Causes

Stephen Kellogg: Causes

A NOTE FROM SK6ERS

For the longest time we felt like you had to be someone famous or rich to give to charity. While it always seemed like a good idea and a nice thing to do, it seemed beyond our reach to think much about raising money for others as we were struggling to make a living ourselves. We admired our friends in the band 'Dispatch' who did so much good in the world and we looked up to those in the mainstream music industry who used their influence to make a difference in the lives of those less fortunate. Still, we lacked a fundamental understanding about what happens to people who give. We missed the simplicity in the statement, "the longest journey begins with a single step"...or from the great TV show The Office..."I'd rather be at the bottom of a ladder I want to climb, then at the top of one I don't." It's easy to miss these things and get wrapped up in all there is "to do".

Then, largely through touring, a few things happened in 2006 that changed our point of view. First, we played at the Telluride Bluegrass Festival and met some people from the Clif Bar company. They make energy bars and started sending us their product, which we started handing out at shows. Shortly thereafter I read the story of their company, told through the eyes of their CEO, Gary, and I had an epiphany about the kind of band I wanted to be in. One where in addition to making a living, we had a point of view, real beliefs and donated our time and resources to those things that we believed in. After all, here we were driving endless laps around the United States and playing for hundreds if not thousands of people every week, building a community of people who at least shared similar taste in music, if not much more. Surely there had to be more for us to talk about then reality TV shows and our minor disappointments. I shared my thoughts with everyone on our team and the thing snowballed. We all wanted to do something grand and meaningful with our lives, so why not start right away. But what and how?

Our opportunity to do some good for children came in November 2006. With no gig available while driving through Memphis, Tennessee, our manager, Steve Bursky, offered our services to the St. Jude Children's Hospital. They accepted and our lives were forever transformed. Seeing joy that wasn't built on vanity but dignity, seeing little ones with so much to be angry or sad about who were so much less angry or sad than me...it just put things in perspective. That day SK6ERS developed the Rellogg Foundation concept where we would auction off personal items and donate the proceeds to the charities of our individual choices, based on what we cared about. That is of course only the beginning, we're thinking out loud here...but to date the Rellogg foundation has donated to several charitable organizations including St. Jude, The Make a Wish Foundation, The Raptor Trust, Johns Hopkins University and a host of others. We've donated thousands of dollars and have had the privilege of performing for some of the most lovely audiences in our half decade of performance. 2009 has been a great year as far as SK6ERS involvement with the Armed Forces. The band traveled to Kuwait, Israel, Bahrain, Germany and a half dozen other countries performing for troops and personel. They even capped off the 4th of July by performing for Israeli Prime Minister Netentyahu. Thank you for taking the time to go beyond the music with us.

Sincerely,
SK, Kit, Boots and Steamer


ST. JUDE CHILDREN'S RESEARCH HOSPITAL

"St. Jude is unlike any other pediatric treatment and research facility. Discoveries made here have completely changed how the world treats children with cancer and other catastrophic diseases. With research and patient care under one roof, St. Jude is where some of today's most gifted researchers are able to do science more quickly.
St. Jude researchers are published and cited more often in high impact publications than any other private pediatric oncology research institution in America. St. Jude is a place where many doctors send some of their sickest patients and toughest cases. A place where cutting-edge research and revolutionary discoveries happen every day. We've built America's second-largest health-care charity so the science never stops."
stjude.org


CLIF BAR GREENNOTES

"CLIF BAR GreenNotes, from the makers of the natural and organic CLIF energy bar, is a program that marries the power of music with a passion for the environment in the interest of protecting the places we play for our and future generations.
GreenNotes supports emerging musicians - passionate about the environment in their own right - who may not yet have the resources, expertise, or funds to integrate environmentally friendly touring practices. By helping artists reduce the environmental impact of their tours - and sharing their experience with audiences along the way - we hope music fans will be inspired to take action in their own lives and communities."
clifgreennotes.com


ARMED FORCES ENTERTAINMENT

"As the official Department of Defense agency for providing entertainment to U.S. military personnel overseas, Armed Forces Entertainment and its performers have the honor of supporting soldiers, airmen, marines and sailors by bringing them the very best in American entertainment.
Entertainment has long been one of the biggest morale boosters for US military personnel serving overseas. During World War II, the Camp Shows program recruited and transported thousands of performers to entertain the troops. The well-known celebrities who were part of these shows were a welcome sight to millions of service men and women.
Armed Forces Entertainment is proud to present our troops the finest American entertainment and proud to represent the thousands of entertainers who have volunteered their time to give them a well-deserved break from the action."
armedforcesentertainment.com