Welcome to my "goBENgo" information page.
This is kind of a 'one-stop-shopping' page for the many things I am doing:
Five Rivers Fundraising (Fundraising for the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society - and YOUR favorite non-profit);
My Chautauqua (first-person historical presentation) of
Benjamin Franklin - Live! & Inperson-ated
and my music with the Celtic influenced "Trilsean"
Leukemia & Lymphoma Society:
I bet you know someone with Cancer - a friend, a relative, a workmate... maybe you. Every conversation about my fundraising for the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society (LLS) seems to elicit a cancer story from the person I am talking with (they have a friend, a relation, a child, a parent, their own struggle)... Every time I hear about chemotherapy, distress, the sickness, the dying, it hurts. But I am grateful it hurts, because it keeps me motivated to help. Because as much as it hurts, I also hear about the recovery, the remission, the hope. Even after death, the burning desire to DO something to help others remains. That means we are not beaten, just knocked down a bit. _Doing_ something makes the loss and pain able to be put up with.
I believe that we can make a difference - for those struggling against this disease and for those who I hope never have to face it. That difference takes the shape of stair climbs and bicycle rides, in concerts and performances, in auctions and Tournaments, in just listening to a person talk about their challenge and loss.
It takes the shape of things done in another's name, because doing something for someone else gives them strength, it gives us all strength, and it mean a lot. It means something very real.
I ask you to join me and make a difference.
Donations help, of course. But, your ideas and questions are also really needed. Your time and your passion, your partnership and your special causes are also needed.
What causes do you support? How can I help you? Let us join together and make that difference. Write me at ben@ben-franklin.org and let me know how we can work together, or just to tell me you want to help with what I do.
Look below for links to various sites that show you what things have been done.
But you might start here
http://www.sofii.org/active%20site/Members%20area/EF190BenFranklin.html
SOFII (Showcase of Fundraising Innovation & Inspiration - begun by international fundraising guru Ken Burnett) is featuring my Benjamin Franklin program as an example of creative programming for non-profits.
See also The Ben Franklin Website (including a PDF of our brochure) Benjamin Franklin-Innovative American. Contact me for information. (email at ben@ben-franklin.org.)
So far, our friends have generously supported my wife and my campaigns and over $30,000 for the LLS has been raised ($10,000+ from the members of the Society for Creative Anachronism alone.)
Here is a picture of what the SCA Logo looked like the last event (at $1,250.00) Now, at over $10,000 from the SCA, we will be featured on jerseys, advertising, fliers, etc.
To see a slideshow of "Ben Franklin - Innovative American" in performance, go to
This Website
For future performance dates, go to http://ben-franklin-upcoming.blogspot.com/
Thank you.
What's 7,700 Steps Look Like?
Ben Franklin Stepped Up on his 302nd Birthday. On January 17, 2008, Ben Franklin spent two hours climbing up (and down) a total of 7,700 steps to raise funds and awareness for the LLS. Video by Maks Goldenshteyn of the UW Student Newspaper "The Daily".
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Here is a another link to a UW Story about my work as Ben.
http://www.washington.edu/facilities/orgrel/resources
Look for the 4th item
FS Newsletter - August issue
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For opportunities to join our efforts as a participant or supporter:
Volunteer to Help
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All activities by G.Robin Smith sponsored by Hardwick & Sons, Inc. www.eHardwicks.info Celebrating 75 years of family owned and operated new and used hard-to-find hard to find tools, hardware, furniture and useful stuff in the heart of the University District of Seattle.
Last Notes:
A couple of free downloads wait you at a memorial page www.myspace.com/inhonorof
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