Friday, December 10, 2010

Got? Ginch 2011

The Got? Ginch 2011 campaign was launched on Dec 8 2010 with the screening of the documentary "One Problem". One Problem is a one hour documentary by Ramin Eshraghi-Yazdi that captures the stories and lessons learned from the first Cross Canada Underwear Drive in 2009. The event was a huge success, raising 12 thousand dollars for this years drive. These are enough funds to supply Vancouver, Calgary and Edmonton with underwear. This years goal: 35 000 pairs of tighty-whities.

Thank you to everyone who attended and special thanks to my co-hosts Robb Price and Ramin Eshraghi-Yazdi

Got? Ginch 2011 is under way!

Wanna get involved?

Visit our donations page.

Brent

Thursday, June 10, 2010

End of the Road

Got? Ginch 2010 came to an end on May 28th in Halifax NS. Our final stops Ottawa, Montreal and Halifax went very smoothly. Thank You to everyone who supported us this year with donations, volunteer time and well wishes.



Some fun facts:

More than $32,000.000 raised in donations this year

Donations ranged from $10.00 to $5,000.00

30 000 pairs of Ginch to 10 homeless shelters (more than 3000 lbs total)

If one man was to wear a new pair of underwear each day, we delivered enough ginch to last that person more than 83 years

Stretched out we delivered 34 Kilometers of waist band elastic

Narrowly avoided 1 large awkward moose at 2am (Ontario)

0 speeding tickets, 0 Moving Violations, 1 police search





Deliver Good

A special thank you to Robb Price my Navigator and CoPilot on this adventure. Robb's initiative www.delivergood.org was launched on this year's trip and has found tremendous pick up in just 3 short weeks. Deliver Good is an online giving network that matches Charities and Nonprofits who need stuff with people who have stuff. It truly streamlines the giving process and brings some much needed efficiency. If you have a used item that you are looking to give to charity, simply log on, type a description of the item, and Charities with that need will be matched in your local area. Brilliant! Wish I would have thought of it!



Whats Next?
"One Problem" the documentary is due to be complete this summer, we hope to show it at the launch party for www.delivergood.org . I will keep you posted

We have been hearing stories that a number of businesses across Canada have started underwear initiatives with their employees. For example, Bring new underwear to work and receive a free ice-cream at lunch. Shelters across Canada told me that underwear donations were up this year. The word is getting out, but the problem is by no means solved. I asked each location how long the Ginch lasted last year. The numbers vary between 2 months and 11 months.

This year, like last year, one question continued to be asked across the country. What about the ladies? I acknowledge that the need exists and that it is at least as important as the need for Mens Underwear, but I maintain that two guys traveling cross country with a truck load of women's underwear is a little creepy. We are working to find a couple of like minded ladies to take up the challenge.

I am committed to seeing this initiative continue, however what it will look like next year remains to be seen. For now I plan to take a couple of Ginch free months off until the fund raising begins again. I hope you all will join me in 2011.

Ginch Be With You!

Brent

Wednesday, May 12, 2010

News Brief: Deliver Good picks up Got Ginch Cross-Canada Underwear Drive

DeliverGood has teamed up with GotGinch to solve problems nationwide. After being introduced by a mutual friend, DeliverGood founder, Robb Price and GotGinch founder, Brent King quickly realized they were working with the same intention and a partnership seemed obvious to both. The synergies between the GotGinch vision to deliver 30,000 pairs of men's underwear to homeless shelters and DeliverGood's role in developing a platform to allow people to solve problems in their own way, was a natural alignment. Brent and GotGinch were solving one problem nationwide and DeliverGood was taking a similar approach to build efficiencies into the charitable giving process nationwide.

King and Price are traveling across Canada, Vancouver to Halifax, from May 14th to May 28th delivering 30,000 pairs of "ginch" to homeless shelters. During this trip DeliverGood will be launching its national initiative in each market.

"GotGinch's slogan after our partnership is 'GotGinch, driven by DeliverGood'. I guess since I will be sharing driving duties with Brent in the R.V. there is a literal truth here. In all seriousness, DeliverGood could not have found a better partner to launch with than Brent and GotGinch." says Price

"After realizing the success of our first GotGinch drive in 2009, I started looking for a way to build a template to allow others to solve problems large or small. I learned about DeliverGood and the rest, as they say, is history. I'm thrilled that DeliverGood has decided to work with and...spend 75 hours driving with us." says King


To learn more about GotGinch visit: http://www.delivergood.org/gotginch
To learn more about DeliverGood visit: http://www.delivergood.org (launching Friday, May 14th)

Tuesday, May 11, 2010

Ginch in storage at eatART lab in Vancouver


Thanks to the good people at eatART and EVASC in Vancouver. The Ginch has a temporary home.

Friday, May 7, 2010

Taste of Ginch "One Problem" the documentary



Calgary film maker Ramin Eshraghi-Yazdi
Has released the following two trailers for his Documentary "One Problem"
check them out!

http://www.vimeo.com/11545407
http://www.vimeo.com/11316975



1 week to the first drop in Vancouver. Very exciting!

Brent

Tuesday, April 20, 2010

Documentary of Got? Ginch 2009

I am excited to announce that we have been granted funds from the Canada Council for the Arts to make last years drive into a full blown documentary. Ramin, who traveled with me last year and filmed the adventure is working hard to create a feature length piece called "One Problem". We are hoping to have at least a short version teaser ready for this years delivery dates. Stay tuned.

The order is on the Boat

I have received word that our order has been loaded on the ship and has hit the high seas. ETA Vancouver is May 1st. I have also booked my flights into Vancouver and home from Halifax.

The following schedule is tentative but soon to be firm:
Vancouver Union Gospel Mission Friday, May 14 10am
Calgary The Mustard Seed Monday, May 17 10am
Edmonton The Mustard Seed Tuesday, May 18 10am
Saskatoon The Bridge Wednesday, May 19 9:00am
Regina Souls Harbour Rescue Mission Thursday, May 20 10am
Winnipeg Siloam Mission Friday, May 21 10am
Toronto Yonge Street Mission Monday, May 24 10am
Ottawa The Ottawa Mission Tuesday, May 25 10am
Montreal Mission Bon Accueil Wednesday, May 26 10am
Halifax Saint Leonard's Society Thursday, May 27 10am

Make plans to join us when we get to your town.

Friday, January 15, 2010

Congratulations Everyone. WE DID IT!. The deadline is here and we have managed to raise enough money to purchase 30,000 pairs of Underwear for the drive. That's approximately 3600 lbs! Thanks loads to everyone who has stepped up with donations and pledges for this years purchase of Underwear. I will be following up with pledges in the next few days and plan to place the order early next week. If you have pledged support but have not had time to make your contribution please do so now. Let me know if you have not received your Tax Deductable receipt and I will ensure it is in process.
We will continue accepting support and direct it toward Gas Money. (last year cost $1,500.00)
Things left to do:
1. Order Ginch
2. Secure Transportation
3. Raise some Gas Money (stay tuned)

Ginch be with you.
Brent

Thursday, January 7, 2010

Hello Halifax!!!

8 days 21hours and 25 minutes left until our deadline and we have entered Halifax. Sooooooo Close. The quote process is complete and the factory is standing by for our order. I would hate to short change our friends on the coast. Any White Knights left out there who can help out?

$ 3000 to the goal of 10 cities!

Brent