*OFFICIAL* Eli Hops - "Playing for Hope" thread

[SenseiDave]

Welcome to the *OFFICIAL* Eli Hops - Playing for Hope thread!

Here, in conjunction with http://www.facebook.com/elihopsforhope , you can read info and updates leading up to this years Eli Hops fundraising event!

Eli Hops is a group that was founded in December of 2010 to raise funds and awareness for Autism and other special needs causes each year.

Eli Hops was founded by David Herrera when he noticed that his son Eli, who was diagnosed with Autism Spectrum Disorder earlier that year, was significantly helped by playing with a yo-yo.

Through the international yo-yo and skill toy community, David found similar benefits were being observed by the parents and friends of "differently abled" children the world over. It was then he decided to form Eli Hops to not only raise funds but also to help spread the word about these special kids through play.

Eli Hops is about special kids and special young adults having fun along side professional and amateur skill toy performers, sports players, artists, musicians, and all sorts of volunteers with one common goal; to "Play for Hope".

Thank you for visiting Eli Hops!

[justsomekidpro]

cool idea man  i ws i could come....... but i live in NC

[SenseiDave]

So I have send emails and press packs to 5 different yo-yo companies and 2 skill toy stores asking them to be a part of Eli Hops. Sent them last night and two this morning.

I know its way too soon to get any kind of reply yet from any of them but its hard to wait.

So send emails to your favorite skill toy company saying how they should be a part of Eli Hops! I want to make this the biggest fundraiser in the history of fundraising!

Dave

[joshhh]

i'll talk to CJ atkinson and see if Air Circus can come up, we're all in NJ, but i think it'd be worth the drive 

[SenseiDave]

i'll talk to CJ atkinson and see if Air Circus can come up, we're all in NJ, but i think it'd be worth the drive 

That would be amazing! Do you guys have a YouTube channel or Vimeo or something? Thanks so much!

[SenseiDave]

So if you are a yo-yo player you probably know who John Higby is... if not go here: www.yoyoshow.com

I sent him and his wife Rebecca an email a while back asking if they would be interested in doing something for Eli Hops.

He just wrote back today saying he is going to be there! I did a happy dance and everything when I got that email!

Its just going to be him but this is the biggest thing to happen to Eli Hops since we got the facility!

I will give you guys more information as I have it and as always keep your eye on our facebook page!

www.facebook.com/elihopsforhope

elihopsforhope@gmail.com

[Graiskye]

 Huge KUDOS to you Dave.
 There seems to be an abundanc e of charitable causes connected to yoyo's.
Says a lot about the type of people who choose to throw a yoyo.
 Best of luck to you and the cause, Im way up in Canada, but I will be there in spirit.
-G.
PS: I have a nephew who has Aspbergers Syndrome(spelling etc???). Thankfully he is surrounded by a large and very loving family who have supported and held him up high so he could recognize his own worth, and also told him when he was being socially unacceptable. Asbpergers patients often have trouble distinguishing if/when something is OK for small talk type conversations, this is something Liam had real trouble with, but he has come so far, so very far, and we are very proud of him.
 Alas he was scheduled to go to Japan on a big school trip, they were set to leave next Wednesday. Bummer.

[CarlG]

Dave, it is to bad you dont have a florida branch I would love to be a part of Eli Hops. A great cause.

[yoyo-guy]

I would love to join, but well I'm in Indonesia. Best of luck from Indonesia.

[SenseiDave]

Okay guys- today is the day to show support! Come say "No Way" to the $8mil budget cut to special needs kids! 10am Boston state house! Nearest parking is at #0 Charles street! See you there!

[SenseiDave]

So yesterday Eli Hops went and showed support against the budget cut of $8mil to special needs early intervention care. I'm happy to say that over all turnout was fantastic. The halls were so crowded with concerned people and families that it was hard to get around. The sheer mass of people there will definately give the legislation something to think about.

I also got to meet the two geniouses behind a new up and coming yo-yo company. It was so refreshing to get to chat with these guys in person and sense their enthusiasm and genuine care for what Eli Hops does. I rarely meet such nice people.

I also get the VERY rare pleasure of being the vessel in which they will introduce their new yo-yos to the world. Exclusively at the Eli Hops event, they will offer a selection of hand made, competition quality, one of a kind yo-yos! That's right, each throw there will be #1 of ONE. Take it from me, this is NOT to be missed out on. The name and more info will come through Eli Hops as I get permission to do so.

Be excited.

Be very excited.

Back to Boston.  There were so many people there, news crews, reporters, and strollers everywhere. There were pamphlets and signs, most being held by cute kids who were not so patiently waiting for their parents to speak with a local representative.

On a personal note, trying to tell an autistic 2 year old that, yes you do have to walk through the metal detector, no you can't just walk around to the open side, no you can't ram your stroller into the tourist who is standing in front of you to make them go through faster, is a feat reaching impossible proportions.

It was a very large showing. There were places where it was so packed with people that you couldn't get from one side to the next. Families and service care providers and concerned citizens from all walks of life and backgrounds all came together to show the world how important these services really are. It was a truly moving experience and one that will stay with me for the rest of my life.

I can't wait til August!

Dave

[SenseiDave]

Hey guys! Huge deal! Yomega yo-yo and skill toy company just called me this morning confirming that they are going to be at Eli Hops!

This is the line up for vendors who are coming to the event this August:

YoYoExpert.com - The best selection of yo-yos and tops on the internet! Run by yo-yo superstar André Boulay! (He might even be there!) www.YoYoExpert.com

Yomega Yo-yo - Amazingly fun yo-yos and skill toys! www.yomega.com

Plectics Yo-yo - Drool worthy custom hand made, one of a kind, competition grade yo-yos!

MadHat Music - Breathtaking custom made instruments! They sound even BETTER than they look!

Josh's Toys and Games - An awesome toy store! The best brick and mortar toy store in New England!

Swagger String - Probably the best yo-yo string on the planet. Period. Seriously.

Avon - High quality cosmetics!

Lexi the Potter - Cool hand made pottery (she's making yo-yo shaped jars!) More cool stuff too!


Every one of those vendors is donating either a portion of or all of the money they make at the event! I can't stress enough that even if it were just the vendors this would be the best place to be ever, think of the gifts! Think of your own collections! One of a kind yo-yos for sale! One of a kind instruments fore sale! Piles of toys and games and skill toys for sale everywhere you look! I am excited!

We can't forget about the entertainment lined up as well:

John Higby -  The Yo-Yo Guy is the 2008 World Yo-Yo Champion and Guinness World Record holder.  He has performed his unique high energy comedy show in 22 countries and has been featured on David Letterman, Time Warp on the Discovery Channel, and even has his own TOPPS trading card! www.yoyoshow.com

Brett "Ooch" Ouchcunis - A professional entertainer, motivator, dancer and DJ rolled into one, compact package. He has been dancing for about 21 years now and specializes in step and yo-yo dancing. Brett danced all the way through high school, competing in major dance competitions around the country and then graduated from UMass, Amherst with a degree in Communication in 1998. Directly out of college he got picked up by Yomega Corporation, a yo-yo company based out of Fall River, MA. and became a touring yo-yo professional.  www.oochworld.com

Fiske and Herrera - A nationally recognized and acclaimed, award winning local folk duo with 3 albums and radio airplay. I have never met anyone who doesn't like this group! www.fiskeandherrera.com

McDowells Martial Arts Academy - A fantastic karate school is sending some of their best to do demonstrations for us! www.mcdowellsmartialarts.com


Volunteer yo-yo players and skill toy players will be showing and teaching visitors how to do tricks, local artists will have their work on display and for sale, face painting, raffles, volunteer readers (for quiet time), and more to come!

On top of everything else, all the donations we make are going to the Autism Support Center, one hundred percent!

An event like this is NOT to be missed! Its all for an amazing cause! Man I can't wait for August 14th!

(6 southside rd. Danvers, MA at 11am!)

See you there!

Arc and the Autism Support Center:
www.ne-arc.org/familyservices/autismsupport.htm
www.ne-arcautismsupportcenter.org/

Eli Hops
www.facebook.com/elihopsforhope

[SenseiDave]

Hey guys!

Putting together an Eli Hops skill toy team for promoting the event. Planning on shows in malls and hopefully on TV. Looking for all skill levels and all skill toys in northern MA and southern NH. Message me if you are interested! We need performers and teachers. You can be one or both.

Thanks guys!

Dave

[SenseiDave]

List of Eli Hops participant websites:

Performers:

John Higby -  The Yo-Yo Guy is the 2008 World Yo-Yo Champion and Guinness World Record holder.  He has performed his unique high energy comedy show in 22 countries and has been featured on David Letterman, Time Warp on the Discovery Channel, and even has his own TOPPS trading card!
www.yoyoshow.com

Brett "Ooch" Ouchcunis - A professional entertainer, motivator, dancer and DJ rolled into one, compact package. He has been dancing for about 21 years now and specializes in step and yo-yo dancing. Brett danced all the way through high school, competing in major dance competitions around the country and then graduated from UMass, Amherst with a degree in Communication in 1998. Directly out of college he got picked up by Yomega Corporation, a yo-yo company based out of Fall River, MA. and became a touring yo-yo professional. 
www.oochworld.com

Fiske and Herrera - A nationally recognized and acclaimed, award winning local folk duo with 3 albums and radio airplay. I have never met anyone who doesn't like this group!
www.fiskeandherrera.com



Vendors-

YoYoExpert.com - The best selection of yo-yos and tops on the internet! Run by yo-yo superstar André Boulay! (He might even be there!)
www.YoYoExpert.com

Yomega Yo-yo - Amazingly fun yo-yos and skill toys!
www.yomega.com

MadHat Music - Breathtaking custom made instruments! They sound even BETTER than they look!
www.facebook.com/pages/Madhat-Music/201555503194985?ref=ts

Swagger String - Probably the best yo-yo string on the planet. Period. Seriously.
www.facebook.com/pages/Swagger-YoYo-String/106758962734378?ref=ts

Josh's Toys and Games - An awesome toy store! The best brick and mortar toy store in New England!
www.facebook.com/joshtoys?ref=ts&sk=wall

Avon - High quality cosmetics!
www.youravon.com/kaitken

Lil Lola Rose - handmade jewelry and trinkets made from unusual items, like SILVERWARE! This stuff is really really neat! http://www.etsy.com/shop/taliaz


Eli Bailin - 1990's yo-yo legend and inventor of the Eli Hop trick.  He runs an annual half marathon to raise money and awareness to protect the environment in Newburyport, MA. This year his run is on October 23rd and he's gonna pass out info on it at Eli Hops and he may bring a surprise or two!
www.newburyporthalfmarathon.com


Without websites-

Lexi the Potter - Cool hand made pottery (she's making yo-yo shaped jars!) More cool stuff too!

Plectics Yo-yo - Drool worthy custom hand made, one of a kind, competition grade yo-yos!

Nick Kessler - Yoyo enthusiast and recyclist inventor! Nick hand makes amazing yo-yo holders out of well-loved yo-yo string! Classy, inventive, and saving the Earth all while holding your yo-yo in style!

[SenseiDave]

So, today is the big day! I started this crazy journey back in October of '10 and it has been a crazy ride.

This whole thing started out as a crazy idea I shared with some of my yo-yo buddies on a forum. It grew from me thinking about doing a one man show for special needs kids into a huge fair/expo/variety show to raise money and teach awareness at the simplest and most primal of levels- the level of fun!

I wont lie, I am nervous. I am anxious, but moreover I am excited! This thing is going to be a blast and I hope that all of you will come and share that with me!

Thanks to the Lovers, the Dreamers, and You! ~the Muppet Movie

Sunday, August 14th from 11am to 2pm

[Badass]

Major props to you making all this happen. 
Everything is gonna turn out great!

[Tetrahedron]

Amazing work, Dave!

Let us know how awesome it turns out.

[moefv]

Awesome work on this. I wish I could go sadly I live in Florida, but all is well hope you guys sell alot so you can donate to the charity!!!

[SenseiDave]

What do you get when you put André Boulay, Eli Bailin, Daniel Deitz, Jeff Coons, and Brett "Ooch" Ouchcunis all in the same room? The very first Eli Hops Fundraising Event!

It went amazingly! Ooch's show was hilarious and the kids and adults ate it up! There were so many kids there from all developmental stages all buying yo-yos and getting lessons from volunteers and pros alike!

At one point during the event, for maybe 15 seconds, all I could hear was the whirring of lots of bearings and in that brief period I could feel the common sense of fun and accomplishment that was filling the building. I almost cried it was such a beautiful moment.

Today lots of kids found a healthy, coordination building, brain developing and never-ending source of fun for the rest of their lives. Today kids with Autism played right along side typical kids and nobody felt different or strange. No one was left out or picked last. Everyone was on the exact same level and laughing and talking and sharing tricks and not caring about "who has/is what" and just being kids.

That's why I started this whole nutty endeavor and man oh man was it worth it!

Huge thanks to Brett "Ooch" Ouchcunis (www.oochworld.com), Fiske and Herrera (www.fiskeandherrera.com), André Boulay and YoYoExpert.com, Lil Lila Rose Jewelry (www.etsy.com/shop/taliaz), and Nick Kessler for being there with their products and fantastic attitudes making the event so awesome!

Big thanks to John Higby (www.yoyoshow.com), Justin Ruggles, Jason Mooers, Myachi Handsacks (www.Myachi.com), Josh's Toys and Games and Eli Bailin (www.newburyporthalfmarathon.com) for all the awesome donations making our Raffles and snack table a roaring success!

Thanks to the volunteers and the pros who showed up and helped everyone learn and have a blast while doing it! You guys are so cool!

I also want to say a super extra special thank you from the bottom of my heart to Bri my wife (www.yourhandsinmine.wordpress.com) for supporting me, believing in me, pushing me, and loving me throughout this whole process. This event would not have happened if it wasn't for your help and encouragement (and baked goods) and I love you with every fiber of my being, forever! And EVER!

Now I start planning for next year!

Who wants in?

Dave Herrera
Eli Hops founder
"Play for Hope"

[SenseiDave]

Hello everyone!

I promised a big update on the first of the month and here it is! The Eli Hops Foundation is holding bi-monthly raffles! Here is a chance for you to win some sweet swag all in the name of a good cause!

All the prizes are graciously donated by various toy/skill toy companies, local crafters, and businesses that want to be a part of the Eli Hops cause.

"How does it work" you ask? Well here is the really fun part! This is also the simultaneous release of the new Eli Hops Foundation Blog! Details on how to purchase raffle tickets will be found on the blog, as well as detailed information about the prizes up for grabs every other month! We already have amazing donations from some major skill toy companies and more are on the way soon!

The first raffle will be drawn at the end of September and will be awarded in October. The raffle officially starts as soon as the new EHB (Eli Hops Blog) posts the information!

The link to the new EHB is www.EliHops.WordPress.com and the first post is already up and running! Go there now and enjoy!

Dave Herrera
Eli Hops Foundation