IMPORTANT UPDATE: What One Can Do With Blue

The deadline to purchase the All-You-Can-Jet Pass was Friday, August 21. Unfortunately, I did not raise enough money to purchase the pass before Jet blue sold out of the limited number of passes available. I contacted Jet Blue before the deadline and before the passes were sold out in hopes to receive a complimentary pass, but have yet to receive a response from their corporate office. Although I do not have the All-You-Can-Jet Pass, the What One Can Do With Blue project has not been cancelled but reconstructed. My eagerness to see this project to completion has not faltered even though a major aspect of its initial plan has failed. God gave me a heart for people and for bringing encouragement and hope where they are needed. This project was developed for a purpose, and I am determined to make it happen.

I have reconfigured my project plans but have kept the same overarching purpose: to bring attention and appreciation to admirable, local humanitarian based non-profits and organizations across the nation. I will still be performing the same activities as in the previous project outline: working with the organizations for a set number of days and documenting the experience using text and audio from interviews, video and photography, press releases and print articles, as well as blog posts and other forms of social networking updates.  I will also produce one piece of artwork for each organization, which they can do with as they please. The only changes to the original plan are to the timeline and cities. Originally, the project was to stretch over one month in ten cities. Because this ten-cities-in-one-month itinerary is no longer possible due to finances, I will now start locally and visit various cities when I have the funds to do so. Priority cities include Jacksonville/St. Augustine, Florida and New York, New York as I already have several contacts with various organizations in both locations. The project will take place over the course of one year ending in Fall 2010.

I will begin in Durham/Chapel Hill/Raleigh, North Carolina focusing on 2-3 organizations in the area. I have already confirmed participation with the Arc of Orange County, which provides advocacy and services for people with developmental disabilities. In addition to volunteering and documenting the experience, I am donating a piece of art to the Arc’s annual Festival of Trees Art Walk of Fame art auction with proceeds benefiting the Arc (http://www.arcoforange.org/fot/artwalk.shtml).

Although not obtaining an All-You-Can-Jet Pass was initially disheartening to me, I have come to understand that everything happens for a reason. The benefits of reconstructing the project to stretch over a longer period of time are, but not limited to, the following:

1. I am able to properly plan out the project to every minor detail
2. I have more time to raise necessary funds to support the project
3. I am able to thoroughly research equipment and purchase these items as funds become available
4. I will be able to spend more time with each organization
5. I hope to create larger works of art as well as a variety of pieces including installations/murals/etc.
6. I can focus more attention on writing blog posts, editing and posting photos and videos, etc.

I believe having more time to plan, focus, and act will truly make this project a success.

I am still accepting donations for this project, which will be used for travel, equipment, materials, and other project-related expenses. Many of you have already donated money to the project, and I thank you tremendously for your support. I understand that the project has changed from its original nature, therefore I want to offer a refund to anyone who has already donated. If you would like your donation refunded, please contact me. I completely understand as the existing project with its changes is not what you contributed to.

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I thank you all for your encouragement and support. Things often do not work out as we originally plan. That is why we learn to adapt!

If you have any questions or comments, feel free to contact me.