Our Quest for the Perfect Silicon Sphere  The result of two years' work In the early 1990s, a team of scientists from around the world began a project to redefine the kilogram standard of mass known as the International Avogadro Project. This resulted in the world's roundest object, a perfect sphere of crystalline Silicon. When we saw one of these $3.2 million dollar works of scientific art, we knew we needed to have one! We wondered: Could we use our expertise in making perfect metallic spheres to create a silicon crystal sphere without spending millions of dollars? The Trance Silicon Sphere: A Wild two-year journey It all started with this innocent-looking block of silicon. In the following year, we'd be buying a lot of these 100mm crystals. Step 1: Finding the Right Crystal We wondered - could we take an off-the-shelf single crystal of silicon and make our own sphere? We have made thousands of metal spheres in the past, but silicon was a metalloid (more below) and needs different tools to shape into a sphere. The original kilogram prototype sphere was 93.75mm in diameter but only consisted of silicon-28. A kilogram of silicon-28 goes for about $1.5 million, so we needed a more reasonable alternative. Our sphere would be off-the-shelf crystalline silicon used in making computer processor chips (thank you computer industry!). These mass-produced crystals have the following distribution of isotopes:  We had to make some small adjustments That means if we made the exact same size sphere, it would be heavy by about 0.39%.  The original sphere was 93.75 mm, with 2.15 x 10^25 atoms. Our sphere would need to be 0.39% smaller, which is 93.38 mm. Since the CNC lathe we wanted to use in the final process is accurate to about 0.01 mm, this is a significant difference in the input code. We secured several kilograms of 100 mm silicon boule (lab-grown single-crystal cylinders) and got to work experimenting! A Lesson in Stonework In the first lesson, this is a LOT tougher to shape than metal. Each metal we've worked with has its own unique characteristics, but this was a different beast entirely. A metal sphere can be shaped in an hour in some cases. This is what our first attempt looked like after an hour of cutting:  Ok, this isn't going to be easy... Since Silicon is a metalloid and has some similar properties to stone, we decided to use some stone-working techniques to get the basic shape. Eventually, we got a sphere: We finally got something resembling a sphere Our first few prototypes make smooth-to-the-touch spheres, but they were quite dull. It took many tries to choose the right cutting blade and get the smoothness right. Choosing the right kind of material for the cutting blade was critical.      We initially used stone-polishing processes used for making decorative granite spheres. That gave us the shiny surface we were looking for, but it still didn't rival the finish the scientists were getting with their $3.2 million dollar spheres. We weren't happy yet! our first prototype that shines! Previous prototypes remained dull until we found the secret sauce for the final polishing step We altered the process somewhat and increased the polishing time to three days(!). We were definitely getting closer to the desired results: Our 2nd shiny prototype. Getting better, more luster and closer to what we're looking for. This series of prototypes were shiny, similar to what you'd find with polished granite. However, it didn't quite meet the standard that we use to judge our metal spheres, so we kept trying to improve the finish. Finally, a Breakthrough! After months of struggling to improve the stone polishing process, we had an insight. The scientists who made the original sphere used a lens grinding factory in their final polishing step. We always assumed this would be much too expensive, but after some research, we realized it might be the solution we were looking for.  We found a factory that specializes in making custom lenses for the aerospace industry. They were willing to polish one of our prototypes. Everyone was shocked at the result. After two years of trial and error, we got finally got the results we were looking for! These look so incredible with a breathtaking luster you have to see to believe.  Amazingly, this is a solid crystal of 99.9999999% pure Silicon! After TWO YEARS of experimenting, we finally made one!   We were able to achieve a sphere that rivals the original luster in a single crystal of silicon.  Ok, why doesn't it cost $3.2 million like the original? The original sphere used an extremely rare single-isotope crystal of Silicon-28. The material itself cost $1.5 million, while off-the-shelf silicon crystal is commodity items for the chip-making industry and can be had in the $100's of dollars range. The other huge contributing factor is the accuracy with which the scientists were trying to achieve.  They literally made the roundest object in the world after weeks of polishing in a lens-maker laboratory. They wanted accuracy of +/- 0.0000002 grams. This is impossible with any off-the-shelf solution and required constant laser measurements. So far, our accuracy is about +/- 5 grams, which isn't useable as a mass standard, but perfectly wondrous as a beautiful heirloom piece. What is Silicon? Silicon is a metalloid. It is one of the few elements that are not metals or nonmetals. It has an atomic number of 14. It's a crystalline form, it is a dark shiny grey with a luminous undertone. It is also a semiconductor. It is able to act as either a conductor or a non-conductor. This has lead to its widespread use in electronics. What makes Silicon special? Silicon makes up about 25% of our natural world. However, it is never found in its pure state. To get pure silicon, it must be carefully refined. For those of you interested in a more affordable sample of Silicon, we're offering a salvaged shard of pure Silicon in our InvisiDisplay™ case: A pure Silicon shard salvaged from the production process available for a $49 pledge Specifications   99.9999999% pure single-crystal silicon 2.15x10^25 atoms of Silicon 93.75mm diameter 1 Kilogram (+/- 10 grams) Who is Trance Metals? Trance Metals is a Texas-based company that specializes in aerospace-grade spheres. Our Copper & Titanium spheres project raised over $500,000 here on Kickstarter! Since 2015, we've produced over 30,000 aerospace polished metal spheres in Copper, Titanium, Tungsten, and other metals.   Trance Metals is the first company in the world to mass-produce mirror quality spheres in Copper and Titanium. We’ve learned just about everything there is to know about manufacturing the highest quality metal spheres. Please click pledge now and help us bring this amazing piece of scientific history to life!

Kamibot Pi is a creative coding robot that can teach your child coding step-by-step through fun activities outlined in our curriculum. Whether you are coding for the first time or you’ve learned some Scratch in school, Kamibot Pi is a fun and easy way to learn functional coding. Kamibot started with the idea of creating moving interactive papercrafts, and evolved into  teaching young students to code with an interactive robot. Our goal was to create a robot that was perfect for the school desk with a few more features that will allow the teachers to do more for their lesson plans. Kamibot Pi also complies with Japanese National standards for STEAM robots used in coding education.   Ever worry about how to teach your child or students coding? You're not alone. We have many teachers in Korea who were just as lost as you might be. We've created a curriculum to guide your students step-by-step to becoming self sufficient coders.  Coding with Action Cards: Kamibot Pi is codable with command cards straight out of the box. Kids can feed the cards to Kamibot Pi and see the commands come to life. Not needing a smart device to code their robots is a relief for many teachers and parents who do not have access to a tablet device.   Coding with the RoCoCon (Remote Control):  Kamibot Pi is also codable with the RoCoCon (Short for Robot Coding Controller)!  The remote control will only be available to backers at specific reward tiers.     Graphical coding with our Kamicard app allows users to pick commands based on the images on each card. Block-based coding with our Kamiblock 3.0 introduces more structure and more advanced commands for coding Kamibot Pi.  Seasoned coders can take Kamibot Pi to the next level with Python coding.   Children can explore their artistic creativity through coding. A few adjustments to your code here and there show up as new shapes and drawings. If you can code it, Kamibot will draw it.       Team up with your friends and play an arcade classic.     Collaborate with your friends on cool projects like recreating the solar system. Code the path of Earth’s orbit around the sun and the Moon’s orbit around the Earth. Work together with your friends to clean up our oceans of trash.   Challenge your friends to see who can code their robot to catch the most fish.    Our new Kamibot skins don’t only give Kamibot a cool new look. These skins give children a hands-on approach to purposeful coding.      Our in-depth curriculum and multitude of activities will help boost your child’s critical thinking and problem solving skills. Our coding apps are easy to use and are designed so that you can learn coding at your own pace. If you want just want to remotely control Kamibot Pi we have an app for that too.     We’ve redone our block-based coding app. The new and improved Kamiblock 3.0 will support the “multiple robot coding” that a lot of our teachers were requesting. This is exciting news for kids that want to code multiple robots to perform cooperative tasks. The Kamibot team first launched Kamibot on Kickstarter in 2016. After years of data and working with teachers and educators, we’ve been able to put together a coding curriculum that will make a difference in the way your child or students learn to code. We’re launching Kamibot Pi to share the culmination of research and feedback from hundreds of parents and teachers that are educating the next generation of humankind. Risks and challenges The Kamibot team has been at this since 2015. This is our second time around, we have a team that are familiar with the challenges that need to be overcome in order to deliver a quality product to our backers. As with any production, problems may arise by some unforeseen act of nature affecting the delivery date. In the case that delays do arise, we will be transparent and keep our backers informed.

Overview Let's change habits and save lives by providing accessible, affordable access to the quality food everybody deserves. South Central is home to 1.3 million residents and just 60 grocery stores. One of the oldest + only healthy establishments on Slauson Blvd recently closed. Back this campaign to help SÜPRMARKT LA carry on the legacy of Mr. Wisdom's by providing organics, fresh healthy meals, & great for you goods in an area that really needs it. Snag some awesome perks while you're at it! #KSF Thank you for supporting #KEEPSLAUSONFRESH! We are thankful to everyone that has given on this platform and helped us exceed $75k in donations! We are proud about how people everywhere have stepped up to give access to fresh food for everyone.  Perks will still be available here until they're gone, so feel free to keep sharing! We are still raising funds to hit our stretch goals to make a tax deductible donation, and learn how to support in other ways below.    Produce to the People!  Health disparities kill more people than anything else in our country, and 24 million Americans live without fresh food access. These conditions shorten life expectancies in marginalized communities before babies take their first breath. Enough is Enough. It is time to take a bite out of hunger by establishing healthy affordable food options in our Hoods. Suprmarkt was founded in 2016 to provide weekly produce pop ups + deliveries services which make it easy and affordable to eat well in LA's food deserts. Since starting, we've served up over 25,000 pounds of produce in South Central & beyond and we are taking our next big step by opening a healthy retail location.  Actually doing it. Our biggest lesson from Nipsey's life is actually doing what you know is needed instead of wasting time thinking about it.  This turning point will empower us to not just think of solving food disparities in our neighborhoods, but to ACTUALLY DO IT. If you know there is something wrong with leaving your neighborhood everytime you crave a salad, and want your children to grow up in a world where their life expectancy isn't 20 years shorter because there is no quality food around, please do everything in your power to spread the word and help get this off the ground. What We Need & What You Get Essential Goal: 111k Downpayment & RenovationsTo secure the Mr. Wisdom's space, we'll need $65,000 for a down payment, as well as another estimated $25,000 to renovate and modernize the space. This amount gets our foot in the door with some of the resources needed to turn this establishment back into a health store. We estimate $5,500 would go to Indiegogo fees, and $4,500 would go toward perk fulfillment. Stretch Goal: 250k Downpayment, Inventory, Renovations, Staff This amount is our sweet spot. It allows for a larger downpayment of $140,000, resulting in a lower mortgage, and allows us to budget $40,000 for renovations, $25,000 for staff and $23,000 for inventory. We estimate $12,500 would go to Indiegogo fees, and $5,500 would go toward perk fulfillment.    Ultimate Goal: 750k Purchase Property, Renovation, Inventory, Staff, Insurance This would be phenomenal. Raising this amount would allow us to purchase the property outright, so that we can guarantee our service to the community for decades to come and never have to worry about eviction or rent increases.  $520,000 would mostly pay for the property, with $70,000 for renovations, $50,000 for staff and for $34,000 for inventory, $30,000 and for other concerns like marketing and insurance, giving us a great start to a successful business that will serve the community for decades to come. We estimate $37,500 would go to Indiegogo fees, and $8,500 would go toward perk fulfillment.     Dream: 1.2 Million Everything above + Free community dinners and programs.  An additional $450,000 would help us expand our community impact. SÜPRSEED is a 501(c)3 that powers events, grocery giveaways, juice cleanse scholarships and more to create the experiences and support systems needed for long term lifestyle changes. Raising 1.2 million is a dream that would empower us to continue free plant based dinners Mr. Wisdom lead each week, offer support to other healthy food start ups in the area, discount goods in the store based on the area median income, and make a huge and lasting impact on South Central's health for good.  What We'll Have   Organic Fruits & Veggies & Bulk Goods from local farms like Alma Backyard Farms, & the South Central Farmer's Co-op.  We'll carry tropical goods like pineapples & mangos + dry bulk goods like nuts, dates, coconut oil, quinoa and more. Healthy Snacks + Packaged Foods from brands like: Beanfield's and Field Roast.Delicious Prepared meals + Grab & Go options from local artisans like Baba's Vegan CafeSustainable Body Products & Household goods from brands like: Dr. Bronner's, Alaffia, Dr. Hauschka's & more.   What's our backup plan?  We are 100% committed to making this a reality. That said, if we fall short of our fundraising goals we will use whatever we have toward securing the store and continue to raise funds via whatever channels become available to us!   The Impact Feed People. With a physical location, we can start serving 1,000 Angelenos per week. Having more space to pack produce boxes, delivery vans, and manufacturing space means we can have a significant impact on the 1.3 Million people in our area, and even get food insecure to folks across LA. Heal People.1 billion dollars is spent on preventable healthcare in the US every day.  Living in a food desert makes you far more likely to suffer from a preventable disease. For instance, obesity rates are 25% higher in South LA than West LA and 13% higher the the county average. As natives of the community, we combine an urgent need to heal our friends and family members with well branded retail access to healthy food. Most importantly, we lead events and programs that help our audience eat healthily in culturally relevant ways. For instance, we've sponsored free and affordable juice cleanses for 40 people.   End The Health Apartheid. Our success in opening this store will be just the first step in a nationwide movement to provide forgotten areas with the resources they need to thrive. We've had people write us from places like Chicago and try to order produce from places like Alabama-- so seeing us succeed will inspire people everywhere to do the same and equip us with the experience to help others and expand this concept.   Risks & Challenges SÜPRMARKT has been in business for almost 3 years, serving the local community with affordable produce boxes, popup dinners, and educational food seminars. Our work has been featured by Forbes, Tastemade, Popsugar, SXSW, Afropunk, and more.  It is always a risk to open a brick and mortar location— but the neighborhood needs this. We're the right fit to step in and take over where Mr. Wisdom's left off. Our biggest plus is that we have worked out many of the learning curve kinks associated with grocery service and built up a customer base. That said, these areas will be new challenges for us: Starting a Kitchen Building out a physical location We are grateful to have access to support and guidance from organizations like: EverytableHot and Cool CafeHank's Mini MarketsweetgreenLA KitchenThe Pollination Project to help guide us through this new process. Everyone Can Help! If you are reading this, you can help. Share this campaign with everyone you can via texts, emails, socials, & everything else! Organize a group donation on behalf of an organization you are part of Organize a popup dinner/fundraiser— we'll be on hand to talk about our experiences and showcase recipes using our produce.    

Overview The Moment Pebble enables you to take 30 second micro moments of mindfulness – any time, anywhere. With a gentle light that beats from within, it guides you through short mindful exercises that help you de-stress and re-energise before you continue with your day. BRINGING MINDFUL MOMENTS TO BUSY LIVES The Moment Pebble enables you to take 30 second micro moments of mindfulness – any time, anywhere. With a gentle light that beats from within, it guides you through short breathing exercises that help you de-stress and re-energise before you continue with your day.     KEY BENEFITS  WHY IT WORKS Unchecked, stress can build up during your day. But if you take moments to interrupt the “autopilot” state of your mind, you give yourself an opportunity to ‘reset’ and remove a large amount of stress from your day.   HOW TO USE THE PEBBLE:   JUST A MOMENT... The benefits of mindfulness are well documented – but finding time in your busy day to practice mindfulness is challenging for most. We aim to change this with the Moment Pebble.  Alex experienced first hand the cost of not taking a moment for himself. He went to great lengths to understand the psychology behind it and prevent others suffering the same experience. With the Moment Pebble we hope to ensure other people don’t get to the point he got to. We’re on a mission to make mindfulness quick, easy and accessible for everyone – from complete mindfulness newbies, to experienced meditators.  Please join the Moment Movement by showing your support and help us prove that it's OK, in fact it's beneficial, to take frequent mind breaks.   SWITCH OFF  Unlike most other modern mindfulness aids, the Moment Pebble doesn't rely on an app. It's not connected to your phone, meaning you can stay in the moment – undisturbed by calls and messages. TOP FEATURES A physical dedicated reminder to give your mind valuable breaks  An external focus point to get you out of your busy mind Its 30 second light sequence guides you through a short calming breathing exercise Not synced to your phone allowing you to stay focused and in the moment Fits in your palm and is completely wireless so you can always carry it with you Simple tactile controls (Up = on, down = off) WHAT'S INCLUDED When you buy the Moment Pebble you also receive:  The Moment Pebble (of course!) The wireless charging stone   A Moment Book (30 curated moment scripts)  You also gain access to the Moment Community, a curated group containing the Moment Pebble team, our Doctors and an increasing network of wellness experts, as well as all  other Moment Pebble owners. The intention for the community is to provide a place where people can share their experiences as well as find support. Within the community you will have access to exclusive content, events, and expert feedback on any questions you may have.  And finally, you will also have access to specifically designed 'Getting to know your Pebble' support materials. This is to help to get you into the groove of taking short mindful moments throughout your day. Expert opinion: Dr Gini Harrison  Dr Gini Harrison, Psychologist & Senior Lecturer at The Open University explains the benefits of mindfulness and where the Moment Pebble fits in:     Hamish took part in our 6 week field trial with 14 other Moment Pebblers. We caught up with him about his experience using the Moment Pebble – here's what he said:  BENEFITS (EXPANDED): Reduced anxiety Reduced stress Reduce likelihood of depression Calms the body & the mind Gains perspective Re-energises Enhances sleep Boosts brain power Increased productivity Improved creativity Improved long term health    PRODUCT SPECS: Low energy design, the Pebble only requires charging once a fortnight The wireless charging stone (base), requires charging once every 1-2 months  Pebble is 60g 6cm x 4cm x 1.5cm 30 moment scripts provided in a 'Moment Booklet' to help get you started Unconnected to your phone, the biggest source of modern anxiety  The Pebble in action:     OUR STORY & THE MOMENT MOVEMENT: Alex and Charlie explain their motivations behind creating the Moment Pebble.  We (Alex and Charlie) met working at a fast paced digital agency in the early 2010’s. Discovering a shared appreciation of mindfulness, we recognised how giving our busy brains a mindful break created space for innovation and motivation. But despite all our best intentions, both of us would continually fall out of our mindfulness practice. Which led us to an idea... What if we had a gentle prompt? Something physical that reminded us to take a break?  A little nudge to take a moment for ourselves?            And so the Moment Pebble was born. Our passion is developing products that help bring mindful moments to busy lives – making them accessible to everyone, everywhere. The Moment Pebble is the first step. Please join us on this mission!

By fundraising for coronavirus relief endeavors, or donating to a coronavirus support fund, we can all do our part and provide much-needed support and aid. With the growing number of confined areas, individuals in these areas need vital medical help and day-to-day things to pull through this new threat.With so much uncertainty and concern surrounding the recent coronavirus, it’s easy to feel helpless—but there is something we can all do to help the struggle against it. Apart from keeping safe and following guidelines from medical experts, we can all do our part to get help to people and areas that have been affected. The impact of the coronavirus has spread far beyond those who have become infected. Entire areas now face emergency lockdowns, and in Italy alone, over 16 million people have been quarantined in an attempt to prevent further spread of the disease. With such a staggering number of people in quarantine and more becoming sick, necessitates quickly mount. Everything from basics, like food to emergency financial assistance to pay for things like rent is urgently needed as people experience lost salaries due to illness or quarantine restrictions. For those who are already sick, paying medical bills has become an additional burden.  In countries like the United States, where not everyone may have access to insurance, financial help for the coronavirus is desperately needed to ensure people don’t avoid seeking treatment or testing because they don’t have insurance. As the threat of this disease grows and puts further strain on communities, here are a few things we can all consider doing to provide some relief: FOOD, WATER, AND OTHER BASICS... Create care packages with supplies...Low-income families are already strained in good times but this new threat makes it even more important to provide immediate financial assistance to these households.  EMERGENCY MEDICAL TREATMENT, MEDICATION, AND EQUIPMENTAs our economy becomes strained and more people are affected by financial pressures, the ability for people to pay for medication and treatment becomes a real hurdle to seeking treatment. As a result, people across the world have already started their COVID-19 fundraising efforts, and you can do your part to provide direct financial assistance to fundraisers.Please donate and share this campaign with your friends and family

Kocoono™ takes the original concept of a weighted blanket and improves on it in every capacity with its patent pending design including fully customizable weight, unique shoulder embrace and much more!  You can add or remove the weights to suit you needs and place one in the freezer and reinsert back into the blanket to keep you cool at night (if thats how you roll!!). With the unique shoulder embrace you are able to get the deep touch pressure up around your shoulders to reduce the tension where you need it most.  Kocoono™ uses Deep Touch Pressure Therapy to stimulate pressure points in the body. This helps to reduce cortisol levels associated with stress, and in turn increase dopamine and serotonin, our "happy chemicals".  Kocoono™ is a natural self-soothing tool that helps users to have improved quality sleep, mood and relaxation, which in turn can have other overall health benefits. Other blankets have a set weight and cannot be changed. With Kocoono™ you can alter the weight to your exact liking.   Or if the blanket is for a child, it can grow with your child,  which saves you buying a new blanket every few years! In order to stay cool in summer you can place the weighted  strips in the freezer and reinsert back onto your Kocoono™.  This is also applicable for people with a sports injury, or anyone  experiencing hot flushes or for those that sleep hot. Just remove the weight strips and throw the outer blanket in the washing machine, just like a regular blanket! We used 33% up-cycled material and non toxic glass beads.  Also, since the weight can be adjusted the blanket grows with you! No need to buy a new one. One side of the blanket is made from a soft fleecy material designed  to keep you warm on even the coldest winter night. The  other side is made from cotton and is designed to cool you down in the summertime. All of our Kocoono™ blankets are designed and ethically manufactured in Europe using the highest quality materials available.   # Kocoono™ Wellness Toolbox is designed to strengthen your mind and increase focus and mental well-being in your day to day life. It is typically recommended that a weighted  blanket is 10% of a persons body weight. Thats why we have a range of Kocoono™ weights to suit everyone. See the charts above to find the one for you! All of our blankets measure 195 x 110 cm. Kocoono™ originated in 2011 after I designed a weighted blanket for a child with Autism. My mother is a dress maker, so I had all the materials that I needed. The colors were chosen due to extensive market research on their calming qualities. We chose fleece for one side so that people can feel a sense of cosy comfort, and cotton on the other side to keep people cool in summer.   All graphic design, web design and video production for Kocoono™ by Unbound Media Galway, Ireland.   Health Disclaimer: Kocoono™ does not claim to be a cure for any medical or mental condition or disorder. It is designed only to be used as an aid which can be used to help with sleep and stress. Shipping disclaimer: Some international orders may be subject to import taxes, customs duties, and/or fees imposed by the destination country. You are responsible with ensuring to comply with laws and regulations of the country of destination Risks and challenges As myself and the team have designed, prototyped and constructed Kocoono™ ourselves with love, care and attention to detail we know the standard and quality that we want to provide our supportive backers. We have communicated this to our manufactures and we will have boots on the ground to oversee the quality of all Kocoono™blankets and products being delivered to our backers. Your Kocoono™ blanket is ethically produced in Europe and we feel very confident about the quality and quantity we are able to deliver. We have limited the number we can produce before Christmas to ensure our early bird backers are snuggled up in time for the holiday season.

Our hypothesis (or idea) is that with pelvic floor physical therapy, women will experience significantly less trauma during childbirth.  This includes less perineal tearing (aka tearing to their lady parts), less time spent pushing, and less Cesarean section risk.  We also think that they will experience a better recovery with less pain and improved function after delivery.   At Revitalize Physical Therapy we specialize in pregnancy and postpartum pelvic floor issues. After years of treating women during pregnancy, we started to notice a trend with our patients.  All of them had really good outcomes during delivery with minimal tearing, fast pushing phases and no C-sections. This was very different from what was considered “normal” and in the research.  When we started looking to the research for answers to our great patient outcomes, we couldn’t find a single research study that looked at the effects of pelvic floor physical therapy. With this data, it could potentially change our standard of care for the pregnant patient and lead to less birth complications and their long-term implications! After working with pregnant women for over 4 years, we have seen really great results.  They have experienced less trauma with perineal tearing, shorter pushing phases during delivery, less C-sections and faster recoveries with less pain.  In fact, most women tell us that it was their "easiest" delivery to date! Don't take it from us! Here are some thoughts from some of our recent patients: Most women are told to do kegels during pregnancy in order to "strengthen the pelvic floor for childbirth."  However, the pelvic floor muscles must stretch 2.5 times their normal length in order to allow for the delivery of baby vaginally through the levator hiatus.  It is also very common during pregnancy, in our experience, that the pelvic floor muscles become too overactive (aka too tight) due to the extra demands on those muscles during this time.  If the pelvic floor muscles become overactive, these muscles aren't as pliable as normal and can’t stretch adequately in order to allow for delivery.  This can hinder the delivery process as well as lead to higher likelihood of tearing and longer amount of time spent pushing. Tearing and other birth trauma can lead to a longer and more challenging recovery from childbirth with further pelvic floor issues. Our goal is to release these commonly tight areas and have data to support what we have seen in our patients. Note: The levator hiatus is the opening within the pelvic floor muscles that allows for the passage of the baby (see photo). In order to eliminate these "overactive" pelvic floor muscles, we perform myofascial release as part of pelvic floor physical therapy.  Our study design includes participants starting in their third trimester in order to receive an adequate number of treatment sessions before delivery.  All of our participants will receive standardized treatment so that we can evaluate the results afterwards.  Then we will measure differences in the C-section rate, degree of tearing, length of pushing, and pain and functional limitations in the postpartum period.  Below is a timeline of the study for our participants: Pelvic floor physical therapy often involves a comprehensive approach to treating the whole body using manual release techniques, joint mobilizations, strengthening and retraining exercises, and breathing training.  For this research study, we will be focused primarily on manual release techniques called myofascial release, in order to downtrain (aka relax) the deep pelvic floor muscles.  We will also be including training in breathing, pelvic floor stretching, and pelvic floor relaxation. Internal pelvic floor assessment and treatment is very gentle and usually pain-free, in fact it’s less intrusive than intercourse which is why it’s safe to have this treatment during pregnancy.  This is also MUCH different than "perineal massage" because it is targeting the deeper pelvic floor muscles rather than the superficial muscles surrounding the vaginal opening.    The following benefits are what we have experienced with our clients and what we are hypothesizing to be significant:   The results from this research could have long term implications for improving the standard of care for the pregnant woman.  If our treatment does lead to less trauma for the mom, it should be included as part of prenatal care and education.  It also can assist in less birth complications.  With C-sections and longer pushing phases, there are more risks for medical complications for mom and baby, as well as infection risk with C-sections and perineal tearing.  We also hope that this helps aid in a woman's postpartum recovery since she will have less physical and potentially emotional and psychological limitations to deal with if she is not in pain or healing from a potential surgical intervention.   As mentioned above, we have been performing these interventions for over 4 years on women and noticing results.  Approximately 3 years ago, we started to develop a research study design in order to collect data for this treatment.  In March 2019, we partnered with University of Wisconsin - Milwaukee for more assistance on this in order to ensure a quality research study.  The proposal for this was submitted to the International Review Board (IRB) in October 2019 and is currently under review.  Once we receive approval from the IRB, we plan to begin collecting data and providing this treatment to pregnant women in our local area.  Currently, the research study will need to include a minimum of 100 participants so we are looking to perform a pilot study with the first 50 with money raised during this campaign.  The remaining 50 will then need to be tested and funding secured.  Our plan is to complete data collection within the following 2 years. We are crowdfunding and asking for your donation as a way to financially provide these services.  The treatment in this research study is performed one-on-one for an hour (each session) and is very personal and intimate.  Because of this, we have overhead costs to pay staff in order to provide this treatment.  Since we are a small, private practice, we do not have access to funds or grants that a large healthcare organization would.  It is also a substantial time commitment  that will greatly impact the revenue of our clinic and ability to treat other clients that are not part of this study. It is important to us to keep the cost as low as possible for the participant in order to be able to provide this treatment to a diverse demographic of women. Our goal amount is to be able to fully fund the first 50 participants of our study after discounting our services to only cover overhead costs (no profit).  Any amount raised will help offset the cost for our participants so our flexible goal is to be able to provide some additional funding for our participants if our goal is not met.     Stretch Goal #1: $25, 000 This stretch goal will allow us to fully fund the first 50 participants for the research study so there is no cost to them to participate.  This will also allow for a greater diversity within the demographics of our participants since there will be no financial barrier to them. Stretch Goal #2: $50,000 Reaching stretch goal #2 would allow us to fully fund all 100 participants for the research study and complete the data collection much faster since there are less barriers to getting participants.  Any excess funds raised above our initial goal will be divided up among our participants to offset the cost as much as possible with the money raised.   When we first starting seeing these results in our patients, it made us so excited and hopeful that we may have found a way to help and empower women to have better deliveries and better recoveries!  Complications and trauma during childbirth has been shown to increase a woman's risk for pelvic floor dysfunction including painful intercourse, incontinence, and pelvic organ prolapse.  We thought that this type of treatment could help decrease that risk and help women have better long-term function without pelvic floor issues.  As we always say, pelvic floor dysfunction is common but not normal! By funding this research study, you could help the women in your life have less childbirth complications, a better recovery, and an improved beginning to their motherhood journey. For the last 3 years we've been working so hard to design this study and find a way to provide better prenatal care to women and now we need your help to spread the word about it!  We'd love if you shared with your friends, family, and anyone who might be interested.  Thank you so much!

La Ermita - a community space that matters In July of 2001, I quit my job as a hospital based speech-pathologist to open up my own community wellness center, borrowing $6000 from my parents to launch this venture. I developed and published my own unique "radical inclusion" centered therapy approach and immediately put it into practice, initially focusing on kids with autism spectrum disorders, adults with stroke and other traumatic brain injuries and teen agers who were struggling with depression and anxiety. In 2015, with the market saturated in Seattle and the cost of living more than I could sustain running the non-profit, I took the leap to move to the small rural community in Mexico where I had already been planting roots for almost ten years. When I arrived in the town in early 2006, I began to ask folks what support they needed for things like depression and anxiety. At that time, as I was still an outsider, I was met with lots of "we don't get depressed here," or "that's an American thing to worry about." But as I continued to cultivate my ties to the community, learning to speak fluent Spanish, beginning to teach English and offer small groups for mindfulness and movement, the community response began to shift. Pretty soon I had lots of people, and particularly women, asking me if I could help them with various physical ailments. But every single time, when they entered into the tiny backyard studio I had built, they immediately began to cry and talk about things like domestic violence, feeling trapped and isolated, alcoholism, the stressors of poverty, and yes, depression and anxiety, I kept my reach small for many years, wanting to ensure that I had the right reputation with the community, that I understood - as well as an outsider could - their particular concerns and struggles, and that if I built something bigger it would be embraced and utilized and not seen as simply a "gringo" thing. I continued offering free one on one sessions, and expanded to offering twice weekly free mindfulness groups. I started offering free Bedside Yoga sessions in people's homes to help alleviate suffering and isolation associated with chronic pain - most people here not even able to afford over the counter pain medications. After my sister died in October of 2019, I earned a small but significant sum of money for being the executor of her estate. Erin was always so encouraging and proud of everything I did, and in particular admired my capacity and passion for reaching the most vulnerable among us. It only made sense to me then, to invest all of the money I earned from her estate into this place that would also honor her. Last year, finally having a bit of start up funding, a secure ground and, more than anything, watching the rapid growth and gentrification of the town, with the most marginalized of the community being further pushed to the margins, I knew I had to do something, especially before someone else did - putting in a "yoga studio" or some other space that would feel inaccessible to my local friends.   The initial purchase of the land was approximately $22K and I have spent an additional $30K + of my own money to get us where we are. But the money has run out.  In order for me to complete the main ground level space, that will include a simple garden, an office/library/welcoming area and a bathroom, I need an additional $25,000. With this part of the project completed, I will be able to open this healing space to the local community at no charge. I will be able to offer workshops, classes and retreats to visitors at a fair price that will help to sustain the work we will do here together.Once the ground floor is fully established, I hope to be able to build a second floor that will include a small two bedroom apartment and a therapy room which will then create a 100% self-sustaining model so that I will be able to grow my reach and programs to support the community.   I have created several unique perks that I hope you will benefit from. I would love to have you come here and visit, to see and experience this place that you have helped to create, and to know that you have made a real difference in the lives of people who would otherwise never have access to the healing opportunities of La Ermita or a place like it!  If I do not reach my entire goal, I will continue to build little by little, investing all of my income over the next several years to see the project through to completion. In the meanwhile, I will use the main hall to offer individual therapy, group classes, arts opportunities, mindfulness and meditation groups, and weekly faith services to my local community. I will also use it to offer once monthly "free" thrift shops - asking tourists and "snowbirds" to donate unused or unwanted items to a centralized location for folks who are struggling financially to be able to get simple household items such as towels, sheets, dishes, clothing, books, tools and toys.  The Impact I have worked in community organizing and outreach and the healing arts, including clinical therapy for all of my professional life. I have a proven track record of making things happen. As I settle into my second half of life, I am becoming increasingly interested in small, personal impact over large programs.La Ermita is just that. We will offer free therapy and classes, as well as volunteer programs for people who are home-bound with critical or terminal illnesses and end of life care. We will provide a safe space for women of the community to gather and share and to know their own worth. We will offer a transformative, curative space which will allow people who otherwise don't have the means to even leave the pueblo to be able to experience a feeling of being transported beyond the limitations of poverty and lack of access. We will offer a space where kids can come and learn tools for self-regulation and valuing of self. We will replicate the experience of The Samarya Center, where all people feel invited, welcomed and celebrated. The best part is that you, as a donor, can come here and see it and experience it for yourself, and know that you helped to create this and see with your own eyes the changes you have made in the lives of people who desperately need these opportunities.   I have done this before and I can do it again. Please look at my press, the videos about what we accomplished at Samarya, and the short documentaries about the community we built together in Seattle. I have the experience, I have the passion, I have the capacity and I have a solid start.  Now I just need the funds. Please help to make La Ermita a reality. 

Short Summary Thank you for your interest in our campaign!  We are San Diego Seed Company, a small certified organic urban farm that produces bioregional seeds for Southern California and the American Southwest.  We have been in business since 2011  producing and selling organic garden and farm seed.  After all these years of running our business successfully, we have come to a crossroads where we need to improve our packaging for our customers and our retailers. We need to raise funds to create and print full-color industry-standard seed packs with print on front and back. This improvement will greatly increase our ability to educate our growers, gain more retail outlets and allow us to have a seat at the seed packet industry table.  After almost a decade of working to build our family-run small business this step would be monumental for our success in the decades to come.    What We Need & What You Get   We need $7,000 to cover the cost of packaging development and printing.  Complete costs below are: 5,400 for 120 varieties of labels 1K of each 750 for design work 2,500$ Copy write work By helping us create and print front and back packaging, you are helping us educate our customers, gain more retailers and spread the benefit of organically produced, bioregional seeds that are so important to sustainable agriculture.  Our goal is to cover the large upfront costs of the packaging makeover. Whatever funds we raise will be applied to this goal. Why should you contribute San Diego Seed Company educates growers all over the world about the importance of growing locally and sustainably. Our seed packet makeover will allow our customers to be more successful by providing more growing instructions on the packet.  This will allow for more small scale growers and gardeners to produce local food for their communities.  We have successfully managed our resources and contributed positively to our community with more than $5,000 dollars in seed donations to school and community gardens.    Other Ways You Can Help If you can't help monetarily with our goal, please try and help us in other ways. Spread the word about us and our campaign!

Who We Are Hi, we are Hunger’s Heroes. We are a group of undergraduate students from the University of Tennessee. Recently, many studies have been done showing that 1 in every 3 college students faces food insecurity. Having friends and knowing other students that deal with this issue, we are constantly reminded by how this issue not only impacts us college students, but the entire East Tennessee community. Having worked with food bank organizations in the past, we are all very passionate about solving the issue of hunger. Because of this, we are running this fundraising campaign to raise money for the non-profit Second Harvest. Second Harvest is a food bank that serves the hungry in the East Tennessee region. They partner with over 550 other non-profit organizations to help wage its war on hunger and poverty. Second Harvest serves 143,000 people on average every month. Our goal is to do our parts to end as much hunger in East Tennessee that we can.   What We Need & What You Get We plan on raising $1,000 for Second Harvest. This money is going to be going towards the Food for Kids Program. Many kids do not know where their next meal is going to come from. Many kids only get to eat at school. So what happens after school or on the weekends? This is where Second Harvest comes in. Raising money for this program will help feed a lot of hungry kids during out of school hours that might not get to eat otherwise.  If you donate, you will be able to choose from a variety of perks! Each perk has a monetary value attached to it. See what you can claim over on the right side of the page!   The Impact Hunger is a huge problem facing East Tennessee. According to Second Harvest, there are 167,020 people going hungry in East Tennessee right now. Not only that, but 1 in every 5 children are going hungry in East Tennessee. By donating to our campaign, you will be making a huge impact in the fight against hunger. Last year, their Food for Kids program served meals for 12,680 children weekly at 280 schools in the region. With your help, these children, and more, will no longer have to worry about where their dinner or weekend meals will come from. Every $1 donated to the Second Harvest cause translates into 3 meals that will be going towards a hungry child. $10 is enough to feed a child for a month. $100 is enough to feed a child for a year. So little can make such a big impact, but we can’t do this alone. That’s why we’re asking for your donation of any amount.   Risks & Challenges There are many risks and challenges that come along with running this campaign. One of these challenges can be reaching our goal. Raising $1,000 is very tough and it will be challenging to reach that goal in such a short amount of time. Another challenge we face is spreading awareness of our campaign in order to reach our $1,000 goal. We’ll be doing our best to get the word out, so see the other ways you can help down below!   Other Ways You Can Help If you are not able to donate to the campaign, don’t worry! There are other ways to contribute to fighting hunger. The Second Harvest organization has many different ways you can help, such as volunteering! Visit their site down below to see what else you can do to make a difference. Also, if you cannot donate, please share the campaign, using either social media or the Indiegogo share tools! Every bit of effort helps fuel the fight against hunger!

Overview My name is Carolina Contreras, a Dominican activist and social entrepreneur. Over 4 years ago we created Miss Rizos Salón, an afro-curly safe haven that empowers, celebrates and educates thousands of women, men and children in the Dominican Republic. Our curly hair salon is like no other and with your help we are bringing Miss Rizos Salón to New York City! Our communities are rapidly changing, bringing this space Uptown is a celebration of our culture, beauty and our entrepreneurial spirit. Our story  Five years ago, I decided to quit my job and move back to my native country of the Dominican Republic to honor my purpose and follow my calling.  I had an ambitious goal to eradicate discrimination on the basis of hair and change the way Dominicans saw themselves and each other. I wanted to do it by bringing to life missrizos.com, a curly hair blog I created in 2011 and turning it into Miss Rizos Salón, a place created to celebrate and empower us.  Thanks to the help of so many incredible people and all of my savings lol, in December of 2014 we opened the doors of Miss Rizos Salón in the Colonial Zone in Santo Domingo. We started with a team of 2 and we are now a team of 20! We see more than 500 women, men, and children every month and we’ve reached more that 5,000 little girls in all of the country.  Many of our clients fly from around the world, but specifically from New York City, to visit our salon. So, for years we’ve been anxiously awaiting this moment to finally bring our incredible service and love for curly hair to New York City! Although this all comes with an immense sense of fear and many questions, yet again, I’ve decided to do it afraid and together with an incredible team, make this idea come to life.  Our Impact Soy Niña Soy Importante For the past 4 summers we have been working with a girl’s summer camp in Miches called Soy Niña Soy Importante (I am a girl and I am important), reaching over 1,500 girls (ages 9-13). In collaboration with other activists and educators, we’ve created an incredible curriculum that teaches beauty, identity and empowerment to little girls through fun and interactive activities. We have trained Peace Corps Volunteers to do these same activities in their communities, reaching thousands of other girls.  In March of this year we were invited to a special event in Miches hosted by a group of 11 girls who graduated 1-3 years ago from the camp. They were inspired by the work we did and created a group called Curly Girls of Miches. They congregated nearly 40 other young adults from the community to share all they knew about curls. Thanks to the incredible work of the camp director, we will be able to now train these girls who range from 16-19 years old, so that they can become peer educators and volunteers at the summer camps starting this year. They also asked us to get them access to the school system there so that they could also teach about self-love and curly hair!  Curly Girl Comic Book: Super Rizadas  I realized that instead of complaining about the lack of representation in the media and all industries for that matter, I could create a superhero that looked like me. Dominican artist Nathalie Rodriguez helped me bring this incredible project into reality. I wrote a story about a little girl who wasn’t accepted in her classroom because of her hair, so a curly superhero read her the article in the constitution that protected her rights. We have free copies of these comics at Miss Rizos Salón and have distributed over 7,000 to children all around the country.   What we are bringing Uptown We are planning to bring a space that revolutionizes the way people see and think about our hair in our community. Miss Rizos Salón will offer everyday hair maintenance services, curly hair education, the best curly hair products and accessories for your hair. We will be your one stop shop for everything rizos! We grew up going to the salon, this being a hub for therapy, support and love amongst the women in our community. After deciding to return to our natural hair we often miss this feeling of walking in to a familiar space where we could disconnect from the everyday hustle and bustle of our lives. Miss Rizos Salón is this and so much more and we are so excited to open our doors to this new and vibrant community.  We plan to continue operating as a purpose driven business in New York and host fieldtrips to our salon, train our staff to give workshops at schools and organizations in the city, and offer fun and impactful initiatives for our community. Check out our incredible perks that will allow you to get our services at a special price, get personalized product recommendations, and give you the opportunity to give back to a little girl or an entire classroom! Don’t forget to share this with all your tías and primos please!  The big question of course is when we are opening, and although we want to do it this summer of 2019, we understand that things take time here. We will continue to work day and night but will also be patient as we go through these processes.  Why we need your help  Getting Miss Rizos Salón NYC up and running is easier said than done. We are not going to sugarcoat the incredibly challenging processes that we have lived in the past few months. When I tell you that our communities are changing, I mean it. Leases in the Washington Heights and Inwood area, where we plan to open, are incredibly high, licensing and other fees are also a nightmare.  Our salon in DR is still growing and could not support the financing of this project, and although we have some seed funding from an angel investor (who is also a Dominican woman by the way), we still need to raise funds for: Lease  Legal fees Licenses  Inventory Training Equipment + furniture Remodeling and so much more

Overview A social impact indoor cycling studio coming to Arlington, VA 2019 Good Sweat is an indoor-cycling studio opening in 2019 that will not only be the most motivating place to get your sweat on, but will also be the first social impact studio of its kind in the Washington DC area. Good Sweat will take your fitness to the next level with the newest bikes, best coaches, and most challenging rides. Plus, a percentage of every single purchase will be invested in the community (e.g., through donations to nonprofits, or hosting subsidized rides for those who lack resources).Our goal for this campaign is to raise $25,000 in 25 days! We must raise all $25,000 to get any of the donations and we will use the funds raised towards our stationary bikes and buildout to deliver the best indoor-cycling studio in the area. We found the perfect place for our flagship studio in Arlington, VA and this place has such potential! All it needs is some renovations, top of the line metered bikes, shower/locker area, kick-ass studio lighting, a boomin’ audio system...and this facelift will take time, money, and patience, but with your help, we know we can get there. So we're here today to ask you to join the Good Sweat movement by contributing!  I'm Ali, the founder and CEO of Good Sweat, and I want you to help kickstart our first studio. I came up with the idea for Good Sweat Studio while working as a local DC area nonprofit Executive Director by day and an indoor cycling instructor by night. I started thinking about so many social impact brands I supported (like Warby Parker), and the fact that none were specifically in the fitness industry (beyond one-off charity classes). After over 5 years of teaching indoor cycling in the DC area (all throughout my pregnancy too!), I realized I was onto something. My classes grew super popular, with waitlists on the regular...and I had built a community of loyal riders who all believe in the importance of getting that Good Sweat. Since the inception of Good Sweat, we have done two pop-up workouts, also known as “Good Sweat Seshes”, that have had over 100 attendees. In our online community we have over 500 followers standing behind Good Sweat before we’ve even opened. This Good Sweat movement has inspired people to get serious about fitness and make a difference in their local community. Help us reach our goal and raise enough to open our first studio in 2019! Every donation makes a difference, thank you for joining the Good Sweat movement. 

Overview Fillup is there to help you from: Feeling sluggish at work Running out of water in the middle of your flow Getting up in the middle of the night to refill your glass Cluttering up your home with lost reusable water bottles and missing caps With Fillup you will stay Hydrated in places you might get stuck. Minimalist design, premium construction in a Personal Water Tower for your office desk, bedroom, or conference room. Fillup keeps all-day hydration right at your fingertips. HYDRATION IS A SPONTANEOUS ACTIVITY. IF WATER IS AT YOUR FINGERTIPS, YOU DRINK. An always-there hydration system to help you drink small, consistent amounts of water all day long. Simply “Fillup” once per day & stay in your flow.   PERFECT FOR WATER ON YOUR DESK, OR FOR YOUR FAVORITE DRINK JUST ABOUT ANYWHERE.     DESIGNED TO STAY COOL FOR HOURS       CREATING FILLUP    Water regulates your body temperature and helps transport nutrients to give you energy and keep you healthy. It keeps our brain from having to struggle against the effects of dehydration, allowing us to think more clearly than if we let ourselves get dehydrated.     WHAT WE WANT TO SOLVE We were shocked to realize that a majority of office workers, our team included, are dehydrated at work… despite having easy access to clean drinking water. Essentially, we are choosing to stay heads-down in our work, ignoring our thirst, rather than keeping our bodies fluid for optimal performance.       WITH FILLUP, YOU CAN:     HOW IT WORKS   THE FILLUP STORY  In 2015, FluidStance launched the first-ever balance boards for standing desks. We pioneered the active work environment by integrating a modern aesthetic form with elegant function to create active movement. Now, we've taken what we've learned and created Fillup to move you, internally, by keeping you hydrated. We believe there is no better way to keep your body in motion and in good health than to stay hydrated. And to stay hydrated in our busy lives, we know that fingertip accessibility to water is essential. By placing more than a day’s worth of water next to you, your body will have the essential resources it needs to keep moving.   THE MAKING OF FILLUP FluidStance’s mission is to help set the world in motion. We worked without compromise to bring Fillup to you, so you can stay fluid, both inside and out.      

  Life tends to put us in difficult financial situations, these times come unexpectedly. In these moments we have to find a new source of income very fast, to resolve our temporary money issues. The problem is we don’t have the time to learn a new way or do in depth trainings to earn fast cash. The fastest solution is doing what you are already doing everyday. Gulsy has now made needing a quick income solution possible. Have you ever recommended great places for food, drinks, entertainment or vacations to anybody? Think about social media or Yelp... I'm sure a lot of you have. Have you ever been compensated for your recommendations? Probably not, right? With Gulsy, you could be making money every time you simply recommend a friend to one of your favorite places.  Keep sharing the places you love and now get paid for it! This is the cornerstone principle of Gulsy. It’s a new digital income platform app that allows you to make money from sharing places you love and even get discounts to the places you already go. The people you refer will also receive large discounts or free items. Gain a new stream of revenue without spending hours a day trying to do it - just keep doing what you have already been doing all your life and now get PAID for it. Think of our App as the “digital word-of-mouth” payment platform.  Our goal is to provide members with large discounts, encourage them to accumulate Gulsy Coins quickly and create an opportunity for anyone that will create an additional income they will be proud of.  No Selling No inviting strangers to your house No buying lotions/potions/products to take up space – No inventory! No large down lines needed to make money No monthly membership costs There is nothing to sell, simply share!     Members are customers who sign up as members and then benefit by receiving large discounts on their purchases. When they share Gulsy with other potential members they receive Gulsy coins. These G-Coins can be used to purchase products/services from stores on our platform.     As an approved Affiliate Partner, our system gives you the ability to obtain true passive income, without having to sell anything. You will receive a commission every time you sign up new businesses, new affiliate partners and new members. Gulsy is already fully operational and you can start making money right now. Here’s how: Sign Up New Businesses - For all business owners, advertising on Gulsy is Free and that's why there are simply no sales. Just ask your favorite places if they would like more customers/clients. When the business signs up on our platform, you will receive commission from each Gulsy member that makes a purchase at that business. Sign up New Affiliate Partners - receive a commission upon signing up new affiliate partners, you will receive commissions on all of their Gulsy activity. Just ask your friends if they want to earn money by recommending their favorite places and products!  Sign Up New Members  - receive a commission Upon signing up new members you will receive commissions on all of their Gulsy activity. It’s very easy to sign up! Affiliate Partners have the ability to purchase an Affiliate Membership for coins and resell to another individual for money. Every month when you achieve the top 20% status as an Affiliate Partner, you qualify to exchange Gulsy Coins you earned that month for money.  Refer a business who buys a Loyalty Club package and earn 20% of the contract and receive a commission every time a member of the club uses Gulsy.  The more you share the app to sign up others that will personally use our platform, the more Gulsy Coins you receive and the more money you can potentially make! Gulsy is a true loyalty system platform that creates reliable additional income quickly and easily! Simply open the Gulsy App and create your account. Once you start we want you to know that it’s not just an opportunity, it is an investment in you and your family’s future. You are becoming a part of the Gulsy Team at the ground floor of the expansion into the United States! How slow or fast you build your business and how much money you want to make, is based on your actions and your recommendations. Your success is extremely important to us and all of us at Gulsy want you to achieve the goals you have set for yourself to reach the level of success that fits your dreams. We are giving you the opportunity plus the road map to get there!!   Read through our Indiegogo campaign and decide that Gulsy fits your needs and your future goals. If you have any questions feel free to email us, a team member will respond with answers to your questions. Riley@Gulsy.com   Read through the perks options we have available. Our goal is to help you be successful with any package you choose. Here are a few questions to think about before you choose one... How fast do I want to grow my Gulsy business? How much money would I like to generate with Gulsy business? How easy will it be for me to invite my circle of friends and family to join me?   Select and purchase one of our perks packages and after the purchase is confirmed, you will receive a welcome email letter with a link to set up a personal phone call with one our Professional Trainers. The strategy call will answer any further questions you may have and discuss how quickly you want to build your business and set up goals.  If you believe you can do more and BE more than you are now, jump on board with us, and we'll work together and profit together. You are in control of how far and how fast you will grow with us. Most importantly, we want you to be happy with decision of joining our family. We will be there to support you every step of the way. However, it is up to you and your actions and commitment that will help you reach your goals. Everybody who purchases any package on our Indiegogo Campaign will personally receive a strategy call by one of our trainers to answer all of your questions & set up your personal strategy. Join us!           Monetary compensations - Affiliate Partners are distributed as two separate streams. First Stream: 1. When an Affiliate-Partner adds a business to Gulsy platform, able to receive 20% monetary commission from each visit of any Gulsy member.  2. Their up-line will receive 10% commission. Second Stream: 1. When an Affiliate adds any member, the affiliate will receive 20% from any member’s visit. 2. When an Affiliate signs another affiliate will receive 10% from each of his visits Third Stream: 1. Gulsy Affiliate Partners you’re able to earn immediate cash by buying a new membership for your Gulsy Coins (GLPs) and selling it right away to anyone who’s interested. * 20% of the commission amount that’s paid to Gulsy goes to managers’ pool to be paid out as additional bonuses according to performance. All monetary commissions are paid out on a monthly basis.       Gulsy is for anyone looking to save money, make a little extra money or wants to achieve financial freedom. Are you a college student who needs a little extra to get by until finishing school?  Or, maybe you are a single mom who is looking for a way to pay the bills? What about if you are retired? That extra income can put your mind at ease and let you enjoy retirement. Perhaps you are an entrepreneur who has a million-dollar dream. Do you have a lot of friends, colleagues and contacts? Invite them into Gulsy and challenge each other to see who can invite the most people. You will all win!   Regardless of where or who you are in life, Gulsy is for you. Remember, there are No Sales, you can Make Money Right Away, do what you have been doing all your life and now Get Paid for it. We have made it so simple that everyone can benefit from our platform. If you can use a smartphone, you can earn with Gulsy!  The more you personally use our platform and share the app to sign up others, the more Gulsy Coins you receive and the more money you can put into your pocket.  Gulsy is a true loyalty system that creates reliable additional income quickly and easily!                       You can receive discounts at any business that is registered on the Gulsy platform. Visit and make purchases at Restaurants, Hotels, Clothing Stores, Dentists, Automotive Shops, Hotels, Bars, Medical Centers, and more!  Think of pretty much any place of business you use and with your help, Gulsy will be there.        (Note: Actual Images/Discounts From The Gulsy App.)                                         The feedback and growth we have been experiencing in Mexico and Europe has now allowed us to start this new expansion in the United States. This new digital platform has opened the door for convenient way to establish a reliable and trustworthy income with just your smartphone. The goal is to make it so simple and yet powerful and effective, that anyone can use Gulsy to supplement or even replace their income. We truly believe we have achieved that goal, and we are now looking to the future. Within the next 12 months we plan to have our presence in the major cities of each of the 50 States and from there we will start to expand more into other countries. The projections for next 3-5 years have Gulsy being Global across the World! Are you ready to join us?   We recently engaged the Sheffield Marketing Group, an independent leader in the industry for over 20 years, who has worked with and helped develop several billion-dollar companies including Amway, Isagenix, Shaklee, among others, to work with our platform. They provided us with an independent analysis for projections and a worst-case scenario for our expansion model. We have included a summary of the analysis below. Over the last several years the consistent trend of successful IPOs (Initial Public Offering) and private start-ups were focused in the technology sector and specifically in Digital Platforms, such as: Uber, Lyft, Airbnb and others. The reasons for these trends are obvious due to the exponentially increasing reliance on technology in every part of our lives. The value of these platforms will only increase and become more and more of an everyday necessity.     "I had the chance to invest in Uber in the early days and I passed it up — twice. My friends, Travis and Garrett, started the company, and I still didn't invest! The ride-sharing company started as a side hustle and they hired someone else to run it, so I didn't think they were going to make it." "Had I invested $25,000 in Uber, like I did with many other companies, the value would have reached $300 million a few years ago. I regret not investing in the company, but I'm also glad the market punched me in the face. I deserved it — and I'm even more driven now because of it. That's why I grab every opportunity I can." — Gary Vaynerchuk,founder and CEO of VaynerXfive-time New York Times bestselling author of "Crushing It!" Mark Cuban also passed on investing in Uber early. Investors said Uber would never succeed outside of San Francisco, Los Angeles, and NYC. Now, they eat their words. Uber recently launched in Kenya, Africa and is in nearly 500 cities in over 75 countries. The investors didn't underestimate the idea, they underestimated the founders. The same happened with Brian Chesky, co-founder of Airbnb. Chesky received seven rejection letters from seven prominent VCs when Airbnb tried to raise $150,000 in exchange for 10% of the company. Airbnb is valued at $30 billion at the time of this writing. That $150,000 investment would have been worth $3 billion today. Chesky even published the rejection letters as motivation for other founders.   Each individual Indiegogo contribution will boost Gulsy into reaching these estimated projections even faster. When Gulsy grows and expands, your Gulsy business will continue to grow faster & faster. Help fund any needed upgrades to our app/website in order to provide the best user experience possible. Allow Gulsy to do additional marketing/advertising to expand across the United States ensuring we have the necessary strategy and people in place to handle rapid growth.   Onboard qualified Gulsy Personal Mentors to provide 1 on 1 training to all Affiliate Partners. This is key to your success and the success of Gulsy.   Provide the necessary funds to create our own lead pool in our efforts to distribute quality leads to the active Affiliate Partners. We want to reward the Affiliate Partners who are working hard. Creates funds to add more benefits for all Gulsy Members, Affiliate Partners & Businesses.     We will be there to help you every step of the way to help your business. Our way of thinking is that when we help you WIN, we WIN. Your contribution is very important to the success of Gulsy. We invite you to join us now. Please do not hesitate to contact us with any questions.

UKT Products is fully committed to providing excellence in product performance and functionality. Drawing on our experience in product development, engineering, design and production. We aim to provide our customers with the highest quality and most innovative cat toy in the marketplace and to push the limits of progress in the pet toy industry. The Ultimate Kat Toy combines a uniquely designed retractable zip line with an endless amount of lure options to constantly create new challenges as often as you so desire. In addition to all of the positive benefits this toy brings to your home, it can also help eliminate (or prevent from occurring) destructive behaviors that often plague the homes of bored cats. Responsible cat owners can say goodbye to aggressive and destructive behavior, anxiety and/or compulsive cat behavior by including The Ultimate Kat Toy  in their cat's life. The Ultimate Kat Toy will leave your cat relaxed, stress free and satisfied and more closely bonded and thankful to call you his or her owner.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                         The Ultimate Kat Toy makes sure your furry friend never gets bored and is engaging for you as well as your pet.   A portion of our profits will be  donated to "Australia Zoo Wildlife Warriors" to help support the legacy of Steve Irwin and his family who have already saved over 90,000 animals during the Bushfire Emergency that is ongoing. Additionally, here at home we will also support spay and neuter programs to assist local shelters nationwide.     If you believe in what we’re doing here, please lend a hand to turn The Ultimate Kat Toy  into reality and help keep us moving forward – THANK YOU for your contribution. Assembly and Quality Control checks will be done in San Pedro, Ca. USA.   BELIEVE IN US We're fully confident in our ability to deliver and understand that backing a crowdfunding campaign requires placing your trust in the creator's expertise and track-record to deliver. We know you'll be pleasantly surprised. If this is your first time supporting a crowdfunding campaign we give you a  heartfelt THANK YOU for joining us on our journey toward success.  In order to keep the unit pricing low, we request your support to help offset the costs necessary  to afford a large-scale order entering production. Placing a larger order will allow us to keep the price of parts down and will result in the lowest per unit cost which will allow us to pass the savings on to our supporters and Cat Lovers worldwide. We are confident that as soon as this campaign ends, we will be able to manufacture, ship and distribute The Ultimate Kat Toy without delay. By supporting us now, you’ll get to own one of the very first-edition products off of the line, plus access to exclusive updates on our company's growth and direction, while also providing us with valuable feedback that will shape future generations of the product. Here are some of the benefits. Promotes good health through exercise Creates a better bonding between owners and cats Encourages positive behavior and reduces or eliminates negative behavior Stimulates cat's natural predatory instincts Improves cat's motor skills Indoor and outdoor use   The Ultimate Kat Toy:  Absolutely The Best Interactive Cat Toy Available Today Simply said, The Ultimate Kat Toy is the premiere interactive Cat toy available today. Created to encourage a healthy, happy pet and discourage destructive behavior, our team has come up with a must-have for cat owners worldwide. As the only zip-line remote control operated cat toy on the market, The Ultimate Kat Toy  will captivate your cat's attention and keep you and your furry friend engaged with endless entertainment. Utilizing a uniquely designed zip- line technology, this innovative approach to utilizing interactive play by partnering pet with owner not only creates important bonding but, strengthens the cat's overall health by encouraging positive physical, mental and emotional well being.  Please note: This product is trademarked and is currently patent-pending. Therefore, copycats (pun intended) are warned not to infringe by posting replicas on Amazon or any other platform. Watch Tipp's cute little body move as she chases the lure. The Ultimate Kat Toy is an interactive cat toy engineered to make your cat healthy and happy by focusing on the importance of both physical and mental stimulation. Designed by cat lovers for cat lovers, this toy will help satisfy your pet's natural instincts while also providing important bonding time between you and your precious feline friend. Rudy has some pretty fancy moves for a polydactyl cat. This little kitten Stormy is having some Kat Toy fun. Pucky loves to play outside with his Ultimate Kat Toy. Cats love using the pouncing technique. The Ultimate Kat Toy stimulates your cat’s natural predatory instincts, stimulating muscles and senses. Our specially designed retractable line let you add an endless amount of lures to engage any cat for hours on end.  The Ultimate Kat Toy will leave them calmer, relaxed and stress free!  The end result is a happier and healthier cat! Pirouette kitty is doing Fifth position en Haut ballet stance.

Overview Hi, we’re Edwin, Benson, Mabel, Michael, and Michael–the partners behind Boulder Parc. We’re so excited to bring to you Scarborough’s first climbing gym. After years of dreaming, designing and planning, we’re going to be opening our doors in just shy of 2 months! We’re inviting you to back us and help make Boulder Parc a unique experience crafted by the community. We want you to be a part of building something that exemplifies all of the remarkable things the sport of climbing has to offer. A space for the community We want to create a sense of belonging for new climbers, v10+ crushers, and everyone in-between. Our 15,000 sqft space features 5,000 sqft of bouldering, lounge areas, study/working space and coffee for you to enjoy. It's a place where you will meet the friendliest people, experience the best climbs; honestly, this is going to be one of the best climbing gyms in Ontario (... Canada... the world!).       The Space     Design of the wall Taking inspiration from climbing gyms around the world, we’ve carefully designed our climbing walls to be both accessible for beginners and challenging for professional climbers. A tapestry of verts, slabs, 15 to 75-degree angles, you'll be able to find all types of routes to climb. These angles are crraaaazyyyy!       Training for competitive athletes We’re building an innovative and exciting training space, providing high-level coaching for athletes who want to break into the international scene. We're running a competitive youth team, development team, competitive adult team, and a bunch of fitness and climbing programs. These are photos to illustrate training and such, not our actual training facility :).     Coffee, lounge, study, and work Our space is designed for students and working adults who need to study and get work done. We're building an open space concept for you to meet and make new friends; or if you want to have a little quiet time, we have semi-private booth seating as well... with solid WiFi of course. (The photos below are all stock photos, just to illustrate what we are working towards)     What you get: Discounted Passes & MembershipsPre-sale pricing for our day pass, 10 punch pass, monthly & annual membership!   Stickers!!As part of connecting with local creatives, Justin Yu offered to design some stickers for our crowdfunding campaign! We love these stickers, hope you do too!   Founders Edition Tank TopThis is our exclusive design just for Indiegogo! It's our way of thanking you for supporting us on this pre-sale campaign.   Learn how to route set with Jason DionisioThis is a rare opportunity to learn the ins and outs of route setting with Ontoro's owner/route setter Jason Dionisio. You'll learn all the basics of setting a boulder problem.   Of course, we are committed to giving you weekly updates on our progress!*All perks will be available for pick-up on our opening day and onward.   Meet the partners We are all driven by a desire to create an inclusive community. We are about empathy, honesty, respect, kindness, and humility. Our goal is to serve all of you to build up the sport that we love so much. Here are the faces behind Boulder Parc:   Join us in launching a world-class climbing gym We are at the 90% completion mark of our project, we need your help for the last 10%. That’s why we are asking the community who believe in our vision to back our project. In return, you’ll get early access to our gym and a whole lot of other swag and discounted membership offerings.

Overview Blue Market AK is Anchorage's first “unpackaged” refill store. Concerned by plastic waste filling our oceans and landfills, we wish to guide a shift to sustainable and earth-friendly purchasing habits by minimizing waste, shopping locally, giving back, and eliminating single-use plastics. The mostly locally-made perks will give you a taste of the quality of items we will carry. This campaign will help us stock our Little Blue Market Cart and pop-up this summer and fall, and open in spring 2020. The Blue Market Concept Blue Market AK is committed to introducing and making convenient an earth-conscious "unpackaged" refill shopping experience that will encourage a simpler, mindful approach to shopping.  Our little blue market cart  already carries a sampling of household and personal products in bulk that we will provide at our brick and mortar store in 2020 (note bulk food items will also be available at our store).  You can find us at farmers markets and pop-ups starting August 2019. Blue Market AK employs the  REFILL model of shopping to support the“4 R’s” of a mindful consumer: REFUSING single-use plastics, REDUCING, REUSING and RECYCLING.   We also contribute 1% of proceeds back to a different environmental cause every month.   We believe in taking steps to change purchasing habits, and we believe that people want to participate in change. We provide earth-friendly products, each one vetted by us to ensure vendors' transparency based on their impact to the planet, ethical production and business practices. You will save money by reusing containers you already have, produce less waste by avoiding single-use-plastics, and feel good about contributing to a local business that gives back. You will refill containers from bulk bins and liquids on tap, instead of adding to that drawer of bags and containers in your kitchen.   This will be the first neighborhood market in Anchorage that carries a spectrum of goods emphasizing eco-friendly shopping, all in one location (fresh local market produce, food and cooking items, personal care products, household cleansers, and gifts that are locally-made whenever possible).    Our Vision for the Brick and Mortar By backing us during this campaign, we will be able to secure a location for a brick and mortar retail spot.  The atmosphere will be intimate, inviting, bright and uncluttered. We will be pedestrian and bike friendly. We will offer free on-site and electronically available information that contain tips about how to affordably become earth-conscious shoppers and eaters, and how to reduce our own carbon footprints. Space will be available for meetings, group discussions, community gatherings, or just hanging out. The carefully curated selection of products reduces the number of choices and addresses shopping-overload anxiety that bigger stores with hundreds of brands can produce.  You will shop with confidence knowing each product meets the Blue Market standards of sustainability. You will keep single use plastics out of the landfills and water-ways. You can change the course of our ocean's and earth's future by helping us get started.   Our Goals Raise at least $30,000 to grow our business beyond the little blue market cart: this amount matches what each of our Founders has committed, in addition to their time, to make Blue Market AK a reality. Each $30,000 covers approximately 1 month of retail store overhead.  If we reach our funding goal we can recoup the start-ups costs associated with the business and the little blue market cart and stock our shelves for the opening of a brick and mortar store.  If we exceed our fundrasiing goal, funds will go into the store build-out and additional start-up costs.  All proceeds  from this campaign and the little blue market cart go directly back into the business.  We will not take any salary until 2020 and do not anticipate making any profit until the store front opens.  Reduce the garbage in the ocean: minimal to no plastic packaging, minimal waste, compostable, eco-friendly, fair trade, locally made, good quality and not too many choices Improve shopping by slowing down: friendly atmosphere Benefit the customer: guilt-free shopping, connection to a community, friendly environment, peaceful moments in a hectic day, healthy, contributing to a solution, easy access to schools, work, larger grocery stores. Problem solved: Customers will not have drawers full of plastic bags, will no longer be contributing to the landfills or to ocean pollution.  Items that are normally available only online or disbursed locations will be available here.  Risks & Challenges People are used to quick-fix disposable shopping solutions (like plastic water bottles and plastic shopping bags).  It will take time, patience and kindness to break through this habit that we have gotten used to.   Other Ways You Can Help Some people just can't contribute, but that doesn't mean they can't help: Get the word out and make some noise about this campaign. Use the Indiegogo share tools! Volunteer at the Little Blue Market Cart or donate services to get the store up and running And that's all there is to it.  Perks 1.      $25 - RIDE THE WASTE LESS WAVE *AWESOME BAG* (Limit 100) blue market tote bag invite to an exclusive perk (re)fill house-party   2.    $75 - REFILL, NOT LANDFILL *MEMBERSHIP* (Limit 100) #1 perks 1  hand-pump that fits on standard wide-mouth jar  one-year  “supporter” membership, starting August 1, 2019 (10% off all purchases, including market cart and pop-up sales)   3. $125 - SEA OF SUPPORT SAMPLER *PUNCH CARD*  (Limit 150) #1 perks  #2 perks Punch card for five FREE 8 oz fill-ups before January 2020.  We will have at least 10 offerings on our market cart  4.  $150 - HOME IS WHERE THE START IS *HOUSEHOLD KIT* (Limit 50) #1 perks #2 perks Household Minimize Waste starter Kit  - Alaska made, except where noted 2 beeswax wraps bar soap Dropps dish soap  or laundry soap (x5) in repurposed jar (made in USA) wool dryer ball 5.   $200 - KEEP THE SAND OUT OF YOUR SANDWICH *LUNCHBOX KIT* (Limit 50) #1 perks #2 perks Lunch Waste-Less Starter kit• Stainless steel lunch box• utensils• local made sandwich bag;• local made zipper pouch for straw and utinsels• stainless-steel straw • water bottle   6. $500 - OCEANS OF GRATITUDE *YOUR NAME ON THE WALL* (Limit 50) #1 perks  #2 perks #3 perks  Your name on the wall of gratitude and grand-opening party invitation   7.  $1000 - CHANGING TIDES AT HOME *CONSULTATION*  (Limit 10) All of the above, including personal delivery of the starter kits  2-hour “minimizing waste” home consultation (If you live outside Anchorage Municipality, kits will be shipped and consultation will be via video-chat)   8. $2500 - SETTING SAIL FOR SUSTAINABLE WATERS *LIFETIME MEMBERSHIP* (Limit 10) All of the above Your picture or business logo or a quote on the wall of gratitude “Lifetime” Membership (10% off for lifetime of the store--not transferable)   9. $5000 - HOOK LINE AND SINKER *PERSONAL SHOPPER & PARTY*  (Limit 10) All of the above PLUS VIP treatment that includes: Once a month grocery delivery to your doorstep for one year A “mystery gratitude gift” with every delivery (samples, new products) 2 spots at  private VIP-only  dinner-party  unveiling of our store, prior to the public opening

Lincoln Park In Crisis The Lincoln Park Craft District was a neighborhood on the move.  But March 2020 changed everything. The coronavirus pandemic shuttered dozens of small businesses and put hundreds out of work. It also put many Lincoln Park residents into a financial squeeze.As the owners of the OMC Smokehouse, Duluth Grill, Corktown Deli, and Noble Pour, we had to lay off 200 people when the governor ordered us to shut down. At this point, we only have two choices: Give up and quit or do something big. So let's do something big. We're asking for your help with three things: Pre-purchase a copy of our OMC Cookbook to help get people back to work. Buy gift cards to support other small businesses with desperately needed cash. Support Lifting Lincoln Park to give direct help to neighbors in need. This isn't a handout, it's an investment in the future. We--the small businesses, makers, and creatives of Lincoln Park--will be crafting something great again as soon as the pandemic lifts. But we need you to help. What We Need & What You Get This crisis has uniquely and disproportionately affected restaurants, taprooms, cideries, and ice cream shops: aka a HUGE part of Lincoln Park. So our project has three goals. We want to crowdsource our new OMC Cookbook. As an institution, the OMC supports not just our hourly workers in the front and back of the house, but also dozens of other businesses: the farmers, butchers, and growers we buy our ingredients from, the local breweries we buy beer from, the creatives working on the book, the tradespeople working on our building, etc. The book will come out in September 2020! Secondly, we want to fund other local businesses. By buying a gift card to one of our neighboring restaurants or other craft businesses, you're funding them during a downtime so they can prosper when business is back. Each of these businesses is also part of a web of other businesses. Collectively hundreds if not thousands of people are employed because of these businesses. The third piece is direct impact giving. Lifting Lincoln Park is a "charity of charities" and funnels money to neighborhood relief projects. More About The Book Suddenly, we find ourselves with plenty of time to sit and write the book we've always wanted. We're going to have it to you by September 2020! We're bringing back the author and designer from the Duluth Grill Cookbook and the Duluth Grill Cookbook II ("The Duluth Grill Strikes Back"), with some assistance from the photographer too! It should be pretty good, is what we're saying. Here's a sneak preview: Stories What does BBQ mean? Community-family-fire-food low and slow History and why OMC- Joe Slack, learning in TX, lucky trip to set it up What's in a name? OMC What makes good smoking wood? Soft, hard, sweet hard smoke What makes a smoker? Types out there? What works at home? Slow and low- what makes it taste so good? Why? Sauces Classic Honey BBQAlabama WhiteChipotle Cilantro14 ESB Mustard SauceMalt Vinegar AioliRanchBlue CheeseBalsamic VinaigretteCarolina GoldNashville Hot SauceJalapeño BusinessKorean BBQCountry GravySoba Noodle DressingHot Brown GravyTomato JamCran Rhubarb JamCheese Sauce Rubs CatfishPorkBrisketChickenHot Chicken Sides Candied Sweet PotatoMac and CheeseBacon Blue Cheese potato SaladCheese Jalapeño GritsClassic coleslawPeas and pancettaCollard greensElotesOMC BeansJalapeno Lime Slaw Proteins CatfishBrisketPork bellyPulled porkRibsBurgersChickenChicken tendersSalmonVeggie Sloppy JoeChicken WingsTurkeyDessertsToffee Bund CakeHummingbird CakeWhoopie PiesCorn breadCarmel Beer Sauce Cocktails/Drinks OMC Old FashionedKentucky Gold RushMargaritaVodka LemonadeN/A LemonadeBloody Marie Sandwiches- left overs Bama Brisket WrapSmoked Salmon WrapNorthern PrideZip a dee do daKorean BBQ pork belly sandwichHaystack BrisketBrisket and cheddarNashville hot chickenHenny PennyGeorgia GoldTurkey Stacker Composed dishes from menu OMC TacosPork n GritsLoaded Mac and cheeseKentucky Hot brownBiscuits and gravyBurrito Bowl Appetizers Pork belly lettuce wrapsJalapeño brisket bombsQuesadillaSuper nachosSmoked salmon pimento dip Pickles JalepeñosOnionsCorn Bacon Relish Transparency We know it's a tough time and every dollar counts. So we pledge to be fully transparent where your money is going. You already know $25 is going to the OMC Cookbook, $15 is going to a Lincoln Park business of your choice, and $10 is going to Lifting Lincoln Park. But we'll keep you updated on the details: How much was raised for Lincoln Park businesses and how many cards to each business were issued. How the book is coming along (you'll get it in September, but progress photos can be fun!) Other Ways You Can Help Maybe you just can't contribute, but that doesn't mean you can't help: Please get the word out and make some noise about this campaign. Maybe you could convince your brother-in-law to donate? He loves the OMC. Don't forget to use the Indiegogo share tools! And that's all there is to it.

Enna Chocolate is moving to Exeter and needs your support! Our dream of having a large production space that is part bean-to-bar chocolate factory and part cafe with retail space is within reach!  We have found the perfect space in Exeter (hello neighborhood!) and our build-out has begun. The Covid-19 pandemic has slowed us down a bit but it won't stop us. Your help in this final push is needed more than ever so we can scale up production and say a big hello to all our new visitors in Exeter. Some Background In 2015 while working as a food photographer I learned that I could make chocolate at home. With a small investment of about $300 I bought a tabletop grinder, ordered a few pounds of fermented dried cocoa beans and started teaching myself the process. After months of trial and error I finally started getting the results I wanted and I started sharing my chocolate with the chefs I was doing food photography for. The chefs wanted to buy some. So I got a license to make chocolate for sale from our home kitchen. Chocolate requires a LOT more space than what's available in the typical home kitchen, so after I started receiving more orders than I could fulfill in that tiny space, my husband Matt and I built a production kitchen in Epping in 2017. Epping has provided a wonderful startup home for our business, and we will forever be grateful to the Epping community for their support and enthusiasm. However, Enna Chocolate is now bursting at the seams at the current location and we need room to grow! Building the Dream We love sharing our adventure that is chocolate, and we want to offer a broader chocolate experience to our customers than what is possible in our current space. So we have leased a new space in Exeter NH and we'll be able to expand our customer experience in the following ways: EXPANDED chocolate tasting and retail area with a coffee bar. A 6x6 foot glass viewing window so that visitors can watch the chocolate production process from the retail space. BEVERAGES! We are SO excited to add coffee, espresso, and DRINKING CHOCOLATE to our offerings, plus a few other cacao related refreshments. Have you ever tried fresh cacao juice? Yum!  A COMMUNITY SPACE ~ before there were coffee houses, did you know that the world's great cities had chocolate houses? Our 'chocolateria' will be a welcoming and inspiring place for all to gather. We LOVE the conversations and connections that are inspired by our chocolate craft, and we are very excited to offer a bigger and better space for these special interactions to happen. We love sharing our chocolate journey with others, and hope you'll join us on this latest phase of our adventure! What We Need & What You Get We are seeking to raise at least $25,000. This will help us outfit the cafe with an espresso machine and all the accoutrements necessary to serve our favorite cacao, coffee, and tea beverages.  If we surpass our initial funding goal, we have a really special "stretch goal" in mind.  In our previous Indiegogo campaign we learned that the most desired perk was CHOCOLATE. So this time around we're again offering our most popular chocolate perks, but we're also offering some fun cafe perks, and of course some very nifty swag. What if we don't meet our funding goal? We are moving to Exeter no matter what. If we don't meet the initial funding goal, we will build the cafe service portion of our move in a later phase. What if we surpass our funding goal? We have a couple of "stretch" goals for our fundraising campaign. $25,000 = Rock & Roll Goal ~ Our initial goal will help us crank out our buildout, including coffee & espresso & drinking chocolate equipment $30,000 = Nest Egg Goal ~ this will give us just a little bit of cushion so we can breath easier during the uncertainty brought to the months ahead of us by the Covid-19 pandemic. $40,000 = Gussy Up Goal ~ If we surpass our initial goal by a LOT, we're excited to finally design custom moulds for our chocolate bars (we've been anxious to upgrade from the generic grid-bar design).  Matt has lovingly restored the antique tin ceiling... the paint in this picture is primer ~ we can't wait for you to see the actual paint color that we chose! Small Business, Worth Supporting Fine chocolate made from heirloom cacao saves rainforest, supports farmers, and tastes amazing! Each cacao variety that we source is entirely traceable, fair and ethically produced, organic, and packed with fine flavor. Enna Chocolate is a bootstrap startup. We will be doing most of the construction ourselves - which is quite in line with Enna's self-taught chocolate-making background, and her husband /business-partner Matt's custom woodworking and fine art skills. We successfully met our goal in our previous (2016) Indiegogo fundraiser, thanks to the generous support of family, friends, neighbors, and fellow chocolate lovers.  Risks & Challenges We have doubled our production & revenues every year since starting in our home kitchen. We are confident that with our continued dedication to quality and fine flavor, there's no place to go but up. Before COVID-19 the biggest challenge we faced was lack of a space to showcase our chocolate product and create the kind of experience that we wish for our customers to have. We are confident that we'll get through the COVID-19 pandemic, along with our fellow small business owners, and that we'll be able to continue to focus on our mission to make and share fine chocolate with our community and with the world.  If we don't meet our funding goal, we are still moving forward with our move. If we don't meet our funding goal our plan is to roll out cafe service within a year.  The impact of COVID-19 on our business and on this fundraiser It has never been more important to support local businesses. In recent weeks we've had to shift the focus of our product sales from mostly direct in-store sales and wholesale to mostly online orders. We are grateful for the customers who until how have shopped for our chocolate at farmers markets and in other small stores (many of which are closed or only doing limited hours and operations) are continuing to support our business by shopping from us online. In addition, our partnership with Three Rivers Farm Alliance has introduced our chocolate to a whole new market.  Online orders prepared for shipment. Online sales are an area of our business we've been wanting to invest more time and energy in, so the irony of this moment is not lost on us!  The COVID-19 pandemic threw a big curveball at our buildout, as we carefully planned this project for the months of March and April.... and then the virus happened. We must limit the number of contractors who are working in the space at one time, and we've had to decline all of the generous offers of help from family and friends who were going to help us with different elements of the construction and the move: maintaining social distance is of utmost importance. Despite this, Matt has accomplished a TON of the construction by himself, and we have some really wonderful contractors who are able to continue working on a one-at-a-time schedule. While Matt works on the new space, Enna continues to manufacture and deliver her chocolate orders. Chocolate manufacturing will continue, and when we finally CAN open the doors to welcome customers into our new space in Exeter, our business can only expand. After all, the world needs chocolate! Other Ways You Can Help We understand that some people just can't contribute, but that doesn't mean you can't help: Please share our campaign with your family and friends.  You may use and share tools to post on facebook or by email.  Shop for our chocolate!

Thanks to community support, we are now almost halfway toward our goal of raising $17,820 to set up a Refugee Emergency Assistance Fund. Can you please help us reach that goal? Thanks to an anonymous donor, your gift will be doubled!  Interfaith Ministries has been serving refugees for over 30 years. They are our neighbors and friends. Many work in hourly jobs that have been affected by the COVID-19 outbreak, and they are suffering from lost or reduced wages. Our emergency fund will help them cover rent and childcare during this critical time, until they can get back on their feet.

Our mission is to remove at risk cats from shelters and in to forever homes. Our hope is that Namastray will help to shape the future of animal rescue and adoption as we know it.   Other ways you can help:    If you believe in our mission and want to help - share this crowdfunding campaign with your friends, your family, and especially on social media!     Summary:    We have combined our concern for animal welfare and the love for human wellness to present to you Namastray, a 501(c)(3) Nonprofit Cat Rescue & Lounge.    Overpopulation and limited resources are still a major concern everywhere. In fact, 70% of cats who enter a shelter do not make it out alive. Namastray is a cat rescue that will save cats and kittens from shelters who are considered at risk for euthanasia. Shelters can be very stressful for a homeless pet, and many are unable to thrive in that environment. This is our call to action.      Logistics:     Operating in the form of a lounge, Namastray will offer a relaxing environment to hang out with the adoptable cats. Our lounge will serve as a foster home while our team works to find placement for all of the cats in our care. A zen space free of cages allows guests to interact with the cats in a natural setting.     We will offer a variety of services such as yoga, meditation, sound baths, and workshops that will benefit the humans and felines.     Cats are a healing species, their purrs fluctuate between 20-140 Hz, a frequency range that is proven to be medically therapeutic. We are building a sanctuary dedicated to promoting healing and compassion, and it is only possible because of humans like you who are willing to give these cats a second chance at life.   Our goal is to help you achieve inner peace while providing the cats with socialization and stimulation. We bring our love of self-care and pet-care together in the hopes of building some “furever” friendships.     We sincerely thank you for visiting this page and supporting our mission. Your donation will change the lives of animals in need. The more funds Namastray is able to raise, the better the environment we can create for the cats and for you!     Donations will be used for: -Securing and leasing a location -Construction to comply with CA zoning laws and renovations to ensure cat safety: flooring, painting, drywall, etc.  -HVAC update and specialized air filtration -Licensing and permits  -Hygiene supplies: washer and dryer, dishwasher, towels, disinfectants, and other cleaning tools -Medical care, spay and neuter, vaccinations, and medications  -FOOD & LITTER -Furnishings:  cat safe furniture, tables, towers, storage,  on site quarantine temporary housing, and  cabinetry installation -Yoga equipment: yoga mats, blocks, bolsters, straps, and blankets All donations made to Namastray are tax deductible.   

  Thanks for your support!                                              ** SPECIAL PERK UPDATE ** Supporters who donate $50 or more from 10/28/2015 to 11/07/2015 will be automatically entered in a drawing for a free brewery tour, or a gift basket with flights and tastings from some of the best breweries and tap rooms in the bay area! We're on a mission to bring some of the best beer you've ever tasted to a tap room near you!                                                   I'm Alex Porter and I founded Blue Oak Brewing Company. I believe small businesses like ours create jobs and are the true driver of local economies. I've been making unique craft beers for over thirteen years, and I'm starting a 7BBL microbrewery to apply my Biotechnology background to bring you some of the most delicious brews this side of the bay!                                         To make this happen, we're going to need your help. Whether through direct contributions to my campaign or from spreading the word, it takes a supportive community to make any business successful. I’m here to share my passion for great beer with you – please help me to succeed by putting whatever contribution that you are comfortable with: $10 or $1000... every bit gets us closer to our dream!                                  Your support is critical to helping us get our project off the ground. By contributing, you not only help us fund our location, but it also gives our small business real momentum - and that translates to success!                                   He's a breakdown of where the funds will go from this campaign: This round of funding will help us add equipment, first and foremost.  From there, we'll be purchasing inventory, kegs, final permitting costs and getting the doors open for our first product launch.To help you help us, we've offered some legitimate rewards in exchange for your hard earned contributions. We're offering some awesome preks for your support; including beer for life, growlers, your own personal seasonal beer and launch party - and more!                                                                          In addition to awesome beers, we're building a space that regularly features local crafts, homebrewing workshops, and to donate our product to as many community fund raisers as possible.  We've donated to over a dozen non-profits in the last year and vow to continue this tradition. Everyone who contributes will be counted - we'll be adding each and every one of your names on our wall for all to bask in your awesomeness!             We're a local small business and we're hoping you agree that your support for us is a way to promote local, sustainable industry!  Our economy is defined and driven by small business.  We shop locally, and source organic every time we can.  Spent grains go to local farms to chickens and cows for feed. We're recycling as much water as much as possible to be water conscious during our severe drought.                                          We've projected that to open our doors - which includes build-out, zoning, permitting, equipment purchase, installation and approval, is going to run us upwind of $100,000.  All of this capital to date has come has been self funded to make this happen.  We've already invested over $25,000 of our own savings as well as countless hours to bring our product to the community. Here's our projected timeline following this campaign:        We couldn't have gotten this far without some great collaborators helping to launch our small business including Devil's Canyon, Redwood Coast Cider, and amazing small business consulting and planning through the Renaissance Entrepreneurship Center based in the Bay Area.  Our support network and our experience has put us in a great position to leverage our small business to success!                                    If you're totally strapped for cash, no worries!  Sharing our mission on your favorite flavor of social media:  be it Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, Google+, Tumblr, Pinterest, Youtube, etc. helps us out as well! Any and all support is invaluable for our effort. Thanks for reading and watching our video, and we look forward to seeing you at the brewery you helped build very soon!                                                                      THANK YOU!!

In response to the COVID-19 pandemic, Kingston University has launched an emergency appeal for our Student Hardship Fund. We want to ensure that our students are supported through this crisis and we are already seeing an influx of students requiring help. We are proud to have a long history of welcoming people of any and all backgrounds to Kingston, with a particular focus on those people less likely to have the opportunity to go to University. This includes those from financially disadvantaged backgrounds, those with disabilities or caring responsibilities, and students estranged from their families or from care-experienced backgrounds.These students are far more vulnerable to the effects of the current pandemic than students who have safe family homes to return to and families who are able to help financially in times of crisis. These students have already overcome incredible odds to make it to university and we want to make sure this crisis doesn't put a premature end to their studies.In addition to this, the vast majority of our students have at least one part-time job, and many hold down two or three alongside their studies. Students are overwhelmingly part of the 'gig economy', or in casual work on zero hours contracts in sectors being particularly hard hit - hospitality, childcare, pubs and clubs.39% of our students are from families with an income of under £25,000, and so the safety net of the 'Bank of Mum and Dad' doesn't exist. Our students are doing all they can to transform their life chances, and we don't want this crisis to stop them.Where will the money go?100% of money raised will be directed towards our Student Hardship Fund to help with the exceptional applications the team are already beginning to receive. We would like to provide an additional £20,000 in immediately available funding so that the team are able to respond rapidly to the needs of students. Funds will be prioritised for current applications, but if we raise more than is needed for our students during the coming months it will be available as part of our Hardship Funding for the next academic year.We appreciate that this is a very difficult time for many people and you may not be in a position to support us. Sharing with your friends and colleagues will go a huge way in ensuring we can support the students that need it.

Overview Gravity Alternative Movement is a circus arts and recreational alternative movement facility in Watertown, MA with classes open to people of all ages and physical abilities that is in need of expanding into a bigger space. We have found a new home in Waltham, Massachusetts. It has great potential, but needs lots of work to become a functional recreational facility. We have set up this campaign in search of funds to help our expansion into a dedicated space become a reality. What's This Campaign All About?! Gravity Alternative Movement is a circus arts and recreational alternative movement facility in Watertown, MA with classes open to people of all ages and physical abilities that is in need of expanding into a bigger space. We have robust, continually growing, programming in our current shared space, but need a facility of our own in order to expand our schedule and offer classes earlier in the evening. We have found a new home in Waltham, Massachusetts. It has great potential, but needs lots of work to become a functional recreational facility. We have set up this campaign in search of funds to help our expansion into a dedicated space become a reality. We already own and will be transferring over the equipment we use for our day-to-day activities, but we will need additional equipment to make our new warehouse space usable. Among these new pieces of equipment include new flooring, a water fountain, a custom rigging solution, and, should we achieve our reach goal, a large mural for general facility beautification. Student Brie perfecting her y-scale during her advanced aerial hoop class at Gravity Alternative Movement's current space in Watertown, MA.   The Gravity Story #helpGravitygrow Gravity Alternative Movement is a community devoted to enabling individuals of all ages and abilities to find new ways to master an athletic art. Classes at Gravity are perfect for those seeking......a new fitness or workout discipline....a new outlet for creativity....a new challenge for both the mind and body....mastery of unique and performable skill sets....a supportive and inclusive community that takes pride in the diversity of humanity.​ All classes at Gravity Alternative Movement will strengthen you physically and mentally, stretch your body, and push the boundary of possible. Instruction at Gravity comes with great attention to the individuality of each person who walks through the front door, as we each carry with us our own learning styles, abilities, and levels of mastery. Gravity has been operating in a shared space in Watertown, MA since May 2017. The space is beautiful, but our class schedules grow every session and we have very quickly reached our scheduling limit due to conflicts with existing non-Gravity programming that the space management runs. This will provide us the ability to expand our schedule and class offerings so that we can continue to grow and serve more members of the community with ways to move and engage with their own creativity and body awareness. In our new facility, we will be able to add early evening programming for adults, afterschool programming for youth, adult and youth weekend programming, and occasional informal social and team-building events for Gravity class attendees. Currently, the majority of our programming can only be on weekdays after 7:45pm, which too is late in the day for many! We have found a new home. After months of searching, we have finally found a 3200 sqft warehouse on the Waltham-Watertown border that will be emptied out and filled with our diverse programming. Building features: 17.5' high rig points 30'x35'+ main floor area featuring maximum ceiling height Air conditioning throughout Heating throughout Entry vestibule and office space Balcony area perfect for small ground-based classes, warm-ups, and observing classes Mix of dedicated parking and plentiful street parking   Photo above: the current state of our new space in Waltham, MA, very full of equipment and storage, soon to be full of Gravity's diverse range of activities!   We need your help. The transition between our current space to a space of our own will require an enormous investment of time and funds. This is where we ask for your help in order to let Gravity continue to provide the Boston-metro area with high quality instruction, classes, training space, and performance opportunities for circus arts and related movement disciplines! We will be moving our existing equipment over that we use to run our classes into the new space, but currently we lack the current infrastructure to take the existing warehouse space and turn it into a living, breathing, and welcoming training facility. Funding from this campaign will support new flooring friendly to gymnasts and aerialists alike, wall mirrors in the main training area, a water fountain, customized rigging solutions for our new space's ceiling, floor matting for a warm-up area,  custom-commissioned art mural installations for studio beautification, and other miscellaneous small pieces of equipment and furniture to keep the studio functional, safe, and welcoming. #helpGravitygrow Student Jillian presents one of her most graceful aerial sling poses during one of Gravity Alternative Movement's open practice sessions. Anticipated Timeline December 28 - last classes at Gravity in current space in Watertown December 29-31 - derig equipment and move out January 1-6 - move into new space, install flooring, water fountain, mirrors, rigging, and other aesthetic elements into new space January 7 - beginning of classes in new Waltham space By end of January - all finishing touches on new space completed, all goals in Indiegogo campaign complete, including donor appreciation wall (a.k.a. - "Gravity wall," for all donors >$100) Who is Behind Gravity? Trevor Kafka began his circus arts training at age 13 after Cirque du Soleil's shows Alegría and Quidam ignited his interest in circus arts. He received his first introduction to aerial arts at Circus Smirkus summer camp in Vermont and continued his training in the years to come with various coaches and circus schools in New York City. In May 2011, Trevor graduated from the Professional Track program at the New England Center for Circus Arts in Brattleboro, VT where he held focuses in single-point trapeze and floor acrobatics under the instruction of former performers of Cirque du Soleil and Cirque Éloize. During this time he also completed teacher training programs in various aerial arts disciplines. He is extremely grateful for all of the wonderful opportunities in circus arts that he has been able to be a part of thus far and is overjoyed to be actively contributing to the further development of circus arts in the northeast through both instruction and performance. Trevor is also a former teacher of physics at Wellesley High School and holds degrees in physics and math, as well as devoted a significant portion of his undergraduate studies to Mandarin Chinese and Secondary education. Trevor has a passion for teaching and sharing his interests with others. He has been teaching circus arts in the Boston-area since 2012 and currently owns and operates Gravity Alternative Movement LLC. Trevor is equipped with a diverse aerial teaching background and performance background. Gravity Alternative Movement owner and operator Trevor Kafka.   Gravity Alternative Movement is a proud approved member of Circus Arts Safety Network, a program coordinated by American Circus Educators. Funding Allocation Gravity will continue to fund the purchase of new equipment and expansion of programming as it has been doing through its growth up to this point. Moving into a new space is a big transition for us and we are asking for your help along the way to help us make this big jump between operating in a shared space and operating in a dedicated space possible! Baseline goal - $15,000. Gravity's goals for funds raised during this campaign are to help make our new studio space as functional and welcoming as possible. Here is our breakdown of anticipated project expenses. Stretch goal - $20,000. Should we exceed our $15,000 baseline goal up to $5,000 of the additional contributions would be used to fund custom-commissioned art in the space to help make the facility as inspiring as it will be beautiful. What You Get As a thank you for your generous donations, we have the following perks available in a variety of different formats. Check out our perks for more information as to which donation amounts get you which of these awesome giveaway items! Gravity Stickers Contribution to the Gravity Wall (included with all $100+ donations) 1.5-Hour Group Private Classes 6-Week Session Classes 1 year of Session Classes 5 Physics/Math Tutoring Sessions (with Gravity owner Trevor Kafka!) Drop-In Class for 2   Students Kylie and Elizabeth present the beginnings of a new group acrobatics routine at the end of their Contortion class. The Impact No experience is required for level 1 classes at Gravity. WE MEAN IT! All bodies, all fitness levels, all degrees of coordination are welcome. You are never too old, weak, heavy or out of shape to become a mover. Classes are tailored to each individual student and are intended to be CHALLENGING for ALL ATTENDEES. Classes are open to all genders, ethnicities, fitness levels, sexual orientations, etc! Gravity's doors are open to all! We continually strive at Gravity to be as inclusive of a space as possible. We aim to enable the community with access to amazing and fun ways to use their bodies, stay fit, and have fun. For both kids and adults, the types of classes we offer can serve as confidence boosters, fitness outlets, endless inspiration, and vessels into which to pour newly-inspired creativity. As Gravity grows, we aim to continue this mission of accessibility and prevalence of circus arts and other alternative movement disciplines for all.   Student Olivia presents her well-famed 'alien split' on trapeze! Risks & Challenges Gravity has had a well-established and continually growing program for over the past year and a half. We are looking to take the funds raised by this campaign to serve as a catalyst for Gravity's increased future growth.  The types of classes we offer, including aerial arts, handstands, flexibility, tumbling, juggling, and more, have been increasing in recreational popularity throughout the Boston metro area over the past 10 years. Our job as a facility is to be a small part of that larger puzzle, increasing prevalence, accessibility, and community value of what we offer for Watertown/Waltham as well as neighboring communities. Given our currently established and growing program, the leap made by the campaign is backed already with loads of confidence and client allegiance. Risks are always, however, prevalent. Class growth pattern changes could make it difficult for us to meet our expenses. Our new facility could need major additional work that we cannot currently predict. Necessary equipment may be on backorder or become delayed. We may encounter challenges with neighbors or building management. However, even given these risks, we still feel very confident in our resilience and ability to create something amazing even out of a challenging situation. Barring any major impediments, Gravity will be able to function in the new facility with your help, but we are confident that beyond this it will thrive and expand far beyond its current state. Instructor Marci and student Kylie enjoy an assisted stretch to increase range of motion in one of our Contortion classes. Other Ways You Can Help If you cannot contribute for one reason or another, please consider the following means in which you can still help us out! Get the word out and make some noise about our campaign. Share this campaign through all of your social media channels! If you are interested in volunteering your time or a special skill you may have that will help Gravity's new space become a welcoming and functional environment, please do let us know at info@gravityalternativemovement.com and we'd love to have you help! Our Tuesday nights' advanced-level aerial fabric class proudly present the product of their collaborative group end-of-class aerial challenge! - - - - - - Photos for Drop In Class for 2, Gravity Wall, and Gravity Grandmaster perks are courtesy of Emily Lebowitz Photography.

The ARTS Council of the Southern Finger Lakes is establishing an Emergency Arts Fund to support artists during the COVID-19 crisis. Numerous cancelled exhibitions, performances, and in-person opportunities, as well as the closure of galleries and cultural centers have resulted in a total loss of income for many artists in our region. The ARTS Council will use this funding to support a two-pronged approach to directly supporting artists during the COVID-19 crisis: establish a stream of paid online artist opportunities; the continuance of the Emergency Arts Relief Grant that allows for artists with cancelled artistic opportunities to apply for grants of up to $250 during this challenging time. In this video, Artist Member Filomena Jack describes how COVID-19 has impacted her income as an artist and instructor in the Finger Lakes Region of NYS.

Overview We are opening The Wild Roast Cafe: the only coffee shop in Bluff Park, an historic neighborhood in Hoover, Alabama. Family owned and operated, we will feature great house blends, delicious baked goods, art for sale, and live music. This is an opportunity for our friends and neighbors to join us on this journey. Because even though it's our business - it's YOUR community. The Wild Roast Cafe A great coffee shop is integral to any community. My family is bringing one to the Bluff Park neighborhood in Hoover, Alabama. We invite you to become part of this journey. We have worked in Hoover/Bluff Park for the past seven years and fell in love with it so much that we moved here. But we have also been frustrated by the lack of options close to home when we want to go somewhere and read a book, work remotely, or visit with friends. While this will be our family business, this is YOUR community. So help us make it special. We are moving out of the first phase of launching our coffee shop. We have started an LLC, developed a business plan, worked with an architect, identified our contractors, selected our equipment, created our house blend, and submitted plans for approval by the city and county. We are now moving into the build-out phase. We have an incredible space and location. But it was not designed for this purpose. That means we are adding new electrical and plumbing to support the use of power and water that are necessary for a coffee shop. Because we want this place to reflect our community, your sponsorship will give us wider options as we select the final flooring, paint, tile, counter tops, etc. Plus, our coffee shop will have a very intentional focus on art and music. Your sponsorship will help us quickly move to incorporate these elements into your experience. What We Need & What You Get We're not a big corporate chain opening a franchise. We are a family who loves coffee and loves this community. Our children go to school around the corner. We live less than two miles away. Our focus won't be on the stock portfolio of someone across the country who has never even heard of Bluff Park. Our focus will be on the quality of coffee in your cup, the comfort of the chair you choose to sit in, paying our neighbor who provides the art on the wall, and promoting the middle-class musician who includes us on her tour. When you love your experience or when you have a suggestion for making it better, you will be talking to the owners: US! Since we don't have a big corporate structure behind us, creating our business must come from our own finances...and from our community. Your sponsorship comes with some cool perks. You can earn free cups of coffee (all the way from one on up to a year's supply!), stickers for your vehicle, mugs, shirts, and even a night with the cafe all to yourself so you can throw a party for your friends. Any level of support will be appreciated and useful. So if we don't reach our goal, we will prioritize some of the pieces we were hoping to add and make some tough choices. The Impact Here's what this will mean to our family: Opening our business means that we will be able to spend more time together. I know that sounds crazy, right? But with careers in corporate retail and camping/student ministry, our schedules have almost never matched up. There are very few days out of the year when all five of us are together. We will be able to work side by side and have our children walk over and do homework after school. And that's something that you just can't put a dollar amount on. No one will work harder to make sure you have a great coffee shop because we will be investing so much of ourselves into it. Here's what this will mean to you: You gain a great local, independent coffee shop! Bluff Park is widely regarded as one of the best neighborhoods in the Birmingham area. And while we have some phenomenal small businesses and local restaurants, what we don't have is a place with enough seating to spread out and sit for a while. We want you to pick up a cup on your way to the office or chat with a friend after dropping off your kids at school. Use our free wifi to work remotely or meet with a client. After school, we will have a kids-friendly area with activities and enough square footage for you to sit somewhere else and have a conversation. On the weekend, ride your bike over or stop by after a run along Park Avenue or a hike in Moss Rock. Swing by to pick up a unique and meaningful gift for a loved one. Take a cup outside and watch the sunset over the Bluff. This is YOUR neighborhood coffee shop. Risks & Challenges So where does the money raised through crowdfunding go? So much has already been accomplished but there is a lot left to do. Our plumber will be drilling through concrete to create new drains for the additional sinks and and machines. The electrician will be making sure we have enough power to run all of the equipment at peak hours. Through all of this, we are adding in wall paint, flooring, lighting, and furniture that are comfortable and maintain a great sound quality for your conversations and also for live entertainment. Each of these pieces has a value...and a cost. We know the pieces that we can put off, if necessary. But our goal is to have everything 100% just the way that we want it, and the way that you deserve it, on opening day. So why trust us to make it happen? First, we love coffee. Second, we love the community. But third, we have a track record of making big things happen. Our backgrounds include managing a summer camping program of 1,500 campers, running an 18,000 sq ft retail store with $4.5 million in sales and much, much more - all with a focus on exceptional customer experience. To help us along the way, we are being advised by the Small Business Development Center of Alabama and have been receiving coaching from two of Birmingham's best coffee shops.                                                                                                                                                                                                                            Other Ways You Can Help Let other folks know about our coffee shop and encourage friends and family who grew up here but have moved away to contribute. We will be here when they visit and y'all want to meet and catch up! Share this to your social media accounts. Not only will this help us raise funds but will also advertise and build our business.

When #StayHome isn't safe...To #stayhome is not safe for women facing domestic violence. As women are now trapped with perpetrators, they are at higher risk of violence.To #stayhome means no income for women who face financial abuse, or find themselves with no safety net around them.The situation is critical. In the last week, most of our refuge residents were let go from their jobs. They now have no income and are unable to meet even their most basic needs, like buying food, sanitary products, soap, nappies and milk.We are using our Emergency Fund with 2 aims: to provide our residents with what they need to live dignified lives and crucially, to increase the hours of our online emergency advice line, giving women a lifeline when it is not safe for them to pick up the phone.We desperately need to raise 5k to add to our Emergency Fund. This will enable us to continue supporting the 14 families in our refuges as well as the women out there who need our help.Please donate today. With your support, we can ensure some of the most vulnerable families in our society have a fighting chance at normality.Our MissionWe pursue our mission by putting into practice the ethics and values ​​of sorority rooted in both intersectional feminism and community feminism. Based on the traditions of black feminism, we recognize the role played by intersectional identities in people’s lives. Therefore, we base LAWA’s work on an intersectional approach, to support women through our services, while recognizing their right to self-determination.In the same way, we integrate our ethics and practices in Latin American community feminism, which originated with indigenous women in Bolivia and Guatemala. This means that our feminist practice is built within the community through collective, rather than individual, approaches to change, and using popular creative methodologies that are accessible to all. It is from this communitarian and decolonial feminist position that, as Latin American women, we recognize our history and struggle against on-going colonialist-patriarchal forms of violence and oppression.

Background: As of 03/16/2020, the San Diego County Board of Supervisors ordered the temporary closure of all restaurants and bars until 03/31/20. In considering the risks involved for our staff and their families, we have decided not to open for takeout or deliveries.Our intention at Tahona Mezcaleria is to be a place of communion around one of the most misunderstood spirits. In the past year and a half since opening, we have become a staple of the Old Town community and have been blessed with amazing support from San Diegans. None of what we have accomplished at Tahona would have been possible without the hard work of our employees. Our team's motto is to make everyone feel at home when they walk through our doors. Tahona's mission to educate and empower mezcal producers would not be possible without the daily commitment towards excellence by every single one of our team members.As you can imagine, this abrupt restaurant closure places our entire staff in a hard situation. We are not sure how much time will pass before we can reopen, and in the meantime there is no alternative work for which they can apply.This is why we are starting this campaign to raise funds to support our team. We're in this together and with your support, we will prevail! Here's how you can support us during these tough times: - Buy one of our designer T’s: we’ve partnered with a local business to produce these t-shirts on demand based on your purchase, thus supporting them in the process. We will donate 100% of the proceeds of t-shirt sales to our staff. - Purchase a pre-sale of a Mezcal & Tacos tasting experience: upon the re-opening of Tahona Mezcaleria, you will be able to call to book your spot to enjoy this incredible experience! Again, 100% of proceeds from the sale of these tasting experiences will be donated to our staff. We hope to see all of you very soon to cheer to our health and a better future! Tahona Management

The United Nations appealed on Tuesday for more 53210$ to help one (m) million flood victims in the Philippines, which has been lashed by two major storms.A launch event for the Philippines Flash Appeal 2020, held in the nation's capital Manila, was attended by UN and Filipino officials.United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF) representative Ann Veneman told the gathering: "Time is of the essence. A major response from the international donor community is now absolutely essential if the current operation is to be scaled up to meet the needs on the ground."Jacqueline Badcock, representing the United Nations Development Program (UNDP) said the international community was being asked to contribute to the appeal "to ensure that the people of the Philippines can rebuild their lives as quickly as possible."Philippine Defence Secretary Gilberto Teodoro, thanked the UN for responding to the request for assistance in such a short time.He stressed the need to get hospital facilities up and running, and warned that epidemic potential was high in areas which had been flooded for several days.Before the launch event UN humanitarian chief John Holmes said he has already authorised an immediate allocation of 7 (m) million US dollars from the UN's Central Emergency Response Fund, and that the appeal has already received between 9 (m) million US dollars and 10 (m) million US dollars.Holmes said the appeal is seeking money for food, water, sanitation facilities, emergency shelter and health care for those worst affected by Tropical Storm Ketsana and Typhoon Parma.In addition to UN efforts, he said, many governments in the region and elsewhere, including the United States, are helping in different ways.The storm lashed Manila and nearby provinces on September 26, causing the worst flooding in the capital in more than four decades.About 20 typhoons and storms lash the Philippine archipelago each year.

Overview Hello booklovers! I am Melissa Bourdon-King; bookseller. mother, CAREgiver, and all-around passionate individual. This summer, Once Upon a Bookstore will be opening in Kelowna, but I need your help to fill it with stories! The lease is signed, the concept complete, and construction on this beautiful space aimed to connect Okanagan families to literature and community is underway. Now I need your support. Please help me connect families to each other through their next great read! Bookstores are all about cultivating stories. They are the heartbeat of a community, and they reflect the interests, passions, needs and desires of the communities that house them. Thank-you for taking the time to explore my pitch page. My name is Melissa Bourdon-King, and I will be opening Once Upon a Bookstore in the heart of Kelowna's Pandosy Village in July of 2019. As you read a little about me and my vision, it is my sincerest hope you will discover your own desire to be part of the continuing story of Once Upon a Bookstore. A window into my story I have been a bookseller for more than twelve years. My passion for the industry began in a high-school classroom in Toronto when, in a mandatory career class, I was asked to think about my dream job. At 15, I hadn't ever really thought about what kind of job I was interested in, but I did know where I loved to be-- Mabel's Fables Children's Bookstore in Toronto. Since the age of 3 my mom had taken me there to find fantastic reads, and it was still the best place to browse around, chat with the amazing staff, and find that next magical something. Sitting in that classroom I thought, "Who wouldn't want to work at a bookstore? I'll pretend to apply there!" Except the application became real. With the help of my mom, I wrote a cover letter, sent in my resume and was hired! I could not have been more thrilled, nor could I have known that working there would shape my identity and set my course: a lifelong passion for books. It is hard to describe what it is about bookselling that is so intoxicating, but I will tell you that for the two years I wasn't working in a bookstore, I longed for the familiar satisfaction of knowing I'd put the perfect book into someone's hands. When I worked at Mabel's Fables, I planned events, I met authors, I read to children, I played 'can you help me find the book whose title I can't remember?' with customers. I used my creative brain, my management brain, and my community outreach brain. Bookstores house stories, and stories have the power to change lives, and even if they don't dramatically alter someone's path, reading books shapes people. Do you remember some of your favourite books as a child? I do, and they are titles that continue to hold an important place in my memory because I was forever altered by reading them. People remember their favourite books, especially books that moved them as children, and they speak about them with a reverence that is hypnotic.the conference really opened the floodgates for my creative brain. I was surrounded by like-minded, passionate individuals, and their camaraderie fuelled me. The name and a logo idea for the bookstore popped into my mind, and from there, the ideas just kept coming. I thought about all the community endeavors I wanted to cultivate and support, from bookclubs and private shopping nights, to school bookfairs and parent night fundraisers.  I want to create a safe and welcoming space for local community groups (moms, dads, bookclubs, etc). I would like to provide meeting space to community organizations, like Girl Guides of Canada, and host family-friendly events like board game nights and art classes.  Deciding to open my own children's bookstore has at times been a scary and daunting prospect. For every exciting idea that I get fired up about, there is usually a financial or administrative hurdle that needs to be overcome. Despite the wealth of experience I have in the industry, I know that the entrepreneurial route is filled with unexpected challenges and obstacles. Yet I consider myself privileged to know that following this path is my passion, and that knowing this is my passion is a gift. Regardless of the challenges, this is something I am doing because I have to-- because it is who I am. Once Upon a Bookstore's Story In order to open Once Upon a Bookstore,  a total investment of about $140,000 is needed, and more than $70,000 of this cost will be filling the store with inventory- books, toys, games, puzzles, art, etc. The remainder of that money has gone/will go to construction costs, renovating, purchasing furniture and fixtures, legal fees, city and building permits, hardware, software, insurance costs, and prepaid expenses like having a telephone and internet service.  While finances and financial management are an important part of any healthy business, costs are not what Once Upon a Bookstore is about. My vision for this bookstore is about filling a hole I see in our community, and using my passion and expertise to meet that need. Kelowna is home to more than 24,000 children, and that number more than doubles when considering the Okanagan region. As a parent myself, I volunteer my time on the Parent Advisory Council for my daughter's school and also serve with Girl Guides of Canada. I take my daughter to swimming lessons at Parkinson Rec, and to dance classes around the city. I see how many families there are and I want to foster their ability to be part of something they consider theirs--a store guided by their needs. Bookstores are a place to buy books, of course, but they can also be so much more. Once Upon a Bookstore will be such a place-- an event space for the community. It will connect local, Canadian and international authors and illustrators with Okanagan readers. It will unite new moms and dads with classes, support systems and safe spaces. It will welcome families of all shapes, sizes, varieties and cultures to feel safe and find their stories on our shelves. It will encourage creativity in all forms through workshops, classes, and discussion groups. It will listen to new ideas and be a base point to launch those new ideas, for young and old. It will give back to the local community through supporting literacy efforts, school groups, and community-minded organizations. In short, Once Upon a Bookstore will grow and evolve based on what its community--you--needs it to be.   The Impact Here is how your dollars will help contribute to Once Upon a Bookstore's story: First of all- THE PERKS! The perks are for you! They are an acknowledgement of your part in our story. We have so many exciting offerings: stickers, bookmarks, magnets, tote bags, recommendation shelves, subscription services, bookstore birthday and cocktail parties! My personal favourite perk is asking you to 'Be My Book Valentine'. Many hours were spent thinking about what perks would best represent my gratitude for your support, and which ones would be the most fun to experience.   This project is not just for me, it is for our community, our children, our families, our friends. This campaign is about bringing together booklovers, and having them contribute, so what they love being available in a store. So many beloved children's books have shaped people's lives, I want to hear those stories and be able to share those stories with everyone who walks through the door, or who discovers us online. Once Upon a Bookstore is going to be warm and welcoming, where families always feel accepted, and where parents, grandparents, aunts, uncles, cousins, and friends can ask for help finding the perfect book and know they are receiving expert advice from a passionate individual. Bookstores are the heartbeat of local communities. We provide safe spaces and nurture the local market- from hosting events, to promoting local and Canadian authors and illustrators, to being a safe space for the community to meet, whether bookclubs, mom groups, classes for parents and babies, discussion groups, or art classes. These are just a few of the ideas I have to bring together families in Kelowna. For over twelve wonderful years, I worked for, and then managed an independent children's bookstore in Toronto. Some of my favourite memories are hosting author events, both in store and in school classrooms, and watching the magic of an author interacting with a child. It is this magic that I hope to bring to the more-than-24,000 Okanagan school children. Even if this goal is not fully funded, every penny raised will go towards making sure the store is full of stories, so that I can continue to focus on supporting the community and building relationships that will help us all thrive. Other Ways You Can Help Even if you aren't able to contribute financially, you can still help! Spread the word! Share news about us on your social media accounts, talk to your friends, your colleagues, your dentist/doctor /chiropractor/hairdresser about our store Share this link! Maybe you can't help but you would like to share our campaign with those you know. Let's build a community of booklovers together. Thank-you so much for your support!