FARMINGTON, Conn., Nov. 2, 2005 (PRIMEZONE) -- If you're a Parrot Head you already know who you are. However, if you're like most people, you don't have a clue of what a Parrot Head is. Parrot Heads are avid Jimmy Buffett fans that will travel almost anywhere to attend his concert, and to attend regional or national Parrot Head conventions. It may sound like its all fun and parties, but that's only part of being a Parrot Head. The uniqueness of this fan club is that true Parrot Heads work on community service projects and do fund raising for nonprofit organizations. They do this in order to earn points to purchase concert tickets and to help better their communities in Buffett's name. The usual comment heard is that, "I joined a club for the ticket opportunity, but stayed on because I became aware of how much fun it is to give back to the community and how much I've enjoyed the comradelier of my fellow Parrot Heads." They clean up beaches, take part in Special Olympics events, give blood, collect and distribute clothing to the homeless, raise money to save lighthouses, and other projects too numerous to list.
There are over 200 Parrot Head clubs across the country and thousands of members. One such club, "Club Finz" out of Southern Maine and Coastal New Hampshire, decided to do a fundraiser around their passion and raise money for the National Cancer Awareness Foundation. Taking 35 of the Jimmy Buffett album covers, members Deb Griffin and Louise Basnett designed a quilt featuring the covers with the traditional tropical material for background. The all cotton quilt even has black and pink flamingos on the backside and measures 64" by 84". Members are selling raffle tickets with all the proceeds going to help needy families that are in a financial bind due to cancer.
Since the quilt is so unique and only one person will win it, the club is printing up free posters of the quilt that will be sent to anyone who buys or sells $100.00 worth of tickets. Drawing of the quilt will take place at the New England Parrot Head convention on March 26, 2006.
All the proceeds of the raffle tickets will be donated to the National Cancer Awareness Foundation. Its mission is to generate cancer awareness and raise funds in order to provide financial aid to cancer patients and their families in times of personal crisis. The interesting twist is that the foundation prides itself in the fact that 100% of monies raised goes right back out to families in need. All individuals involved in the foundation are volunteers, and even items such as postage, phone, supplies, printing and miscellaneous day-to-day items are supplied by private funds and or corporate supporters. When an individual makes a donation or simply just buys a raffle ticket, they can be assured that 100% of the monies will be used for the cause.
Additional information on obtaining raffle tickets for the Parrot Head quilt can be obtained at: www.clubfinz.com/convention/quilt.html