Announcing the winners

Good composition. The balloons are everything in this picture. Without them, this photo would be useless... but with them, its good enough to win something in a contest. (and be on my blog)

The photocontest is called "Say Cheese Long Beach" even though I dislike the over used phrase "Say cheese". (Mostly because I'm more of a photojournalist then a party/posed photographer, so it upsets me when people actually use the phrase when I shoot them... it jacks up their smile!) ANYWAYS! I really like the concept of this photocontest.
24 hours to take an award winning shot in our sexy city of Long Beach.

August 2nd was the last contest date and here are a few of my favorites that won.

Don't Miss the "Grand Prize" shot!
See the rest HERE

2nd Street to a T.

This image makes me smile. A Dad being adventurous and playing with his son. (incase you couldn't tell)
(Image won "Best Family Shot")

My image won top 10!

I won!

There were 15 contestants on the first ever "Long Beach Giving Project" presented by Justin Rudd.
After weeks of creative giving and lining up new people to help out, all the contestants finally gathered, presented their giving to the Judges and enjoyed a night of sharing. In the end, I walked 2nd street after winning the $1000 prize, I was giddy and it wasn't just because I had 2 redbulls while listening to each contestants 8 minutes of stage time. I was like a 1st grader about to have his first day of school. I walked 2nd st with my lovely Girlfriend and couldn't stop thinking about whats next.



But before I drop what I'm going to do with the winnings. Heres what I did with the $500. The rules of the project didn't allow more then $100 to be given to any one project or person. It also stated that giving had to be done 1st hand... no hand outs, or checks. The giver needed to find a need and act on it in a creative manner... heres what I came up with.



MY PROJECTS:

The Feed the homeless crew.

First project: I wanted to reach out and help our homeless population. Long Beach has more then 3000 homeless people.
• Went to Costco with a friend of mine (Amanda Meza!) and her borrowed Costco card.
• Spent $100 on lunch making supplies.
• Recruited 6 of my close friends to help make the sandwiches, bag up the lunches and ride around Long Beach on bicycles handing them out to homeless friends.
• Gave out 90 lunches and were able to point the homeless to people that could help them.



Second Project:
Heather Hamm is a women in her late 50’s
She was recently diagnosed with MS
She has dementia and a minor brain tumor.
She gained 50 pounds and had no clothing necessities that fit her.
I took her to Loehmanns and led her on a shopping spree.

My Third Project:
Marilyn is a third grader with an amazing voice.
She lost her Father, Grandfather and brother within a short time.
A very poor family struggling to make ends meet.
She won the Haute Dog poetry contest and gave the $100 prize money to her mom for that months rent.
This time I wanted to bring a smile to her face, so I set up singing lessons for her.
She was extatic and sang for Audrey and I 3 songs right there in the park.

Project four:
Mothers day is tomorrow.
I bought 50 flowers from Romance Ect.
Picked up 25 mothers day cards from Rite Aid and headed to the Long Beach Womens Shelter. They were soo thankful for the contribution saying no one had ever done that for the shelter. Now the kids would have something to give to their mothers at the Shelter.

Project Five:
Susie, a single mother of 2. Lost her job and apartment due to her Heart problems. She is desperate for a job that doesn’t require a lot of standing and walking. Her heart complication is called “Left Ventical Blockage” . I figured out that she was putting her and her children at risk by driving around Long Beach looking for a job with car tires that were completely BALD infact tire thread was starting to show.
I searched around and located 4 barely used tires for $100, the Tireshop gave me a $75 discount. She thanked me again and again.

CLOSING:
After all of these giving projects, I’m inspired to do more.
Already I am looking into getting involved in all of these peoples lives.
Working with the City of Long Beach to help get the homeless jobs and housing. Supporting Marilyns singing career, Donating more to the Womens shelter and Working to get Susie a job and housing.

My remaining $8 dollars were spent on more flowers to add to the remaing 25. I rode around 2nd street with Ralph handing them out to people just to bring some random happiness.


So yeah. It was a good experience. Although the above doesn't seem like alot, I believe each thing made a great impact on these peoples lives. Thanks again to Justin Rudd, the Judges and to the community of Long Beach. Huge thanks to my beautiful girlfriend Audrey Armada for her support and wisdom during the giving.

Stay tuned for the BIGBIG GIVE!!
Also a video from all of the giving.
More on this at www.justinrudd.com

Long Beach Giving Project

I was nominated and chosen to be one of the "givers" in this upcoming project.
I have $500 to make as many Long Beach residents lives better.
I would love to get some of my readers ideas on what to do and who to help.
But we need to be quick, I really only have 10 days left to do it!

Below are all the details for this project. (stolen from Justin's page)

Thanks you guys!

-Samuel™


THE LONG BEACH GIVING PROJECT
hosted by Justin Rudd


INSPIRED BY OPRAH AND IDOL
Rudd's "Long Beach Giving Project" Will Give Away Thousands by May 10

OVER THE NEXT few weeks, Justin Rudd and his nonprofit 501c3 Community Action Team (C.A.T.) are looking to help people in need in the Long Beach area with their "LONG BEACH GIVING PROJECT." Inspired by Oprah's "Big Give" and "Idol Gives Back," Rudd says thousands of dollars in goods and services will be given locally to those who need it most.

Giving Long Beach at least $8,500.

WHERE DOES THE MONEY COME FROM?
Funds for the program are made possible, in part, by the successes of Rudd's Long Beach Turkey Trot and the Haute Dog Easter Parade charity events. Other funds will come from local philanthropists whose wealth ranges from meager to millions.

........
I AM A FIRM BELIEVER in the collective power of individuals joined in a spirit of goodwill and generous giving to bring about the success of a community.
Justin Rudd!
........


KNOW A NEED?
In addition to individuals identified by the C.A.T. leadership team, project organizers are seeking input from community members who are aware of a person or family with a need that could be met for under $100.

WHAT NEEDS ARE WORTHY?
Every need is worthy. Maybe you know a student who can't afford tickets to the prom; or a mom who needs help buying formula for her newborn; or a co-worker whose relative just passed and needs some assistance; or an elderly woman who can't afford bus fare to get to her doctor appointments; or a neighbor who needs help with the electric bill this month.

Although every request will not be able to be met, the Long Beach Giving Project will fulfill many, many wishes based on need, circumstance and urgency -- in amounts up to $100 per person/family.

NOMINATE A PERSON WITH A NEED
To nominate, send a brief email to Justin@JustinRudd.com outlining the circumstance, what is needed (remember: $100 limit per person/family), and how the individual can be contacted. When writing, please state if the person nominating wishes to remain anonymous.

There is no limit to the number of people anyone can submit, and nominations must be received by April 30.

WHEN WILL THE GIVING TAKE PLACE?
The Project's giving will take place now until the afternoon of Sat., May 10, 2008.

To donate to the Community Action Team's Long Beach Giving Project
contact Justin@JustinRudd.com. Donations to the Community Action Team are tax deductible.

HOW THE MONEY WILL BE GIVEN?
Justin Rudd and his 501c3 nonprofit Community Action Team (CAT) are giving $500 to 15 of their volunteers to give away to others in the Long Beach area in an approx. two-week time limit. In total, at least $8,500 will be given away by those volunteers who will become contestants and part of the "giving team." The contestant who does their giving best -- as determined by a panel of Long Beach's finest philanthropists -- will receive an extra $1,000 to give away.
WHO WILL DO THE GIVING?

Beth Barnes
Lisa Bland
Nancy Buchanan
Michael Day
Brad Gerow
Jenn Gonzales
Janet Higley
Samuel Lippke (see told you! I'm in this to win this!
Debi Miller
Ralph Millero
Amy Morin
April Rivas
Liliane Roy
Andy Vaca
Lisa Woodruff


RULES
- The giving should be done in the Long Beach area.
- No more than $100 can be given to any person.
- Cash, traveler's checks, gift cards and such cannot be given. Rather, contestants must make purchases for goods and/or services and then make presentations to recipients.
- No more than $100 can be given in one place.
- No more than $100 can be spent in any one place.
- Keep records and receipts of your giving.
- We encourage you to keep notes about your entire Long Beach Giving Project process, so you can refer to them when you present your project at the dinner.
- Each contestant must attend a dinner (Sat., May 10, 7-9:30; optional for you to bring one guest; we pay for the dinner for you and your guest) and informally present their giving to the judge's panel, and be willing to answer some questions from the judges.
- Contestants must agree to allow their name and giving stories to appear in the media and online. You may choose to only use a recipient's first name.
- Contestants will receive their $500 cash approx. April 20 - the night of the finale of Oprah's "Big Give" TV show.
- The giving is to humans only.
- The purpose of the project is to give, give responsibly and give with purpose.
- Any remaining cash not spent or given away must be given back to the organizers.
- Receipts must be presented at/before the dinner.
- Contestants are allowed to photograph or video tape recipients or their giving, but may not present that to the judges.
- The actual giving must be completed when the dinner begins.
- Each contestant may invite and bring one guest to the dinner. CAT pays for dinner. Please RSVP with your guest's name at least three days before the dinner.
- Dinner/presentation will last 2 1/2 hours.
- You can involve others (i.e. co-workers, friends, family) in your giving projects, but you are the giver. We want you to do the shopping, buying, giving.
- You may not supplement the $500 giving. (i.e. you cannot give an extra $25 of your own money on top of your $100 giving from CAT)
- We do encourage you to spend/give all $500.
- We do not encourage you to try to fundraise above the $500 we give you.
- We do not encourage you to solicit or give products or services beyond the $500 we give you.- You have the option to go through a few names/needs that have been sent in by public nominations. We are seeking nominations from the community of folks who are in need of a good or service. Contact Justin to see the nominations that have come in.
- The judges' decision will place an additional $1,000 in the hands of the winner, to be spent or given any way the winner pleases.
- Judging is based on: leadership, accomplishments, creativity, presentation of your giving to those in need, and resources to generate the most powerful and sensational ways to make real differences to those in the Long Beach area.

Belmont Shore Christmas Parade

I was in the parade this year!
My good friend Justin Rudd was the Grand Marshal for the whole parade!
I was happy to be apart of his parade crew, I captured a little video and its now floating around on a few sites. (Pretty On The Outside)

The video sums up my nite, (including the Santa Hat, which is something I've never worn in public)

+ PLUS+ A fun afterparty at the Long Beach Lippke Studio, Ira and Myself Hosted The Covolo's, Justin and Ralph, Audrey, Jon Phelps, Meric and Friend, Monica and friends, Desiree, Heather and Eric for the AFTER(after)party. (cheese video to follow...if your lucky)