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