Hi guys :) I’m not sure who’s still around from the beginning of our launch of Love Drop (our philanthropy project where we help one family a month through micro-giving, and then film the whole thing when we surprise them at their house), but after a ton of consideration we’ve decided to wrap it up at the end of December. At least the way we know it now…
It was one of the hardest things for us to do, but we were also more than encouraged with the results we were able to accomplish in these past 12 months together. In less than a year our little peanut of an idea blossomed into a worldwide community of love and support, and over these handful of months we were able to give out everything from a car (remember the Ford Mustang?), to a $13,000 service dog for brothers with autism, a family vacation to Aruba for a 3-time cancer survivor, and overall over $82,000 worth of goods and services (and cash!) in total. All from you guys chipping in a few bucks here and there. Simply amazing.
With all projects though, there comes a time when you have to step back and determine how you want to shape its future – both personally and professionally. And for us, we realized that everything we set out to accomplish has pretty much come true, minus any grand sponsorship ideas or salary infusions so we can actually get paid to run it, haha… ;) But the idea that people DO respond when you give them an easy way to participate and have FUN with it all, still holds true to this day – even in our crazy A.D.D. world we live in… So when we asked ourselves “what’s next?” we were at a loss. And I think that’s okay?
The thing I’ve learned the most out of this project is that every day brings a new set of both opportunities and hurdles. Some of the hurdles we can avoid, and others knock us down a bit only to help us come back stronger and thirstier for success directly after. And right now our hurdle is simply time. We helped a looooot of people this year, and had a complete blast traveling the country doing it! (I think we hit 25 states?), but the truth of the matter is we no longer have the ability to invest the same 20-30 hours a week into it without affecting our day jobs anymore (another 40-60 hours/ week). Our bodies have been pleading for a much-deserved break, so come January we’ll finally be giving it to them.
But while we close out another chapter of our professional lives here with Love Drop, we open up another in 2012 with even more surprises and opportunities to thrive and give back. And you better believe our wheels are already turning :) So stay tuned to see what else we’re cooking up for you next! We’ve learned a lot this year, and we’ll be continually building on it for years and years to come.
And now for my request.
If you can find it in your hearts and wallets to give a little extra this holiday season, I’d like to rally your support one last time for our very last Love Drop recipient: Diomi (mom) and Nalee (son).
A family who literally has nothing other than the roof over their heads and some miniscule amounts of food and articles of clothing they’ve been able to collect. They have to wash their same clothes in the sink at the end of every week, and the only reason they continue to have electricity this harsh Wisconsin winter is because the state legally has to leave it on due to the serious nature of what would happen if they didn’t.
For them, simple things like deodorant and other personal items are a luxury. (Which is where we’re using the money collected for. To give them all of the things every person on this Earth should have.)
But please don’t consider this a call for pity. Diomi and her son are incredibly thankful for those things they DO have in their lives – specifically each other – and will continue to work themselves out of their current phase as quickly, and as passionately, as possible. What it boils down to is simply hitting a really rough patch right now, and us giving them the spark they need to lift their spirits back up and getting ’em right back on track again. It breaks my heart they’ll be alone this Christmas with hardly any food or friendships to comfort them!
If you’re in a position to give, please do so by visiting our site one last time and helping us give them the best Love Drop we’ve ever seen. Right in time for the holidays :) You can learn even more about this family by watching our video about them right here:
For all of you who’ve participated and been members of our project from the beginning, THANK YOU. We couldn’t have done it without you, and we’re blessed to be in the position to be able to do things like this because of all YOUR support and encouragement. I can’t tell you how lucky I feel.
Thank you all so very very much, and we’ll be sharing our new ideas with you shortly. Let’s end 2011 the way we started it… with love.
—————-
PS: If you’ll be around the Milwaukee, WI area on Thursday, December 22nd, we’d love to have you participate in either the Drop itself, or the end-of-year get together afterward. Just shoot me an email.
PPS: Again, all money collected (minus operational expenses) are going directly to help Diomi and Nalee this December with food, clothing, a few gifts, and as many personal items as we can give them to make sure they’re in good standing for this up and coming winter. More info can be found here.
[UPDATE: It seems some asshole decided to be clever and hack our site when we need it the most. It is currently down, but we are working to get it back up – THIS FAMILY NEEDS OUR HELP! In the meantime, please reach out to me directly if you need anything, or want to offer assistance. Thank you so much. Good always wins.]
[UPDATE #2: Love Drop is back up again!]
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Congrats on doing so much guys!
Giving is HARD WORK and I hope good karma follows you more than any dollar bills could ever reward.
Best,
Sam
Proud of you, son! And of us. We did what we said we were gonna do. :)
Thanks guys :) The real winners of it all was our beautiful families we helped, eh?
@Sam — Keep on helping all those bloggers w/ Yakezie!
@Nate — Keep on being my biz partner and building projects with me! :)
I’m so sad to see this project end, so grateful to have been a part of it, and so inspired to see how much you accomplished in a year.
*tears* *sniff* *nose-blow*
As the family of a recipient, I remain eternally grateful.
As a team member, I remain incredibly inspired.
As a friend, I remain better for knowing you. . . and Nate too.
No matter what 2012 brings, those things will forever be imprinted on my heart and soul.
*hugs*
Dani
Couldn’t think of a better way to use some cash. Hope my little bit helps
You guys are crazy good people!
What an inspiration! You should be very proud of everything you have accomplished!
Thanks for what you managed to do with this over the year.
So sad to see Love Drop end. What’s next?
It is very sad to see it go. But I’m really psyched to have been along for some of the ride. Congratulations J$ on creating something so helpful for so many people. Very, very cool.
Thanks guys :) It’s easy to pick it up and create your own mini-drops too! We’ve had a few people across the country starting their own little Love Drops and it’s awesome. Every one of us has the power to make a difference and it’s really not that hard!
@Miss Britt – We will never forget what a big part you played in it too! One of our best Drops of the year :) Forever grateful.
@Dani M. Stone – You are an angel, you know that? One of my favorite people we “pickd up” along the way this year, hehe… you’ll be hearing a LOT more from me, missy, don’t you worry ;)
@donkee – All of your bits help! Thank you so much :)
@thefrugallery – Thank you so much, we are :) And we hope it inspires others to go out there and do some good too! It really isn’t that hard.
@Steeb – Thank you for being a part of it :)
@LB – What’s next? A lot! Dozens in the hopper just waiting to get started on… we’ll push out a few here shortly :)
@Nick – Thanks man! Feel free to pick it up and run with it yourself too if you ever want :)
Can’t wait to see what you come up with for 2012!
Not gonna lie, a little bummed Love Drop is going away…
I’m sad to see the end of Love Drop. :-( It was an amazing idea and thing you guys devoted so much time to. At least you were able to help so many people who really needed it. :-)
Your next project will be equally amazeballs I’m sure. Can’t wait to see what you’re up to.
Kathryn
and you’ve succeeded in making me cry at work…again…
it’s been such an honor for me to be apart of Love Drop and I know the husband feels the same. can’t wait to see what you and Nate have up your sleeves for next year and you know you can count on us for support!
I am excited to see what you guys are up for next year! I will post this drop tonight!
Aw, I first heard of Love Drop only last week so I never participated! I’m sad it’s ending but glad I have one last chance to contribute!
I would love to help Love Drop. You give so much, so no way I am missing out on this last time. :)
Has it been a year already? Wow.
It is sad to see it go. Er, sad to see that it’s gone… apparently. (KILLAAAAAAA….)
I would say that it’s unfortunate to lose it, but I’d rather appreciate all the good it has done, and rest easy knowing that you lot are definitely going to keep the Sexiness going in your own ways.
Besides, you totally deserve a break.
It looks like someone hacked the Love Drop site for our last month. Stay classy, interwebs.
Classy, indeed.
People are F’d up man… if you’re gonna take down a site, make it a $hitty one. Not one trying to bless a family that can barely survive… I’m so disappointed.
*Bro hug*
Big donations from everyone as soon as things get sorted out!
What you guys have done is amazing! Glad I got to be a part of it in Chicago.
I think you’ve not only touched the people’s lives that you’ve helped but you’ve also set an example for the rest of us in terms of giving back.
Job well done on LoveDrop, can’t wait to see what you come up with next!
What a wonderful thing to do with a year of your time!
I would love to help and will be in Milwaukee on that day. I can start getting donations of household items from friends and family right away if that would help. I’ll shoot you an email for the details.
Thanks everyone! It’s been one helluva great great ride… we were blessed to be able to help so many people this year. Next year we’ll do again in a different way :)
Bergie — check your email :)
Wow, it’s ending already? I’m really looking forward to seeing what you come up with in 2012. It felt so great taking part in Love Drop at FINCON11. It was great to physically do something that would positively contribute to others.
It’s truly inspiring to hear how people will come together to help those in need and how you were able to create this for them. Awesome.
Thanks dude :) We’re pretty excited about the new year, and all the possibilities too. We have a TON of ideas in the works and it’s just a matter of figuring out what goes first, and when :) To a successful 2012, my friend!