Greensboro, NC (Top40 Charts/ Neal Davis Management) - Christmas Means Giving, the charitable arm of Neal Davis Management (NDM) that uses music events to raise funds and awareness for select charities, has announced Toys for Tots Foundation as its 2010 charity recipient. Christmas Means Giving will donate 100% of the net monies raised through sponsorship and tickets sales of their December 17th event in downtown Greensboro, NC to the Toys for Tots Foundation. The decision was made at a company meeting held October 14th.
Christmas Means Giving founder Neal Davis is not new to the world of charity event production or fundraising. In 2002, as owner of On The Square restaurant and wine store, he worked closely with the Edgecombe Arts Council to establish the Edgecombe Arts Performance Series, an endowment fund created to recruit national and internationally touring artists to the magnificent Keihin Auditorium in Tarboro, North Carolina.
With Davis' consultation, the arts council successfully booked and promoted BB King as the inaugural performer from which ticket sales netted over $50,000 for the endowment fund. Since King, the performance series endowment brought international talent such as Buddy Guy, Taylor Swift, Doc Watson, The Lost Trailers, and many others to perform in eastern North Carolina.
Davis also served as a member on the Board of Directors to Band Together NC from 2004-2006. As a board member of Band Together, Davis' work raised over $400,000 for 3 events that benefitted Stop Hunger Now/ Tsunami Relief Efforts, the Music Maker Relief Foundation, and Greensboro-based Operation Smile NC. Band Together formed in 2001 in response to the 9/11 disaster. Since inception, Band Together NC has raised over 1 million dollars in net monies for select charities through 13 musical events.
Danny Rosin, President and Co-Founder of Band Together NC says, 'Neal was the co-chair of Band Together's fundraising concert for Music Maker Relief Foundation in 2005 and pulled in an amazing line up of talent including The Derek Trucks Band. This event helped local musicians in need and created awareness for our charity partner - Neal did a phenomenal job orchestrating one of our early stage concerts.�?�
Following the success of the 2005 Band Together NC event, Davis went on to travel with Tim Duffy, co- Manager of the Carolina Chocolate Drops, former ABC News' Person of the Week, and President of Music Maker Relief Foundation, raising funds and awareness for Music Maker. Additionally, Davis assisted Music Maker with the production and media responsibilities of the inaugural Blues on the Hill (now called the Congressional Blues Festival) event in Washington, DC.
Regarding Christmas Means Giving, Davis does not hide the fact he is modeling this organization after Band Together NC. He speaks regularly with his friend and BTNC President Danny Rosin gathering advice, information, and ideas for Christmas Means Giving. And, with the economy in turmoil and many business' marketing budgets cut significantly, Christmas Means Giving has no lofty expectations of raising hundreds or even tens of thousands of dollars with this year's event.
Davis says, 'My main goal this year is to keep expenses and expectations low and our contribution to and awareness about the Greensboro-area Toys for Tots Foundation high.'�
In line with that comment, Christmas Means Giving's December 17th event is being held at a smaller capacity venue; The Boiler Room (owned by Greensboro developer Mark Schwarz and operated by his daughter Shana.) The Boiler Room is located on McGee St in downtown Greensboro, NC. The organization feels this is a terrific spot to launch their fundraising model.
And though the venue is small, lucky attendees of Christmas Means Giving will be treated big. Sponsors and guests can expect catered food and drink, a presentation from Toys for Tots Foundation, and a terrific evening of live music, and a chance to meet and greet with performers in an intimate setting.
Currently, the presenting sponsor of Christmas Means Giving benefitting Toys for Tots Foundation is Lewis & Clark Realtors, owned and operated by Sara and Tiffany Clark of Greensboro, NC. At the time of this release, the total funds raised in support of Christmas Means Giving's event benefitting Toys for Tots Foundation was $1600. Corporate and personal sponsorships information is available online at www.christmasmeansgiving.com or by contacting Tiffany Clark at 336-271-2727.
The music line-up for this year's event will be announced on November 2nd. General Admission tickets will be limited and available online through the Christmas Means Giving website starting Nov. 11th. All guests are asked to bring an unwrapped toy.
