Every month groups comprised of ten people, all over the world, award $1000 to one awesome project through a group called the Awesome Foundation, but not a lot of people know about it. S0 we’ve thrown together a roundup of some of the projects they’ve funded over the years.
Chapters are comprised of ten individuals who pledge $100 each month to a lucky winner. The money is thrown in a pot and then awarded, in cash, to the idea with the most votes. Some ideas, if they’re strong enough, get rolled over to the next month to get voted on again.
The local Orlando chapter has been around since July 2013 and each month they award their grant to what they believe is the best creative idea that could improve our community and make Orlando a more “awesome place” to live, work, and play.
To apply for a grant to fund your own awesomely creative idea, click HERE.
Here is a list of past funded projects in chronological order:
Pop-up movie screenings in vacant lots
Date awarded: December 2015
A series of free pop-up movies in vacant or unused lots in Downtown Orlando. VIP area will be on inflatable swan floats. For more information on this project, reach out to our Editor at [email protected]
You Matter campaign
Date awarded: November 2015
Handing out “You Matter” cards around the City and painting a series of murals in Mills 50 with the same message.
Child of this Culture Foundation
Date awarded: October 2015
Providing free/low cost urban art programs centered around hip-hop culture. More on the Foundation HERE.
Art in Odd Places: Orlando
Date awarded: September 2015
Helped to fund a pop-up art festival along Magnolia in Downtown Orlando. More on the project HERE.
1,000 student marching band
Date awarded: August 2015
1,000 local students performed alongside Cirque du Soleil, Orlando Ballet, CFCArts and many other organizations in the streets of Downtown Orlando as part of the Creative City Project (Website).
The City Chalkboard
Date awarded: July 2015
Incorporated a chalkboard into a mural and solicit interactions from the community. More on the project HERE on artist Jonathan Yubi’s website.
ArtReach Orlando’s Mobile Art Truck
Date awarded: May 2015
Local arts non-profit ArtReach Orlando provides free art programming to children throughout Orange County. One of their programs is a mobile art classroom that parks at events and community centers. More on their program HERE.
Jim Leatherman’s Greatest Hits
Date awarded: March 2015
A retrospective art show of prolific local photographer Jim Leatherman’s work . Leatherman has been documenting the Central Florida music scene for over 30 years.
Toys for needy Orlando children
Date awarded: February 2015
Ray Kendrick makes hand-built toys and donates them to charities around the Orlando area. In 2014 he donated 4,000 toys out of his own pocket. This grant paid for basic tools to continue his work.
“The Oceanographer” art installation
Date awarded: December 2014
A unique and interactive puppet show to be created by Orlando artist Doug Rhodehamel. Puppets will be made from recycled and surplus materials.
Getaboard Skateboarding Outreach
Date awarded: November 2014
Empowering at-risk youth through skateboarding. They teach children to ride and give them free equipment. More on this initiative HERE.
“Artists of Orlando” film project
Date awarded: October 2014
Documenting Orlando artists in their private studios, through film. Initiated by award-winning filmmaker Woodruff Laputka. More HERE.
Orlando Fringe/ Ivanhoe Village mural
Date awarded: September 2014
This would have funded a mural by Thomas Thorspecken of Analog Artist in a Digital World (Website) but the two groups were forced to move following the purchase of the land to build a new development.
The Dance Happy Project
Date awarded: August 2014
Series of 4-week dance classes for children living at the Coalition for the Homeless of Central Florida.
“If Parramore could talk … what would it say?”
Date awarded: July 2014
Giving Parramore students a voice through series of installations.
National Dance Day Orlando
Date awarded: June 2014
Free community-wide dance events and classes as part of a national initiative. More information is available HERE.
Sing-song, String-along
Date awarded: May 2014
A program run by the Florida Symphony Youth Orchestra (Website) that immerses young children in a challenging pre-school music program.
IDEAS for ARTS
Date awarded: March 2014
Local environmental group IDEAS for US (Website) did a series of reverse graffiti installations where they pressure washed stenciled messages onto dirty walls. Some were painted over by FDOT.
Ivanhoe Village Fish Chairs
Date awarded: January 2014
Meant to dress up under the I-4 near Lake Ivanhoe, the project was moved to Lake Highland to make way for the Ultimate I-4. Chairs decorated with fishy details were installed at fishing holes around the lake and marked with fish wind socks. They were removed by the Parks department three months after being installed.
Distance 2
Date awarded: December 2013
Musicians were planted on the top of twelve rooftops around Downtown Orlando as an active exploration of how sound travels over distances.
Light up the MSO!
Date awarded: December 2013
The Maitland Symphony Orchestra purchased new lighting cor their outdoor concerts.
Bungalower awesomefound Friends thank you is joy know ,I have one idea one dream need organise and know of Awesome is gift
Very cool. Have ideas.
Meribeth Huebner you should apply for the co-op
George has been saying this would be his ideal job….for the last 5 years….I just had to give him a hard time!
haha it’s not a “foundation” per se. They don’t have a staff. Just ten people who donate $100 each, every month.
on a video screen!
Well, I am awesome, i love ideas, and i love being judgemental!
You need to get a job there!
Awesome Foundation is pretty darn cool.
I hope this photo means we’re getting giant sloths in DTO.