HomeAid and Be The Media Team Up to Host a Virtual Fund-Raising Event to Benefit America's Homeless Families, Children and Veterans

NEW YORK, Jan. 11, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- National nonprofit organization HomeAid has signed an agreement with diversified media company Be The Media to host a virtual fundraising benefit event to help America's homeless families, children, and veterans, to be held in November 2011 during National Hunger and Homelessness Awareness Week.

Celebrities, artists, and performers are contributing video that will be streamed on the HomeAid.net website. Since sponsors will cover the costs of the event, 100% of donations will go to HomeAid and other nonprofits that benefit the homeless.

"We have helped provide housing for the homeless for over 20 years, but this is the first time we can reach a truly universal audience," said Jeffrey Slavin, CEO of HomeAid, "Because the event takes place online, anyone can watch it, and anyone can donate to the cause."

HomeAid has provided housing for more than 100,000 individuals who have been rendered temporarily homeless due to circumstances beyond their control. HomeAid has 20 chapters in 14 states.

"This will be a truly green event," said David Mathison, CEO of Be The Media and a former vice-president at Reuters. "Since everything is online, there is no place to fly or drive, no trees to cut down for posters or tickets - there's almost no impact on the environment."

Mathison heads Be The Media, where his experience with the newest methods of virtual content distribution led him to develop the HomeAid event.

"We are at the start of a digital renaissance. New tools such as streaming video and social media have made it easy to reach a massive audience and build a donor base," said Mathison. "So, why can't we use this to make a difference? I can't think of a more pressing problem for millions of Americans than homelessness."

Artists and fans will stream live "house parties" right from their homes. Fans will have many ways to participate, from uploading videos to posting on social networking sites, and even downloading mobile applications for their smartphone.

"I am very hopeful that David's leadership in the production of the event will prove transformational for HomeAid," said Slavin, "and will enable us to expand our ability to build homeless shelters where America's homeless can regain their dignity and rebuild their lives."

A study by the National Law Center on Homelessness and Poverty estimates that between 2.3 and 3.5 million people annually experience homelessness in America, and estimates from The National Alliance to End Homelessness show the recession will force 1.5 million more people into homelessness over the next two years. According to Elizabeth Warren, Congressional Oversight Panel Chair, 3.5 million Americans faced foreclosure in the last two years.

Thousands of families are without shelter due to catastrophic events and natural disasters, such as the floods in Nashville and Hurricane Katrina in New Orleans.

Go to http://www.HomeAid.net to learn more, donate, or to host a HomeAid house party.

Mathison will meet with potential corporate sponsors at the NAHB International Builders' Show in Orlando on January 12-15, 2011. The HomeAid booth will be located at Hall B, lobby Level II, booth W27.

To set up an appointment, or for press inquiries email [email protected] or call (415) 637-8365.

HomeAid http://www.HomeAid.org

HomeAid is a leading national non-profit provider of housing for today's homeless. The organization builds and maintains shelters where homeless families and individuals, more than one million of whom are children, can rebuild their lives.

Founded in 1989 by the Building Industry Association of Southern California (BIA/SC), an affiliate of the National Association of Home Builders (NAHB), HomeAid has now completed more than 200 homeless shelters nationwide costing in excess of $170 million of which approximately 50 percent has been donated by the building industry. More than 100,000 Americans have been given the opportunity to rebuild their lives in HomeAid facilities.

Be The Media http://www.BeTheMedia.com

Be The Media helps artists and businesses spread the buzz about their work through our books, speaking, radio show, online and offline courses, our blog, and events such as HomeAid.

BE THE MEDIA was featured in the NY Times after selling over 5,000 copies of the book in 11 days via their website, Twitter, and Facebook. Mathison has given keynote presentations everywhere from the United Nations to Columbia University, from Berlin to Cairo.

From 1994-1999, Mathison was Vice President with Reuters, the world's largest news agency, where he pioneered online content syndication. As founder and CEO of the Kinecta Corporation (now part of Oracle), he raised $30 million in under 2 years.

SOURCE Be The Media