Widely known as one of the premiere North American events in the South Asian community, Bhangra Blowout features some of the top Bhangra teams in the U.S. and Canada. The 17^th annual event takes place this weekend in Washington, D.C and showcases eight teams that will compete for $7,500 in cash prizes. Bhangra Blowout has been recognized as one of the largest gatherings organized by college students in the South Asian community.

Sikhcess has been selected as a partnering non-profit and will have members and information available for weekend participants. We promote positive change within our communities, giving back and serving selflessly.

Bhangra Blowout and Sikhcess are excited to share our passion with a diverse crowd. Many of our Sikhcess campaigns bring different people together and they are able to see the underlying cause of “seva” despite different backgrounds. “This year I was interested in seeing if we would be able to work more proactively with something in the community that directly impacts our local area. Having attended previous events, I was impressed by the service and operations at Sikhcess campaigns,” says Amandeep Saini, Bhangra Blowout Director.

We look forward to seeing some amazing local talent on stage, celebrity appearances, and talking with the crowd. This event is a true testament to the extreme level of dedication and energy from dancers and committee members across the country. Exceeding expectations every year, we expect a crowd of more than 4,000 people!

Bhangra Blowout is on April 17^th, 7pm at DAR Constitutional Hall in Washington, DC. Buy your tickets online at Bhangra Blowout before the event sells out! Thank you for your support!

by Poonum Kaberwal

It’s great to know we have the leaders to make it happen, but what about having a fundraiser of your own? What if you want to put together an event for a good cause, have fun doing it but aren’t sure where to start?

Well, I’m glad you asked.

• The first step in organizing a fundraiser is defining your goals. You need to have a purpose that everyone can support. The more specific you are, the better your energy will be spent and the better the results. Ask yourself questions such as “why do you need the money?” or “how much money do you need?” or “who can we help?”

• When deciding your fundraiser event, keep in mind the income level of your community, what events have worked in the past and something that can target a wide ranging age group.

• Next, build your team. Designate a few people to guide the event and then assign ownership of different tasks that need to be done. Don’t fall into the trap of doing everything yourself. Let those guiding the event trust those responsible for getting each task completed, giving them goals and deadlines.

• With your goals defined, event selected and team organized, you can then discuss the all important budget. This will ultimately determine where your event will be and how many people you need to attend. Most importantly, select a prize or prizes that you can give at the end of your event, which is a big “Thank You!” to everyone that participated, making it fun and generating excitement.

It’s recommended the above steps should be completed about 6 months prior to your event. This should give you enough time to build a strong foundation for your fundraiser.

• With the budget determined, you need to then select your event location. It’s best to have at least 5 options and visit each one, thoroughly discussing who we are and what we do, but also their level of sponsorship. Have your fundraiser selected at least two months prior to the event.

• This is also the time to start marketing your fundraiser. With the heavy lifting done regarding budget, team roles, event selection, etc, your team can now focus its energies on spreading the word. This means creating flyers, sending emails to your friends and community (do not spam) and posting the event online. Continue to market until the final day before your fundraiser, even if you exceed your participant goals. Some people may not show up.

Never underestimate the power of online marketing. We almost doubled our total turnout for the bowling fundraiser in the last week by posting a blog and with reminders on Facebook and Twitter at no expense.

Finally, as the fundraiser approaches, assign your team to handle specific tasks during the event, such as checking in your guests, taking pictures, setting up tables and chairs, decorations, etc. If you need more help, make sure to find interested volunteers within your community to participate.

This is a general outline on how to host a fundraiser but there is plenty of good information online as well. Your best resource, however, is Sikhcess. If you have an idea for a fundraiser or want to organize an event, make sure to let us know. We have the experience to help guide you through any event and can help get the word out to make it successful. If you’re interested, we can email you a copy of the outline we used for the Strike for Success Fundraiser a few weeks ago.

We want to see all our regions feel empowered to do what they can for their community, from fundraisers to volunteer services to feeding the homeless. Let us know if there’s anything we can do, to help get you started: to having fun and also giving back!

By Amardeep Singh Rehal

Kevin Saini won the bowling competition so we’d like to give him a big congrats! Overall, everyone had a good time. Pizza was served, strikes were bowled and most of all, everyone got to meet the people behind Sikhcess and those that support it. It was a great way to mix and mingle in a fun atmosphere to raise money for a worthwhile cause.

Following are some of the photos from the event, but to see them all, please visit us on Facebook!

Kevin Hundal reminding us that “you are the change.” Thanks Kevin!

Guests check in and get ready to bowl.

This team is all about team work!

Party time with the neon lights!

After all that bowling, it was time to eat some pizza!

Definitely having a good time!

Amit Singh hanging out with Kevin Hundal

By Amardeep Singh Rehal

]]> http://www.sikhcess.org/strike-for-sikhcess-a-success/feed/ 3 http://www.sikhcess.org/jamie-oliver-at-ted/ http://www.sikhcess.org/jamie-oliver-at-ted/#comments Thu, 11 Feb 2010 23:21:37 +0000 Amit http://www.sikhcess.org/?p=1394 Just because you’re not at TED 2010 in person doesn’t mean you can’t still get some of the TED experience.

Jamie Oliver was awarded $100,000 and the opportunity to present his vision to the world as part of his TED prize.

A celebrity chef and nutrition advocate (and our ED’s food hero), we imagine that part of that vision includes better, tastier eating — and living.

CNN streamed live the acceptance speech last night.

Here’s a summary of what Oliver’s wish was:

THE WISH:

“I wish for your help to create a strong, sustainable movement to educate every child about food, inspire families to cook again and empower people everywhere to fight obesity.”

THE PLAN:

Set up an organization to create a popular movement that will inspire people to change the way they eat. The movement will do this by establishing a network of community kitchens; launching a traveling food theater that will teach kids practical food and cooking skills in an entertaining way and provide basic training for parents and professionals; and bringing millions of people together through an online community to drive the fight against obesity. The grassroots movement must also challenge corporate America to support meaningful programs that will change the culture of junk food.

THE NEEDS:

• Help to establish the organization, with funding, office space and facilities.
• Find partners to equip and run the community kitchens, and food suppliers to provide the fresh ingredients.
• A partner to build and maintain a fleet of food theater trucks.
• Education experts, graphic designers, artists and writers to develop and produce creative, fun teaching materials.
• Communications experts to create messaging for the movement.
• Web designers and developers to create and build the website.
• Establish a food range that generates a sustainable income for the movement.
• Corporate partners to invest in cooking and food education for their customers and champion honest food labeling.

To challenge our leaders, and to be part of Jamie Oliver’s petition for a food revolution, add your name to the petition to Make Change Now: www.jamiesfoodrevolution.com/petition

Photo: TED / James Duncan Davidson / Marla Aufmuth

So come out and join us for a fun night of friends, food, fun and bowling. We can make the world a better place, one pin at a time!

Please stop by here for more details.

Also, we’d like to mention that this event is a great example of our city executives creating a fundraiser working with their community and Sikhcess volunteers. You too should feel empowered to do the same thing in your cities as well! If you need any guidance on how to start a fundraiser or have any questions, please let us know!

By Amardeep Singh Rehal

Volunteers will help prepare the nutritious meals by assembling them into food packages. Packages will contain a Veggie Sandwiches, Peanut-Butter Jelly Sandwiches, Granola Bars, Bananas, Potato Chips and Bottles of Water.

Volunteers will help cut up veggies on Friday night and prepare the packages on Saturday morning. The packages will then be delivered.

How you can help:
• We are looking for volunteers to help out on Friday night at 5:00 PM to help cut the veggies and prepare them for the morning.
• Saturday morning at 8:00 AM we will need volunteers to help prepare the wraps and packages.
• Once the packages are ready, we will need drivers (around 9:30 AM) to help deliver the meals to homeless on the streets and to shelters in the Bay Area.
• If you can not make it to the event, you can always donate at the location or online! For donations on site, please call 909.262.8730. For online donations, please visit www.sikhcess.org/about/donate.

We need YOU to come and volunteer some time!

Project Description: Sikhcess serves thousands of freshly prepared, delicious, and healthy food packages to the needy in cities across the world. Each city is responsible for creating and serving a vegetarian menu that fits their community’s unique needs.

This effort starts with volunteers arriving early in the morning to cook individualized meals. Throughout the day, volunteers help package the tasty and nutritious meals by assembling them into food packages. Packages contain healthy, freshly prepared vegetarian entrees, bottles of water or boxes of fruit juice, granola bars, and other desserts. Once ready, these packages are distributed to the needy on streets and in shelters.

Every month, the homeless and needy take delivery of these food packages. In exchange, Sikhcess™ volunteers receive countless hugs, smiles, and a heart-felt “thank you”, many times over.

An estimated 3 million people are struggling with the aftermath of the earthquake. Haitian government officials are estimating death tolls in the thousands, and thousands more are living in the streets.

At this stage of the emergency response, the greatest priority for Sikhcess is providing orphaned children with food, shelter, and other supplies. Hundreds of thousands of children are now orphans seeking support and love. They need our help.

Specifically, Sikhcess is working with a orphanage called Foyer de Sion, near downtown Port-au-Prince. Currently, the orphanage provides for over 220 children.

Prior to the earthquake, Foyer de Sion had been constructing a new facility to provide shelter, education, and love to more children; however, their work has now taken a feverish pace. They recognize that each one of these children deserves a chance at a better life.

Sikhcess is determined to raise over $10,000 of money to support the construction of the new facility. We hope to raise an additional $10,000 of money to provide food and basic requirements for the children of the orphanage.

100 percent of money raised will go directly to supporting the children.

Today, just by donating online, you can change a child’s life forever. Your contribution will ensure that these children will receive the nourishment, shelter, and basic-needs-items they so desperately need.

To find out more about our relief efforts, click here.

Well, sometimes it’s easier said than done. Most of us want to give back, donate, find time to visit our local shelter and help out. But we’re all busy these days. We have full time jobs. Some of us have two jobs. And then some of us juggle jobs along with an ongoing education. Or maybe you’re in school full time, planning your stamp on the world. Then again, this past year in the job market has been brutal. Many are occupied trying to find a job in which community service is the last thing on our minds.

So I have to ask: who has time to give back?

Well, here’s an eye opener: everyone in this organization is making time. I’ve described all of us in the previous paragraph. We’re all occupied with other responsibilities, not to mention those with family obligations. We make time after work or maybe a few minutes online. It’s not easy to cancel plans on a weekend after a long week, instead making the trip to hand out food. It’s not easy to step outside our own safe worlds and into someone else’s, helping a stranger, giving up your time.

Then again, sometimes it is. To be in a position to give back, is a position of privilege. I consider myself fortunate to have stability in my life. I’m also supported by generous friends and family. This helps to keep me going but many out there are alone, don’t have support or friends but long, empty days and nights with little promise. A few moments of our time can mean another day for someone else.

Yes, I think we do have time to give back.

If you’re interested, you can learn more about us here. If you’d like to help out, please let us know!

By Amardeep Singh Rehal

I thought about a leader who began a purposeful movement to dissolve racial divides and ensure equal rights and opportunities for all of the world’s citizens. The movement initiated by Martin Luther King Jr. continues today, fueled by the enduring compassion and commitment of leaders in all of our communities.

As a Sikhcess volunteer, I have had the unique privilege to serve alongside some of those leaders who draw from the inspiration of visionaries such as Martin Luther King Jr. and are actively shaping a wave of change that transcends cultural, religious, and economic divides.  During Sacramento’s Feed the Homeless campaign in April 2008, over fifty volunteers from diverse college campuses, congregations, and communities converged at the West Sacramento Sikh Temple.  These leaders (of all ages!) came from all walks of life, but brought with them a shared vision of creating a better world and a shared enthusiasm for serving their community. The result was truly incredible. In just two days, 1,300 meals were prepared and delivered to the Sacramento homeless and hungry.

Since the April Feed the Homeless campaign, Sikhcess volunteers in Sacramento have joined together over and over again to give back to their community—during Operation Backpack in July to provide children in need with backpacks and school supplies, during the Community Clean-up in September to clean and revitalize a community park, and during yet another Feed the Homeless pledge last November.

For me, Sikhcess has become an example of what can be achieved when a group of like-minded individuals come together to make a positive impact on their communities, and I consider myself extraordinarily lucky to be a part of it.

What I have learned from leaders like Martin Luther King Jr. and the leaders in my own community is that the ones that have the most impact—the ones that tear down barriers and create social change—are those who immerse themselves in the world. They are the ones who engage themselves in their communities and create lasting bonds with the people whom they serve.  They are the ones who transform differences into an open dialogue of ideas, beliefs, and opportunities. We too can also become these leaders learning from their selfless actions and community commitment.

Please feel free to share your thoughts on community and diversity as we reflect on Martin Luther King Jr.

By Deep K. Jodhka

The UK is on a run for rallying the world to vote for Sikhcess!

Neel Thakerar Encouraging People: http://sikhcess.org/vote

Volunteers have used ordinary tools like paper, mobile phones, and YouTube, and creatively put super-energy in to capturing people’s attention.  The result has been a charged up movement that’s viral – changing the agar of the world!

They’re doing this to bring attention to a remarkable idea – to end the word’s most challenging problems; things like war, drug trafficking, ignorance, ad terrorism – and unite the world. This is an enormous undertaking, and they’re using creativity to convince people.

Their goal is to spread a message: uniting the world’s children in the spirit of global synergy; engaging them with world-class education, advanced digital technology, and culturally-rich interaction.

Take Action Now. Vote for Sikhcess.

http://vote.sikhcess.org

The implications are staggering.

Vaz Singh's Mobile Phone - http://sikhcess.org/vote

The opportunity that exists is giving each child the confidence, knowledge, and ability to make positive choices that lead to productive contributions for our world. The moment is upon us to increase global awareness for our future generations – and to enable them to create outcomes that are seemingly unattainable. One People. One Humanity. Working Together. Global Peace.

Sikhcess is dedicated to enriching peoples lives through regular, sustained, and meaningful volunteer service. Sikhcess believes passionately in the ability and effectiveness of transforming and enriching the communities in which we live. Our work is based on the basic humanitarian principles of sharing, inclusiveness, community, and public service.

Changing the world is just a click away.

http://sikhcess.org/vote