My friend and I were both inspired by Bono’s T.E.D Award acceptance speech (see my first blog entry for a video of this speech) in 2005 just before U2 came to Vancouver. We met for coffee and brainstormed ideas on how to help those in Developing Countries, in particular Africa. After tossing one idea away after another, we figured out something that was crazy but do-able.
I was knititng Comfort Dolls for ICross Canada – they use the dolls instead of packing foam when they send shipments of HIV/AIDs medicines to African clinics. Once the meds are unpacked, the dolls are given to the local children, many of whom are HIV positive and/or AIDs orphans. For some children, the dolls are the only thing that is truly ‘theirs’, and can bring some small measure of comfort to them.
We decided to use the dolls and go after celebrities – talking them into posing for photos holding the dolls. We’d then find the various fan clubs and set up an auction and auction off the photos; sending the money to World Vision or Icross Canada.
So, we contacted Willy Willabond, ICross’ founder, and asked for permission to use the dolls in this manner. As one of his lady volunteers was the lady behind the doll idea, he had to clear it with her first, but she said yes, and so did Willy.
All we had to do now was find a way to contact various celebs and ask if they’d be interested in helping out! Sounds easy right?
Come have a read and see how we’ve been doing so far. Look for links to other ‘pages’ for more info that isnt quite blogging material – and a page about the ones that got away!
