The Philanthropic Family

I’m not a fan of Wilco, at least I think I’m not.  It’s possible, if they have a song on mainstream radio, that I’ve heard it and maybe even liked it. I know this makes me unhip. To further show my musical geek-out, let me just confess that I just don’t get Adam Lambert’s screeching on American Idol.  In fact, I have a theory that Adam Lambert is actually a satirical character being played by Zac Effron in pancake make-up.  America, you’re being punk’d.

(My Chicago partner-in-crime at Foundation Source, Chris Wright, a music guru who offered to read this post before it was published–to keep me from embarrassing myself–says that Jeff Tweedy’s previous claim to greatness was his time in Uncle Tupelo and the “No Depression” album. Okay, does that redeem me? )

Anyhoo, back to Wilco in 2009. Their latest album was just leaked on the Internet. This is no surprise to the music biz, it seems to happen all the time. Personally, I prefer to hear the finished versions of songs that the artists are happy enough with to release for public consumption but I understand that some people also watch the “deleted scenes” on DVDs.  Folks, they are deleted for a reason.

In reaction to the leak, Wilco didn’t stamp its collective little feet and complain about the unfairness of file-sharing–the band even offered a link to the download on its own web site, to save you some time trying to find it.  Instead, they offered “our usual guilt abatement plan for downloaders. ”  For all you naughty MP3 pirates, “we suggest you make a donation to one of the band’s favorite charities, the Inspiration Corporation – an organization we’ve supported in the past & who are doing great work in the city of Chicago.”

I love that the band has made peace with its complete inability to force people to pay them for the music but is turning this into an opportunity to use their fame for the benefit of their favorite charity.

Inspiration Corporation

Inspiration Corporation recently got attention as part of the True North commercials aired during the 2009 Oscars.  A well-loved Chicago institution, Inspiration Corporation is perhaps best known for Inspiration Cafe, but provides a whole range of programs to assist homeless people to reach self-sufficiency, helping them with the kind of support structures so many of us take for granted, like a phone number where we can be reliably reached.

“Through its supportive services, employment, and housing programs, Inspiration Corporation assists more than 2,500 individuals and families affected by homelessness and poverty each year – serving as a catalyst for self-reliance.

Inspiration Cafe, located in Uptown, and The Living Room Cafe in Woodlawn, serve meals in a restaurant-style setting and provide supportive services in a therapeutic community designed to help individuals on their journey toward self-sufficiency;

Open Case Management offers case management, information and referral services, and direct financial support to any community members, typically to address a temporary crisis or transition. In partnership with Emergency Fund, Inspiration Corporation provides cash grants to prevent eviction and homelessness.

Cafe Too, is a culinary job-training program including an award-winning restaurant open to the public at 4715 N. Sheridan Road in Chicago’s Uptown neighborhood;

The Employment Project, offers career services, employment preparation training, tuition subsidies, employer outreach, and job placement and retention services throughout Chicago;

Community Voice Mail, offers free, 24-hour voice mail service for phoneless, homeless and low-income individuals enabling them to connect with family, employers, housing and service providers;

The Engagement Center, provides daytime social services, laundry, showers and bag lunches in a warm and safe environment;

Housing Services, offers a housing locator, rent subsidies and social services to help individuals and families find and maintain permanent housing.

Tip o’ the hat to Wilco for going beyond its checkbook to help a cause it cares about, and also using its fame and access to a loyal fan base to generate support and hopefully connect some folks with the mission of a fantastic nonprofit.

Tags: charity, Chicago, Inspiration corporation, music piracy, Wilco

This entry was posted on May 14, 2009 at 8:39 pm and is filed under Celebrity Philanthropy, Giving Money, Great Nonprofits. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.