Them that know me are aware that I've been involved for many years with the Behind The Scenes Foundation. Here's the elevator pitch (i.e. mission statement):
The Behind the Scenes charity issues grants to entertainment technology professionals, or their immediate dependent family, in need due to serious illness or injury that may be used for basic living, medical or funeral expenses. The charity also issues counseling grants to assist with the costs of seeing a therapist or in-patient or out-patient rehabilitation.
The BTS Mental Health and Suicide Prevention Initiative provides tools and resources to support entertainment industry workers and promote mental health and psychological safety.
Behind the Scenes works closely with related industry charities and social service organizations to assist clients to the fullest extent possible. The Foundation raises funds through events, programs and donations. The Foundation further encourages the entertainment industry to create their own events and programs in support of their charity.
One such program, the Ghostlight Groups, was launched this year. Ghostlight Groups are a form of Affinity Fundraising; unlike the mass approach of a 1000 person "fun run," affinity groups are small and nimble, are focused around people who care about the cause, and typically involve a group activity to advance that cause. While these groups may not raise a lot of money on their own, a lot of groups can raise a lot of money.
In my little group, the Rocky Mountain Ghostlight Riders, we're taking a weekend motorcycle ride up to Deadwood, South Dakota on June 9-11, with a jaunt through and around the Badlands, and a stop at the quirky Wall Drug in Wall, SD.
Readers, here's my pitch: We'll be out there on the road raising awareness and hopefully dollars towards helping people in the industry that you regularly rub elbows with. It's a cause you can get behind, so I hope you'll contribute here.