Everyday Giving Blog

Tin Man Follows the Yellow Brick Road to Habitat For Humanity

Where did Kathleen Robertson get those work shoes?

Did you watch the first episode of Tin Man last night on the SCI FI Channel? I took a break to watch it and now I am hooked.

Tin Man is a SCI FI Channel mini-series that takes “The Wonderful Wizard of Oz” to a new realm. You will catch surprising similarities to the original movie, but it is not a remake.

Why am I discussing a science fiction mini-series on a blog about giving?

Alan Cumming sanding up a storm

In the mini-series, an ordinary Kansas girl journeys beyond the yellow brick road to discover the meaning of home. In real life, the SCI FI Channel in partnership with Habitat for Humanity are working together to create homes.

They created an initiative called “Brick by Brick” that will fully fund a home build project in Kansas. To reach that goal, through December you can buy $10 virtual “bricks” towards the build at www.scifi.com/habitat. Through both on-air promotion and this online fundraising campaign, more homes for more families will be built down the road.

Let's hope they get most of the paint on the walls of the house

The build is already underway and Tin Man stars, Alan Cumming and Kathleen Robertson, and Dave Howe, SCI FI Channel's EVP/GM, are volunteering to do their part.

Consider buying some "bricks" to help a family have a much needed home. You will feel like skipping down a yellow brick road when you do.

Bid on Immortality for Charity

Have you experienced the SCI FI Channel reality television show called Who Wants to be a Superhero? Several people compete against each other to determine who has the best superhero persona. What prize could possibly be worth getting into a superhero costume and compete against others in tights on national television? The prize is to be immortalized in a new comic book by the famous comic book creator, Stan Lee, and also appear in an original movie!

Is the thought of dressing up as a superhero and having your bravery tested not in your top ten list of things to do? There is another way to be "immortalized" and support a charity at the same time.

Why not bid at an auction for charity that will get your name in a best-selling book or allow you to appear on a television show? Competing in a costume is not required. One auction site that I have discovered that regularly offers these kind of opportunities is Charity Folks. They have recently auctioned off walk-on roles to the television shows The Shield and Desperate Housewives.

You get your moment of fame that you have been dreaming about and charities benefit at the same time. If you want your name in lights, consider participating in a charity auction that will help you and others at the same time.