The Gang of 100: THE BASICS

• The Gang of 100 is a group of outgoing, fun, friendly guys (and girls) that work together throughout the year to create fundraising events both big and small.

• When you see the Gang of 100 name attached to an event, you will know that the event will be filled with fun, sexy, gregarious people that you will want to hang out with. And at the same time, you will be supporting one of the amazing charities in our community.

• 100% of any funds raised at any Gang of 100 event go directly to the charity. 100% of production/marketing expenses must be covered by Gang of 100.

• The Gang is our way to use our social connections and our desire to make a difference. The Gang is a way to get us more involved, inspire others to get involved, and engage an entire group of 25 to 45 year old guys and girls who aren’t necessarily used to getting involved.

• The Gang is our way to put the fun back into making a difference.

• It is called the Gang of 100 because we think that with 100 committed active members, we reach a critical mass. With 100, we can raise the kind of money that will really make a difference.

The Gang of 100: TOM WHITMAN’S INTRODUCTION

Some history

I’ve always tried to do my part. I would go to a charity event here and there if I was free on a particular night. I would host a fundraiser at one of my venues. I would volunteer once in a while. I’d write a small check for a good cause, if someone caught me at the right moment.

A couple of years ago, I realized that I didn’t feel very connected to what I was doing. All of my “community involvement” and my “giving back” was hit or miss. It didn’t mean that much to me. It was random.

So, I made a more concerted effort. I’ve always believed in the idea of being an involved citizen, of giving back, of helping out. I chose a few charities, and started to get more involved, and at least consistently go to their events, and give a little more money. I also started throwing fundraising parties at my venues for almost anyone who asked. It helped, but I still felt like I wasn’t as effective as I could be.

Then at the end of 2006, I was asked to join the Board of Directors of APLA. I was honored, and I jumped at the chance. A few weeks after my first meeting was AIDS Walk Los Angeles, APLA’s largest fundraising event. Though it was only three weeks from the Walk, I thought it was my responsibility to form a team (for the first time.)

In three weeks, we raised almost $65,000 and the day of the Walk, we were the number 2 fundraising team in the Walk. I was stunned. I was amazed at how everyone on my team stepped forward and really got into it. I was amazed at how much fun we had doing it – with friendly competition between team members and not so friendly competition (kidding)n with other teams. On the day of the walk, we inspired each other, had a great time, hung out with friends, and made new ones. Other teams, and APLA staff members, came up to me all day and told me how inspired they were by our efforts. It was one of those days where we knew we had done something good.

After the AIDS walk, I kept wondering, what the heck are we going to do now? The whole experience of our team and the Walk was too inspiring to let it go. I had one major question to answer: What was so special about the experience of our AIDS Walk team?

The answers I came up with:

• The experience was fun, much more fun than I thought it would be.
• I hung out with old friends.
• I met great new people, and made new friends.
• It was fulfilling, because we didn’t just try to make a difference, we made a huge difference. Together, we were able to do so much more than we ever would have separately.
• People saw us, or heard about it, and wanted to be a part of it next time. Our enthusiasm and the fun we had made other people want to join us, and their enthusiasm inspired us.

I wanted to use that experience as a catalyst: How do we take that energy and that fun, and translate it into a year-round experience? The Gang of 100 was my answer.

Why does making a difference matter to me?

I consider myself pretty lucky. Each of the members of the Gang of 100 is different, and we all have lived diverse lives, but a common thread is that each of us has been blessed with a lot of “things.” Define “things” however you want – material possessions, good friends, or just the fact that we’re still here and alive. There is probably only one act that the universe requires in exchange for all of those blessings – that we try to give some of them back to the world.

That sounds so fucking Pollyanna. It’s not. It just means that if I’ve been luckier than some people, or have gotten some opportunities or help from someone or something along the way, it’s my requirement as a human being to try to give them back to someone else. Pay it forward, if you like.

I’m not trying to sound preachy. In some ways, it’s also about my self-interest – I want to be fulfilled. When I am proud of a career accomplishment, I feel fulfilled. When I am the kind of friend I want to have, I feel fulfilled. When I have close friends and I give time to the relationships that matter to me, I feel fulfilled. When I give something back, I feel fulfilled.

And this is one of the ways that I am trying to leave a mark. And if I can help friends and other people make their mark, and give back, and feel fulfilled, that’s fucking amazing.

To me, the Gang of 100 a great way to magnify our ability to make a difference. As a group, we can do so much more. We can be a catalyst for others. It’s like a matching donation - as a group, and with an organizing focus, our efforts double and triple in their effectiveness.