Origins

First we'd like to start with thanking everyone so much who have tweeted or donated to help Art ala Carte PDX to relocate to some new digs (and so much more!).  And since more than 10 people rose up to the challenge, as promised here's the story about how we got started :-)

The idea behind "37 people can't be wrong" actually started 21 years ago.  At the time we had no idea where it would take us.  But we can't say too much about that part of the story (without breaking anonymity).  Fast forward though to April 24, 2011 and there begins the real story that brought about 37 people as you know us today.

Kids sell T-shirts to save music program

On that fateful Sunday I happened to come across this article (link above).  I can't tell you exactly what it was but for some reason that article really struck a chord.  Perhaps it was because of how much music has impacted my life or how I remembered that I had the opportunity to play an instrument when I was younger.  In any case it was on that day that the journey of 37 people began.

After doing some research I came across a few charities where I felt I could help make a positive difference in trying to preserve music education across the country.  The rest is, as they say, history!  All it took after that was the help and support of my 37 people as well as a most fortuitous encounter with the person who runs one of our favorite giving pages (here's a hint - we've been told music makes our students smarter!).

So now you know what got us started as 37 people ;-)

Arts and craft(iness)

arts |ärts|
noun
the various branches of creative activity, such as painting, music, literature, and dance : the visual arts | [in sing. ] the art of photography.

For those of you who follow us, you know how much we support music education.  Music is just one part of the arts and they are all interconnected in many ways.  Yesterday we came across this tweet from @ArtalaCartePDX:

It is a very sad day when someone steals $50 from a cash box of a small business trying to make a difference with children in our community!

Well, one thing led to another and we found this campaign to help Art ala Carte PDX relocate and achieve their dreams for the community: http://www.indiegogo.com/helpaacrelocate

So now for the craftiness!  In typical fashion we're offering up a 37 people challenge.  This may be our most interesting one yet ;-)

• If at least 10 people donate any amount (alliek323 counts as #1) we will write a blog post explaining what got us started as 37 people.
• In keeping with the spirit of art, for everyone who donates at least $37 we will send them a picture of an old portrait that a then very young member of 37 people drew of yours truly (and if you don't already know my first name, it's written on top of the portrait).
• And just for kicks, for everyone who donates at least $370 yours truly will meet them for a coffee at Eataly in Manhattan and tell them everything about 37 people...alas you'll have to make your own way there :-)

In all seriousness (not that this challenge isn't serious), please consider giving what you can to this wonderful organization.  Every dollar will help and there are only 6 days left before this campaign expires (as of October 13th).


craft-i-ness |ˈkraftēnəs|
noun
the quality of being crafty

craft-y |ˈkraftē|
adjective
clever at achieving one's aims by indirect methods

#savethearts