Even in these challenging and seemingly all too cynical and jaded times, there’s much for those of us in the advertising and entertainment community to be thankful for. Thanksgiving is a holiday to reflect on all the blessings for which we can be grateful–and a time to come together and share these blessings with those less fortunate.
In that vein and charitable spirit, the deadline is fast approaching for the Association of Independent Commercial Producers (AICP) West Coast board’s recently launched Food & Goods Drive #AICPgives.
The #AICPgives initiative is a Food & Goods Drive to benefit local non-profit organization Gobble Gobble Give, which has fed and provided care packages to thousands of needy families and individuals over the last 14 years.
AICP member companies and all industry partners and affiliates are encouraged to collect donations on sets and in offices during November in anticipation of Gobble Gobble Give’s Thanksgiving Day distribution.
Items may include: canned goods, boxed food (that can be consumed without cooking), new or used clothing items in good condition (socks, sweaters, beanies and more). Collecting unopened bars of soap and shampoo bottles, toothbrush and toothpaste kits, is a great way to distribute all of those hotel amenities collected during travel.
Everyone who participates has a chance to win some desirable prizes including a suite at the Staples Center, a getaway in Palm Springs, or a motorhome for the night. Participants in the program can take an Instagram photo with their donation at drop off to receive a raffle ticket. All donations can be dropped off to any Quixote or Smashbox location by November 19. See complete details here: http://www.quixote.com/AICPGives/
But the raffle prizes are ultimately just an aside. While the opportunity to get a cool prize is a nice bonus, the gratification of giving goes much deeper. #AICPgives is a great chance for the AICP West members and friends to give back to the community we call home. With #AICPgives we can mobilize our numbers and the generosity of our staff and our crews to give to those who could use help this Thanksgiving.
Join the community via the Facebook event page: https://www.facebook.com/events/553968994619760/
Meanwhile think about other opportunities to give back year ’round, extending the calendar to help others beyond Thanksgiving. The spirit of Thanksgiving should be enough to inspire reaching out and helping throughout the year. One person can make all the difference in the world, positively impacting the lives of many others. Consider the humble grass-roots beginnings of Gobble Gobble Give as an example.
Gobble Gobble Give started with just one person feeding nine homeless on Thanksgiving Day 14 years ago. Last year Gobble Gobble Give was able to feed and provide care kits to more than 5,500 homeless in Los Angeles, New York, Austin (Texas), and Las Vegas. Gobble Gobble Give is an incredible case study of what a community can do to make change. Find out more, including how to make a monetary donation here: http://gobblegobblegive.org/
Utah Leaders and Locals Rally To Keep Sundance Film Festival In The State
With the 2025 Sundance Film Festival underway, Utah leaders, locals and longtime attendees are making a final push — one that could include paying millions of dollars — to keep the world-renowned film festival as its directors consider uprooting.
Thousands of festivalgoers affixed bright yellow stickers to their winter coats that read "Keep Sundance in Utah" in a last-ditch effort to convince festival leadership and state officials to keep it in Park City, its home of 41 years.
Gov. Spencer Cox said previously that Utah would not throw as much money at the festival as other states hoping to lure it away. Now his office is urging the Legislature to carve out $3 million for Sundance in the state budget, weeks before the independent film festival is expected to pick a home for the next decade.
It could retain a small presence in picturesque Park City and center itself in nearby Salt Lake City, or move to another finalist — Cincinnati, Ohio, or Boulder, Colorado — beginning in 2027.
"Sundance is Utah, and Utah is Sundance. You can't really separate those two," Cox said. "This is your home, and we desperately hope it will be your home forever."
Last year's festival generated about $132 million for the state of Utah, according to Sundance's 2024 economic impact report.
Festival Director Eugene Hernandez told reporters last week that they had not made a final decision. An announcement is expected this year by early spring.
Colorado is trying to further sweeten its offer. The state is considering legislation giving up to $34 million in tax incentives to film festivals like Sundance through 2036 — on top of the $1.5 million in funds already approved to lure the Utah festival to its neighboring... Read More