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COMMUNITY Parrot Heads of the Prairie Community Involvement Events. PHOP, Inc. is a not for profit organization dedicated
to preserving and improving the environment and being active in
community oriented projects as a means of social interaction with
like minded people interested in the lifestyle, tropical spirit,
and music of Jimmy Buffett. What have we been up to since our
inception in March of 2005? Well matey, let us do some s'plainin'
for ya... And keep in mind that all community service hours have
been voluntary, nary a single hour be handed down by some durn
judge! STATE OF THE PHLOCK – 2010 “It was the best of times, it was the worst of times …” So said Charles Dickens and so it was with the year 2009 around the ParrotHead Nation. In the face of what’s been called the worst economy since the Great Depression, many of our respected leaders and members found themselves out of work through no fault of their own. Imagine how difficult it must be to embrace the concept of helping others when you’re desperately trying to keep your own world from tumbling down.
Nevertheless, in true Parrot Head fashion, chapters around the world made significant contributions to the welfare of the environment, their community and to their fellow man … and they had a BLAST while doing so! Meeting of the Minds was an unqualified success with appearances by Little Feat and Club Trini, among others, and our visitors truly did “Party with a Purpose!” Some 200+ Parrot Heads participated in the Zonta Walk with Team ParrotHead raising approximately $22,000, more than half of the event total. Parrot Heads also contributed to Wesley House Family Services, the KW Police Athletic League and the Florida Keys SPCA to the tune of more than $20,000 while simultaneously donating an entire van load of toys to the Salvation Army for their annual holiday toy drive. In a truly humanitarian effort, Parrot Heads also donated some 75 pints of blood to the Community Blood Center of South Florida in what has become the local blood bank’s largest blood drive of the year. Not to be outdone, the Margaritaville- sponsored Class Clown Contest raised approximately $10,000 which was gifted to the Boys & Girls Club, the Florida Keys Children’s Shelter, WomanKind and Heron-Peacock Supported Living.
In what has become the norm, the "ParrotHead Nation" continued to grow and prosper as we added a total of eleven new chapters to our ranks. What began with the Atlanta Parrot Head Club 20 years ago has grown exponentially as we ended 2009 with an all-time high of 237 chapters in the United States , Canada and Australia ... 3 different countries, 47 states, 3 Canadian provinces and one U.S. Territory. Our total membership showed another increase with almost 27,000 dedicated, fun-loving Parrot Heads amongst the ranks. Again, it's apparent that the "ParrotHead Nation" is not only alive and well, but continues to thrive. Now, for the big news ... Even in the face of an economic downturn, Parrot Head Clubs collectively raised for and/or donated approximately $2.8 million to charitable organizations in 2009. Equally significant, Parrot Heads carried on the tradition of volunteerism as 2009 saw chapters worldwide donate an estimated 180,000 man-hours to philanthropic and environmental activities. The upshot … In the period 2002 – 2009, Parrot Head Clubs have collectively contributed more than $19.2 million and approximately 2.3 million man-hours to aid our communities, our environment and our fellow man!
The PHiP commitment to education was bolstered on two fronts as we were recognized by the Jimmy Buffett's alma mater, the University of Southern Mississippi , for our continued and generous endowment of the Mary Loraine "Peets" Buffett Memorial Scholarship awarded annually by the USM Alumni Assoc. And, after years on the drawing board, the PHiP scholarship program came to fruition with the committee evaluating some 60 applicants before awarding the first scholarships to 3 worthy candidates.
And, there's more to the story! These numbers, while spectacular, do not include those efforts which are not measured by dollars or man-hours and Parrot Heads never cease to amaze in their creativity: Parrot Heads Collect Things ... canned goods, pet supplies, clothing, pop tops, old cell phones, used ink cartridges, and, of course, toys; all distributed to the appropriate agencies that get the goods to where they do the most good. OH, and let's not forget the trash ... Virtually every Club works diligently to keep our nation's beaches, lakes, and highways clean with regular trash collection sessions. Parrot Heads Compete ... Many chapters sponsor Bowling tournaments, Volleyball tournaments, Golf tournaments and even a Cornhole tournament. Chili and gumbo cook-offs are also a favorite fundraiser for a number of Clubs. Parrot Heads March ... Most all Parrot Head Clubs build and enter a float in their local community parades, be it Christmas, Easter, Independence Day, St. Patrick's Day ... You name it; if there's a local parade, Parrot Heads will be prancing and no less than two dozen chapters won awards in 2009 for Best of Show, Best Float, etc. From Poker Runs & Pub Crawls to the dreaded Polar Plunge, the picture is clear ... the good deeds that Parrot Heads perform for the benefit of the community, the environment and our fellow man often cannot be measured in quantitative terms, yet are so vital to the recipients and should be a constant source of satisfaction to each of us.
In the annals of PHiP history, 2009 will be recorded as a good year … We did, in fact, make a difference and we left this world a little better than we found it. Along the way, we managed to have a lot of fun, we cavorted with old friends, we made new friends and, sadly, we bid farewell to far too many beloved friends. So, to each and every one of you, a heartfelt THANK YOU for a job well done! You truly are "Angels in Tropical Shirts" and you should be very proud of yourselves and your accomplishments. Spring is here, summer is nigh and the concert season is upon us ... Time to do what we do best: Have fun and "Party with a Purpose!" Till next time, may all your dreams be tropical! Bob Heffelfinger 2010 January - 30 PHOP members and friends participated in the 2010 "Mall Walk" at the Empire Mall for the Juvenile Diabetes Foundation. Fun was had by all and $250.00 was raised after the hat was passed! April - The club furnished volunteers to help run "Etc. for Her" Magazine's Easter Egg Hunt on April 3rd at the Sioux Falls Convention Center. Twelve members put in 30.5 man-hours into the effort for Cure Kids Cancer & the Sioux Falls Ronald McDonald House! Fins Up! Also in April... The Parrotheads
helped the Back Pack Program at the Sioux Falls Food Pantry on
March 24. At that time, 17 members spent just over 2 hours packing
2913 bags of food for needy children in the Sioux Falls area.
These bags are sent home from school with students each Friday
to keep them fed over the weekend.
2009 January - The Parrot Heads of the Prairie attended a special fundraiser at the "Chaser's Bar Margaritaville Night" where we helped raise $374.00 for the Sioux Falls Civil Air Patrol. (These are the folks who will come find you when you've had a Margarita or twelve and wind up in the middle of a strange cornfield.) Thanks for all you do CAP!
Also in January... A big "Fins Up!" to the members of the Phlock who came out to participate in the 2009 Mall Walk for Juvenile Diabetes. Members in attendence included: Doug & Diane Wade PHOP members "passed the hat" to contribute $125.00 to JDRF, plus Jill Heesch was able to get her employeer to match $100 that she raised! Way to go gang! February - Empire Mall "Mall Golf" Fund Raiser. A bunch of the phlock turned out to help staff an afternoon of putt-putt golf at the local mall in Sioux Falls and put in 70 hours of community service! A big "Fins Up!" to: Greg & LeAnn Dix (and their
two 'Keets) For
Pics of the Phlock at "Mall Golf" click on the pic below! March - If you've been visting our website, you MAY have read something about our first major fundraiser, "Make A Difference 2009!" And after a lot of hard work, well... we like to think we DID make a difference for a few kids! An evening of parrot head "phun" and "phrivolity" brought in $13,000.00 for Sammie's Day Care and Camp Gilbert to help those with juvenile diabetes! (Manhours? Right around 616 hours!) April - The club furnished volunteers to help run "Etc. for Her" Magazine's Easter Egg Hunt on April 4th at the Sioux Falls Convention Center. Eleven of the phaithful phlock braved a Spring Blizzard to put in 29 hours worth of volunteer candy throwing and helped raise $800.00 for Cure Kids Cancer & the Sioux Falls Ronald McDonald House! Fins (and Easter Bunny Paws) way up to you all! May - Spurred on by our chapter's "Sioux City Contingent," the PHOP adopted a section of trail in Sioux City and on May 16th a group of adventurous parrot heads sallied forth to make a section of our own backyard just a little greener. Great work guys!
2008 January - We had our 3rd Annual Winter Party, which again set records for attendance! This year we were able to present the Food Band with 270lbs of food. The food that was donated was all specific to the list of the Food Bank's needs! No one just grabbed a can of pumpkin mix out of the cuboard. PHOP and friends also reached into their wallets and presented $113.00 in cash donation on top of the food donation. February - We had 25 of our "phlock and phriends" turn out to staff the event and the Special Olympics's "Mall Golf" at the Empire Mall, providing the largest volunteer group for the entire course of the event! Mall Golf sold 125 game cards that Sunday for $620.00 and raised another $84.00 in "per Hole" play for a Grand Total of $704.00! April - With the help of our special ‘Keet’ member Sammie, we raised $ 5, 120 for Juvenile Diabetes Research and another $2,000 for Camp Gilbert during and after our Third Birthday Party! Talk about a party with a purpose! May - PHoP cosponsored with Prime Magazine a golf outing that raised $4,025 for the South Dakota Alzheimer’s Assoc. Donating 29.5 hrs. of community work along with it! October - PHOP contributed 36 Hours of Community Service to "Hot Harvest Nights" in Sioux Falls and raised $500 for The Sioux Falls Food Pantry
2007 January - PHOP, Inc donated a silent auction package of Jimmy Buffett treasure, which raised $48 for Childrens Care Hospital and School during their annual beach party. January - 35 Members gathered at "Maragaitaville Night" at Chasers where 16 boxes were filled to the brim with goods for our U.S. military members serving overseas! February - We hosted our 2nd Annual Winter Party, which was attened by over 150 folks who raised 142lbs of food and $143 for the Sioux Falls Food Bank as well as $330 for the National Kidney Foundation. February - 15 Members donated 60 hours to benefit Special Olympics' "Mall Golf" fundraiser at the Empire Mall. July - 30 Members donated 126 hours and raised $900 operating a parking lot during the two day Jazz Festival. These funds were donated to the Miracle League of Sioux Falls. August - 3 Parrot Heads donated 10 hours to raise $85 for the South Dakota Alzheimer's chapter. September - During our annual Shrimp Boil and the monthly phlocking we raised $1,125 for the local "Backpack Program." September - 11 Members of the Phlock donated 36 hours to assist the Sioux Falls Jazz and Blues Society set up for an event that raised over $15,000 for music education and scholarships. 2006 January - PHOP, Inc. donated a silent auction item to the Childrens Care Hospital and School's Beach Party fundraiser. 13 Members attended the gathering where our lighted palm tree decorated with island items and plenty of JB stuff was purchased for $409! 6 Members worked a total of 29 hours to support this wonderful event.
February - We hosted our first annual Winter Party. Over 150 people looking for a little island getaway during the winter months attended the party. We raised 113lbs of food for the local food pantry through the work of 8 members donating 40 hours of service. July - 30 Members donated 120 hours and raised $825 operating a parking lot during the two day Jazz Festival. These funds were donated to the Junior Sioux Wheelers, a youth wheelchair basketball team.
September - 14 Members donated 47 hours working the Sidewalk Arts Festival benefiting the local arts foundation. December - 16 Members donated 41.5 hours collecting tickets and directing traffic at the Heartland House outdoor holiday light display, raising $2,934. December - 5 Members donated
10 hours wrapping Christmas packages helping The Childrens Inn
raise funds. The Childrens Inn provides temporary housing and
support to parents and children who are in an unstable and dangerous
situation. 2005 July - 18 Members donated 55 hours and raised $1,120.00 operating a parking lot during the two day Jazz Festival. These funds were donated to the Childrens Care Hospital and School
November - 10 Members donated 52 hours collecting tickets and directing traffic at the Heartland House outdoor light display. All funds raised from the light display go to the Heartland House, which provides transitional housing for homeless families with the goal of self-sufficiency for the family.
Total Charity Efforts Since Founding: Man Hours: 1,688.5
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