even crappy movies have some sort of point to them?

The denouement of ‘09… is much like a bad movie with an incomplete resolution. (You kept watching because you hoped for a reprieve, but alas!) And just like that it’s over.  The situation has left you with a myriad of questions— and your imagination left to its own devices. To dream possibilities etc.  I give the year a solid B- with ample room for improvement. “Things” didn’t go so swimmingly for all and while some might argue that it was complete CRAP, I believe that recovery & resilience will make its way in soon. I also hope to start musing a little more often, hopefully with something(s) new & exciting to share…

Thank you for the continued readership & comments, for ‘the little blog that could!’ A healthy & prosperous New Year to you.
Always, Staffeen

music+kids=joy!2 (the breakfast project)

All proceeds will support The Children's Breakfast Club! Image created by Corrine Eve Chan.

THE  BREAKFAST PROJECT!

They say breakfast is the most important meal of the day, and yet some children still don’t have what we so often take for granted. This goal of this little shindig is to raise funds to donate to The Children’s Breakfast Club!

On November 14th, spend an afternoon eating, mixin’ ‘n minglin’, visiting old & new friends, and celebrate the spirit of supporting a great cause! The goal is to raise at least $2000 for The Breakfast Club and in return you’ll have several chances to win numerous musical prizes courtesy of some very generous sponsors and private donors.

The party will take place in the lounge area of Milestones Restaurant at Dundas Square.  Yummy treats will provided by Milestones, a custom designed cake by Kelly’s Cakes and there will be several draws for HOT prizes! Enter to win music and other amazing prizes! All donations from the draw will go to The Breakfast Club!

It all happens at Milestones on4 [Toronto Life Building/Yonge & Dundas], on Saturday, November 14, 2009, between 2-5pm.

A BIG THANK YOU TO THE FOLLOWING DONORS

Avon
Fusicology Toronto
Kelly’s Cakes
L3 Magazine
Milestones on Four
Mixed Signals Music
OM Records
Solid Garage
Sony/BMG
Universal Music
Wayfarer Insurance Broker’s Ltd.

(I had fun) LET’S DO IT AGAIN‼

music + kids = joy! 2.O … PLANNING IS UNDER WAY‼

This year’s event will be very reminiscent of last year’s with a chilled atmosphere, wonderful company AND again … amazing prizes for you to win! The scheduled date is Saturday, November 14th, 2009 – and because I’d like to avoid unnecessary heart murmurs and elevated blood pressure – I’m starting 8 months in advance instead of 5 weeks!

Keeping in mind the spirit of the cause, helping the kiddies, this year’s event will be raising money for The Children’s Breakfast Club. The Club serves up to 4000 breakfast meals to children each week, and provides a wide array of  educational and extra curricular activities for them as well. It’s my suspicion that with a  struggling economy, children’s diets have become severely at risk. Let’s help maintain a healthy menu for all children!

If you’d like to help with the fundraiser somehow, feel free to contact me. There are plenty of small ways you can be involved!

SAVE THE DATE!!

I’ll be keeping you posted!

music + kids = joy!

Hello & Happy New Year!

I’ve been on a small hiatus from blogging – but for a very good reason! I’ve been busy canvassing for donations for The United Way and then subsequently initiated my own music fundraiser in November called music + kids = joy! This initiative has since raised $620 (and counting, as people are still making donations!) for The Children’s Wish Foundation.

It was a very inspirational Fall 2008, and with its own synergy, one thing lead to another and I found myself deep in the midst of fundraising. The passion for the fundraiser came from the love of music and the need to give back to something positive. In a matter of weeks, friends, colleagues and industry folk, including: record labels, djs/producers, musicians, artists/writers and promoters, generously donated music, tickets and art for random draws. The event itself took place at Milestones on FOUR at Yonge and Dundas on December 20th, 2008. Congrats to all the winners!

There were a couple of large objectives of this fundraiser, one was to raise funds for The Foundation, and another was to raise awareness for such a worthwhile cause. The idea that people are still donating to the Foundation means that people do want to give, if given the opportunity to.

It was an exciting 5 weeks! Everyone came together and miraculously got the job done. I’m absolutely thrilled to this moment, and couldn’t have asked for better friends or for more support from the music community, in Toronto, Canada, and internationally. It was truly a global effort!

The Dreamteam! (LtoR: Kristen Zemlak, Amphy Saygnavong, Marcus McLean, Leanda Kirwan, Cheyenne Baptiste and Staffeen Thompson)

Silent Auction Grand Prize #1: Autographed print by Robert Small, contributions by Gilles Peterson, Nick Holder, Joi Cardwell and CDs courtesy of Universal Urban.

Silent Auction Grand Prize #2: ABBA Gold CD, autographed by 2 ABBA members; donated by Paul Oswell.