One more reason to love indie
The Yellow Bird Project is a great example of musicians using their celebrity for good. Forget vanity, forget greed — this one’s all heart.
The Montreal-based organization enlists bands and musicians to each design a T-shirt to be sold on its Web site. The purpose behind this is that they get to choose a charity to which to direct all the proceeds. ALL the proceeds, according to YBP’s mission statement.
Now, I know, nobody needs a new T-shirt, and really, most people would be happy to give money to a cause they care about without expecting anything in return. But the effort is indeed honorable and, darn it all, inspiring. Suddenly, I want a T-shirt.
Get a blue shirt with a funky little drawing on the front by Wolf Parade, and you’re helping the Glass Casters Union in Oregon provide assistance to homeless and low-income folks. Buy a black tee with a funky doodle by Joseph Arthur, and you’re giving money to MercyCorps. The newest offering, a blue-gray shirt featuring a ghost surrounded by bees and holding a horn, helps indie rocker Elvis Perkins support the World Wildlife Fund.
All the shirts are $25. Really a small price to pay to support a good cause.