Category Archives: Keep It! Going

Geraldine Buckley "Keeps It! Going" with Creativity and Collaboration

The story of Geraldine Buckley is captivating. On the surface, each chapter is a stand-alone narrative filled with colorful descriptions of people and places that come alive through the spoken word. But if we listen closely, we learn that the stories are all connected – woven together by common threads of creativity and kindness. Eventually, what we thought were random tales, evolve into a well-timed true story that was meant to be.

Geraldine Buckley is a minister, storyteller, writer, events director, and poetry slam champion. In 1999, Buckley traveled to South Africa to teach slam – a type of performance art in which poets recite original works. Through her workshops, her students learned to share their pain through an artistic voice. “The power of creativity should not be underestimated,” says Buckley. “When people speak creatively about their emotions, others connect to their story. Unbelievable bonds are formed.”

 

While in South Africa, Buckley also traveled to a school to share her art. In the midst of crowded conditions and limited resources, she was impressed by the shining spirit of the children. “After the poetry, the students sang for me,” she notes. “It was a profound experience that confirmed the power of creativity at work.” When Buckley left the country a short time later, she discovered that the creative forces she had encountered during her visit would help to shape her future goals and, ultimately, influence her decision to become a chaplain at the largest men’s prison in Maryland.

In 2011, more than ten years after her South African journey, Buckley found her voice reaching out to the people of South Africa once again. Through a collaborative effort with origins that tell their own unique story, Buckley would be sharing her creative talents at a storytelling benefit aimed at raising funds for Ivory Park.

Buckley had recently stepped down from her position as prison chaplain and had crafted a one-woman storytelling show based on her experiences. Through performance networks, she met Keep It! founder and fellow storyteller Bob Tryanski. Buckley and Tryanski found that their storytelling styles were complimentary and joined forces to present a house concert for friends, family, and storytelling enthusiasts.

A short time later, Tryanski joined John and Joyce Johnson and Carolyn and Jerry Ward in Ivory Park. The Johnsons and the Wards – members of the First Presbyterian Church in Greeneville, TN – had traveled to Ivory Park to view the impact of the church’s many fundraising efforts and to assess additional needs in the community. It was on the way home from this trip that the idea for the benefit concert took root.

John and Joyce Johnson hosted the house concert for “Keep It!” at their home in Greeneville, TN. Photo by O.J. Early. Copyright © 2011, The Greeneville Sun, All Rights Reserved. Used with Permission.

“What was amazing to me about the storytelling benefit was the way it all came together.  The stars really aligned to create this opportunity – along with a little nudge of divine intervention,” says Tryanski. “The idea was hatched in the back of the car by the Johnsons on our way back from their visit to Ivory Park. Geraldine and I had just come off a terrific experience performing together at a house concert in Philadelphia, so when she offered to do anything she could to help with the Ivory Park project, I thought we would be idiots to let her escape without taking her up on her extremely generous offer.”

Tryanski shared the idea for the benefit concert with Buckley who was eager to assist with a project that felt personal. “My prior experience in South Africa gave me a glimpse into what could be accomplished when children are given the right resources,” notes Buckley. “The Keep It! Campaign is opening a whole new world for these young people. And, it is empowering for students here in the United States. When they look beyond themselves and listen to someone else’s story, wonderful things can happen.”

Bob Tryanski entertains the crowd at a house concert that raised more than $3,000 for “The Keep It! Campaign”. Photo by O.J. Early. Copyright © 2011, The Greeneville Sun, All Rights Reserved. Used with Permission.

Storyteller Geraldine Buckley captivated the audience with her honest and humorous stories.Photo by O.J. Early. Copyright © 2011, The Greeneville Sun, All Rights Reserved. Used with Permission.

In October of 2011, Buckley and Tryanski’s benefit storytelling concert – hosted by the Johnsons – resulted in the largest single fundraising event to date for the Keep It! Campaign by bringing in more than $3,000. “Geraldine mesmerized the folks from Greeneville,” notes Tryanski. “It was a real joy to have the chance to work with her again. And they key to it all was collaboration.”

The Keep It! Campaign is proud to honor Geraldine Buckley, a campaign champion who Keeps It! Going through the power of creativity and collaboration.

The Johnsons and the Wards “Keep It Going” with a Mission

At First Presbyterian Church in Greeneville, TN, the defining mission is to nurture and provide care for people within and beyond the church’s own community of faith. The congregation is committed – not only to ministering to people’s hurts – but also to their hopes. So when church members learned of the “Keep It!” Campaign’s efforts to build a community of hope in Ivory Park, South Africa, they embraced the opportunity to act locally and reach globally. 

Members of the First Presbyterian Church in Greeneville, TN join "Keep It!" founder Bob Tryanski and residents of South Africa during a mission trip to Ivory Park.

Church member and former educator Carolyn Ward explains that the idea of helping to create self-sustaining improvements is what attracted her and husband Jerry to the project. “The philosophy of providing a hand up and not a hand out is an admirable concept,” she notes. “We were impressed by what had been accomplished in such a short time and that the people were eager to support themselves when they received the right kind of help.”

Joyce and John Johnson, also church members with a background in education, shared the Wards desire to support the project. When they learned that “Keep It” founder Bob Tryanski and his wife, Hannah Britton, were going to be visiting Ivory Park, they made plans to join them. Britton – whose mother, Sandra Britton, attends First Presbyterian Church – is a political science professor currently studying domestic violence in South Africa. 

While in Ivory Park, the Johnsons and the Wards toured the community center, day care, and the library located at the Drake Koka Primary School. The couples were pleased to see that many of their church’s previous fundraising efforts, including support of two new kitchens, had been transformed into tangible benefits for Ivory Park residents. They were also impressed with the dedication of the school’s principal, the librarian, and the day care workers. “We are all former educators, so education is a priority to us. You can’t teach hungry children and you can’t teach children who can’t see well, so it was gratifying to see all of the pieces – the feeding program, the day care, the eye center, the library – working together to improve education in the community,” notes Mrs. Ward.

Mrs. Johnson explains that, while in Ivory Park, the travelers participated in a brainstorming session to identify additional areas of need and potential solutions. The creative ideas generated from the session fueled the group’s excitement about the project – an excitement that they eagerly shared with the First Presbyterian congregation upon their return to Tennessee through photos and descriptions of the journey.

Since the couples’ return, church members have been busy with additional fundraisers aimed at bringing sustainable solutions to Ivory Park. They have raised more than $900 for tools that will allow adults to better maintain and expand on a community vegetable garden. They have also joined the campaign’s efforts to stock the library with new, quality reading materials and have raised $4,000 for books through community donations, member giving, and a storytelling event hosted by the Johnsons and featuring Tryanski and international storyteller Geraldine Buckley.    

For Mrs. Johnson, the best part of the experience has been meeting the people of Ivory Park. “They were warm, friendly, and enthusiastic,” she says. “And, they are really trying to take ownership and make the most of the opportunities presented to them.”

The “Keep It!” Campaign is proud to honor Joyce and John Johnson and Carolyn and Jerry Ward, two couples who “Keep It Going” by embracing their mission.

Lynn Clark “Keeps It Going” with Community Connections

When we launched the Keep It! Campaign, one of the core ideas was that our success or failure would be directly related to how well we were able to harness the “Power of Ten”. The key to this strategy was the idea of multiplication. Raising funds is certainly critical, but it’s even more important to “Keep It Going!” by connecting others to the cause. As we have moved forward, a number of key individuals have helped us to unlock the “Power of Ten”. Their stories are as diverse as they are inspiring. Each has connected a wide range of people to the project, raised significant funds to support the cause, and brought their own personal talents and interests to the project. Through a feature entitled “Keep It! Going”, we salute these champions by sharing their stories and recognizing their contribution with a simple keychain created by the children of Ivory Park.

Lynn Clark cares about communities. Whether it’s her hometown neighbors, a South African township in need, or PASC students and peers, she believes in nurturing relationships. It is this desire to build strong connections that has made Clark one of the Keep It! Campaign’s most loyal advocates.

Clark is the student council adviser and a health and physical education teacher at Norwin High School (North Huntingdon, PA). She values the lessons modeled through the PASC and encourages her students to practice these ideals. Through student council initiatives, Norwin’s student leaders are learning decision-making skills that allow them to be proactive in meeting needs in their own community and beyond. “Our group is very active in PASC state conferences and summer programs,” says Clark. “I send my students to these workshops to learn about leadership. We value our relationship with the PASC and believe it is important to support their initiatives as well as what is happening in our own neighborhood.”

It was through a former student’s experience at a 2009 PASC summer workshop that Clark first learned about the Campaign for Ivory Park. She recalls Forrest Mance’s excitement when he first shared the Keep It! story with his peers, and she enthusiastically backed his efforts to gain the council’s support for the campaign. As a result, students raised more than $700 through a dodgeball tournament held on behalf of Keep It! “Forrest is an awesome leader who took the initiative to organize, plan, and collect the funds,” notes Clark. And while Mance got the ball rolling in support of the campaign, it has been Clark’s job to help maintain the momentum through the years.

“I try to influence the students when I can,” says Clark. “I want them to know that it is important to support our own community but that, even if it’s not in our neck of the woods, we can make a difference. It’s important to be supportive of those who need our help whenever and wherever we can.” This philosophy was put into play in the spring of 2011, when the Norwin student council hosted another dodgeball tournament. Clark notes that the students were excited about the opportunity to provide additional support for Keep It! when an unforeseen and violent act of nature changed their plans. “Our community was hit by a destructive tornado in the spring,” explains Clark. “Some areas were devastated.” In this case, Clark and her students knew that they needed to provide support to neighbors who were dealing with the crisis, so tournament proceeds were donated to local relief efforts.

Still, Clark notes that Ivory Park is always in the hearts and minds of her students. “The kids have seen pictures of the difference they are making in South Africa,” she says. “They want to be a part of it. They want to know about the progress being made. It has become personal for them.” Because of this, Clark and her students donated their remaining funds for the 2010-2011 school year to Keep It! In addition, students have donated concession stand proceeds from a November 2011 power puff game and are planning a February 2012 Keep It! dodgeball tournament.

“One of our long term goals is to expand the scope of Keep It! beyond Ivory park as we continue to accomplish our goals in South Africa,” explains Keep It! founder Bob Tryanski. “Norwin’s experience is the perfect illustration of how the idea of ‘Act Locally, Reach Globally’ can impact communities at home as well as abroad. When student leaders and their advisers are proactive rather than reactive, they are ready to respond to a crisis as soon as the need arises. They become decision makers and change agents, not just fund raisers. This doesn’t happen by accident; it happens by design. It’s sustainable, scalable, and replicable. Those are the hallmarks of social entrepreneurship.”

Through community connections and her efforts to provide sustainability for the Keep It! Campaign, Clark is teaching her students about the importance of reaching out to those in their own community and abroad. In October of 2010, her outstanding efforts were acknowledged when she was named a PASC adviser of the year. The Keep It! Campaign is proud to honor Lynn Clark, a campaign champion who “Keeps It Going” through sustained support and community connections.

Storyteller Andy Offutt Irwin Keeps It! Going with Talent and Joy

Andy Offutt Irwin is joyful. As a storyteller, humorist, singer, songwriter, and musician, Irwin’s goal is to entertain and educate his audience. But the foundation of his vocation – the spark that ignites each performance – is the sharing of joy. And when he is on stage, Irwin finds that his joy is contagious. The pleasure he takes in bringing happiness to others has made Irwin a perfect partner for the Keep It! Campaign.

In February of 2011, Irwin attended a presentation at Emory University’s Oxford College in Oxford, GA by Keep It! founder and fellow storyteller, Bob Tryanski. Irwin was intrigued by the concept of social entrepreneurship. In addition, Irwin was captivated by the happiness he saw on the faces of Keep It! supporters as they worked to make a difference – and on the faces of Ivory Park residents whose lives were being transformed. “One of the things I love about Keep It! is the joyful countenance surrounding it,” Irwin says. “You can see it on the Web site, through the presentations, and in the volunteers working with the program. It is a spirited and fun way of giving back.” 

Irwin is a long-time supporter of literacy development and was especially interested in helping to fund the new library in Ivory Park. As a way of contributing to the Campaign’s drive to stock the library shelves with 6,000 new books, Irwin will be donating proceeds from downloaded copies of a cut from his newly released CD, Risk Assessment. The selection was recorded at the 2010 National Storytelling Festival in Jonesboro, TN and features Irwin along with storytellers Bil Lepp and Kevin Kling. Irwin explains that the cut is not a selection that storytelling aficionados have come to expect. Instead, it showcases the three humorists as they attempt a comedic improv performance. While Irwin notes that storytelling remains his area of expertise, he wanted to include the improv cut because it makes him laugh. “We are not doing what we do best. Yet, we are diving in. Taking the leap. Throwing ourselves into the fray,” he says. And as with all Keep It! supporters, Irwin’s efforts are filled with joy – a joy that he is now sharing with the people of Ivory Park.  

“Andy’s contribution to our project is like everything he does as an artist- it’s elegantly clever,” Tryanski says. “It’s the perfect illustration of how the simple principle of multiplication can have a significant, sustainable, scalable impact. Every time someone downloads the CD or the mp3 recording of the final track, it will help to put more books on the library’s shelves. Now that’s a great story!” 

Irwin’s generosity is an ideal example of the Keep It! Campaign’s challenge to reach globally by acting locally.  His ingenuity and willingness to share his talent coupled with the support of his fans will have a lasting impact on thousands of kids in Ivory Park. The Keep It! Campaign is also grateful to Bil Lepp and Kevin Kling for their enthusiastic support of Irwin’s idea. We can’t think of a better reason to add Risk Assessment to your CD collection!

To learn more about Andy Offutt Irwin – award-winning storyteller, humorist, musician, and educator – visit www.andyirwin.com.

To download Risk Assessment, Irwin’s most recent album featuring cut #7 to  benefit Keep It!: The Campaign for Ivory  Park, visit www.andyirwin.com or www.cdbaby.com/Artist/AndyOffuttIrwin.

Forrest Mance “Keeps It Going!” With a Dodgeball Tournament Tradition

When we launched the Keep It! Campaign, one of the core ideas was that our success or failure would be directly related to how well we were able to harness the “Power of Ten”. The key to this strategy was the idea of multiplication. Raising funds is certainly critical, but it’s even more important to “Keep It Going!” by connecting others to the cause. As we have moved forward, a number of key individuals have helped us to unlock the “Power of Ten”. Their stories are as diverse as they are inspiring. Each has connected a wide range of people to the project, raised significant funds to support the cause, and brought their own personal talents and interests to the project. Through a new feature entitled “Keep It! Going”, we will salute these champions by sharing their stories and recognizing their contribution with a simple keychain created by the children of Ivory Park.

When Forrest Mance was a sophomore at Norwin High School in North Huntingdon, PA, a world cultures course introduced him to the challenges facing impoverished communities in South Africa. The service-minded Mance was touched by what he saw, and he wanted to help. But though Mance had the motivation, he wasn’t sure how to transform his inspiration into a strategy that could impact people who live thousands of miles away. Enter the Keep It! Campaign.

Forrest Mance (second from right) and fellow student leaders at the June 2009 PASC Advanced Gold Workshop.

Mance had previously met Keep It! founder Bob Tryanski at a PASC summer workshop. When he learned about Tryanski’s work with the Campaign for Ivory Park, he knew that he’d found the perfect way to take action. Mance encouraged fellow student council members to embrace Keep It! and became the driving force behind a dodgeball tournament designed to benefit Ivory Park. He asked the high school news broadcasting group to make a promotional video advertising the tournament and posted flyers designed to spur interest. He expanded involvement by enlisting teams of teachers and students throughout the school district. As a result, Mance and the Norwin student council recruited 18 teams and raised $700 for the campaign.

“The great thing about Forrest’s willingness to take initiative at Norwin is that he was a catalyst for sustained support at his high school.  Forrest graduated from Norwin last year, but the dodgeball tournament is happening again this year.  Sustainable support is the key to our success in Ivory Park,” says Tryanski.

Mance’s involvement with the Keep It! Campaign helped to make him a global citizen, and he believes that all students need to be aware of issues affecting people in their own communities and abroad.  His efforts also allowed him to practice valuable leadership skills. “Students need to realize the potential they have to change lives, not only in their own communities, but around the globe,” he says. “Through the campaign, I learned that it was possible for a high school student to make a huge contribution, and I also learned about planning and goal setting. Watching the event come together and realizing that I was able to directly improve someone’s life situation was satisfying.”       

Forrest Mance (front) participates in an outdoor team building adventure at the PASC Advance Gold Workshop in 2009.

Mance graduated from high school in 2010 and is now a student at Duquesne University in Pittsburgh, PA. In addition to his studies, he devotes his time to volunteer work and is also an active member of a chess club and a rock band. In the short term, he hopes to graduate from Duquesne’s professional pharmacy program. “I’m not sure what the future holds after that,” he notes. “But, the leadership skills I learned through my experiences with the PASC and the Keep It! Campaign will be critical to whatever path I travel.”  The Keep It! Campaign is proud to honor Forrest Mance, a campaign champion who “Keeps It Going!”

To learn how to host a dodgeball tournament at your school, visit www.keepitcampaign.com/dodgeball

Introducing "Keep It! Going"

When we launched the Keep It! Campaign, one of the core ideas was that our success or failure would be directly related to how well we were able to harness the “Power of Ten”.

The key to this strategy was the idea of multiplication. Raising funds is certainly critical, but it’s even more important to “Keep It Going!” by connecting others to the cause. As we have moved forward, a number of key individuals have helped us to unlock the “Power of Ten”. Their stories are as diverse as they are inspiring. Each has connected a wide range of people to the project, raised significant funds to support the cause, and brought their own personal talents and interests to the project. Through a new feature entitled “Keep It! Going”, we will salute these champions by sharing their stories and recognizing their contribution with a simple keychain created by the children of Ivory Park.

Todd Slobodnyak and the Zombies of Westminster “Keep It Going!”

At Westminster College in New Wilmington, PA, Humans are fighting for survival, and this time, the opponent is more threatening than a mid-term chemistry exam. Zombies are on the loose, and their main objective is to tag as many Humans as possible. With socks and Nerf guns as their only instruments of defense, Humans are losing ground. Fortunately for them, there are no real losers on this battlefield. Instead, the efforts of Humans and Zombies alike have resulted in a victory for the Keep It! Campaign.

College student Todd Slobodnyak is the organizer for the Westminster version of Humans vs. Zombies (HvZ), a trendy game of moderated tag that is spreading through campuses across the nation. Slobodnyak explains that the popularity of HvZ has made it a perfect way to raise funds and awareness for the Keep It! Campaign. He describes the fundraiser as a week-long, campus-wide game of tag. Last fall, Slobodynak and the HvZ crew raised $350 for the cause. He plans to hold the event once a semester and hopes to earn at least $700 in donations during the upcoming spring competition.

Students at Westminster College team up for Ivory Park in a spirited game of Humans vs. Zombies.

Slobodnyak first learned about Keep It! through his work with the Pennsylvania Association of Student Councils and PASC alum and Keep It! founder Bob Tryanski. “When I was in high school, I was a PASC delegate for three years. Now as an alum, I try my best to help out by giving back,” he says. “Bob Tryanski has been a good friend and a role model. When I heard about the Keep It! Campaign, I wanted to get involved. It’s a great program with a great purpose.”

In addition to his support of the campaign, Slobodnyak has found other ways to stay connected to his leadership roots. He is a valuable staff member at the PASC Advanced Gold summer workshops and has agreed to serve as a mentor to a PASC Regional Representative throughout the 2011 Keep It! Dodgeball Tournament contest.

“Todd’s commitment to the Keep It! Campaign is the perfect example of how you can harness the Power of Ten,” says Campaign founder, Bob Tryanski. “It goes way beyond merely making a difference. Todd has harnessed his connections with PASC alums, PASC workshop delegates and staff, and brought them together with his swim team, student organizations, and other friends at Westminster. Those connections have broadened our network of support for Ivory Park and helped us to discover this great project model – the HvZ tournament as a way to ‘Keep It Going’ on college campuses.”

When he is not herding Zombies or working with the PASC, Slobodnyak is an avid swimmer and busy college student. He is currently pursuing a degree in marine biology with a minor in secondary education and is considering a career in aquatic ecology. Whether he is serving as a mentor to student leaders or organizing a fundraiser in support of a community, Slobodnyak is always looking for ways to give back. Wherever his future path might lead, it is certain that it will be shaped by his altruistic nature and a winning desire to serve. The Keep It! Campaign is proud to honor Todd Slobodnyak, a campaign champion who “Keeps It Going!”

For tips on organizing a Humans vs. Zombies fundraiser to benefit the Keep It! Campaign, contact Todd Slobodnyak at slobodtd@westminster.edu.