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Update #11: Too Good To Go Away
For backers only,
Posted on September 15, 2010
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Update #10: Miracles Can Happen
Just a few days ago we had about $1250.00, and we were hearing the kind of silence that usually proceeded two or three tumble weeds rolling along a barron, dusty street. Then all of a sudden, BAM!!! We jumped up to $4693.00!
Now I know we're still quite a ways from our much needed goal, but this new surge of activity have given me more hope. So, now I'm looking for a Jimmy Stewart moment here -- an IT'S A WONDERFUL LIFE moment where more friends and folks of good heart and cheer, come pouring through our cyber door and help us make history.
We have 10 days to raise $14,923.00. The numbers work like this ... we need:
1 - 14,923 people to pledge $1, or
2 - 3000 people to pledge $5.00, or
3 - 600 people to pledge $25.00 each, or
4 - 300 people to pledge $50.00.
Of course, if there are people who wish to pledge larger amounts, that's fine with me.
The bottom line is we need a community of people who believe in helping kids, to get online and pledge away, whatever they can until we make our goal.
IT CAN BE DONE!
So start ringing those bells, and singing off key, and giving up that first latte' of the day -- whatever it takes. Come on and let's make a miracle.
All the best,
Alex Simmons
PS -- And just to show how comic art can stimulate a child's interest in science. take a look at this original design by one of my students (15 yrs old).
Update #9: BOY, THEY LOOKED GOOD!
KCC was on TV last night with founder, Alex Simmons (that's me), co-producer Gene Adams, independent artist and teacher Ray Felix, Archie Comics artist Suzannah Rowntree, artwork (kids and pros), and three kids drawing their hearts out. All of this to help promote the KCC online fundraiser, our work, and our future goals!
http://www.blip.tv/file/4039831/
Less than 20 days left so PLEASE ... Have a look, lend a hand, spread the word.
Update #8: Build And They Will Come!
Four days ago, I had a wonderful 4 hour meeting with the headmaster of the Senegalese American Bilingual School. We clarified all of the expectations, suggestions, and needs for the KCC/COC Expo in her city (the school is located in the city of Dakar).
She informed us that the American Cultural Center support will be most affective after we arrive. Not only have they secured a large space for our Color of Comics exhibit, and our creating comics workshops, they've opened up a few other possibilities. One such opportunity is a professional development day for educators. Our artists will be able to do workshops with teachers to show them certain technics for using comics and graphic novels to support their academic lessons. We'll cover literacy, science, and history, to name a few.
There's more, but I'll save it for my next Update. Meanwhile, please keep SPREADING THE WORD about our efforts. With these recent developments, this fundraiser has become even more important.
All righty then -- that's all for now. I have many miles to go before I sleep ... or at least nod off at my desk.
Oh yes ... below is a picture from an event at the school back in May. Thought it would be nice to start putting a few more faces to this adventure.
Best,
Alex
Update #7: No Good Deed Goes Unpunished ... Oh Really?
For backers only,
Posted on July 31, 2010
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71
Backers
$4,998
pledged of $19,616 goal
0
seconds to go
Funding Unsuccessful
This project reached the deadline without achieving its funding goal on September 16, 2010.
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KCC ENEWS UPDATE. You'll receive periodic inside insight on our adventures leading up to, during, and after the event.
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KCC ENEWS UPDATE plus a very sincere Thank You Letter from me, and my teammates.
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ALL OF THE ABOVE plus ... (drum roll) ... A FREE AUTOGRAPHED COMIC BOOK or POSTER! Bag it, frame it, show it to your friends.
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KCC ENEWS UPDATE, a Thank You Letter, Free comic book (or poster), and for you trend setters ... AN OFFICIAL KCC/COC: AFRICA T-Shirt!!!
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KCC ENEWS UPDATE, a Thank You Letter, Free comic book (or poster), plus AN ORIGINAL PENCIL SKETCH FROM A PROFESSIONAL COMIC ARTIST. I see you drooling already.
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KCC ENEWS UPDATE, a Thank You Letter, Official KCC/COC: AFRICA T-Shirt, plus (hear the trumpets?) ... YOUR NAME ON A PLAQUE THAT WILL TOUR WITH THE EXHIBIT!
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KCC ENEWS UPDATE, a Thank You Letter signed by us and AN OFFICIALS OF THE SCHOOL IN AFRICA, the official KCC/COC: AFRICA T-Shirt, plus your name on the PLAQUE, and a PAGE OF ORIGINAL COMIC ART (B&W INK)! I know it just keeps getting better!
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KCC ENEWS UPDATE, a Thank You Letter, Official KCC/COC: AFRICA T-Shirt, your name on the PLAQUE, plus YOUR LIKENESS (OR A LOVED ONE) DRAWN AS A SUPERHERO, OR A PIECE OF FULL COLOR COMIC ART. We'll even post the likeness as a KCC Super-Superhero on our web site.
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KCC ENEWS UPDATE, a Thank You Letter, Official KCC/COC: AFRICA T-Shirt, your name on the PLAQUE, plus ... okay, grab your check books ... a HOW TO CREATE COMICS WORKSHOP taught by a comic artist (with art supplies and instruction handouts) AT A LIBRARY OR SCHOOL, IN YOUR NAME (or in your community where possible). Cue the mayor and the marching band!!!
Project By
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Over the past 25 years Alex Simmons has written (and in some cases also created) a number of juvenile mysteries under a variety of pseudonyms for many well-known publishers. He has also penned two educational documentaries and several stage plays. One of his plays, "Sherlock Holmes & the Hands of Othello," received critical praise and was published in "Black Thunder: An Anthology of Contemporary African American Drama," published by Signet/Mentor Books.
Simmons has written three movie novelizations for Disney and three biographies for Steck-Vaughn, including one on Denzel Washington.
Simmons travels the country as a guest speaker and teaching artist, demonstrating how to use comics, theater, and journalism to stimulates kids' interests in their academic studies. He has developed and conducted creative writing workshops (prose, comics, journalism, and playwriting), as well as consulted on a number of creative arts programs and curricula for children and teens.
As a voiceover talent, Simmons has orated on a wide range of projects from O'Henry Bars, to podcasting information for financial institutions.
Currently, Simmons is the founder of the annual Kids Comic Con, and the founder/curator of the Color of Comics Exhibition. He serves as an advisor for the Christopher Barron Live Life Foundation, the Museum of Comic & Cartoon Art, and is an arts-in-education consultant.
Fantastic! I hope you include this drawing (and others) with any grant applications/asking for $$.