“If there is anything that we love more than dance, it’s giving back and changing lives,” said Noah R Lands, CEO of KAR/Rainbow National Dance Competition. And it is clear that this is the real drive and passion behind the creation of the Industry Dance Awards and its supporting charity foundations. I was lucky enough to sit-down with Mr. Lands to learn about these philanthropic movements and the ultimate goals for the collective “Industry”. This year, the 2014 Industry Dance Awards hopes to raise more than $100,000 to support selected cancer-related charity organizations and the Circle of Hope Foundation through the “I’m A Dancer Against Cancer” campaign.
So, let’s break this down, shall we? — the Circle of Hope Foundation is a unique charity movement specifically related to the dance world that provides dancers who have survived cancer the opportunity to share their courageous journey and inspire others to keep the hope alive. Each of the 7 participating dance competitions will honor ONE cancer survivor that will be presented a cash endowment at the awards show, which they will then donate to the charity of their choice. Basically, the goal is to raise money to be able to help a cancer survivor “pay it forward.” So by donating, we are almost “paying it double-forward.” Wow!
Please see the touching video that was broadcast at last year’s show that gave the audience a back story to the 2013 COH Honoree’s along with the Circle of Hope Dedication performance. Ok, get your tissues ready.
“Our first goal is to raise at least $35K to be able to provide each COH Honoree a $5,000 cash endowment to give away,” Lands continues, “because that way, we are helping 7 different charities through some amazing dancers who fought cancer themselves. Right now, we have a little over $8K donated to the website, so we have a ways to go.” Other portions of the donations are going towards:
Bright Pink – Breast Cancer Prevention for young women – BrightPink.org
Breast Cancer Angels – The Mission of Breast Cancer Angels is to provide financial and emotional assistance for women and their families as they are going through breast cancer treatment. Every year we assist more than 400 clients and their families and every year the need grows. – breastcancerangels.org –
Kids Artistic Revue & Rainbow Dance Competitions have been promoting donations at every regional competition with a Circle Of Hope Donation box and has really pushed the “I’m A Dancer Against Cancer” tops.
Lands explains, “I think the best part of this whole thing is raising cancer awareness through these t-shirts. They’re cute, they’re affordable. And again, the best part is that all the proceeds go towards our Circle Of Hope foundation. All the kids seem to love the interaction with social media by posting a pic of themselves in their shirt on their Instagram, Facebook, whatever. Then, all their friends want to do it too. It makes it cool!”
This IS actually a pretty cool movement. Have you checked out the “I’m A Dancer Against Cancer” sefie gallery? Click here: http://industrydanceawards.com/2014/selfie
“Just a penny can change lives.” – Noah R Lands.
To donate to this amazing cause, click this button below. Thank you for your generosity!
