Mother Nature has reared her head and in a predictably
unpredictable manner struck at the Gulf Coast with a vicious
blow. In a more orderly fashion there is a common place where
people seek solace and healing--in their faith. America, itself,
is a country founded on faith, and this article will chronicle
the birth and rise of just one of the efforts, by people of
faith, to help their fellow man. Realizing the immediate need
for spiritual and financial support for the victims of Hurricane
Katrina, Rodney Sampson, a well-respected expert in faith-based
marketing involving some of the biggest names in the African
American community, is launching a national campaign to address
these specific needs.
When I interviewed Sampson, I found him to be a steadying
influence and quite focused. “Early in the Bible, from the story
of Cain and Abel we learn that we are our brother’s keeper,”
said Sampson. “Our brothers and sisters in New Orleans and all
along the Gulf Coast are hurting and in need. It is our
collective responsibility to take care of not only their
spiritual needs, but also their physical needs.” Sampson,
founder of The World Christian Times
(www.worldchristiantimes.com/ and Intellectual Currency
Exchange, (www.intellectualcurrency.com/, is mobilizing the hip
hop, entertainment, business and faith based communities to
encourage industry colleagues to donate money and offer
strategic organized support for the relief efforts in Louisiana,
Mississippi and Alabama. “At this point, we are organizing a
global grass roots campaign to encourage people to donate money
to OPERATION S.A.V.E., which is focusing on both immediate and
ongoing transitional support” said Sampson. Clearly Sampson is
looking to the future and trying to anticipate the needs of over
a half million newly displaced people.
HURRICANE KATRINA VICTIMS RELIEF FOCUS
In talking with Sampson he discussed Operation S.A.V.E. and its
specific focus. Realizing that tens of millions of dollars will
be donated but may never directly affect the persons most
affected, monies raised by Operation S.A.V.E. will be
distributed in four strategic areas:
SAFETY – Monies will be donated to faith-based organizations to
assist with making direct contact with families in transition.
Medical supplies, prescribed medications, toiletries, and other
necessities will be purchased and provided directly to families
in transition.
ATTITUDES – Bibles and other encouraging books will be purchased
and provided to families in transition; Internet broadcasting
technology will be used to distribute encouraging messages of
hope from faith based and entertainment leaders.
VIABILITY – Clothes, books and toys will be purchased, collected
and distributed to families in transition.
ECONOMICS – The World Christian Times will develop an economic
transition package for families seeking employment, living
space, and schooling for their children. Displaced families will
be able to apply directly for monies. Partnering organizations
are being identified now to assist with this process.
We are also looking to partner with more organizations to
fulfill other important needs for those displaced from the
hurricane, including putting Bibles in their hands and
connecting them with spiritual counsel, job opportunities and
financial assistance, said Sampson”. Interestingly enough
Sampson is focusing much of his efforts on how the younger
hip-hop generation can participate in relief efforts.
ONE MILLION HURRICANE KATRINA RELIEF PARTNERS NEEDED
The immediate goal of The World Christian Times is to get one
million concerned global citizens to partner and donate a
minimum of ten dollars a month for a minimum of six months. The
World Christian times emergency call center and online system
will manage all donations. A 24-hour hot line was quickly set up
(1-888-777-3473) to receive donations from concerned citizens.
“Often times, celebrities and entertainers may make large one
time donations directly to disaster relief organizations,”
noticed Sampson. However, our objective is to leverage their God
given influence in partnership with our existing technology and
infrastructure to encourage their fans and followers to give
also. This strategy will have greater impact and that is what we
are organizing and executing.” Other small businesses have
joined Sampson in the outreach effort which will be coordinated
through the relief effort websites, www.operationsave.us and
www.worldchristiantimes.com. Public relations, Internet
marketing, web development, Internet streaming, CPA’s, media
outlets, and marketing firms are joining the cause.
Conversations are being held with Bible and book publishers,
transportation companies, and staffing companies to assist in
the effort.
AFTER HURRICANE KATRINA ONGOING STRATEGY
To execute the Operation SAVE campaign, The World Christian
Times and its partnering organization have established a central
web site titled www.opreationsave.us. This interactive website
will display video footage from the hip-hop and entertainment
community, call to action requests, news updates, and details of
how the global community can participate. An additional feature
of the site will act to provide a real time network between
potential employers of the victims of the hurricane who no
longer have a job. Remember that it will take months for New
Orleans to even be habitable and all but the largest businesses
will be long closed down. In fact, this may very well be the
single largest one-day reduction of jobs in the US employee base
in the history of the country. Finally, the site will act as a
portal to support the distribution of clothing, spiritual
materials such as bibles, and even something as simple as toys
for the tens of thousands of children who have lost everything.
Whenever you talk with Sampson a term comes up
consistently--“Influencers”. Sampson flatly states “The concept
of a role model has been twisted in so many directions that I
felt a new term should be coined” Sampson goes on to say, “I
noticed that people in leading positions actually influence the
actions of others hence the term influencers”. Operation SAVE is
focusing on key influencers who will direct people from every
walk of life to go to the Operation SAVE site or call the hot
line.
DIFFICULT RELIEF MISSION, BUT NOT IMPOSSIBLE
Sampson’s goal to attract 1 million partners to give monthly is
difficult but definitely not impossible. He works with churches,
companies and not-for-gain organizations on a daily basis that
are utilizing direct mail, Internet, call center, and creative
marketing strategies to build global partnership programs that
generate millions of dollars per year.
One company that has risen to the partnership call is Career
School Aid (www.careerschoolaid.com/, overseen by Managing
Director, Sam Ingram. The company is well known for its efforts
to empower people through lifelong training involving dozens of
partner schools in many diverse industries. “My initial reaction
to the events in the Gulf Coast was shock and disbelief”, stated
Ingram, “I knew I had to act and thankfully I was introduced to
the efforts of Rodney Sampson and Operation SAVE. Our company
intends to focus on the ongoing mission of re-training the
displaced people of New Orleans”. Ingram went on to say that
people will ultimately have to move on with the rest of their
lives, and he feels strongly that the federal government will
develop a long-term re-education plan for displaced people.
Sampson hopes that the influencers like Ingram will understand
and grasp how their ‘brands” and “popularity” can be leveraged
with technology and outreach to accomplish more than just a
one-time donation. There are millions of respective followers in
hip-hop, faith, and entertainment that drive a multi-billion
dollar marketplace. “It is proven that Billions of dollars are
generated each year via album sales, concerts, conferences,
festivals, books, and endorsements,” proclaimed Sampson. “Our
collective objective is to shift a very small percentage of
these revenue streams towards a global common good that will
reach the audience that these influencers serve.”
As Sampson sits in his office, with phones ringing seemingly
every 30 seconds, a little of his own philosophy is revealed.
“The difficult we do immediately. The impossible takes but a
second longer” says Sampson as he peers into the future. Only
time will tell if the rest of us can see his vision.
Contributing Writer Rena Olsen Press Direct International
Contributing Writer Bruce Prokopets Executive Editor Press
Direct International www.pressdirectinternational.com
CONTACT FOR RELIEF INFORMATION
Those wishing to make a donation can call 1-888-777-3473 or
visit the website: www.operationsave.us or
www.worldchristiantimes.com;
Those wishing to partner can call The World Christian Times at
1-404-724-0003 or email at: rsampson@worldchristiantimes.com.
For media partnership or interviews, please contact Diane
Stefani at The Rosen Group, 212.255.8455, EXT.27 OR VIA EMAIL AT
DIANE@ROSENGROUP.COM.
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