Allison A Rolland
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: Allison A Rolland 11/18/12
Telephone: 646-548-7881
Email: [email protected]
RESTORE THE SHORE BENEFIT: JERSEY BOYS’ RELIEF EFFORT MAKES GLOBAL WAVES
On October 30, 2012, when Michael DiGiacomo posted a facebook page called RESTORE THE SHORE BENEFIT with the help of his friend Steve Esparra, and put out a call for people to help organize relief efforts, he had no way of knowing that Ryan Kurek would respond and together, in less than two weeks, they would create a worldwide ripple effect reaching people in 42 states and 22 countries.
Michael, whose summer beach town of Long Beach Island was devastated during the storm, saw a request on facebook from a woman who reached out to Bruce Springsteen and asked him to do a benefit concert to help raise money to restore the shore, which led Michael to naming this grassroots organization. Overwhelmed by the response, Michael posted a comment to connect with individuals willing to help. He received an email from Ryan Kurek, an accomplished freelance marketing and business innovator native from Point Pleasant Beach. Within minutes the two were on the phone and developed a partnership immediately implementing activation plans that evening. The two did not meet face to face until Day 13 and by then they had accomplished a phenomenon.
Along with Michael’s network, Ryan reached out to his marketing, media and sports contacts. Team RTS was off and running accomplishing major goals in unbelievable time. In just 18 days after launch, Restore The Shore Benefit followers exceeded 23,000 and reached over 967,000 people in 19 languages. In the first 24 hours of accepting donations and taking orders of their RTS merchandise, they raised more than $60,000. Without the resources of prominent relief efforts like that of Bruce Springsteen, Jon Bon Jovi, The Red Cross and MTV, Michael and Ryan’s local-driven grassroots relief fund is defying all odds.
RestoreTheShoreBenefit.Org is a 501c3 partnership with through colleague Jim Arnott and his 501C3 partner WANDAA, is now accepting direct donations. In addition, Restore the Shore partnered with Dale Wolf and staff at Staples Promotional Products, which is providing all merchandise “at-cost” and free e-commerce development, fulfillment, management and transactions completely free of charge. Since Restore the Shore is a non-profit all donations of money, services, and purchases are tax-deductible.
Ryan estimates that it will take three to six years for the shore area to be brought back. The initial phase is cleanup. The city and the state are trying to repair the boardwalks and beach areas in time for the 2013 beach season. RestoreTheShoreBenefit.Org’s mission is to assist in relief and generate donations for families and local businesses that have been affected and displaced by Superstorm Sandy. The organization is trying to assist in finding thousands of families temporary housing. In addition, RTS organizes volunteer groups every weekend to assist with cleanup. Volunteers travel to devastated areas and help home and business owners clean out debris and organize their property. In addition, RTS is looking for Volunteer Team Leaders to organize volunteer groups in each of the devastated counties. If you are have free time during the day, resourceful and have strong organizational skills, this is a volunteer opportunity for you.
RestoreTheShoreBenefit.Org is 100% transparent providing all followers, individual and corporate donors complete information of what, when, and where donations are directed. Michael and Ryan have enlisted help to coordinate charity events throughout New Jersey with all proceeds to relief expected to launch in late December or early January. In addition, red-carpet celebrity, corporate and athlete events are objectives of Team RTS to gain national and international recognition for the damage and destruction of the Jersey Shore.
RTS is not collecting food or clothing at this time. Instead the nonprofit is collecting monetary donations and asking for volunteers. Monies donated will provide temporary housing and assistance to families in areas that their insurance and FEMA will not cover.
One of the biggest goals of RTS is to help the local Mom & Pop businesses that are not able to reopen as a result of the storm. The mini-golf places, the ice cream stands, the diners, all those landmark venues that we head to the shore year after year to visit. Through monetary donations and corporate partnerships, RTS is hoping to assist their comeback.
Now the largest grassroots foundation on the entire East Coast, Restore the Shore is growing in followers on average 5% per day. Michael and Ryan have volunteered their time to establish, develop and grow the foundation to help all Jersey Shore natives affected by Sandy until every need is satisfied. An example of their commitment is personally answering more than 800 emails and comments from followers each day. Restore the Shore is partnered with WANDAA (World Association of Natural Disaster Awareness & Assistance). No one on the Team RTS staff receives a salary or monetary distribution, nor do our vendor partners receive any profits.
Media inquiries please feel free to contact Michael or Ryan through our Facebook page or email [email protected].
TEAM RTS BIOS:
Michael DiGiacomo – RTS Founder and President
Michael is a graduate of Ramapo College of New Jersey. He comes from a middle class family born and raised in northern NJ. Michael’s expertise is in business, marketing, networking, relationship building, and strong interpersonal communication skills. With over a decade of business skills and management skills, Michael also has fundraising and event planning experience working on a committee for the largest not for profit in Newark, NJ New Community Corporation.
Ryan Kurek – RTS Managing Director, Co-Founder Atrial & The Atrial Foundation
Born and raised in Point Pleasant beach, NJ, Ryan is a 16-year professional in strategic business development and management throughout marketing, multimedia. entertainment and sports business. Ryan is on the Board of Advisors at St. Jude Children’s Hospital SAB/ALSAC, Board of Advisors at Clemson University College of Business and Behavioral Science, authored more than 37 essays in marketing and cited in college textbook “Business Marketing” by Bingham & Gomes. Ryan is currently a freelance consultant for the interim. On the side, he is trying to launch Atrial, a social and multimedia venture and 501C3 foundation, while directing Restore the Shore Benefit efforts.
James D. Arnott – RTS Donation Director and Advisor, Founder/Executive Director, WANDAA
James, a graduate of Florida Atlantic University, has been active in the South Florida marketing community since his graduation in 1991. Before James’ marketing career began, he lived and worked in Japan for an extended period of time and traveled extensively learning about international cultures. Having held executive marketing positions at firms involved in the financial, beverage, printing and automotive industries along with his current venture as a Sales and Marketing consultant with Catapult Concepts; Jim has worked on many charity programs of varied natures.
General Information
100% NON-PROFIT
EIN: 27-2176513
DLN: 17053134332030
Form: SS-4
Public Charity Status: 107(b) (1) (a) (vi)
Form 990
HOW TO DONATE:
Go to www.paypal.com. Click on the "Buy" tab. Enter your email in the "From" tab and enter [email protected] in the "to donate / buy" tab. Enter the amount of the donation. You have just helped support all the families, businesses, volunteers along the Jersey Shore.
Basic Info
Founded October 30, 2012
Location 1913 Atlantic Avenue, Suite 111, Manasquan, New Jersey 08736
Contact Info
Website http://www.restoretheshorebenefit.com
http://www.restoretheshorebenefit.org
http://www.livinginmedia.com
