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Happy Birthday, BSSL! Meet PLC!

July 7, 2008 by Jeremy · 1 Comment 

On July 7th, 2007 an amazing thing happened… a guy named Chad was the first of hundreds and hundreds of compassionate people to purchase the as-yet-unknown shoe called Klash. Chad and hundreds like him have given us the encouragement and confidence we’ve needed to keep selling Klash and using the proceeds to fund heart surgeries for Iraqi kids.

And as cliche as this is about to sound, lots of people thought we were crazy. Most thought it was a three week project that we would outgrow. Some thought it was a silly failure to comprehend the real needs of Iraqis. Indeed, at times we probably thought so ourselves. But as one month has turned to twelve, there is no denying the magnetic force behind the simplicity of our message.

The Preemptive Love Coalition, via the “Buy Shoes. Save Lives.” program, has now sent 13 kids to surgery, funding them at various stages along the way to the tune of $36,500. What a pretty tune! We raised and gave away an additional $16,000 for pre-op heart screenings and have money waiting for 6-7 kids that we plan on sending later this month.In 12 months we’ve invested nearly $22,000 into local klash-making economies, plus tens of thousands more into the broader economy as a by-product of operating our business. We’ve sold $33,000 of Klash across the US, UK, Europe, Africa and Australia, and have seen such a range of creativity exercised in helping these children that we sometimes just sit astounded at all you do!

One of the major developments of the past year is the way in which we’ve reorganized under the banner of The Preemptive Love Coalition. After 4 months of selling shoes to save lives we started realizing that we had more to say that “buy shoes. save lives.” We wanted to say “Love your enemies. Do good to those who do bad to you.” In a region where “tit for tat” is the predominant peacemaking method, we wanted to lead out with another option.

Our “this for that” model is as simple as encouraging those who would be with us to find something in their current environment and use it (”this”) in the service of the thousands and thousands of Iraqi who are waiting in a line for life-saving heart surgeries outside the country (”that”).”This for that” is also about giving back love for hate; kindness for oppression; truth for perceptions.

As we look forward to the coming year we envision moving deeper into the hurt of Iraq and working among the more oppressed and excluded groups of people. We want them to know that there is an entire movement of people in America and around the world who will not abide the ongoing retaliatory methods of “peacemaking” in the region. We are those who use all manner of “this” for that - for peace; for kindness; for truth.

We are The Preemptive Love Coalition. Thanks for being with us!

Jeremy, Cody, Michelle, Ruth, Scott, Bobby
Audrey, Angel, Chris, Colby, Jesse, Peter (THE INTERNS)

         

This Made Me Smile

July 2, 2008 by Jeremy · 1 Comment 

CLICK HERE and read the post…

Then check the comments about 11 comments down.  

JAC

         

Arya

April 16, 2008 by ruth · Leave a Comment 

Last week Kanar (my translator) and I visited Arya and his family in their home. We had a wonderful time with them! Arya is doing amazing - he’s a two and a half year old boy with Down’s Syndrome. He had a hole in his heart repaired plus an extra thumb removed and arrived back in Kurdistan a few weeks ago. Ayra has one of the the biggest smiles I’ve ever seen and he’s so sweet! His family are over the moon with how he is progressing. He’s even been able to learn how to walk in these past two months since having his heart fixed! Before he often had pneumonia and just not enough energy to motivate him to learn how to walk. His family are so thankful for the way which we have been able to help them. We’ve been invited to their home today for lunch as a way for them to show their gratitude to us. I’ll let you know how that goes and hopefully I can post some pics too! 

         

BSSL Photo Shoot

April 8, 2008 by Jeremy · Leave a Comment 

Shots from the recent BSSL Photo Shoot…

         

The Embassy

February 29, 2008 by Jeremy · Leave a Comment 

The Embassy

Today we had a meeting with US Embassy brass working in the North. We initiated the contact a few weeks ago while seeking out funding for an art exhibition we are hosting here in April through Buy Shoes. Save Lives.

Since we’re committed to keeping all our profits for heart surgeries, we needed to seek outside funding for the art gallery - the primary purpose of which is to raise awareness of Kurdish art and mobilize civil society to play a helping role in the reconstruction process.

We were very encouraged by the response of the Embassy’s team to Buy Shoes. Save Lives. in general, and the proposal for the art exhibition in particular. The only two criticisms they had was that our budget was too small and that our venue was too small.

We are specifically asking for the Embassy to send a delegation to the installation, so I think the security concerns surrounding a high profile diplomat entering a crowded bazar for a photo op was on their minds.

The best hint of their approval for the project came when they requested a second meeting with us a few hours later to reformat the proposal into beuarocrat-speak and further discuss the implications of USAID funding for a for-profit business.

In our off hours between meetings we beefed up our marketing budget and will likely be pursuing an even higher profile for the event as a result.

Among the most exciting things was their eagerness to lend their name to the event and their insistence that they help us deliver invitations to all the appropriate ministers and diplomats on our list.

On a personal level, one of the suits was interested to hear more due to the fact that his son suffered from a hole in his heart as a child and was adversely affected by the limited healthcare available in East Asia where they were living at the time.

In other BSSL news, the Relevant Magazine interview we did is finishing its run on stands this week and has single-handedly produced almost $10,000 in sales!

Thanks for tracking with us!

J

         

“Buy Anything. Save Lives.” at iGive.com

December 14, 2007 by Jeremy · Leave a Comment 

Buy Anything? Save Lives?

For some of you, it may already seem ludicrous that buying shoes could in any way be connected to saving lives. And now we are about to tell you that buying just about anything can help to save lives.

We recently stumbled across a New York Times article that tipped us off to a website that makes a percentage donation from any purchase on participating partner webstores to a cause of your choice (Buy Shoes. Save Lives., anyone?).

All you have to do is go to iGive.com, register as a user, and then use their website to navigate to hundreds of well known online retailers. That means when you go shopping at say, Gap.com or iTunes or HomeDepot.com or Expedia or buy.com, a small percentage of every purchase will be given to Buy Shoes. Save Lives.

The percentage donated usually ranges between 1-4%—certainly nothing like the 50+% to fund heart surgeries when you buy handmade shoes or stylin’ tees through our website—but this is a case where money is time and every penny counts when you’re trying to save the lives of Iraqi kids.

And when Americans spend over $100 billion (and growing) each year buying things online, we’d be more than willing to put a paltry one percent of that towards saving lives and investing in the local economy here.

So before you buy those last minute Christmas gifts online, go register at iGive.com and designate BSSL as your cause (No. 44486). Then anytime you shop online, make sure that you stop by iGive first to see if you can shop through a store that will let you buy anything to save lives.

Compassionate capitalism, anyone?

         

BSSL TShirts Stuff Stockings Perfectly!

December 8, 2007 by Jeremy · Leave a Comment 

Just a friendly reminder that - whether you own a BSSL tee and want one for someone else, or if you just haven’t gotten around to buying one yet - ordering your BSSL TEE today is the best way to guarantee that it arrives in time for your holiday giving.  All orders placed by Dec. 15th will be shipped before Christmas.  You guys are amazing! We’re so glad to have you on board with us… BSSL 

         

Please Write Ignite Apparel

December 5, 2007 by Jeremy · Leave a Comment 

Ignite Apparel is a clothing company that donates every penny above production costs to a “cause”… such as Buy Shoes. Save Lives. They base their decisions on who to donate to on the amount of feedback they receive each month for a given organization. Please email fuelthechange@igniteapparel.com and let them know about Buy Shoes. Save Lives., the work we’ve done so far with your help, and the work we’ve yet to do.

Thanks! Jeremy

         

A Little Google Help, Please…

November 26, 2007 by Jeremy · 1 Comment 

Tonight I searched the word “shoes” on Google and found the first reference to Buy Shoes. Save Lives. on page 80. I admit, it was a little disheartening.  

So this is a plea that you all go guerilla on Google and help catapult BSSL into the single digit pages of Google’s search for shoes.  Go to Google.com and type in the word “shoes.” Then browse the pages until you find the homepage for Buy Shoes. Save Lives. Do not forget to CLICK that link, thereby logging Buy Shoes. Save Lives. as your destination for your shoe search. 

If enough people do this, coupled with other traffic, it’s possible that we will start to receive more incidental traffic, sales, and surgeries as a result.  

Additionally, as you browse for “shoes” you will see many sites dedicated to eco-shoes, vegan shoes, and fashionable shoes. Not to mention shoes that somehow make you do good while looking good. Please go guerilla on those sites, as well, and hit the comment sections hard with references to BSSL, asking people to check us out while telling a brief blurb on our story.  

You guys own this thing… without you none of this happens. So thank you for prioritizes Iraqi children in the way you browse the web today. It’s a serious 5 minute contribution that just might make a difference in the world.  Sincerely, Jeremy and Cody 

         

Introducing James Peel

November 15, 2007 by Jeremy · Leave a Comment 

James Peel is an early adopter of the Buy Shoes. Save Lives. vision. Through his music recordings, live concert events, and cooperative projects with Buy Shoes. Save Lives. , James is getting the word out and we’re happy to partner with him in the effort for a better Iraq. Check James out on iTunes or at virb.com/jamespeel.

         

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  • Media Coverage of PLC by Former CNN Anchor & Oprah Radio Host, Daryn Kagan
  • Introducing the Shad Faraydoon Memorial Fund: $50k to Fund 10 Infant Surgeries
  • Ranu Giving Others Rides on Her Bike After Her Successful February Surgery
  • Bruska Ready for School in the Fall After Successful Heart Surgery Last January
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