LA are you ready for the biggest awesomest picnic ever? In May we gave away 1000 to  Danny Cohen and Farley Elliot to build one giant kick-ass picnic . We’re excited to announce that the wait is up : LA get ready for one yummy afternoon and join Danny, Farley and the Awesome Board for a colossal good time:

Don’t we all dream of being awesome parents? The Los Angeles South Bay chapter of the Awesome Foundation is pleased to announce that our first grant – awarded on July 7, 2012 –  will support parents everywhere in getting one step closer to that dream. No, its not free tickets to Disneyland. Pearent.com is an interactive platform that incorporates the ideas of child psychologists, educators and researchers of the Pear model of parenting.  The grant will be used to create interactive visual modules that demonstrates how to bring out the inner awesomeness of every child. It is one small step for the Awesome Foundation and one giant step for parents everywhere.

June’s Awesome Ottawa award goes to Natalie Fraser and Meena Rajulu to organize a giant outdoor lunchtime dance party. “Instead of sitting in the grey walls of your dark, depressing cubicle, who wouldn’t want to get out and dance at lunch,” says Natalie. “Dance Dance (Office) Revolution will break your solo lunchtime routine and get you out into the city for a dance party. This will be your most important business meeting of the week.” Lunchtime dance parties have taken off in Europe over the last few years, especially in Sweden. Natalie and Meena believe it’s time for Ottawa to be a leader in this trend and make Ottawa the first city in Canada to get on board. The pair describe themselves as lovers of travel, food, friends, life, and adventures. Meena left Edmonton to study in Ottawa, where she met Natalie, hailing from Cape Breton. In the past, they’ve embarked on such awesome adventures as organizing speed dating for charity, holding fundraising dinners for Haiti/Pakistan/Mongolian charities, and, as they put it, exploiting their friends to help raise money for worthy causes. We’ll be sure to put out the word when we learn when and where the dance party will take place. We’re… read more →

This month’s Awesome grant goes to Randy Peterson and Ageless Art – Randy’s small but growing program helping seniors in assisted living facilities uncover the artist inside. Randy started with one student 3 years ago and now serves over 200 LA-area seniors a month – many saddled with serious neurological and health issues but, says Randy, with creativity just waiting to bust out: I’ve seen people who really have no mobility and expression come to life through art. THAT is worth a thousand bucks in paint brushes. Here’s just a few of thousands of works created by Randy’s students. Later this summer, we’ll update you on an Ageless Art Gallery showing – stay tuned for more info!  

Awesome Foundation – Calgary is pleased to announce that the 15th grant in our chapter’s history went to Ashleigh Ahern and her Buying Local Project.