (in two years, we’ve raised over $25,000 for Operation Breakthrough). After last year’s party, my friends and I have realized that throwing just 1 benefit party wasn’t enough. We wanted to do more. We knew we could do it.

Fast-forward to now.

We’ve started the Breakthrough Crew, a volunteer group with the objectives of increasing awareness about Operation Breakthrough and furthering its mission through service opportunities. We’ve created a website, www.kcbreakthroughcrew.org + a logo for the Breakthrough Crew, check it out:

What exactly does that mean? This group’s mission is to put together fun, meaningful events and activities that will help directly benefit OB or raise awareness about their cause. For example, everything from donation campaigns, fundraisers, to happy hours and online campaigns and memes.

So, to kick things off, the Breakthrough Crew launched our first campaign called Operation: Spring Cleaning. We realized this time of year many people begin Spring cleaning around the house, and instead of throwing stuff away- we want people to consider donating to OB. Gently used clothing, shoes, books, and toys are items that children and adults at Operation Breakthrough can use. And we’ve partnered with Standard Style boutique and Tower Tavern to serve as drop-off locations, who are also offering discounts for donations.

Find out all the details on how you can help on our website or help spread the word on Facebook. You can also print this flier and hang it wherever you’d like.
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What started as a dream, a vision, a “what if” — is now more than just a reality. This year’s 4th Annual Ugly Christmas Sweater Party is in the books and I thought I’d take a look back at to recap everything and give everyone the whole story start to finish. I feel since we threw such a successful party that exceeded all expectations, it reiterates my firm belief that it’s important to have the passion and patience to dream and dream big.

Here’s the story behind the party:
The Ugly Christmas Sweater Party began in 2005, as a small holiday gathering hosted by a group of friends (me +2 roommates). While cleaning up in 2007, we decided to turn all of our hard work in to good for others, and raise money for a charity.

We chose Operation Breakthrough as our beneficiary because of the great work they do with kids in the Kansas City area. During our first visit to OB, we met with the children who benefit from their programs. That was all it took for us to become a supporter. The organization is truly amazing in all of its efforts and causes it achieves!

A steering committee of 15 volunteers made time to plan this party. We aren’t affiliated with any one organization – we’re just a group of friends who want to give back to our community.

Our goal is to make a positive impact by donating as much money and toys to Operation Breakthrough as possible. Our vision for the Ugly Christmas Sweater Party is to make it the biggest and best annual holiday fundraiser in Kansas City!

What’s amazing to look back on the entire effort in organizing this party, is all the wonderful things we accomplished:

Money. This year, our first year in organizing the party as a benefit, we raised $7,125.50 to give back to Operation Breakthrough! Yes, you read that right — $7,125.50. In my wildest dreams (and our Excel spreadsheet that had our estimated financial goals) we never even thought it was possible that we could raise this much in the first year. This pleasant surprise really validates a lot of the long nights and hard work myself and the entire steering committee put into planning this party.

Awareness. I’ve had more than a handful of people tell me they are now volunteering at Operation Breakthrough and had no idea of their existence until they heard about our party. How awesome is that!?! Furthermore, it’s great to see my friends engaging in the community and actively wanting to participate. Planning this benefit party really has made me realize there’s a lot of people out there that sincerely want to do good in this world, they just don’t haven’t had the right opportunity to do it.  We were also fortunate enough that two major local publications here in Kansas City published content about our party! Lawrence.com featured us on the COVER of their December issue.  Inkkc.com featured photos and a mini-story about our party as well!

Foundation. At the very first meeting with the steering committee I told everyone that the vision for “The Ugly Sweater Christmas Party” is to become the biggest and best yearly holiday fund raiser in Kansas City. We certainly have a long way to go in becoming the “largest” — but now that we have laid the groundwork, we’ve got great momentum going into next year’s 5th Annual. We reached out on our Website (www.kcsweaterparty.com), Facebook, Twitter, Flickr, and YouTube to connect with our audience — and there was GREAT reception in online the community.  Much more than we projected.

Watch my YouTube video blog from this years 4th Annual party:

Here’s some pictures (taken by Zach Cobb, a professional photographer who donated his services for the party!):

I’ve been busy planning the Ugly Christmas Sweater benefit party (read the full story here) and today we finally launched the website! Tickets are officially on sale! [loud cheers, noises, applause]. Buy your tickets now at: www.kcsweaterparty.com

I wanted to share what I’ve learned throughout this process thus far:

1.) There’s a lot of people out there that sincerely want to do good in this world, they just don’t haven’t had the right opportunity to do it.

We live in a world where turning on the nightly news can put even the best of spirited person in a somber mood. Most people want to help, but just haven’t had the right opportunity to follow through with it. I’ve found that once you interact with others, the passion and charity “attitude” is completely and utterly contagious.

I’d equate it to making yourself go to the gym to workout (stick with me on this one, I swear). So… you want workout. You tell yourself you want to. Your friends do it. So one day your friends finally drag you along to workout and now the apprehension to do it is over. You just needed that extra push over the edge to get on your feet running.

When I talk to friends, family and business owners about this benefit — I’m seeing right before my eyes that once you illustrate there’s a channel in which they can help and it’s RIGHT HERE, RIGHT NOW – they’re instantly turned on to the idea. They want to help, they just need the right opportunity and someone to believe in. The message is even stronger when it comes from someone they know, not just a TV commercial or paper pamphlet they’ve received.

2.) The word “no” isn’t something one should ever fear. Don’t ever hold back because of the fear of rejection.

Being rejected only makes you stronger and better than you were before. You’ll learn from your mistakes. And you’ll learn quick. I’ve heard lots of “nos” and “sorry wish I could help”. All of which I walk away with the mindset to think of what did or didn’t work. But never do I walk away with my head down and less motivated than before. It comes with the territory and every interaction you have must be a learning experience.

In our committee meetings people suggest countless ideas. We all have personal ideas that we brainstorm, some of which seem completely unrealistic. However, what I’ve learned is that rejecting ideas before actually investigating it — worst. thing. ever. I’ve learned not to say “that would never work” until you really have tried it. If an idea is solid — it’s enough to have legs and there’s steps to get there, “make it happen” is the only attitude to have.

3.) Surround yourself with a group of people that make you better than you would be alone.

When selecting people for the Steering Committee for this party I knew one thing. I wanted the group to be smarter at planning this party than I would be doing it alone. I know my friends who are helping me plan this are smarter than me. I constantly ask for feedback, suggestions and look to empower individuals of the group with Projects. This leadership style I’ve found allows one to play to every one’s strengths and interests. It’s a great way to establish ownership within the individuals of the committee. We truly are a group that is embodies the principle: WE is smarter than me.

4.) Don’t panic. Solutions present themselves to those who know how to keep their composure.

The benefit planning process isn’t 100% smooth sailing filled with happy dancing monkeys and toothbrushes. When problems occur (because they will occur) and things aren’t going as planned — adapt. Re-tweak. Focus. As long as you have the composure to regain your footing you’ll find yourself able to clearly see the steps to the solution.

5.) Frequently take time to step back and see the big picture.

In the chaos of it all, there are times when you need to take a step back and ensure that the big picture objectives are still being met. Getting caught up in the details can lead to dropping critical big picture goal you want to achieve. Make sure you’re able to take a deep breath and evaluate how things all fit together and if certain aspects need more attention than others.

There’s so much more I’ve learned in regards to event planning, leadership, people and things about myself that can’t be encapsulated in a “Top 5″ list. These lessons learned have truly made me a better person. I still get chills thinking about how much of an impact we’ve already made on the community. I also get excited and extremely motivated knowing how much more we can accomplish.

**One thing is for certain, the best has yet to come.**
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Today is Blog Action Day! Dude, what’s that you ask? It’s simple: It’s one day of the year bloggers across the world agree to discuss and blog about one single issue – “poverty”. The goal is aim to raise awareness, initiate action. (p.s. last year’s topic was “the environment”).

This year’s topic couldn’t be anymore PERFECT because the benefit party I’m planning is actually dedicated to Operation Breakthrough. They are an organization here in Kansas City who assists children who are living in poverty. They provide them a safe environment to learn and have fun. I wanted to share a little bit about this great organization and all the great things that they do.

Here’s some fast facts about Operation Breakthrough:

• At any given time 25% of Operation Breakthrough’s children are homeless and 25% are in foster care. Many are in need of therapeutic services due to language development delays, sensory integration problems, and/or traumas associated with an unstable home environment.

• Operation Breakthrough began 35 years ago when a group of working-poor parents in the central city voiced their need for child care to Sister Corita and Sister Sailer.

• Operation Breakthrough only receives half its funding from government sources – city, state and federal. Grants from foundations and corporate and individual donations make up the rest. Without private support, Operation Breakthrough would be unable to offer its many service programs.

When I had a chance to visit Operation Breakthrough — seeing the faces and hearing the stories of what these children are experiencing was one of those moments in life when a hard, loud, sobering feeling hits your soul. It made me realize that so many things I’m fortunate to experience and be able to the things I do in my life. I’ve made a commitment really to helping O.B. after seeing how PASSIONATE the employees were and how they were really able to help make a huge difference in each of these kids lives (if you’ve read my motivational blog post before, you know I’m a big a big fan of passion).

I’m a huge proponent of Kansas City and what a great city it is, being a local organization — this is vital to several families and their well being. While poverty exists throughout the U.S. and the world, supporting a local organization that really is making a dent is little to ask for anyone who’s fortunate and able to give back anything they can — whether it be time, physical effort or money.

Check them out! They’ve got this great video on their website too. Annnnnd don’t forget to attend on December 12th — the 4th Annual Ugly Christmas Sweater Party. Psssssst, our website will be launching soon!
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So check out the logo for the benefit party I’m planning (below). How awesome is this!?!

I posted earlier this month about the benefit party I’m planning — which is help a local organization her in Kansas City, Operation Breakthrough.

I’m really proud of the fact the friends I’m working with are doing everything they can to make this party the best it can be. We’ve already secured the venue which is Tower Tavern — and we have a local “hip-hop” band that will be performing too!

It’s just amazing how much everyone is willing to help out. I can’t tell you how great of a feeling to watch this all come together.
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I haven’t been this excited in a while. What about you ask? Today I met to finalize a partnership with Operation Breakthrough, an organization to help children in poverty, right here in Kansas City. They help over 600 children everyday of families that live below the federal poverty guidelines.

Now, if you re-rewind back to 2005, myself and a couple roommates wanted a reason to throw a party — naturally Christmas came to mind as one of our favorite holidays. Approximately 60-70 people attended our first party. Last year we had well over 100+. Every year since 2005 has been a great success. After cleaning up last year, it was unanimously in agreement that we need to turn all of our hard work in to good for others, and raise money to benefit a charity. This year I decided to aim to break new ground and build a foundation for the continual planning of this great party.

**The vision for “The Ugly Sweater Christmas Party” is to become the biggest and best yearly holiday fund raiser in Kansas City.**

That being said, we’ve got a long way to go in becoming the “largest”, but I’ve formed a steering committee of about 10 people who I consider good friends, I trust, that can make this event a success. We want to focus on planning the best party we can this year that is fun and helps a great organization, Operation Breakthrough.

I should note, we decided on Operation Breakthrough because we wanted an organization that wasn’t already highly established and we wanted to keep it local. We could of easily picked Toys 4 Tots, but they already have several large companies helping to their cause. Our benefit is homegrown and requires us to build exposure about our event.  Why not build exposure for a organization that is up-and-coming as well? We think it’s a win-win situation.  Take this into consideration; 49% of Operation Breakthrough’s funds come from private contributions.  In order to survive, they need OUR help. Anything we can do to help contribute to that 49% is considered success.

So, stay tuned — we’re currently working to secure a venue for the party (we’re thinking Levee, John’s Upper Deck, Tower Tavern or Harlings) and a logo and website are coming soon!
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