New OT5 Loose Change Drawing by Cyrilliart to Benefit All the Charity Drives

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I've added a new design from Cyrilliart to each of the guy's stores. The design is based on our Loose Change efforts and it's adorable! The design is up in each store, so you can pick which guy/charity you want to support by buying it from the store of your choice! It's currently on t-shirts, but if you want it on another product, contact me at amy@1dfansgive.com and tell me what item you want it on and which guy's store!

Always in my heart and #BRAVERY Wristbands Available for Pre-Order

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I've put those the Always in my heart and #BRAVERY wristbands up for pre-order. The Always in my heart wristband proceeds will be split between Louis' drive for the Eden Dora Trust and Harry's drive for London Lesbian and Gay Switchboard. The #BRAVERY wristband will benefit the Eden Dora Trust. They are scheduled to arrive and start shipping around March 3. You can get them here:

http://www.1dfansgive.com/store/

(If you order other wristbands that aren't pre-orders, I'll hold your order until everything is here unless you let me know otherwise!)

Shirts to Commemorate Louis' Always in My Heart Tweet Reaching 1 Million Retweets

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Louis' Always in my heart tweet reached 1 million retweets today and to commemorate the moment, we've got several items up in the store and one more on the way. Proceeds of the current designs will benefit Louis' charity drive and the design on the way will benefit Harry's drive. You can get the design above at:

http://1dfansgive.spreadshirt.com

http://1dfansgive.spreadshirt.co.uk

$5 Day for Eden Dora Trust's Birthday!

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The Eden Dora Trust for Children with Encephalitis was launched on the first World Encephalitis Day, February 22, 2014.  In honor of the first birthday of the trust we are doing a $5 day to raise money for the trust to celebrate Louis Tomlinson’s 24th birthday later this year.

Additionally, the first Loose Change for Louis matching day is fast approaching, so donate here before February 24th and be sure to tag your donation with the words “loose change”.

Donations to the trust go to fund research, education, information and support. According to their official website it costs just £30 to provide a child with Gilley the Giraffe Materials for a child with Encephalitis.  That’s just a little over 9 $5 donations so if you want to help out, donate here:

Donation Link: www.justgiving.com/louis24

 

What's Coming Up with the Charity Drives?

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We have a bunch of activities planned for each of the charity drives! 

Louis:

  • On February 22nd, we'll be doing a $5 day in honor of Eden Dora Trust's birthday! We've also got some items from Eden Dora Trust that we'll be both selling and auctioning off! 
  • Louis' newest wristbands have been ordered and will be up in the store as soon as they get here. They are teal and say #bravery on them!
  • I got my first Hedgehog Louis, but OMG he's going to be hard to dress. He has little arms and a big ole booty so we'll see what we can do! I already have the first outfit mostly planned! 

Niall:

  • We have some March madness raffles coming up - still being planned!

Liam:

  • Liam's drive is going to have an auction of a special limited edition item soon (Layne just sent it to me so I think it should arrive tomorrow). 

Zayn: 

  • Zayn's team are planning festival bracelets, most likely in Rasta colors to match Zayn's in-ears! 

Girl Almighty:

  • The $5 instead of 50 Shades brought in some donations for Women's Aid so that's awesome! 

Harry:

  • We've added a couple of new tshirt designs. Look how great the rainbow banana shirt turned out:

The best news for the Harry Team was that LLGS has decided to joint Just Giving! This means we will be able to offer you a donation link that's user-friendly and tracks percent donated! The total will also be displayed in US Dollars, which will make my life easier (if I never have to convert pounds to dollars again, I'll be a happy girl)!

So, that's a quick update for now!

Parma Ham Design Added to Louis' Charity Gear Shop!

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You heard all about the famous dinner. You've seen the re-enactments a billion times. Now you can own the shirt memorializing Louis' first cooking experience with proceeds going towards our charity drive for Eden Dora Trust! Get yours at:

http://1dfansgive.spreadshirt.com

http://1dfansgive.spreadshirt.co.uk

Long Hair Don't Care Design Added to Harry's Charity Stores

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We've just added a great design by Menu-tessu to Harry's charity drive stores. It's a galaxy-colored silhouette with the words "Long Hair Don't Care" written on it! Proceeds from Harry's charity store go to London Lesbian and Gay Switchboard. You can get your hands on gear with this design at:

http://1dfansgiveharry.spreadshirt.com

http://1dfansgiveharry.spreadshirt.co.uk

1D Fans Give Charity Store Relaunch!

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Now that I'm properly settled in here, I've moved the charity wristband store from Rainbow Scoop to this site. I've also put all of the older items on closeout - only $2! I'm making room for the new items that will be arriving for the upcoming charity drives! Click the Store link above or go to http://www.1dfansgive.com/store!

1D Fans Give Loose Change Program for the Charity Drives

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Attention One Direction fans! The Loose Change program to help raise money for 1dfansgive is starting early this year.  For those of you unfamiliar with the program, several donors have agreed to match donations to the boys’ charities that are marked with “loose change” up to $100 a month per donor.  In some cases that could mean an additional $500 per drive each month!  Depending on the day of your favorite’s birthday, the matching program will start in either February or March and continue each month until their birthday month.  (See matching dates below) Additionally, we have picked up a matcher for the Girl Almighty Campaign at well.

So, empty out your pockets, backpacks, change purses and couch cushions because every little bit helps and be sure to tag your donation with “loose change” in order to get the match.

Matching Dates:*
Louis 2/24, 3/24, 4/24, 5/25, 6/26, 7/24, 8/24, 9/24, 10/24, 11/24, 12/24
Liam 2/28, 3/29, 4/29, 5/29, 6/29, 7/29, 8/29
Girl Almighty 2/23, 3/23, 4/23, 5/23, 6/23, 7/23
Harry 4/1, 5/1, 6/1, 7/1, 8/1, 9/1, 10/1, 11/1, 12/1, 1/1, 2/1
Zayn 3/13, 4/12, 5/12, 6/12, 7/12, 8/12, 9/12, 10/12, 11/12, 12/12, 1/12, 2/12
Niall 3/13, 4/13, 5/13, 6/13, 7/13, 8/13, 9/13

*matching dates that start in March will include all “loose change” donations made in February as well.

Donation Links:
http://www.justgiving.com/girlalmighty
http://www.justgiving.com/louis24
http://www.justgiving.com/zayn23
http://www.justgiving.com/liam22
http://www.justgiving.com/niall22 
Harry’s link coming soon!

tumblr post: http://toooldtoactcool.tumblr.com/post/110893391673/attention-one-direction-fans-the-loose-change

1D Fans Give Call to Artists!

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Attention lovely, talented people of the One Direction fandom! As you may know, fans have come together to help celebrate the band’s birthdays by fundraising for charity. This winter we were able to raise over $53,000 for Bluebell Wood Children’s Hospice, The British Asian Trust and London Lesbian and Gay Switchboard in part due to generous fans such as yourselves. We have now set up the drives for the next year: Doctors Without Borders (Liam), Autism Assistance Dogs Ireland (Niall), Eden Dora Trust (Louis), The British Asian Trust (Zayn) and London Lesbian and Gay Switchboard (Harry-link coming soon!). In celebration of 1D’s 5th anniversary on July 23, we have also put together a charity drive, entitled Girl Almighty, for Women’s Aid. Women’s Aid is a charity that helps women and children by working to end domestic abuse.

How can you help?

  1. Donate a design for one or more of the charity drives to use on merchandise.
  2. Donate a raffle/auction item for one or more of the charity drives. For example, an artist could donate a mug with one of their designs on it. Or offer a commissioned piece (artist to set rules). Or knit/create a unique item (1D themed items go better) such as the scarves and hats that fuzzypurplescarf has donated in past years.
  3. Have one item where all or a portion of the proceeds go towards one or more of the charity drives. For example, cyrilliart donated a portion of her proceeds for each “Where’s Zayn” calendar sold last year.
  4. For artists with stores, set a time frame where a percentage or a set dollar amount of each item sold will go towards one or more of the charity drives.

Since its One Direction’s 5th anniversary this year, we are also looking to create a one of a kind art portfolio to celebrate the artists in this fandom! But because we want these charity drives to be a fandom effort, we are looking for your input (both artists and non!). In short, this art portfolio will be made up of unique pieces from 1D artists in celebration of 1D! We will be selling a limited number of these art portfolios (hard copies mailed to you!) and all proceeds will be split amongst the 6 charity drives.

Whether or not you are an artist, please complete the following survey to help us decide on the details for this special venture:

https://www.surveymonkey.com/s/1DFansGiveArtPortfolio

If you are interested in participating in or have any questions about any of the above ideas (#1-4 and/or art portfolio) please contactcreatedoutofnecessity (tumblr or at outofnecessitycreated@gmail.com).

All artists will be included on 1DFansGive’s “Special Thanks” page with links to artists’ pages and stores.

Tumblr post: http://yngvolkayno.tumblr.com/post/110899168747/attention-lovely-talented-people-of-the-one

New Designs added to the Gear Shop for Niall's Charity Drive

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Team Niall has added a bunch of really great designs to the charity shop for Niall's charity drive for Autism Assistance Dogs Ireland. You can check them out here:

http://1dfansgiveniall. spreadshirt.com

http://1dfansgiveniall.spreadshirt.co.uk

 

You can also donate directly to the charity at http://www.justgiving.com/niall22

And follow the Niall charity drive tumblr for all Niall charity news! 

Edited to add: Some of the designs had to be redesigned due to US Spreadshirt restrictions, but are still available in the UK store.

$5 Instead of 50 Shades

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This coming weekend, the poorly-written, abuse-romanticizing piece of crap known as 50 Shades of Grey is making it's big screen debut. While it's too late to stop the movie from being made (or the book from being written), we can all do our part to show Hollywood that this is not the kind of relationship we want to see being sold as "true love" by not going to see the movie. 

Instead of supporting 50 Shades, take some of the money that you might have put towards a night out at the movies and support women in need by donating to the 1D Fans Give "Girl Almighty" Charity Drive. We're making every day this week a $5 day, in the hopes that people choose to support an organization that helps women, instead of a movie that's trying to teach them that abuse is sexy.

To donate: http://www.justgiving.com/girlalmighty

Just a Quick Update!

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My girlfriend is coming for a pre-Valentine's Day visit so my computer time will be limited for the next week or so, but I just wanted to let you know we have a lot going on behind-the-scenes!

We've got teams for each of the guys' birthday charity drives as well as our special Girl Almighty drive to support Women's Aid, a charity providing assistance to women and children affected by domestic violence. 

We're planning new designs for the charity gear stores as well as some really cool auctions and giveaways! If you'd like to be a part of the planning effort, check out the Team page and contact one of the team leaders.

We should have Harry's charity drive link up later this month. LLGS is going to discuss setting up a page on Just Giving and will let us know the results of that meeting. But either way, we will be supporting LLGS for Harry's 2016 Birthday Charity Drive!

Watch this space for all the latest charity happenings! And be sure to follow 1dfansgive on twitter. We're also setting up twitter accounts for each of the drives (Harry, Niall, Louis, Zayn, Liam, Girl Almighty).

Thanks for all your support! - Amy

Eden Dora Trust: Raising Money to Provide Training for Adults Working with Children Affected by Encephalitis and Acquired Brain Injury

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This year, in honor of Louis Tomlinson's 24th birthday, we are raising money for The Eden Dora Trust. The Eden Dora Trust raises money to provide training for adults working with children affected by Encephalitis and Acquired Brain Injury (ABI) as well as fund research and raise awareness of this debilitating, life changing illness.

The charity's namesake, Eden, was left with ABI following Encephalitis in March 2011 and had to relearn how to walk and talk. You can read more about Eden's story here. For most children, their rehabilitation is school, but most schools and teaching staff are not equipped with knowledge of the condition or how to support the complexities of an ABI, often called a hidden illness because the child looks the same as prior to the injury, but tasks that were once simple are now much more difficult. Louis is a long-time support of Eden Dora Trust and said:

I had never heard of Encephalitis or acquired brain injury until I met Eden. As I spent more and more time with her it soon become apparent the real and serious issues this brave little girl faces. Despite her illness Eden is a truly incredible little girl and we have become great friends 

When Petrina and Phil asked if I would consider becoming a patron of their charity I was honoured, there was no doubt in my mind and of course I said yes. I told them I will do everything I possibly can to help raise awareness so I can help other people like Eden. I am incredibly passionate and driven to make a real difference with this brilliant charity.

We are proud to be supporting Eden and Eden Dora Trust this year. We're currently planning lots of new things to raise money! We've got a hedgehog Louis bear that will be up for auction in a few months as well as new merch on the way. You can donate to our charity drive here:

http://www.justgiving.com/louis24

If you'd like to join in the planning of Louis' charity drive, contact the Louis team leaders on the team page! And be sure to follow 1dfansgive and 1dfansgivelouis on twitter to get the latest news on the charity drive!

Doctors without Borders: Providing Care Around the World to People in Need

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This year for Liam Payne's birthday charity drive we are supporting Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF), known internationally in English as Doctors Without Borders. 

In May 1968, a group of young doctors decided to go and help victims of wars and major disasters in what was at the time a new brand of humanitarianism would reinvent the concept of emergency aid. They were to become Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF), known internationally in English as Doctors Without Borders.

MSF was officially created on December 22, 1971. At the time, 300 volunteers made up the organization: doctors, nurses, and other staff, including the 13 founding doctors and journalists. MSF was created on the belief that all people have the right to medical care regardless of gender, race, religion, creed or political affiliation, and that the needs of these people outweigh respect for national boundaries. 

Since 1980, MSF has opened offices in 28 countries and employs more than 30,000 people across the world. Since its founding, MSF has treated over a hundred million patients—with 8.3 million outpatient consultations being carried out in 2012 alone.

We have several auctions already planned and are working on new charity gear so stay tuned!

Here's the link to donate: http://www.justgiving.com/liam22/

Also, be sure to follow 1dfansgive on twitter to get the latest news about the charity drive!

Autism Assistance Dogs Ireland: Providing Highly Trained Assistance Dogs for Children with Autism and their families

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This year for Niall Horan's birthday, we raising money for Autism Assistance Dogs Ireland. You can donate here: http://www.justgiving.com/niall22

John from AADI has passed on some info about the organization that I thought I'd share with everyone! AADI also has a special treat for one lucky fan! Read on! 

So what's AADI?

Autism Assistance Dogs Ireland provides dogs that are specially trained to provide safety, independence and companionship to children who would otherwise live in a very isolated world.  Having an assistance dog allows the families to be able to take their child to places that they had stopped going to and allows families to partake in simple everyday activities that the rest of us take for granted, such as a simple trip to a local shop, which can be very stressful for a child with autism.

How do the dogs assist?

The child is attached to the dog via a belt which is then linked to the dogs jacket ensuring the child is always safe and the parent then takes control of the dog by the lead. Autistic children sometimes don't have a strong sense of danger and will run after something. The dogs are trained to sit and prevent the child from running off. In addition, they can assist the child by providing companionship and responsibility for the care of the dog.

What is the training process?

It takes up to 2 years to train each dog. Each puppy is placed with a volunteer Puppy Foster Carer. The Foster Carer brings up the pup for the first 12 months, socializing the puppy so it can become a suitable assistance dog.

The dog then enters another 3 months of training, at which time, it is matched to a suitable child and family who will have already been assessed and accepted for an assistance dog.   All dogs have access to shops and restaurants and wear a red jacket with a logo to identify them as an assistance dog. The family goes through intensive training with the dog to ensure they are confident with the dog before taking the dog home, followed up with aftercare visits to the home.

It costs €15,000 (approx. $17,000) to train each dog. AADI just placed 3 dogs last week - Elmo, Georgie, and Kasper. 

Please follow AADI on Facebook! To celebrate Niall's birthday later in the year, AADI will pick one lucky fan who will get to chose a name for their next Puppy in Training and become that Puppy's virtual fosterer. (Terms and conditions apply) . The virtual fosterer will chose a name and then get a forthnightly updates on the dog's progress with pictures and video clips. 

Check out the video below to see AADI in action. I'll be sharing more videos as we get closer and closer to Niall's birthday! Be sure to follow 1dfansgive and 1dfansgiveniall on twitter!