HomeAid: A Virtual Event to Benefit America's Homeless

New York, NY - National nonprofit organization HomeAid has signed an agreement with diversified media company Be The Media to host a virtual benefit event to help keep families in their homes, to be held in the Fall 2012.

Celebrities, artists, and performers from across the country are contributing exclusive video content that will be streamed on the HomeAid.net website. Since sponsors will cover the costs of the event, 100% of donations raised will go to HomeAid and other nonprofits that fight homelessness.

"We have helped provide housing for the homeless for over 20 years, but this is the first time we can reach a truly global audience," said Jeffrey Slavin, CEO of HomeAid, "Because the event takes place online, anyone can watch it from anywhere in the world, and anyone can donate to the cause."

Founded in 1989, HomeAid has provided housing for more than 100,000 individuals who have been rendered temporarily homeless due to circumstances beyond their control. HomeAid has expanded throughout the country with 20 chapters in 14 states.

"This will be a truly green event," said David Mathison, CEO of Be The Media and a former vice-president at Reuters, "Since everything is online, there is no place to fly or drive, no trees to cut down for posters or tickets, and minimal waste: there's almost no damage to the environment."

Mathison heads Be The Media, where his experience with the newest methods of virtual content distribution led him to develop the HomeAid event.

"We are at the start of a digital renaissance. These new tools, such as streaming video, podcasts, and social media... have made it easy to reach a massive audience and build a donor base," said Mathison, "So, why can't we use all this to make a real difference? And I can't think of a more pressing problem for millions of Americans than homelessness."

Many artists plan to hold live "house parties" right from their homes, streamed via webcam, to help raise awareness and solicit donations. Fans will have many ways to participate, from uploading their own videos to spreading the word on social media sites, and even downloading mobile applications for the iPhone or Android.

"I am very hopeful that David's leadership in the production of the event will prove transformational for HomeAid," said Jeff Slavin, "and will enable us to expand our ability to build shelters where America's homeless can regain their dignity and rebuild their lives."

A study by the National Law Center on Homelessness and Poverty estimates that between 2.3 and 3.5 million people annually experience homelessness in America, and estimates from The National Alliance to End Homelessness show the recession will force 1.5 million more people into homelessness over the next two years alone. According to Elizabeth Warren, Congressional Oversight Panel Chair, 3.5 million Americans faced foreclosure over the last two years.

Thousands of families are also without shelter due to catastrophic events and natural disasters, such as the floods in Nashville, Tennessee and Hurricane Katrina in New Orleans, Louisiana.

People can go to www.HomeAid.net to learn more, donate, or to host a HomeAid house party.

Mathison will be actively meeting with potential corporate sponsors and partners at the NAHB International Builders' Show in Orlando, Florida on January 12-15, 2011. The HomeAid booth will be located at Hall B, lobby Level II, booth W27.

To set up an appointment, or for press inquiries email This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it or call (415) 637-8365.

About HomeAid www.HomeAid.org

HomeAid is a leading national non-profit provider of housing for today's homeless. The organization builds and maintains shelters where homeless families and individuals, more than one million of whom are children, can rebuild their lives.

Founded in 1989 by the Building Industry Association of Southern California (BIA/SC), an affiliate of the National Association of Home Builders (NAHB), HomeAid has now completed more than 200 shelters nationwide costing in excess of $170 million of which approximately 50 percent has been donated by the building industry. More than 100,000 Americans have been given the opportunity to rebuild their lives in HomeAid facilities.

About Be The Media www.BeTheMedia.com

Be The Media helps artists and businesses spread the buzz about their work. We accomplish this through our books, speaking, radio show, online and offline university courses, our blog, and events such as HomeAid.

BE THE MEDIA was featured in the NY Times after selling over 5,000 copies of the book in 11 days via their web site, Twitter, and Facebook. Mathison has given keynote presentations everywhere from the United Nations to Columbia University, from Berlin to Cairo.

From 1994-1999, Mathison was Vice President with Reuters, the world's largest news agency, where he pioneered online content syndication. As founder and CEO of the Kinecta Corporation (now part of Oracle), he raised $30 million in under 2 years.