So we're doing this contest where we're giving you the chance to win a private Deedle Deedle Dees concert in any of the 50 United States. It's a fundraiser that will benefit HelpHopeLive for Kellly Whitten.
Kelly is the daughter of a high school friend of mine, Stuart Whitten. Kelly lives in St. Petersburg, FL and recently turned six. She received a double transplant in July to treat autosomal recessive polycystic kidney disease, a relatively rare kidney disorder that can also cause liver disease—and in Kelly’s case, it did. Kelly’s family is working with the nonprofit HelpHOPELive to raise funds to cover the significant out-of-pocket expenses related to her medical care: co-pays and deductibles, doctor visits, travel and relocation for transplant, costly immunosuppressant medications (a lifelong expense), and much more. Read more about Kelly's story here.
On Facebook, Stuart asked for anyone to contact him if they had any fundraiser ideas. Initially I was thinking about doing a benefit concert in Florida (where Stuart and I grew up) or in NYC (where I live now) but after talking with one of the event coordinators at HelpHOPELive I realized my idea to have a nationwide contest might be the best way to raise a lot of money to help Kelly and draw attention to the plight of children with similar issues. I've often used the Deedle Deedle Dees as a forum to inform people to organizations and causes I care about and so this contest has the additional benefit of introducing a lot of new people to the work of HelpHopeLive
Here's how the contest will work:
You have from now until April 15, 2013, to purchase a raffle ticket. Tickets are $20 each or 6 for $100. Every ticket will be entered into a drawing. One winning ticket will be chosen at random. The person who purchased this ticket will win a free private concert by the Deedle Deedle Dees. The more tickets you buy the better your chance of winning -- and the more you'll help Kelly.
By "private" we don't mean that only you can attend simply that you, the winner, get to choose where and when it happens. I hope the winner chooses to host a public concert that kids and families in his or her community can attend or gives the show to a school or community organization. But if you want the Dees to play for a select group of your family and friends that's okay too. It's your concert.
Are their restrictions? Of course. The show has to happen by December 31, 2014, and will be a performance appropriate for all ages of our original music. The Dees will contribute the performance and pay for our own lodging and transportation, but we won't supply the venue, the stage, the staff or security, the refreshments or anything else. There are a bunch of other fine points you can read, most of them having to do with the safety and security of the audience but none of them take away from the fact that the winner will have his or her own Deedle Deedle Dees concert to present free of charge in the location of their choosing.
Even in Hawaii? Yes, even in Hawaii. We have friends there and my wife would be excited for an opportunity to visit them.
Want to bypass the whole raffle and just buy a Deedle Deedle Dees concert for your community? We also put an eBay-style BUY NOW option on the entry form. Yeah, it's expensive, but c'mon it's the Deedle Deedle Dees! And your money goes to HelpHopeLive for Kelly Whitten, not us.
You can buy a ticket and enter the contest right now by clicking here: http://bit.ly/privateconcert.
Questions? Write me: thedeedledeedledees AT yahoo DOT com
Lloyd
