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!

PHOP, Inc. has also founded "PHoP Make a Difference, Inc." which is a non-profit (501c3 status) charity organization.


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
Mutt & Monica Helms
Lynne Hawke
Marr, Jenny & Parker Snyder
Jill Heesch
Dain & Robin Sisson
Julie & Reed Ramstad
Bart Hallberg with his two daughters
Joe & Charlie Ward

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)
Barb & Jim
Kevin & Darla Stordahl
Brian & Lori Ree
Bruce & Kris Jorgensen
Sherry Simunek
Eric Gulseth
Sylvia Schwarting
Ann Rowenhorst
Karen Franz
Janet VonAuer
Doug & Diane Wade

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.


Check presentation on September 13, 2006

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
Funds Raised: $57,565.00
Food Donated: 525lbs