Project 100 met Jennifer at Co-op Services Credit Union in Livonia.  She was helping her son do fundraisers to save for a class trip to Washington DC.  Project 100 decided to chip in $100 to help her son get to DC!

Project 100 ran into Jennifer while she was taking her baby for a walk.  She said that the money would be helpful and that she would save the money.

P100 ran into Sharon at the Co-op Services Credit Union in Westland.  She was just coming from getting her hair done, and just recently got her weekends off at work.  We ended up making her $100 richer!

P100 ran into Ken in Westland.  He mentioned that his brother was recently discharged from the military and he may use some of the money to help his brother out.  Way to be in the P100 spirit Ken!

Project 100 was strolling through a local neighborhood when we ran into Barb.  She was out walking with her kids on a beautiful day.  Project 100 made her $100 richer for it!

P100 ran into Diana during a beautiful day Downriver and handed her a $100 bill.  Diana is currently raising her grandkids because their mother passed away.  She’s currently remodeling her house and decided that’s what she would put her $100 towards.

Project 100 surprised Stephanie and her son as they were leaving the credit union.  Her son wanted to use the money on hockey equipment, but Stephanie mentioned she may use some of the money to sponsor scouts.

Project 100 ran into Joe Downriver during a festival.  He mentioned that he had been laid off from the Farmer Jack warehouse a few years ago, and was recently called back about work from the carpenter's union.  Joe mentioned he was going to split the money with his mom, which is completely in the P100 spirit!

Project 100 ran into Susan outside of the Lincoln Park Days festival.  She just recently gave $5 to a kid for lunch when she didn't really have much money to be spending. So Project 100 decided to make her $100 richer!

Project 100 ran into Art in Lincoln Park recently.  He was returning from running errands and found out his lawn service went out of business.  He had pre paid for the year and lost $135 from the deal.  Project 100 helped make up $100 of that money.  Art said he would use the money to help his wife, who is in a wheelchair.

Project 100 ran into an organization at the Woodward Dream Cruise called Christian Business Men.  For the past few years they have been offering free parking at the Cruise, so we gave $100 to their organization for the good deeds.

Project 100 ran into Dennis and Barbi on their way to the Woodward Dream Cruise.  They were in town from Grand Rapids to watch the cruise and enjoy a day in Royal Oak.  Little did they know Project 100 would make them $100 richer.

Project 100 ran into the Saline Fiddlers during a performance in Royal Oak near 13 Mile Rd. and Woodward.  The Saline Fiddlers consist of high school students and they perform all around the local area.   They even gave us one of their CD's.  We know the Fiddlers will make good use of the $100.  Fiddle on, fiddlers!

Ashley and her mom were on their way to Bee's Knee's in Northville when we stopped them and gave them $100.  They were just out on a quick shopping trip and ended up with a new $100 bill.

Project 100 ran into Mary outside of a Coney Island while she was having car troubles.  We showed up just moments before AAA and gave Mary $100 so she could put it towards any repairs she needed.  Hopefully she's back up and running now!

Project 100 ran into Scott and Bailey outside of a restaurant in Northville.  We saw Scott's cast and thought he might be able to use $100 extra.  It turns out he had a torn labrum.  Get better soon Scott!

Project 100 visited Volunteers of America last week to make a $100 donation to the Backpack Drive they are holding this year.  The $100 will be used to purchase new school supplies for local students that may not have been able to afford them otherwise.  Project 100 salutes Volunteers of America for the great job they do!

You never know when Project 100 will stop you on the street and try to give you a $100 bill.  Sam found this out the easy way as he took a stroll in downtown Wyandotte.

Project 100 ran into Brian in a residential neighborhood in Wyandotte.  He and his family were just parking their car and unloading the stroller for a walk downtown.  Brian mentioned he's always giving back and trying to support local causes.  Brian was in the Project 100 spirit before we even met!

Project 100 ran into Gene and Sanda on the sidewalk Downriver, and it just happened to be Gene's birthday.  What better birthday gift is there than a new $100 bill from a complete stranger?  They mentioned that they do things in the community now to help out, so Gene and Sanda are in the Project 100 spirit!

Project 100 ran into Florence doing some cleaning at the Wyandotte VFW Hall and made her the newest $100 recipient.  She didn't think we were serious at first, but she quickly warmed up to us.  She mentioned that she regularly volunteers at the VFW Hall, and the picture above is actually a memorial to her husband outside of the hall.

Project 100 ran into Leslie at a park along the Detroit River.  He just came back to his car for a few minutes to put some items away, and before he could leave again we decided he would be our next $100 winner.  Leslie did confirm it was the first time anyone has ever walked up to him and gave him $100!

Project 100 ran into Sabine on her way to the Wyandotte Art Fair.  Ironically, it was almost 100 degrees when we met Sabine, so it seemed appropriate to give her $100.  We know she's going to put the money to good use!

Project 100 ran into Stacy on her way into the credit union.  She mentioned that she does a lot of work with her church and that she may consider donating some of her $100 to her pastor. 

Project 100 ran into the Livonia Playground Program earlier in the week.  We were just out and about and ran into a large group of people wearing green t-shirts.  We approached them to find out who they were and thought they would be a great group to get one of our $100 bills.  The group mentioned the $100 would go towards new activities for the kids in the Playground Program.

Good news everybody.  We just found a few extra $100 bills laying around and we're going to be hitting the streets in a few hours to hand them out.  Be on the lookout for the P100 logo in the next few hours.  You could be our next $100 recipient! 

Leslie Ashley of Lake Orion was the winner of the Project 100 Give a Little and Win Big Sweepstakes.  She won $1,000 for submitting the most creative idea on how she would use $100 to benefit the community.  Her idea was to keep the $100 and donate the $1000 to the autism program at the Lake Orion school she works for.

“My husband and I just bought a new washer and dryer and donated the old ones to the autism program at the school.  They needed some extra money to get it hooked up, and the $1000 will now be used to get the washer and dryer hooked up and for some other basic items for the autism program.  This money is going to go a long ways.”  --  Leslie Ashley

PROJECT 100: A Good Time to Give

Do you believe in karma? How about fate? We at Project 100 have seen some things lately that make us wonder if anything in this world is truly a coincidence…

For example, we ran into Jamie Broadnax at the Village Green apartment complex in Southgate. She was on her way in when we stopped her and gave her $100. Turns out she had just got off work and was actually going to visit her sick mother who lived in the apartments.

So, was that just coincidence, or the universe’s way of rewarding Jamie for such a selfless act?

Consider this – while walking down the street in downtown Wyandotte, we ran into the stylish Justin Young as he was strolling by and surprised him with a crisp $100 bill. He was so blown away by our generosity and timing, as he had just lost his job. What’s more amazing is the fact that he was, at that very moment, on his way to his sister’s house to borrow $100!!!

No matter what you believe about the weight of a good deed, or a person in need, you can’t deny that things happen all the time that make us question whether there really are forces at work. Guiding us. Protecting us. Rewarding us.

So think about how you can give back in your community and those in need - especially this holiday season. It will probably come back around to you when you least expect it.

Giving is its own reward, but an extra $100 couldn’t hurt!

PROJECT 100: Tis’ the Season…

The holidays are all about giving. We at Project 100 understand just how important giving can be. In fact, we’ve been doing it all year, $100 at a time! Through giving, not only have we created change in our neighboring communities, but we’ve also met some pretty amazing people like Madeline Dechy, a devoted mother of four. She was walking into Co-op Services’ Livonia Branch when we made her $100 richer!  Or Reagan Drain, who volunteers time at her church. She was just getting out of the shower when Project 100 knocked on her door. Or there’s Stephanie Garrett, a hard-working waitress who gave the Project 100 team excellent service at the Holiday Grill in Dearborn. She received a surprising $100 tip for her efforts!

Whether it’s a park, restaurant, or even your own front door, you never know when Project 100 might show up to make your holiday season a little bit brighter!

Last week I was able to assist Project 100 on a series of giveaways.  I had a great time and was amazed by the different responses of the recipients.  We were able to catch two people at their home, two more at Co-op Services Credit Union in Dearborn and one waitress at the Holiday Grill, a popular place for Co-op’s Dearborn staff to grab breakfast and lunch.

Almost all the recipients asked, “What’s the catch?” and “Is this for real?”  We first gave a member that was coming into the office $100.  She stopped long enough to get the cash, give her name and then entered the office.  The person she drove in with got out of the car and was more excited than the recipient. 

The first person we met at their home was a young mother of two, and once the kids realized mom was getting her picture taken they grabbed hold of her legs and smiled.  It was very cute.  The next person thought we were college students selling magazine subscriptions and was very happy to be a recipient.  We looked college age!  How cool was that?  On our way back the office we stopped by the Holiday Grill, and surprised one of the waitresses with a Project 100 giveaway and she began crying.  Her boyfriend has been out of work and she said the $100 would really help.  Back at the Dearborn office our last recipient was a regular at the Dearborn office and was a happy recipient.

It was wonderful to be a part of Project 100 and to see it at work in the community.  Project 100 Rocks!

Judy Nieten – Project 100

Every once in a while when we’re out with Project 100 we like to stop by any local branches of Co-op Services Credit Union to say hello to the staff.  Sometimes we’ll do a giveaway right in the parking lot like we did in Dearborn last week.  Lorraine was just walking in to manage her accounts and we stuck a $100 bill in her hand.  She thought there was a catch at first since nobody has ever randomly given her money before.  Once we explained who we are and that we belive that giving creates change, she was all smiles.  We know Lorraine will put the money to good use. 

Don’t forget to look us up on Facebook and become our fan.  The more you can help us spread the word the more change we can create! 

Bryan Feldpausch – Project 100 

Project 100 was out and about last week handing out $100 at a time.  Someone visited our website and suggested that we pay a visit to Jennifer of Dearborn Heights.  We heard that Jennifer works with teens at a local church which is in the spririt of Project 100, so we thought she should get $100 for doing something to give back. 

Jennifer originally thought we were college kids trying to sell her magazines.  I bet she’s much happier that we turned out to be Project 100!  Now she’s $100 richer. 

Bryan Feldpausch – Project 100

Project 100 ran into Thomas in a parking lot.  He was heading to his car and we approached him with a $100 bill.  Not only does Thomas give back by serving in the military, but he mentioned that before we met up with him he helped someone pay for their gas who didn’t have enough money.  Thomas is definitely lives according to the Project 100 spirit. 

Bryan Feldpausch – Project 100

As you may or may not know, Project 100 is sponsored by Co-op Services Credit Union.  Each Friday Co-op Services staff members wear Project 100 t-shirts to the office, and we have the option of dressing casual in exchange for making a $2 donation to charity.  At the end of each month Project 100 collects the money and donates it to charity.  Just last week we made a donation to the Goodfellows organization for $710 from the casual day funds we raised in October.  Goodfellows will use the money to help families in need with food and other everyday supplies, along with helping make sure the families have a good Christmas.  Thanks to everyone that made a donation!  We know this money is going to do a lot of good in the community. 

 Kind Regards,

 Bryan Feldpausch - Project 100    

We ran into Cy while he was sitting on a bench in the park enjoying the sunshine.  I don’t think he even noticed us at first.  He said he thought we were going to walk right past him.  To his surprise we put a $100 bill in his hands.  We asked him what he thought he might do with it and he said he was going to take his family to dinner.  It sure does pay well to be sitting in the park!

We were out in Walled Lake last week when we ran into Rick.  He was playing with his son right before a Halloween party they were off to.  Rick was completely surprised that we gave him $100 and mentioned that he was going to use it on his kids.

Today we were out and about in the Downriver area.  We made a quick stop to downtown Wyandotte where we ran into Dennis on his birthday.  He was a little skeptical of us at first, but then he gave us a chance to explain who we were.  We're sure that our $100 will be one of his better birthday gifts.  He was also on his way up north, so the $100 could always come in handy there too!  Happy Birthday Dennis! 

Remember, you can follow Project 100 from Facebook and Twitter.  It's a great way to 
see what we're up to, and you might even see where we’ll be next!

Last Friday Project 100 was out and about in Livonia.  Not only were we looking to give out some $100 bills, but we were on a mission to find out what Justin Bieber would look like in 20 years.  Surprisingly, we were able to accomplish both missions.  We met some great people on our giveaways last week.  We met a Ford employee on vacation, a family at the mall getting ready for a trip to the Cider Mill, and a lady who was just leaving work.  It was a great giveaway week for Project 100.

Botsford Commons received $100 last Friday to help their Queen for a Day program. The Detroit Chapter of Queen for a Day is a non profit organization that helps boost the self esteem of kids that have cancer. To learn more visit www.makeadifferenceday.com.  We hope this money helps put a big bright smile on a deserving young face.

To learn more about Botsford Commons visit www.botsfordcommons.org.

We ran into Chaim with his wife and kids, which included a brand new baby, at a bench outside the mall.  Congratulations on the new addition to the family!  After giving Chaim a new $100 bill he indicated that some of his $100 may go to the Injured Marines Semper Fi Fund, as the organization helped him out when he needed it.  That’s a great cause! 

Keep your eyes open for the Project 100 logo.  You could be our next $100 recipient!

Riding in a shopping cart isn’t the fastest way to get somewhere, but it works!  Last Friday was another giveaway day.  We decided to hit the Westland Shopping Center and give some money away to unsuspecting shoppers.  We met some really great people that seemed to be in the giving spirit.    

Kim and her family were heading to the Arts, Beats, and Eats festival last week when they were met with an unexpected surprise - $100 dollars! Skeptical at first, Kim allowed us to explain Project 100’s mission of how giving creates change, and quickly realized that we were for real. Kim is no stranger to helping others – she is hosting a German student, Matthias, for the next six months. He was there to witness Kim get her $100 dollars and may have gotten the impression that we just hand money out on the streets of America – which is not exactly the case. Unless you’re part of Project 100, that is!

Keep your eyes peeled everyone – you could be next!

We all know that skipping school is not a good idea – but what if it earns you an extra $100 dollars??? We ran into Lauren last week on the streets of Royal Oak. She admitted to taking a half day off from learning at the Aveda Institute to enjoy the afternoon. Little did she know Project 100 would be there to make her day even more memorable! 

Even though Lauren wasn’t in school, she did learn something…you never know when $100 dollars might be coming your way! 

Project 100 has taken to the streets and given out our first round of $100 bills for the year!  Our first giveaways took place at the Woodward Dream Cruise on August 21st.  We tried giving the money to the first person that would squeal their tires for us, but we couldn’t find any takers.  :) 

We ended up meeting a family that was heading down to the cruise with their new baby and their family dog.  It was their first cruise as a family, and they were really surprised when we stopped them.  Originally they were wondering what the catch was, but we explained that there is no catch.  Project 100 believes that giving sparks change.  Soon enough we were exchanging stories of past winners and sharing new ideas for giving back.

We ran into another couple as they were leaving the cruise.  They didn’t recognize who we were at first.  After taking a second look they mentioned that they had heard of Project 100 before, and how they appreciate it when people try to do good things in the community.  They then went on to list a series of ideas how they could use the money, including giving it to a friend of theirs who was struggling with cancer.  Their thoughts were definitely in the right place!

Keep checking back to see more stories of our newest $100 recipients.  Don’t forget, you can also sign someone up who you feel might need some help.   Just visit our homepage at www.whatisproject100.com. 

A lot of times, people assume that Project 100 is handing out money in order to get it back. That’s not really true. We’re giving out money to get your attention! :) Do we have it? Great! Now, we just want you to think about what you can do to make your community a better place!

It doesn’t have to be about money. A lot of times people donate their time, clothing (not the stuff they’re wearing, but to Goodwill)… the list goes on. Or they help out with a highway cleanup, or with a charity’s website, or do a simple task for a neighbor. Either way, they’re giving to their community. See? I haven’t even mentioned money in those examples.

The point is, giving is personal. It means different things to different people; however, the result is the same. A simple act of kindness can create change for everyone. Try it out. See what you think!

Need some ideas? Check out our Give section at www.whatisproject100.com/give.php

Do you have a Twitter account? Be part of the action! Follow us on Twitter as we hit the streets searching out random people to give away $100-dollar bills to. (And then find out who got them… unless it’s you, then you can just Tweet that you just received $100-dollars. How great is that?) Also, get more information about Project 100, our experiences with Project 100 participants and interesting ideas on how to give in your community… (maybe even a few creative ways of using $100)! http://twitter.com/project100  

Do you remember that team of people who went around town handing out $100-dollar bills? (Just a small hint, it was us.) Well, we’re back for 2010! (Warning: I’m a bit excited about this fact.)

For those of you who are not familiar with Project 100, it’s an organization created by Co-op Services Credit Union to encourage giving in the community. Remember how down and out we all felt in 2009? (There was that whole housing crisis, automotive industry collapse… not good things!) Well, Co-op wanted to change the message coming out of SE Michigan. Instead of being ‘down and out’, they wanted people to realize what a great community of people we have.

So how did they do it? Well, they created Project 100 under a simple premise. To give $100-dollar bills to 100 people over 100 days. Talk about an idea. There were no strings attached. All that was asked was that people thought about what they could do to give in their community. It didn’t have to be about money. The whole mission of Project 100 was that Giving Changes Everything. They believed that even the smallest act of kindness could bring great change.

OK, well, now that you know the history, you can imagine the stir that it created. (And if you can’t, just check out the rest of the site for stories from recipients, videos and photos – www.whatisproject100.com.)  And the great thing is – it’s back!

What does that mean for you? Well, it can mean a couple of things. First, check out the home page. There’s this little section called “suggest someone”… why don’t you take a few moments and “Suggest Someone” who you know could use $100? And the second thing? Be on the lookout for Project 100 in your neighborhood. We’re making it even bigger this year, so you’ll need to stay tuned. You can even follow us on Twitter as we give away money to random people all over town: http://twitter.com/project100.

We look forward to seeing you, Southeast Michigan! We’re so happy to be back!

Just because Project 100 has turned 100 does not mean we are done with the giving. This time, Co-op Services Credit Union has joined in with their members to help local charities. And we need your help - and your VOTE!

Here's what's happening. Co-op Services, the creator of Project 100, has created a Checking account offer that gives back to the community. When someone signs up for a Co-op Services' Free Checking account, they receive $100. (We love 100 dollar bills around here :) ) If they need the money, they keep it, or they can opt to donate a portion of the money to a local charity.

And this is where we need your help. Several local charities have joined to potentially receive one-third of the donations from Co-op's members. But only the top three charities with the most votes will receive the money. So they need your vote! Won't you take a moment to cast yours today and help out a local charity?

That's right. All we need is your vote. So take three minutes now to visit the home page, www.whatisproject100.com, and select your favorite charity. To learn about the charities, simply click on a charity's name and you'll be taken to the description page that features all of our charities. You can also vote on that page as well. That's it. That's all we need - your vote! See how easy that is?

Please take a moment to vote today, and while you're at it, send a friend or two over to the site for their votes! For more information about Co-op Services' program, please visit http://www.cscu.org/project100.html.

More information on giving back this season to come. Hope you all are having a safe and happy holiday season!



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Kate Sanders of Livonia, Michigan.... (I can hear the "Price is Right" music in my head). All right, so Kate wasn't on the Price is Right but she is Project 100's 100th Recipient! Friday afternoon, the Project 100 team, Co-op Services Executive Team and WDIV Channel 4 Detroit all arrived at exactly at 2 p.m. to surprise Kate with a crisp new $100 dollar bill -- and then the celebration began!

With a shocked look on her face as she answered the door to Jeremy, the entire Project 100 team, the Co-op Services Executive team and a news crew, (I'm reiterating to show you that we do like to do things big!) Kate was at a loss for words as Jeremy handed her $100 dollars. All she could keep saying was "Thank You"! Which is what we get all the time - we love to see people smile. :) Along with her crisp $100 dollar bill, Co-op Services President/CEO Anthony Carnarvon also presented Kate with a $100 dollar gift card and a goody bag from the credit union!

Kate who had lost her job earlier in the year said, "This couldn't have come at a better time."

So what did she say she was going to do with the money? Host a holiday party, of course. But not just any party. We were surprised to find out that Kate already gives back in many ways and has instilled this type of thinking within her family. So much so, that her daughter had recently asked if she could host a holiday party, in which her guests would bring an unwrapped toy to donate to Toys for Tots or canned goods to donate to a local food bank in lieu of gifts. But because of their financial situation, Kate had told her she wasn't sure she could have the party this year.

"I think I'm going to let my daughter have her party now," Kate said.

It's stories like these that make us so happy that our recipients are such givers, and to be a part of Project 100 where I get to meet so many of them! I have been so lucky to be a part of such a great team and to be able to witness exactly what $100 dollars can do for a community! To all of our recipients and to all who I have had the pleasure of meeting, I wish you nothing but the best and hope that you continue to spread the word about Project 100 and keep giving back to those that need it the most.

Project 100 may be done giving away $100 dollars but it's just getting started... be sure to check back often to see just what myself, Jeremy, Stephanie and the rest of the team are up too... You never know what could be happening next!


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Wow. I remember our first days of going out on the town with Jeremy, spotting unknowing recipients in parks, mowing their lawns and in downtown areas. We'd drive around in the "Project 100" vehicle and pick people at random to hand out $100 dollar bills to. Some thought we were crazy at first (whoever heard of someone coming up to you and offering a $100 bill with no strings attached?) while others were just glad to meet us... (after holding their $100 dollar bills up to the light, of course. :) Can you blame them?) And yes, it was much warmer in those early days...

I'm not going to complain. It may be November, but it's not that cold yet (thank you, weird Michigan weather) and we're getting ready to set out to meet our 100th recipient. Not to worry, you will read all about this person by Monday, if not sooner.

And while reaching 100 is a great goal - and a very fun accomplishment - it's really the entire project as a whole which has me happy to be a part of it. It never was about the money. Yes, receiving a $100 dollar bill would be nice... but it's really more about what everyone did with the money. So often I read about Michigan's economic woes and how down things are... and I have to tell you, times are tough, but Michigan residents are tougher (and very generous!).

We have met people who have been out of work, yet turn around and give the money to a family member or a neighbor, because they consider them worse off. Or who take a portion of it for themselves and donate food to a food bank. These are just highlights... I'm running out soon to meet our 100th recipient, otherwise, I'd highlight more. No worries - I will. :)

Project 100 has been such a great organization to be a part of - and I'm so very happy to tell you that it doesn't stop here. This is only the beginning. But enough about that, we have a 100th recipient to get to and a day to celebrate. Thanks to everyone who gives back to the communities we live in - whether you're a recipient or not - you are what make up this great state we live in. I'm happy to be a part of it.


We're off to turn 100! Have a great day!

(Hey - follow us on Twitter today as we meet our 100th recipient: www.twitter.com/project100)



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Our 100th recipient is nearing... and since Co-op Services Credit Union is not done giving, they've started a new project to get everyone (including you - we need your vote!) involved: The Co-op Cares Project!

Basically, the Co-op Cares Project is another way that Co-op Services is getting their membership involved in giving back to our community. Co-op Services is offering $100 to members signing up for their free checking account - if recipients need the money, they keep it. But if they can, Co-op is offering them a way to give a portion of the money back to local charities.

Where does that leave you? Well, the charities need your VOTE! From now until the end of the year, the top three charities will receive one-third of all money donated, and that's determined by votes. So stop by our home page at www.whatisproject100.com, check out the charities involved and vote for your favorite. That's it!

If you would like more information about the program, simply visit the Co-op Services web site at http://www.cscu.org/project100.html.

Be sure to VOTE! www.whatisproject100.com


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www.twitter.com/project100

Ohh, the 100th recipient is SOOOO close - I can almost picture him or her! Can you believe we are almost done? What an exciting couple of months we've had with this amazing program. Even though Project 100 is coming to an end with its 100 dollar giveaways, it doesn't mean that we all need to stop giving back.

Over the course of the summer and fall, I've learned about a lot of great organizations that people are volunteering their time and money to. Many of which, I would love to help out with in my spare time. This program has opened my eyes and made me realize that a lot of people are giving back to our great communities. The media doesn't always get a chance to capture all the good that people do and I really wish we could get the word out more, because there really is a lot of giving back out there! From people donating their money even at a time when you think they could not, to those who donate their time just to bring a smile to another person's face.

Project 100 has been an inspiration for some to give back and for others, it's brought hope that giving back rewards them in financial ways. But we're still not done, not even as we near our 100th recipient. As we get closer to this incredible milestone, I would like to invite you to share your story about how you've recently given back in your community on our Share page: http://whatisproject100.com/share.php


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www.twitter.com/project100

If you are a recent recipient and are wondering where all of our photos are... all you have to do is check us out on Facebook or Flickr! There you will find yourself smiling happily with your crisp new $100 dollar bill. However, if you are not a Project 100 recipient just yet, be sure to sign up on our website, www.whatisproject100.com and you could be chosen next!

Be sure to stop by, check us out, and don't forget to say "Hi!" We love to hear from our recipients!



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Most of us wake up every morning, turn on the news, and hear about all the negative stuff that is going on around the metro Detroit area. While it's definitely a downer, there is one person who wants to change that. Erin Rose, founder of Positive Detroit Blog is hoping to make an expansion of her Blog into a website called Positive Cities.

Positive Cities will be created to substantially increase exposure of valuable local news and expand upbeat media coverage about local communities; offering a user-friendly based environment for residents to interact, engage, and rediscover the love and pride within your own backyard, while driving passion within the marketplace.

Positive Cities is determined to change the landscape of news. Its goal is to give a voice back to you, the people, by creating a two-sided conversation, to change the perception of how your area is represented on a local, national and global scale. :) How great is that?

Project 100 team member Stephanie, had the opportunity to personally meet Erin and learn more about her project and future goals. "This is just the first step of many that Erin is implementing to help our cities," Stephanie said. "And it's great to have someone so motivated to get good dialogue out there. And she's already started making headway with her blog, Positive Detroit. After all, we all live in the Detroit area, why would we want others to talk bad about our home?"

Project 100 would like to help spread the word about Erin's Positive Cities project by asking all of you to visit her website and help pledge to kickstart this great initiative.

http://www.kickstarter.com/projects/PositiveDetroit/sick-of-negative-news-click-here-to-make-a-chang

Due to the nature of the website, Erin is unable to produce the site on her own, so that is why she is asking you to pledge in any amount over $5.00 dollars. As an added bonus, each pledge will receive a great prize! To learn more about Positive Cities, visit Erin's Blog, Facebook, or Twitter.

www.whatisproject100.com

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That's right, Project 100 is asking everyone in the community to donate their recently expired coupons or coupons you don't need anymore, to military families serving our country overseas. This is a quick and easy giving back opportunity that so many overseas families will appreciate!

Did you know that the prices in overseas commissaries are significantly higher than those in the States and military families do not always have access to coupons in newspapers and inserts? That is why Project 100 is asking you to help reduce military families' costs in groceries by sending in coupons you don't use or ones that have recently expired.

To get started, visit the Overseas Coupon Program and choose whether you want to adopt a base or simply send your coupons to an open base. They recommend that you choose to adopt a base because your name will appear on their website in recognition, along with how much money in coupons you have sent. Pretty neat huh?

There is no minimum donation size and coupons that have expired should be no later than two months expired. The program asks that when sending the coupons, you separate the food coupons and non-food coupons in different baggies. Also, do not send restaurant coupons or coupons that can only be used in certain stores like Target or Walgreens, as they will not be able to use them, and please do not staple, rubber-band or paperclip them as they will come apart during shipping.

When you have finished sorting your coupons, add up the face value dollar amount for all of them. By doing this, it places a value on how much you have donated, and could make you eligible for Overseas Coupon Program awards.

So far $2,073,947.68 has been collected in coupons! Way to go to all those who are sending coupons to overseas military families! Give back to those who are serving for our country!

For more information and to get started, please visit, http://www.ocpnet.org/.

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Even with Project 100 still going strong, Co-op Services Credit Union (the creator of Project 100) recently took time out to host its first ever backpack drive, to help give less fortunate students the supplies they need in order to start the school year off right! Together, with help from the community, they were able to donate 75 fully stuffed backpacks! That's a lot of supplies!

All the backpacks were collected, taken to local area schools, and distributed among those who needed them the most. At Project 100, we are happy to be part of an organization that continues to give in various ways with many different causes in the community, even as Project 100 continues to give back. (You should see what's coming next! :) I can't tell you about it quite yet though - stay tuned!)

What a way to keep the positive energy flowing, by helping provide students with supplies that they otherwise may not have gotten. Way to go, Co-op Services!




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Yesterday, while Project 100 was on the road doing its first online giveaway, we came across a young woman in need of some help. From time to time, we occasionally pass up our exit or make a wrong turn because our navigation system is a bit nutty - but this time our wrong turn turned out for the best. As we were exiting the freeway, Jeremy and I both noticed a vehicle that was stalled up on the ramp. Without questioning it, we pulled over and jumped out of the car to see what we could do to help.

The young woman was frantic because her disabled car was blocking traffic, and needed help pushing it off the ramp to allow traffic to pass. Together with another passerby who stopped to help, we pushed her vehicle to a safe location, allowing for a tow truck to come and assist her. The young woman, (we didn't catch her name, but we did find out that she's from North Carolina) was so grateful that random strangers had stopped just to assist her.

As Project 100 promotes giving back to our community, this is a perfect example of people coming together and helping someone who was very much in need. Who knows what would have happened if nobody came to help her? There was no way that she would have been able to push her car to safety. But together with another kind passerby, and with only a couple minutes of our time - we gave back in a big way :) And what I love most about this story? Is that not only did we stop, but that other kind gentleman stopped as well. See - it's spreading!



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There is a big need for volunteers to help deliver food to Dearborn residents who receive meals through the city of Dearborn's Meals on Wheels program. Volunteers are required to use their own vehicles and have the option to deliver meals every morning, once a week, or even once a month. All deliveries are made only to people living in Dearborn.

The need is great so if you have some free time and want to make a difference in your community, please call the Meals on Wheels volunteer coordinator at 313.943.2009.

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Macy's has joined together with Feeding America to provide 10 million meals, but they can't do it alone! They need YOUR help - and here's what you can do.

Host a dinner party with your friends and family and ask that each person that attends donates money. Make it fun and creative - spin it as a dinner fundraiser party! How ever much money you are able to pool in with your friends and family, Macy's will match the contribution. How cool is that?

If hosting a dinner party isn't an option, you can always Shop For A Cause which takes place on October 17, 2009 at all Macy's stores or online. All you have to do is purchase a $5 dollar shopping pass at your local Macy's store. The $5 dollar shopping pass goes to local non-profit charities. For more information, please visit their website, http://social.macys.com/cometogether/#/shop_for_cause

Help support the Komen Detroit Race for the Cure by visiting your local Detroit-area Panera Bread location. It's another great way to help give back, by supporting our beautiful area women in the fight to prevent breast cancer.

During the entire month of October, participating Panera Bread bakery-cafe locations will donate 25 cents from each special cherry-vanilla Pink Ribbon Bagel purchased to the Komen Detroit Race for the Cure, locally sponsored by the Barbara Ann Karmanos Cancer Institute. The Funds raised will benefit local breast cancer screening, treatment and education programs, and the Komen Foundation's research grant program.



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It's not often that when we visit a recipient's home, we are invited to come in, chat, and take home tomatoes! But boy when it happens, I have to tell the story!!!

Recently, Project 100 surprised Patricia of Westland as she was gardening in her backyard. As many other recipients have experienced, she was a bit disbelieving that we were there to give her $100 dollars. Holding the $100 dollar bill up in the light to make sure it was, in fact real, Patricia started to get misty eyed as she said she couldn't understand why she was chosen to receive $100 dollars.

As you know or are maybe just finding out, our recipients are completely random, and in fact, it seems like karma takes us to recipients that have already taken the time to give back to their community. Which in its self, is a nice thing too! Project 100 loves to hear all about what our recipients are already doing and continue to do!

Patricia went on to tell us that for many years, she has given back to the community by volunteering her time during the holidays to help serve the homeless in soup kitchens. In addition, Patricia also does something very special for her neighbors! During the summer, (as we were soon going to find out) she grows hundreds of tomatoes in her garden. And at dusk, she takes her dog, King, out for a walk and hangs bags of tomatoes on her neighbors' doors. How is that for sharing?

Why does she do it? Simply because she likes to give back to others! As we were getting ready to leave, Patricia absolutely refused to let us leave her home empty-handed, so what did she do? She gave the team a bag full of tomatoes! Let me tell you, those we're very delish and we can't thank Patricia enough for sharing!

Patricia is really a giver and that's exactly what Project 100 hopes more people will do. During these tough times that each and every one of us face, it's always a beautiful thing to see others give back in any way they can. Like we tell everyone, it doesn't have to be volunteering your time or donating money. It can be as simple as passing out tomatoes to your neighbors, just like Patricia does!

Patricia, thank you so much for what you do for your community, you've created that spark for change that will keep myself, as well as the team, to keep on giving!


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Last Sunday, I had the opportunity to participate in AIDS WALK Detroit. Not sure if anyone reading was also there (if you were, let me know!) - but what a great experience! And I only found out about it by making brunch plans with a couple of my friends. After deciding where we were going to eat, my friend, Kara found out about the walk and asked if we wanted to do that first, and then head out to brunch. We readily agreed. :)

As you can see from the photo, I decided to sport my Project 100 t-shirt in support of the community and giving back. :) The weather was absolutely perfect (and let's face it - we haven't had many of those days:) )The energy for the walk was high (there was even a warm up that we took part in right before it started - and no, you won't see pictures of that!) There were tons of people out and about as we took to the streets of Royal Oak, then north on Woodward and then back. All in all, a great experience.

See how easy that was? And I even got a few donations just by walking through my office and asking anyone if they wanted to support me and the cause. It felt great to be part of something, seeing all of the other people who were a part of it, getting cheered on by bystanders and getting to hang out with my friends while doing it. The point is - giving back does not have to be a chore, in fact, I just named four benefits that I enjoyed for just a couple of hours of time. (Oh, and brunch was great as well - so that makes five!) And - those people who supported the cause at work? They got to be part of this as well - and that money, helps out a lot of people in the area.

Just one act - goes a long way. Think about it. :)

If you're a recipient and you're wondering where your picture is, we've got them all up on our Facebook Page, www.facebook.com/project100. Don't worry, you all look fabulous! :) While you're there, sign up to become a fan of the page so that you can be kept up-to-date with money saving tips and local volunteer opportunities.

Stop by, say hello - we won't bite! We'd love to stay in touch with our recipients! Hope to see you there.


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Are you tired of looking through a closet full of clothes that you don't wear anymore? Maybe you just can't shut your closet door because you just have too many clothes, or perhaps your shoes are piling up everywhere and you've forgotten that you even own half of them? Like a million of us out there, I know I have gently used clothes that I just no longer wear. And luckily, I have a great opportunity to pass along that's worth cleaning out your closet for!

Parisian Department Stores is partnering with Goodwill Industries to support giving back and giving back to you! Now through September 29th, donate your gently used clothing to any Parisian Department Store and receive a 20% off coupon for each item donated. How cool is that? You can clean out the old - and even bring in a couple of new pieces!

So go ahead clean out your closet, get rid of some of those clothes you've never worn (I know I've picked up a few things this summer that I'm never going to wear!), and head on over to Parisian to stock up on the latest fall fashion trends -- all while giving back! Now, I know what I will be doing this weekend :)

Of course, if you don't want to buy anything new, you could always just donate your clothing directly to Goodwill, or bring your clothes to Parisian and give away your 20% off coupon... see? There are so many easy ways to give back!



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While looking at the Project 100 tweet deck today (Yes, Project 100 is on Twitter so make sure you're following us www.twitter.com/project100) I came across yet again, another awesome cause organized by Better the World. It's called The Final 4 - 4 schools, 4 months, 4 charities.

So what's this one all about? Well, it's a contest that just started this month and runs all the way through December 31, 2009. All you have to do is simply register on their website, www.bettertheworld.com/contest, and add your school to your profile - but it doesn't stop there, you're required to invite friends to join Better the World and obtain points. Points can be accumulated a number of ways: from recruiting to setting goals and contributing to bettering the world!

The top four schools with the most points from their members will win. The top school will win $2,000 to use to improve the school. The #2 school gets $1,000; the #3 school gets $500 and the #4 gets $250. But that is not all - the top four schools will get to pick the winning charities.

The Top School�s most popular charity will win $4,000. The second place school will award their favorite charity with $2,000, the number three school�s charity pick gets $1,000 and the fourth place school will give their favorite charity $500.

Joining Better the World allows you to showcase to others the causes you support and what you're doing to help support them. It's pretty cool, I just signed up to help support Habitat for Humanity, and it gives me all the different ways I can help raise money or do simply things to contribute!

Project 100 wants to hear from you to let us know which causes you support and how you help contribute by sending us an email at info [at] whatisproject100.com! We look forward to hearing from you!

For more information about the contest, visit their website, www.bettertheworld.com/contest

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There is another awesome giving back initiative going on here in metro Detroit and Channel 95.5's MoJo in the Morning Crew is behind it. The initiative -- Time Team Detroit. So what's it all about? They are encouraging YOU to give your time.

Time Team Detroit's website is an interactive site where people and organizations can be connected to take steps toward building a world where those who need help can get it. They believe that volunteering will transform you and the world around you... just like what Project 100 believes!

So why did MoJo In the Morning decide to do this? In a spirit of generosity and mutual respect, they wanted to find a way to give back to the city that supported them throughout the years. The program was created to encourage hands-on community involvement. Mojo decided that the best way to directly and positively impact Detroit was to use his microphone, as the team learned early-on that they could use the airwaves to mobilize hundreds of listeners to participate and to visibly see the rewards of helping our own community.

Be sure to check out the website: www.timeteamdetroit.com and register to sign up to start helping others in the metro Detroit area. Your community has given back so much for you, so why not give back to it!


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America will never forget the tragic events that took place in our nation, eight years ago today. What resulted from a horrible incident, however, was the amazing response that took place as Americans rallied together to support families who had lost loved ones, to help in recovery efforts, and to show the world that America would never falter.

In April, President Obama signed the Edward M. Kennedy Act, which officially recognized September 11 as a National Day of Service and Remembrance. In honor of those who were lost on that tragic day, Project 100 would like you to take the pledge and think about how you can serve today and in the future.

Take a look at the following events featured on the Detroit News website that are going on around in our local community today. We'd love to hear how you gave back today, so be sure to Share Your Story.

Lansing

� The 9.11.01 "Never Forget" Memorial Event is from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. today at the State Capitol, 100 N. Capitol in Lansing. The names of all the Americans who died in the 9/11 attacks will be read.

Oakland County

� The American Red Cross will hold a blood drive in honor of the memory of the 9/11 victims from 7:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. today at Botsford Hospital in Farmington Hills.

� A Patriot Day Ceremony is at 5:30 p.m. today at Walter Sundquist Pavilion at Riley Park in downtown Farmington. The American Legion Groves-Walker Post #346 of Farmington, along with the cities of Farmington Hills and Farmington, will honor those who lost their lives in the attacks and those who have served and are serving the country.

� A Taste of Detroit, Remember 9/11, is at 8 p.m. today at Magic Bag in Ferndale. It features local bands including Emily Rose, Stellar Drive and Core Effect. Portions of the proceeds will go to the Denis Leary Firefighters Foundation and the Ferndale firefighters.

� The Michigan Fallen Heroes Memorial to honor the lives and service of Michigan's first emergency responders and 9/11 victims is at 8 p.m. today at the memorial, 1200 N. Telegraph. A candlelight vigil and ribbon-cutting ceremony are planned to unveil improvements to the memorial.

� The 9/11 Day of Remembrance Golf Outing to benefit the Fallen and Wounded Soldiers Fundis at 8:30 a.m. today at Moose Ridge Golf Course, 11801 Doane in South Lyon. Proceeds will benefit Michigan veterans. Miss Michigan USA, Lindsey Tycholiz, will attend. For information, call (248) 797-6111.

Wayne County

� The annual City of Detroit 9/11 Memorial Service is at 11 a.m. today at Campus Martius Fountain Park in downtown Detroit. Mayor Dave Bing, Detroit Police Chief Warren Evans, Deputy Fire Commissioner Seth Doyle and hundreds of Detroit firefighters and police officers will recognize and commemorate the victims of the attacks.

� A 9/11 memorial service is at 9 a.m. Sunday at City Hall, 36601 Ford in Westland. The Rev. Kurt E. Lambart of St. Matthew Lutheran Church in Westland will preside.

� Plymouth Fall Festival Taste Fest is from 6-8 p.m. today at Station 885 Restaurant in Plymouth to benefit local charities. There will be a 9/11 remembrance.

� The third annual 9/11 Memorial Bike Night is from 5-10 p.m. today in downtown Monroe. There will be a ceremonial Moment of Noise at 9:11 p.m. There is a suggested $5 donation with proceeds benefiting the children of the Great Lakes Burn Camp. For information, call the Monroe Fire Department at (734) 241-1626.

I'd like to spotlight a great non-profit organization that contacted Project 100 recently in hopes of getting more volunteers. Alternative For Girls, (AFG) located in southwest Detroit, primarily serves homeless and high-risk girls and young women, but also provides services for boys and young men.

Currently, AFG needs YOUR help. Right now, 15 boys and girls are on a waiting list to become matched up with a mentor. Here's where YOU come in! Mentors need to be at least 18 years of age or older, pass a background check, and receive Department of Homeland Security Clearance. Interested mentors will attend a mentor and volunteer orientation where they will be asked several questions regarding their interest and likes, and then asked which age preference they prefer to mentor.

AFG asks that its mentors commit to one year and visit with their boys or girls for a minimum of four hours a month. To be successful as a mentor, all you need to be is positive role model! Take them to the park, talk to them about their problems, maybe even help with homework. It doesn't take much to become a positive influence in someone's life.

If you or someone you know is interested in becoming a mentor for Alternative For Girls, please visit their website: www.alternativesforgirls.org, or contact Heather Hope by phone, 313.361.4000 or by email, hhope@alternativesforgirls.org.



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Project 100 wants to wish everyone a safe and Happy Labor Day!

If you haven't already, make sure you tell all your friends to sign up on our website www.whatisproject100.com to possibly become the next Project 100 recipient!

Stay safe - and hey if you can, help someone in need this Labor Day!

I couldn't help but blog about a wonderful recipient that we met on our journey across Southeast Michigan: Denise Frank of Romulus. Denise was outside picking weeds at her mother's house when the Project 100 team approached her as our next recipient.

When we first approached Denise, she appeared to want nothing to do with us. After all, what is the first thing that usually pops into your head when three individuals walk up to you? You probably think its just another group of people trying to sell you something! But not Project 100, we want to give you something - $100 dollars to be exact. :)

As Jeremy told her we had something for her, she opened up the money holder, looked down in shock and screamed "Thank You, Lord!" and then repeatedly asked, "Am I on TV?" After the initial shock of receiving the $100 dollars wore off; she ran inside her mother's house, and told everyone inside to come out and meet the people who just gave her $100 dollars.

Denise's mother, Barbara and her sister, Lydia came out and immediately thanked us for giving Denise $100 dollars. Then, they told us about all of the wonderful things she does to give back to her community.

Denise is a strong believer in giving back. She had recently broken her arm and had been concerned about how she was going to continue giving back to her community. In fact, just a week before we paid her a visit, she had found a way by taking in a homeless family and providing them with shelter, food and clothing.

Project 100 commends and congratulates Denise for doing such a wonderful job in her community, even when times are rough for her personally. We hope others will be inspired by reading her story, and do something great for their communities too!

Denise, Project 100 is so happy to hear back from you and appreciates that you shared your story! You can read Denise's story here on our Share page. And, if you haven't already signed up, make sure you do, Because You Could Be Next!

You may have seen us driving around town, seeking out our next recipient. Or, you may have seen us on TV, or maybe even heard about us on the radio (although I haven't convinced Jeremy to write a song yet for Project 100, then he could rock that out as well!) Either way, we're excited that Project 100 is making a real impact in Southeast Michigan and Co-op Services Credit Union is the driving force behind it.

Perhaps you're wondering why anyone would decide to give out money, especially in this economic climate? (It's not a crazy question - we hear it a lot!) Luckily, Co-op Services saw beyond this when the staff sat down and created Project 100. If you don't know about credit unions in general, they're non-profit and they're driven by a cooperative effort to serve the community. Simply said, Co-op Services is very involved in giving back.

This year, however, they were driven by a need to really make a positive difference in Southeast Michigan. The credit union wanted to do something unique that could be spread throughout the area and impact as many people as possible. There began the idea of Project 100. (Which I for one, am quite happy about, since I'm a part of it! :) )

We knew that just giving money away alone wouldn't be enough - we needed to create a spark that would continue to spread throughout the area. So we needed to figure out how to get others involved and to carry the money even further than we could alone. That is where everyone else came in... we enlisted the help of random people all over the area - yes, that's you - and as we give out $100 dollar bills, we encourage recipients to continue the effort of giving back.

So even if you haven't received a $100 dollar bill, (you still could - sign up on the home page!), you can still experience the benefits of Project 100. There are so many great stories from people who are giving back and helping out others. Did someone do something nice for you today? Why not extend that to someone else? Maybe you could assist someone who's having trouble with their groceries in a parking lot, or help your neighbor down the street with a chore. Whatever it is - continue the act of giving with Project 100. This program's success, relies on you!

At Project 100, we are very excited to be part of Co-op Services' vision in changing Southeast Michigan for the better. And just think, this is only the beginning. (Sounds ominious, doesn't it? Stay tuned! :) )



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OK - before you go all squeamish on me, let me at least tell you what I found out. I was researching different ways of giving back to write about and of course came across the "donating blood" option. I read through a couple of articles and was amazed at some of the statistics that I found. Do you want to affect a lot of people really quickly? Roll up your sleeve, my friend.

** One donation can help save the lives of 3 people.

That's right. Spend about 10-12 minutes with your sleeve rolled up. Drink some juice afterward, eat a cookie and you just affected 3 lives. That's pretty good for maybe an hour total of your time.

** Every two seconds someone in the U.S. needs blood.

In the time it'll take me to write and post this blog, that's a lot of people. (And it doesn't take me that long to do this!) You and I could at least take care of 6 people with our one donation.

** You can donate blood every 56 days.

** The two most common reasons people say they don't give blood are: They never thought about it and that they don't like needles.

OK, well, I'm taking care of the first reason by telling you about it. And if you really want to know how many people you affect, check out the American Red Cross's web site for more interesting facts about donating blood: http://www.givelife2.org/sponsor/quickfacts.asp

As for the needles, I have to tell you, I'm not wild about them either. I'm not afraid of them, but who actually says, "Woo hoo, bring on the needle!" Have you actually ever looked at one though? It's tiny, which is kind of funny. When I was about five, I needed to have my blood drawn and my grandmother told me to not look at the needle because then it wouldn't hurt. She was right! Of course, a few years ago I tried to test that theory, thinking that of course I'm old enough to look at a tiny needle... believe it or not, it hurt. I'm back to not looking. :) And I'm fine. Bottom line: It's all in your head, really.

** Only 5% of the population donates blood.

See why you should get on board? Do something that few people do. Start a trend!

** There is no substitute for blood.

That means, without blood, we're all in trouble. Kind of makes me want to give back so that I'll have it when I need it. :) There's that karma thing again!

Oh and just in case you need another reason. Apparently there's a health benefit on your end too. It reduces excess iron in the body, which apparently we all could use less of. Don't believe me? Do a search on the Internet and you'll come up with a bunch of medical news articles. So not only are you helping others, but you're also helping yourself!

Need to find out where to donate? Search for a location here: http://www.aabb.org/Content/Donate_Blood/Where_to_Donate/

OK. That sounds pretty good to me. I'm in. Are you donating blood? Comment and let us know what you're doing to give back.



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Do you have gently used children's books that are just lying around the house? Maybe you saw a few that were on sale at your local retailer? If so, bring them to any Gardner White furniture store to donate to their Book Drive for local children in need!

Now through September 30th, all Gardner White stores will be collecting new and used books to be donated to the Salvation Army. The books will be used in the children�s area of their shelters throughout metro Detroit.

To find a location nearest you, visit the link below.

http://www.gardner-white.com/locations/index.php

Project 100 Team Members are giving back too! Since we've asked all of you to give back, we're thinking of new ways that we can too! And in the spirit of Project 100, a couple of Team Members got together with Co-op Services Credit Union to help celebrate a birthday, and reward a young girl who spends almost all of her time volunteering for her local community.

Ashley Thornton, 15, from Clawson, is not your average teenager. She is a dedicated young woman who believes in giving back to her community and spreading the word about volunteering. Ashley is heavily involved as a Civil Air Patrol Volunteer, CAP, where she performs search and rescue operations.

Just last year, Ashley was chosen to to attend Washington D.C., where she spoke to Senators regarding budget cuts to their CAP program and how it would affect their search and rescue missions.

Ashley loves her involvement with CAP and almost recruited Project 100 Team Member, Stephanie, on the spot! Through CAP, Ashley has discovered a love for flying and has now set a goal to obtain her pilot's license when she turns 17. "I love flying airplanes," said Ashley."I can get a pilot's license at the age of 17, that's just two more years!"

In addition to her involvement with CAP, she also volunteers her time at several other organizations; Operation Good Share in Pontiac, a local dance studio in her community, and a Halloween event serving underprivileged children.

When Project 100 Team Member, Adriane, heard about Ashley and her involvement with the community, Adriane pulled together the rest of the team to figure out a way to recognize her achievement. The Team then got together and bought a cake and balloons for the birthday girl to celebrate her involvement in the community, while Co-op Services Credit Union chipped in with an iPod! (While we're sure Ashley was happy to eat the cake, we think the iPod is what really made her day! :) )

The Project 100 Team and Co-op Services Credit Union commend Ashley for all her hard work and dedication to the community. She is a perfect example of Project 100's mission to continue to give back and get involved. We hope that her story inspires others and creates that spark for change that will spread throughout metro Detroit.

Happy Birthday Ashley! It was great meeting you!

I stumbled upon another great website that features giving back in our local communities, www.peoplemovers.com. Not to be confused with the actual people mover in Detroit :) This site hosts a ton of information where you can find just about anything from volunteer opportunities, events going on in the area, and even connecting with other members in your community. Just what Project 100 likes! :)

Peoplemovers invites everyone to sign up on their website and join their online community of individuals and organizations working together to create healthy communities through healthy relationships. Check it out and see how you can get involved! www.peoplemovers.com



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So, this morning, I was all set to blog about the Community Foundation's Arts & Culture Challenge, which supports arts and cultural organizations in Southeast Michigan.

What is the challenge? For every $2 donated, the Community Foundation was matching $1, up to $1 million dollars. (Note I said was) This challenge was going to run until September 18, or until the funds were gone. Guess what? The initial match was reached in 6 hours! So what did the Foundation do? Added an extra $250 thousand dollars to their matching... and that goal was reached in 11 hours.

This is a great story and shows an incredible outpouring of giving in the area. Still want to donate? Visit the site at www.cfsem.org! For the complete story about the challenge, visit http://tinyurl.com/mtawjj.

Wow, I'm happy! Michigan residents really know how to pull together! And that's just one event, with only 10,000 people. Let's give the news something great to report about metro Detroit. Have you given back to your community yet? Be sure to visit the GIVE section on the site for ideas. Or check out a few of our blogs in the Giving Ideas category on the right. We're always adding more. Remember, it doesn't have to be about money. Giving means a lot of things to a lot of people!

Let us know what you're doing to Give Back. We'd love to hear from you!



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Project 100 wishes Jeremy a Happy Birthday! Hope you're having a great, fun and goofy day! :)



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Let's say your car is in the shop and you feel like you're in need of an afternoon of pampering, but all you have is a bike! No biggie, you decide to just hop on your bike and ride into town to get a pedicure! On your way home, you're approached by some people with a camera and - $100!!! Welcome to a day in the life of a Project 100 recipient... because that's what happened to Darlene from Walled Lake!

Isn't it funny how life works? If Darlene's car had not been in the shop, she would have driven to the salon, and chances are Project 100 may not have approached her because well, we can't come up to you while you're driving... Hmm... maybe at a red light :). This is just one example of how we're randomly finding recipients... it happens anywhere and everywhere! You could be outside walking your dog, taking a jog, walking downtown, or simply mowing your lawn. Or, you could even be sitting in your living room watching TV! You absolutely never know when you're going to be visited by Project 100!

Yes, that is how Project 100 is randomly choosing recipients now. But very soon, we'll be randomly selecting recipients from those who have signed up on the web site.

So make sure you tell all your friends, family, co-workers, neighbors, heck, even a passerby on the street - and get them to sign up for their chance to receive $100 from Project 100!

While you're visiting our site, like you are now :) be sure to click that "GIVE" button at the top to find new ways to give back to your community, then click on the "Volunteer" link to find the latest and greatest organizations to donate your time to. Click on the "SAVE" section to learn savvy money-saving tips to keep your money where it belongs, in your pocket!!



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Congratulations to Cheng-Ming of Southfield for becoming our 50th recipient! Project 100 has hit the halfway point! In celebration of our halfway point, Cheng-Ming was given an additional 50 $1 bills to make giving easier. Remember, it's just a simple act of kindness which can change everything.

What simple act of kindness did you do today? Remember, you don't have to be given $100 to start an act of kindness. Just giving back on your own could kickstart some good karma. That's the thing about karma. It seems to pop up when you least expect it. So, tell us about your act of kindness that you completed today in our Share section! Then, be sure to sign up on the home page. You never know - You Could Be Next!



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Now that our story is out and many media outlets have covered us, we constantly get asked why are we doing this? Recipients are still stunned when we tell them it's all about giving back to the community. I think many of us need to ask ourselves this question: "When was the last time I've given back to the community?"

Do you know that there are an abundance of ways to give back? If you have not already checked out our GIVE section on our website, I urge you to do so now. We have an entire page dedicated to ways to Give Back as well as a page dedicated to Volunteering, where we have listed many organizations to choose from, if you have the time to volunteer and give back. Volunteering not your thing? If you're like me, you may work a lot of hours and barely have time for yourself, so you may find that it's hard to find time to volunteer. But volunteering isn't the only way you can Give Back! I've discovered many other avenues to contribute to when it comes to giving back to my community. Recently, I started donating my old gently used clothing to Purple Heart. Again, another great way to give back to others that are in need that only takes a few minutes of my time!

We tell every single of one of our Project 100 recipients that giving back to the community doesn't always have to be about donating money or donating their time - it can simply be just picking up the trash that's been blowing around in your streets! It's the simple act of kindness that we hope spreads throughout the metro Detroit community and eventually, beyond!

As we've mentioned before, Project 100 believes that the act of giving changes everything! So get out there and do something great for your community! Spread the word and get others involved and don't forget to sign up because Project 100 could be knocking on your door next!!!



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That's right. Mystery solved. Be sure to check out the article in today's paper! Read all about it and Project 100's 44th recipient! More to come!


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Over the past few weeks, a lot of people have caught on to Project 100! Many have written stories about us and even interviewed us - which we love! I just want to take the time to thank our friends over at Detroit Lives for putting up a short blog and helping us spread our message. Without the help of our fellow blogger friends, Project 100's message wouldn't reach as many people - and we really need it to! Thanks again for all of your help.

You can read the full story on Detroit Lives Blog by clicking on the link: http://www.detroitlives.org/newsblog.html

Thanks again and remember to Sign Up - Because You Could Be Next!



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Project 100 will visit our 50th recipient today! Are you on Twitter? Follow us as we hit the streets to randomly select our next lucky recipient at www.twitter.com/project100. While you're at it, become a fan on Facebook and tell your friends about Project 100. Be sure to tell them to sign up for their chance to receive $100 at www.whatisproject100.com!

This project's success - our community's success - all depends on the people involved. It's about you - and me - and everyone we can get involved. But we can't do it alone! Get your friends and family on board - encourage them to sign up on the site - have them visit the GIVE section for ideas on how to give back to their community. Let's give Southeastern Michigan some great news to share with the rest of the country!

Have a great day! Be sure to join us as we reach 50!


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That�s right. Project 100 is celebrating its halfway point on Monday. And what better way to get everyone ready for it but to look at milestones involving the number 50?

- February 19 is the 50th day of the year
- The roman numeral for the number 50 is L
- The year 50 A.D. started on a Thursday
- Your 50th wedding anniversary is the �golden� year
- Half of all Americans live within 50 miles of their birthplace (really?)
- Your nose can remember 50,000 different scents (some I wish it would forget, actually)
- The credit card system was introduced in 1950
- Mass production of computers began and the first organ transplant also began in 1950
- Hawaii was the 50th state in the U.S. in 1959 (yes, still in the 50s!)
- Both Alaska and Hawaii turn 50 this year! Congratulations Alaska and Hawaii!
- Ulysses S. Grant is on the 50 dollar bill. (Do you think more people would know that than the $100?)

Maybe we�ll send Jeremy out to ask that question!

Project 100 celebrates all of its recipients � and this importance milestone. We�re almost halfway there but we have so much more to do. What can you do for your community in the next 50 days? Let us know what you�re doing now!

And remember, sign up for your chance to receive $100. You could be next! Ask Joshua � he was number 49 and believes in the power of positive energy. At Project 100, so do we! Just think if we all just helped each other out a little more � just think of the changes we could make?


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That's right! Project 100 has reached its 49th recipient! That means $4,900 has gone out to residents in Southeastern Michigan. We're almost halfway there!

Project 100's success is all about you - and me - and all of us who live in this area. This is our town! What have you done to give back to your community today? Let us know!

Oh - and that 50th recipient??? I have a feeling that it will be a big milestone. Hmmm - what are you doing on Monday?

Have a great weekend! Follow us on Twitter and Facebook as we go out on the town (also, so you can stay updated, because I can't blog on the road.) :) And be sure to sign up - because You Could Be Next!



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We can't thank Bill Armstrong enough for being such a good sport as as WXYZ Channel 7 pulled up along-side us to catch the Project 100 team in action giving back to the community. Between getting a crisp $100 bill and making a television news appearance, I�d say Bill had quite an eventful day!

I was able to catch up with Bill through our Facebook Page where he and his co-workers had a few things to say.

"He did buy lunch for the guys today...Thanks Chief,"said Rock Upshaw.

And he did, in fact, purchase lunch for his staff, where he is Interim chief of police for Lathrup Village. In addition to purchasing lunch, he also gave his son and daughter $20 each, with the request that they give $5 of that money to a stranger and explain what Project 100 is!

Bill is another great example of how one kind act leads to another! The entire team at Project 100 is so grateful for recipients that keep the giving going! We hope to not only bring more smiling faces to our recipients, but to also keep the giving back initiative going within the community!

If you haven't already, be sure to sign up on our website, www.whatisproject100.com and sign up because you never know, You Could Be Next!



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Hey everyone - Project 100 has a new URL for Facebook - much easier: http://www.facebook.com/Project100. Visit us today and become a fan! Help get the word out about Project 100 and giving back to the community! Post some great things that people have done for you lately. Has a neighbor helped you out recently?

One woman told me that she was buying something small at the grocery store and the man in front of her paid for it. Just to be nice because he had a lot of stuff! She said it made her day.

What about you? Let's get some positive energy going for Michigan! :)



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Yesterday, the Project 100 team was on the road (as we often are :) ) and we were quite excited to have a local TV station catch us in action!

Of course, the team had to see what we looked like on TV, and Jeremy got a few pokes of fun (because we're all just jealous) but at the end of the day - it was really exciting to see the Project 100 purpose get out there! Many times, people ask us how they can get involved with Project 100 and why Project 100 is doing this. When asked these questions, I usually direct them to our "GIVE" section of the web site. Because really, it's not about Project 100 - It's About You! Project 100 needs you to get involved in your community to make a difference! If you'd like to get involved with Project 100, visit our GIVE section of the web site to get ideas on how you could get involved, or try our Volunteer section to see the many organizations that you could give back to! Or let us know about what you're doing now, and potentially inspire others.

If you didn't catch the Project 100 team on TV, I've included the link below. Spread the word! Get your friends and family to visit the site: Check out our recipient videos in our VIEW section, learn savvy money-saving tips in SAVE, remember to visit GIVE and SIGN UP - because You Could Be Next!

http://tinyurl.com/nt3zjp


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Project 100 is always happy to tell you about great deals and today, we are telling you where kids can eat for FREE! Now really, how great is that? You can take your family out for a nice meal without breaking the bank! So what are you waiting for... grab the kiddies and head to the nearest restaurant that allows your little tikes to eat for free, and enjoy some quality Mom and Dad time!

Check out the website today to see if your favorite resturant is on the list! http://www.southeastmichigankidseatfree.com/

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So far, I've written about a few different ways you can give back to the community, and I know that there are still a ton more out there! Maybe you haven't gotten involved yet because you haven't seen something that speaks to you. If that is the case, don't worry, I will keep posting new ideas. Remember, only you can donate your unique time and talent. Your community needs you!

If you know of any other good ideas that I haven't posted yet, or if you hear of anything - definitely let me know! Project 100 would love to talk about it! But since I haven't gotten any shout outs yet - it's ok, I haven't asked anyone to until now - I've got another opportunity that I think is worth mentioning...

Have you ever thought of becoming a mentor?

Becoming a mentor isn't about babysitting. It's your chance to give your time and talent to become a trusted role model to a kid that needs a little guidance. There are lots of ways to spend the time, like helping with homework, teaching a new sport (or maybe learning one from them :) ), or just hanging out and talking. Like to skateboard? Why not teach your little buddy a few tricks? Love to cook? Help your kid to make a tasty treat. What you do isn't important, it's the time you spend that will make an impression that will last a lifetime.

And that's really the point of Project 100, to keep the good stuff going. Like, how we ask our recipients to give back to someone, in some way. If you'd like to make a difference by becoming a mentor, check out http://www.michigan.gov/mentormichigan/0,1607,7-193--82397--,00.html to get started! I think you'll be really glad you did!

Are you already helping out in your community? Let us know! We'd love to hear about it!

and other fun facts about money that you may or may not know! :)

1) Did you know? That all 50 states are listed across the top of the Lincoln Memorial on the $5 bill? Grab that magnifying glass!

2) Did you know that the U.S. Secret Service was originally established to stop counterfeiting? Hmmm... bet our Presidents are glad that role switched.

3) On the $1 bill, do you know what is on the shield in the upper right corner of the face around the 1? Hint: There are 2 distinct objects.

And of course, I save the potential money maker for last, but definitely not least:

4) In 1943, pennies were only made of copper for a short time. The U.S. needed the copper for communications equipment during World War II, so pennies were then switched to be made from steel. Because of this, the 1943 copper penny is worth A LOT of money. Think you may have one? Try picking up your penny with a magnet. If you can't pick it up - you have a copper penny! There are about 40 known to be in existence today.

I guess this puts a new spin on my whole, "What is the importance of a penny" post.



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Hey Everyone! I've got another great giving back to the community opportunity that I want to share! If you haven't already heard 96.3 WDVD, Fox 2 Detroit, and the Detroit Pistons have teamed up together with Volunteers of America to ensure that low-income children return to school with the school supplies that they need! The program is called Operation Backpack.

This is a quick and easy way to give back to the community if volunteering your time doesn't fit into your busy schedule. Here's how you can get involved:

• Sign up to donate a single backpack of your own!


• Sign up to host a backpack drive with some friends, colleagues or church members and get everyone involved!


• Simply drop off some school supplies at any one of the locations listed by following this link: Operation Backpack Drop Off

To find out more and to sign up, make sure to visit Volunteers of America's website by following the link: http://www.voami.org/Services/ChildrenYouthFamilies/OperationBackpack/tabid/7923/Default.aspx

As you know, at Project 100, we're all about supporting the community and so are the folks behind Buy Michigan Now. This organization encourages everyone to buy things that are grown and produced locally to support our economy and keep our friends and neighbors working. It's a simple concept that can really make an impact, and all you really have to do is take advantage of what our great state has to offer!

The week of July 27th has been declared "Buy Michigan Week" throughout the state, and a week-long festival will be held in Northville. This event promises to be a fun way to get out and show your support for Michigan businesses and celebrate all things good and local. Each day has a different theme, from "Wellness Wednesday" to the "Made in Michigan Exploration & Celebration" on the weekend.

So, if you get a chance, head out to Northville and see what it's all about. The Buy Michigan Now Festival is about the best way I can think of to have a good time while making a difference... well, almost the best way, but not everyone has the opportunity like I do, handing out 100 dollar bills to random strangers!

You can visit http://www.buymichigannow.com/buymichiganweekart.php for more information and a schedule of the week's events.

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During the times that the Project 100 crew and I aren't out delivering our $100 bills and spreading the Project 100 message throughout the community - I've been focusing my time researching and finding different ways for each of us to give back to the community. This time, I stumbled across something for teenagers to do while they're on break this summer!

It's called Summer in the City! It's a non-profit organization that high school students can get involved with during the summer months. Summer in the City is designed to improve and expand community service in the metropolitan Detroit area. It offers service projects that are fun, flexible and fulfilling for students.

Summer in the City provides amazing opportunities for students all over the metro Detroit area! Some of the opportunities range from mural paintings, gardening, demolition, construction, working with elementary school students and assisting the elderly. Basically, it offers something for everyone! What's not to like about that? What's even better is the hours are really convenient too! Interested students can volunteer Tuesday-Friday between the hours of 9am-2pm and, get this - there's no need to sign up in advance! Just show up and start volunteering!

So really, what are you waiting for? Get started! Why not do something a bit different this summer and help make Detroit a safe, beautiful and sustainable place for everyone?

For more information please check out: www.summerinthecitydetroit.org

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hmmm... do you know? It was a question today on a local radio station. A $100 bill! Weird. :)

I wonder if Project 100 recipients realize that giving back to the community could have an even longer lifespan than that! Just think - one act of kindness, giving back to the community, could generate another and another and another... It's a good thought.



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Sometimes people can be taken off guard by questions. I�m sure we�re all guilty of having to stop and think a moment when asked something simple like our birthday or even our names. But what if you put a $100 bill in someone�s hand and then asked, �What are you going to do with it?� A more difficult question, for sure� though there�s no right or wrong answer!

Some of our lucky recipients know the answer to that question right away: Judy was gonna use it to help her mother; Susan was going to donate it to the local senior home; and Larry gave it to his neighbor who just had surgery. Others weren�t sure initially, but still put it to good use. Like Shemetria, who went all out and used some of her $100 to buy canned goods, which she donated to Gleaners � talk about paying it forward!

We LOVE to hear what our recipients are doing with their money. There have been some great stories so far, but we�ve only heard a few. We hope to hear from more of our $100 recipients over the coming weeks!

Meanwhile, YOU might want to start thinking about what kind of difference $100 could make for you � because YOU could be next! :)



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I came across this great initiative while checking out The ACME Sharing Blog. From time to time, I like to check out the other giving back to the community blogs on the web, so that I can learn more and share with you all the different ways you can give back!

This initiative that I found is called The Box Project. This could be a great project to get the whole family involved because it involves a family sponsoring another family, living in rural poverty in areas across the United States.

About once a month, a volunteer family sends boxes of food, clothing, supplies and other material aid to their match family. According to the website, on average, family sponsors budget about $50 per month for their match family. Some are able to do more, some less - it all depends on what your family can afford to contribute on a monthly basis.

Think about it! It could be a fun way to get the kids involved too, having them contribute a little bit to the family as well! Maybe they donate some of their earnings from their summer lemonade stand, or take an extra $1 that they were going to spend on candy and give it to you to give to the family? Just a couple of ideas: Every little bit counts and what a great way to involve the whole family!

To learn more about this opportunity, please visit their website: http://www.boxproject.org

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Wouldn't it be cool if Project 100 delivered $100 in an ice cream truck? That would surely bring more kids to the counter, right? Hmm - and maybe give the Project 100 team some treats along the way... don't worry, we'd share! :) How about ice cream cones, wrapped in $100... or Push-ups wrapped in $100... You could buy plenty of ice cream goodies then.. all right back to reality.. we didn't really deliver $100 via an ice cream truck but we sure stopped one while we were at Shelly's house giving her $100!

Shelly's two little girls were out in their front yard helping her water the lawn while we dropped by with our goodies... and as soon as they heard the music coming from afar, we just knew we had to stop the truck to give the kids a treat too!

Doesn't that sound fun? This could happen to you too! Make sure you're signing up on Project 100's website - www.whatisproject100.com - because you never know, You Could Be Next!



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Just about a month ago, United We Serve kicked off its 81 days to get Americans involved in giving back to the community. This initiative will be the beginning of a sustained, collaborative, and focused effort to meet community needs and make service a way of life for all Americans.

The website, www.serve.gov, serves as a resource for individuals looking for local opportunities, which they can find by just plugging in their zip code. The site also has areas for individuals to share stories about the positive impact they've made in their community, and a section on how to start your very own service project!

The initiative will end with a National Day of Service and Remembrance on September 11, 2009. This date provides an opportunity to recognize the summer's accomplishments and to honor those who died on September 11, 2001, by serving in their memory, and encouraging Americans to make an ongoing commitment to service.

For more information and to look for volunteer opportunities in your area, please check out www.serve.gov.

Greetings to all who are reading our wonderful blog posts! We have met some amazing people so far. Some have cried with us because they just can't believe we're giving them $100 and some... well, they have been so shocked and excited that they don't even know what to say or do -- and that's exactly how Jessica from Brighton was when we caught up with her.

When we meet people who are just ecstatic beyond belief, it makes our job of giving $100 away that much better -- because believe me, it's hard to give $100 away! (Some people are really skeptical!) We caught up with Jessica while she was on break from her job, a local restaurant in Walled Lake. When the Project 100 crew approached her and handed her over our $100 envelope, she immediately burst out with a loud shout of "NO WAY!"and jumped up and down with a huge smile on her face!

We're so glad that we caught up with Jessica because it's people like her that make our job so much fun. We love walking away feeling great, which we do all the time anyway -- but when we see people who are just beyond excited, we're left walking away with their enthusiasm and it's something we're always going to remember.

We have to give Jessica a big thanks as well, because she has informed us that she's been passing out our business cards to everyone she knows and telling everyone her story! Way to go Jessica!

So this weekend make sure you sign up because you never know -- You Could Be Next!!



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Jeremy makes a new friend with Baker while handing out $100! While I always say how many great people we meet, I might want to also mention the great pets as well! :)

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Still looking for ways to give back or "Pay it Forward"? Look no further because Project 100 has come across a great campaign sponsored by Goodwill Industries in the metro Detroit Area called Pay it 4ward. This initiative is designed to help get unemployed citizens of the metro Detroit area back to work!

"Pay It 4ward is an investment in Detroit � in our people and our economy. For every 1,000 people Goodwill Industries puts to work, up to $25,000,000 in wages are earned and spent locally each year our workers are on the job."

And get this, for every 25 people who donate as little as a dollar, Goodwill can provide an entire day of job training to a local individual! Now, how awesome is that? Because of this job training, Goodwill�s services give unemployed Metro Detroiters the skills and support they need to succeed in the jobs of the future.

It's easy! All you gotta do is put just $1 dollar into a Goodwill envelope -- or more if you can, sign your name and pass it along to friends, family or co-workers -- or hey even a stranger! As you know, Project 100 believes that the act of giving changes everything!!

For more information about this great initiative, please check out their web site at http://payit4warddetroit.org/.

We applaud Goodwill services for putting together such an innovative program to help metro Detroiters who have lost their jobs! What a great way to give back!


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Be The Change/ServiceNation has written about Project 100! Check it out!

More about ServiceNation:
The ultimate vision of ServiceNation is an America in which, by 2020, 100 million citizens will volunteer time in schools, workplaces, and faith-based and community institutions each and every year (up from 61 million today), and that one million Americans will annually volunteer for a year of national service.

We at Project 100 are very excited to be included on this great web site! Check it out when you have a chance!
Be The Change/ServiceNation


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This is way cool and I am so glad that I came across this today! I found this really awesome application that iPhone and iPod Touch users can download to their phones called DoGood. This application gives you individual acts of kindness tips that you can do daily. That's 365 days that you can potentially do acts of kindness! How awesome is that? Then, once you have done the day's DoGood, a tally of how many people have done the same shows up! I personally just downloaded the application into my iPod Touch and got my tip for today! I encourage everyone to install this application to keep the movement going for doing good things!

Make sure to check out their website: http://mobil33t.com/



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The word is getting out about Project 100! Another site has connected to us - check it out: http://www.aunitedworld.org/jeremy.asp


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Giving out money is one fabulous job, let me tell you. We are meeting so many great people and hearing so many incredible stories!

As with everything, there are still are challenges in giving out money. We had two separate people look at the money and say �No, thank you,� and then shut the door. Another even said, �I�m fine. Give it to someone else who deserves it more�� (and then shut the door). And while that felt strange at first, it turned out to be a really positive move. Thank you to that woman, because she led us to Renae!

When we knocked on the door, Renae was in the shower. Her neighbors were very helpful in conveying the information that someone was there to see her (we didn�t tell them why, but we have been very fashionably decked out in our Project 100 t-shirts, so maybe they knew this was a good thing!). Her neighbors knocked on her door and called to her, and I quote, �There are some very happy people standing outside waiting for you. And one is holding a camera.� (I�m sure Renae was thinking that we were crazy� kind of glad that people are thinking this of me due to Project 100 :) rather than other reasons� but she ended up coming down to see us, wet hair and all!)

When we told Renae about what she was getting and about Project 100, she started crying and gave Jeremy a big hug while saying thank you. That made our entire day! Renae�s daughter is turning a year old and Renae is going to use the money for her only daughter�s first birthday party.

I will continue to blog about even more recipients as we continue down our journey. And while giving out the money is feeling wonderful, I wish we had more than 100 people to give money to. This is where you all come in. Project 100 is kicking off the giving movement, I know I am going to start doing my part, as will Jeremy, Adriane and all others associated with the Project 100 team and hopefully all of our recipients and their friends and family - and more so, hopefully YOU! All it takes is one act of kindness. What can you do to help out your community?

Thank you Project 100, for letting me be part of the act of giving.



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So far our missions on the road have been very successful. As we conclude another week of giveaways, I believe that Project 100 is starting to create positive change around the community. Several people whom we have met thus far on our journey, have told us that they were going to give their newly-given, crisp $100 bill to someone else who needs it more than them! Project 100 loves to hear how our recipients are thinking about giving back to the community the moment we hand them that $100 dollar bill! Of course, giving back to the community doesn't have to be about money - it can be just donating your time, services, items - be sure to check out our GIVE page for ideas on how to give back!

Who doesn't need or want an extra $100? We all could find several ways to use that extra cash. I know for myself, I would use it for the rising cost of my grocery bill at my local farmers' market which, in turn gives back to all my local farmers in the community. I could also use it to host a party with my friends and family as a thank you for all they have done for me this year or maybe, I could donate the money to my favorite charity (we've been listing a lot of local events/charity happenings on our blog, Facebook and Twitter pages)!

Make sure you're signing up on the website and telling all your friends and family about Project 100! Because you never know - You Could Be Next!



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Check it out! Project 100 is in the news, getting the word out about Giving Back!
100 Day, 100 People, 100 Dollars || WXYZ.com | WXYZ-TV / Detroit | Detroit News, Weather, Sports and More

Have you thought about how you can give back to your community? Share your story with us today, or check out the Give section for ideas on Giving Back!


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I came across this really cool opportunity through Facebook this morning and because Project 100 is focused on giving back to the community and providing ideas for others to give back, I knew I had to pass this along!

There is a campaign in the metro Detroit area that is focused on positive change through collaboration. This campaign called The Blood, Sweat and Gear is asking all of the metro Detroiters to come out and unite together as one during the week of July 27 - August 1 and help! You can help by either donating blood or coming out on Wednesday, Friday, or Saturday in Detroit to help transform the city. For more information you can check out their group event page on Facebook by clicking here or you can go to their group page online by clicking here!

Hopefully this post inspires you to go out in your community and make a difference!



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While the Project 100 team is out and about, we often times like to break out of our normal everyday element and do something to get the adrenaline pumping... not that giving away money doesn't do that because trust me it does - we love it!!! We just like to mix it up a bit when we run into roadblocks giving away money... (remember the "how hard it is to give away $100" post - it can be!!!) Once we get the adrenaline pumping, we hit the street with new energy! Check out Jeremy below as he gets over his fear of heights and takes himself on a little rock climbing adventure! (You'll see the recipient who met him after later!)


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Have you ever thought about what one single dollar can do for you? I know, you're thinking it's just a dollar so... not much! Or some of you are thinking heck, one dollar can get me something great off the dollar menu at a fast food restaurant, or maybe a baby soft serve sundae at a local ice cream joint. So yes, it could feed you in a few ways, but did you know that a single dollar donation can do a lot for charity? Lately, while grocery shopping or doing errands in my favorite stores, I've noticed a lot of retailers are reaching out to the community by asking consumers at check out if they would like to make a $1 dollar donation to support a charity.

We all have busy schedules and sometimes don't have enough time to volunteer or search for new ways to give back to the community. (That's why Project 100 is going to give you ideas :) ) What better way than just forking up a single dollar and giving back to the community the next time you're at your favorite store making a purchase! And, who knows? Maybe you can give more than a dollar, and if you can, feel free! Either way, you'll know that your dollar is going to help someone in need. Just something to think about!

If you haven't done so already, make sure to sign up on our website for your chance to receive $100! What would you do with that $100? Think about it, because You Could Be Next!


www.whatisproject100.com

So this is a little weird... every time we walk by a cool fountain, I say to Jeremy - "hey, we should get you in front of that." (You know, great shot and all, showing off our great community!) and every time Jeremy walks up to the fountain, it spontaneously shuts off. And then I can't get the shot. Is someone following me trying to thwart my fountain shots? :) Or - does Jeremy just cause water to spontaneously stop shooting out of fountains? Or maybe I do! I'm not sure what it is, but we honestly sat in front of the last one for five minutes waiting for it to start again. Do they have camera sensors or what? Oh well, we need to find our next recipient anyway. They're not walking by the fountains right now either... maybe there's something eerie with the fountains that I'm unaware of...

www.whatisproject100.com

If you haven�t already searched us up on Facebook, now is the perfect time! We�ve got some great pictures of our recipients as well as live videos from our giveaways. When you become a fan, you�ll get up-to-date money saving tips and all the latest news about Project 100! So what are you waiting for... go and check it out � I�ll see you there!
http://www.facebook.com/pages/Project-100/115344364407?ref=ts


www.whatisproject100.com

So today Jeremy and I hung out a bit in Detroit. The downtown area is looking great and I can't believe all the good eats that are down there...not to mention how nice Detroit Police are! No, we didn't arrested... We actually chatted it up a bit with three police officers about our organization and they were very impressed with Project 100's mission! It feels great to help spread the word out about Project 100 and hear all the great things that everyone says about us when they learn more about Project 100. So with that, doesn't Jeremy look great standing next to those police officers? Hey, maybe that's how he'll give back to the community next??


www.whatisproject100.com

OK, so I was just sitting here wondering about the purpose of the penny. I mean, besides the fact that I always seem to have a billion of them until I need one, what else do they bring?

• I can't get penny candy (or I just haven't found any recently)


• I do get to wish on a penny when I'm by a fountain - so that's a good thing.


• It's easier to figure out money when it's in fives (although counting to 100 wouldn't be quite the same and we all know how much we love 100 around here!)


• There always seems to be a bunch lying around... hmm - maybe that's the problem. We all take the penny for granted. Poor Lincoln. He gets dropped around a lot.

Although, pennies are a cool copper color and are unique compared to other change. Maybe there's hope for the penny yet. And if not, there are always squished pennies - which are really neat! :)

www.whatisproject100.com

Do you know how hard it is to give away $100?

Maybe it�s the suspicion that no one would actually give away $100. (Did you see our opening video?) Maybe it�s the worry that there�s a catch or expectation? Or maybe Stephanie really is freaking people out with her video camera? :)

Whatever the reason � it certainly has been a lot more difficult than I thought it would be!

When we first set out to give away the money � we thought, hey � this will be a piece of cake! After all, who could refuse free money? For something we thought would come so easy� we�ve officially clocked about 15 hours trying to locate willing recipients � and we�re only heading into week 3! Besides people not being home (where is everyone?), or not answering the door, we�ve had others say that they didn�t need the money. One woman walked into her garage and had us stand at the end of the driveway while she sized us up (she didn�t end up accepting the money), while another man turned around and waved us away to mow his lawn (mowing the lawn instead of receiving $100� hmmm, not the choice I�d make), yet another woman jumped in her car and rolled up her window saying �No, thank you.� Even Rowanda (someone who did accept the money) spent about 15 minutes asking me if there was a �catch.� She insisted that there was something I wasn�t telling her�

And where it hasn�t necessarily been easy, it sure is rewarding when we find a willing (and deserving) recipient! Part of what we hope to accomplish with Project 100 is reminding people that there is good in the world and that not everyone wants something from you. We also want to inspire others to make a difference and create a positive ripple effect that is felt far beyond the people and the communities we visit.

Maybe in all of this, we can show others that people really do give things away, and that they really do look out for each other. Until then, I�ll keep driving in search of more $100 recipients!

Who knows, YOU could be next�

So the other day, I stop Steve in the park to hand him $100. (Which you can see on our �View� page � �Project 100 Visits Steve in the Park�) Luckily, I was able to catch him before he and his sons rode away on their bikes (I would�ve looked pretty silly chasing them down the street waving a $100 bill)!

The next morning, I received an e-mail from Steve and a link to his blog at metrosaves.com, where he had written about his Project 100 experience (you can view it at http://blog.metrosaves.com). He described being initially skeptical and how he only stopped because his son was complaining about his helmet. Funny how life can put us in the right place at the right time�!!!

Steve also mentioned that he was going to use the money to paint his boys� bedrooms, which only seems appropriate since they were sort of responsible for the encounter�

I understand that Steve was a little concerned about his appearance in the video. No worries though, Steve. Stephanie has assured me that you looked like 100 bucks! (Check out the View page and see for yourself)!

Thanks again for sharing your experience Steve, and for being a part of Project 100. Hope the boys enjoy their new �separate� bedrooms (and that you enjoy painting them) :)

Follow us on Twitter for more information about Project 100, our experiences with Project 100 participants and interesting ideas on how to give back to your community... (maybe even a few creative ways of using $100)!

http://twitter.com/Project100

Hello Project 100 Participants:

Yes, even though everyone always says they 'hate' the camera, I know a few of you are dying to see yourself on the web site :) No worries, your moment of stardom will soon be here!

Just wanted to give you a quick update that the first few Project 100: On the Road videos are posted on the 'VIEW' page but there are a bunch more coming your way. We're loving your reactions - your ideas on what you'll do with the money - your concerns over what you're wearing when we find you... you know, all the good stuff!

Thank you all for being such wonderful participants in Project 100! I can't wait to hear what you're doing with the money. Feel free to share your thoughts.

And, if you haven't been visited by Project 100 yet - sign up - because You Could Be Next!

What an experience this has been so far! I�ve met so many amazing people over the last couple of days. Project 100 is out trying to make a positive difference in people�s lives, I guess I never really considered how much I would be impacted by the people I�ve met!

How appropriate that all of our $100 recipients from this week were what I refer to as �givers� � people who already are making a difference in their communities on various levels: like Michelle, who was already thinking about someone who needed the money more; or Gail who donates her time to area churches and schools; and Elizabeth who, at one time, ran her own non-profit organization.

Certainly our goal is to inspire positive change in people and the community, and what a thrill it�s been to discover how much change is already being fostered by these very gracious and very deserving strangers.

Funny how karma works :)

Hi, I�m Adriane, another member of the Project 100 team! I'm the gal that gives away some more things after we've given you your $100 dollars. Well, we�ve definitely kicked off our Giving Spree! Project 100 has hit the streets and let me tell you, we�re having a ball! I absolutely love that I am a part of Project 100. Sure, I would love to be a recipient, but being part of the giving is really the best part for me. Seeing the smiles and thankfulness in every recipient�s eyes is what makes Project 100 a good thing to be a part of.

My favorite recipient thus far has been a woman named Judy. We happened to roll up in our Project 100 vehicle as she was doing some yard work at her mother�s house. She certainly wasn�t expecting company, but was thrilled when we showed up with a crisp $100 dollar bill. Who would seriously expect someone to just randomly walk up to you in your yard and give you $100 bucks? Judy will forever stick in my mind because she excitedly yelled, �Project 100 rrrocckkks!� and then added �Are you sure this is real?� She couldn�t stop looking down and saying all the wonderful things she could do with her newly given money. Now that�s what makes Project 100 Rock!

Hi! I�m Stephanie � the woman behind the camera, capturing all of the Project 100 Recipients � maybe even you! I think I managed to scare a few recipients who were camera-shy yesterday� but that�s ok. They�ll remember Project 100!

I know it sounds a bit clich�, but I really am enjoying going on the road with Jeremy and giving out $100 bills! The reaction from everyone is the best. One man stood in shock when he was handed the money, but when he walked away, he broke out into a huge smile. He had mentioned that he was going to use it to paint his mom�s house. How great is that?

Have you received $100 from Project 100? Please share your story! While I�m going to keep blogging about the great people that we�re meeting, others really want to hear from you! And if you haven�t been visited yet, sign up today � because You Could Be Next!

It's a hot one today! Project 100 is heading out on the town, meeting more great people and $100 recipients! You can follow us on Twitter at http://twitter.com/Project100. Be sure to sign up, because You Could Be Next!

Now, I don't know too many people who will argue that receiving $100 from a total stranger wouldn't be nice, myself included! But one thing I have learned from my involvement with Project 100 is that giving can be just as rewarding. Consider the impact $100 could have on a person - they could fill up their gas tank and take their spouse out for a nice dinner, or take the whole family out for ice cream. It might even cover a bill or two they've been struggling to pay! Or maybe they give it to someone else who they know needs it more!

And who says it has to be money that makes a difference in someone's life? Consider that smile you gave to someone else as they passed by on the street today, and the positive impact it had on them. Then consider the wave of good that you helped create from such a simple gesture...

... that, my friends, is the power of giving.