Good News News:

Aren't you tired of all the negative, bad news? Well, so are we!

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PAYING IT FORWARD -

    This story begins five months earlier, when first creating the Global Peace Concert, Inc. logo.  As a team we wanted our logo to be symbolic, and eye catching; something sure to bring visitors to our page.  We decided to keep our logo of the Earth behind a peace sign, with the words, "GLOBAL PEACE CONCERT" and "LIVE THE DREAM".  We then put a symbolic spin on it; we had our designer put the Earth moving in the wrong direction.  It was our Executive Director who came up with the "Secret Contest".  The first person to notice the planet going in the wrong direction, would be the first to receive 2 VIP Tickets to the Global Peace Concert.  Little did we know then it would take five months, and we'd all be left moved.

    On the morning of January 13th the Global Peace Concert, Inc. received a message on our MySpace page titled:

"I look at the world…"

Upon opening the message it read:

"... and I notice its turning,
(while my guitar gently weeps.)  George Harrison

BUT the world is turning... turning in the wrong direction. I am referring to the Global Peace Concert logo. Looking at earth from space, it rotates in the other direction.

Is that supposed to be that way - as symbolism for the direction the world is turning... or is it just an oversight?

... with every mistake we must surely be learning :-)

Happy new year! and Good luck on your project.
Eric"

    Five months and at last we had our winner, a gentleman residing in Sweden!  Our Executive Director contacted Eric to let him know it was not an oversight, and that he had actually won our first contest.  It was in Eric's reply letter afterward, we were all left moved.

    Eric wrote to ask if he could be allowed to "Pay-It-Forward" with his two VIP tickets.  He explained that there are two very deserving women, Wendy and Denise from Pay It Forward Projects (www.pifp.org) that he would truly love to give his tickets to, if we'd allow.  We were left amazed.  I had heard of Pay It Forward Projects, and felt very strongly that we consider his request. 

    We had our board meeting via teleconference that next day, and his request was presented to the entire board.  Our rules clearly state any tickets won were not transferable.  However, we were the ones to make that rule.  After everyone heard about all the work Wendy and Denise have done and continue to do across the world not one of us could deny Eric's request.  In fact our board was so moved by Pay It Forward Project's mission we unanimously voted to name them one of the Global Peace Concert, Inc. benefactors.

    Pay It Forward Projects travel the globe bringing aid to those who normally would never see it.  Their Mission Statement taken directly from their website states:

Our Project has been established to assist in rebuilding the lives, self worth, and the spirit of individuals living in developing nations. The donations collected from our fundraising efforts will personally be delivered to the neediest individuals, families and organizations.
The money will be put to use in the most economical, culturally appropriate and advantageous way for the recipients, whether it is to help them with their health, livelihoods or education. The intention being for the recipients to in turn establish and implement grass root programs with the aim of developing self sufficiency.

    Just incase anyone is wondering how much of the generated monetary donations actually goes to those they help, that answer is easy 100%  They are all volunteers who pay all their own expenses, including travel.

A beautiful quote from PIFP's Founder, Denise Bobba:

"I truly believe in the power of one; that everyone can make a difference and when this is complemented with a team, GREAT things can happen!! I used to think that something tragic needed to happen to get people motivated to do something or to simply find a purpose in life. I no longer think so, I now know that we all have a choice, and I choose to get involved!"

Co-Founder, Wendy Farrell says:

"Our life experiences, both good and bad, are God given tools to be used to help others. I think you always have to search out the positives; we may not always be promised the answers here on earth but need to have faith that we will understand someday!"

    This goes to prove you never know when you're making a difference.  We each can recall the good works we do, but there are the times in between we are still making impacts unseen.  Today we honor these two women for both.  This is a beautiful example of "what goes around, comes around".  Denise and Wendy, you've got the world taking notice, not by tragedy, but by example.

    In my heart I know we will soon be bringing you more "Good News News" on a generous husband, father and friend named Eric, who resides in Sweden, but will soon be returning to India to do what else but "Paying-It-Forward"


By Amy Haba
Treasurer
Global Peace Concert, Inc.