20s for KC New Charity Project in Kansas City Hands out $20 Bills

A new charity group in Kansas City is doing something that has never been done before in KC. 20s for KC, who are self defined as a "non profit Kansas City stimulus project", are placing $20 bills at random places all over the Kansas City area. This past Friday night the 20s for KC Facebook page reported that it was officially "gas pump night" and they placed several $20 bills on the front of gas pumps all over the city. The $20 bills are easily recognizable as they are in nice bill size white envelopes with a decorative red ribbon and a red stamp that bears the logo of 20s for KC in red. There is nothing in the envelope but a nice crisp $20 and the only form of information at all is the stamp that has the logo and also the website - www.20sforkc.com

We interviewed one of the founders of the project recently and this is what they had to say…

KCMB News: So what do you guys have to gain by doling out $20 bills all over the city?

20s for KC rep: We aren't trying to gain anything financially, or even in terms of advertising. We are affiliated with a local Kansas City radio show called The Sunday Jones Comedy Radio Show and when someone finds one of our $20 bills, IF they go to the website stamped on the envelope, then they are asked to simply tell us where they found the $20 and what they intend to do with it or how they spent it. No strings attached. We then read what people wrote over the air on the show, and we place a virtual "pin" on a map on the website showing where $20s were found.

KCMB News: Do you think that some people will be afraid to open the envelope because of suspicion? Or what if they just throw them in the trash?

20s for KC rep: We did take that into account, and that's just a fact of life in today's society. Paranoia is at an all time high, and we know that some people will probably leave the envelopes right where they are, untouched. We have even taken into account that someone may actually turn one in to the police, haha. That being said, a simple glance at the website at www.20sforkc.com will tell you everything about what we're doing and that there is nothing to be afraid of. And if someone throws one in the trash, I suppose that is a shame but it probably won't be the first time a $20 has ended up in the trash.

KCMB News: Have any of the businesses complained about you guys placing them on their property?

20s for KC rep: Not thus far. We have put a lot of thought into that, avoiding government property etc. and hopefully they will realize that it is probably GOOD for business. I mean if people think that there might be a free $20 bill hanging around their property somewhere then that can only be good for business. Heck, they might even find one themselves, or have one turned in to them by a customer who is confused as to what it might be.

KCMB News: Well this certainly is a first for Kansas City, no one has done anything like this here. We know that comedian Jim Carrey is notorious for hiding $100 bills around, and there is another group that does this around Christmas time in New York. How much feedback are you getting? Are people going to the website and telling their stories?

20s for KC rep: At this time we're getting about 25% feedback on the $20 bills that we have put out so far. That's about what we suspected, we were thinking that if we got 20% that we were doing well.

KCMB News: Thank you for your time and good luck with the new project. We will check back in with you guys in a few months and see how it's going. How long do you plan to continue with the 20s for KC project?

20s for KC rep: No problem. We hope to continue through the duration of the radio show's season which ends the Sunday before the first NFL game.

20s for kc kansas city charity stimulus project hands out free $20 bills hiding around kansas city by KCMB Kansas City News, official kc news site with breaking stories on The Kansas City Royals, Chiefs, charity events, the 2012 MLB All Star Game, weather, sports, MU, KU, ufo sightings, dui checkpoints, Kansas City neighborhoods, nightlife, concerts, the Sprint Center, the Power and Light District and current Kansas City news articles.

Kansas City Charity Event - Leawood Firefighter Gets a New Roof

Kansas City Roofing Company Gives Firefighter New Roof

Ceremony awarding and recognizing 19-year active firefighter Joe Sullivan to take place Monday at Leawood Fire Station

KANSAS CITY, April 9, 2012 — Gahagan-Eddy, LLC., a Prairie Village building and roofing company, will announce and recognize the recipient of a new roof as the culmination of the Gahagan-Eddy Roof Giveaway in celebration of the company’s ten years serving Kansas City as was first reported by Kansas City News earlier this spring. In this Kansas City charity event, Lieutenant Joe Sullivan, a 19-year active firefighter with the Leawood Fire Department, and his family were selected as the winner of the new roof. A ceremony recognizing Sullivan and awarding him the new roof will take place Monday, April 9, at 4:30 p.m. at the Leawood Fire Station located at 127^th St. and Mission Rd. 

Upon learning he had been nominated and selected as the winner of the Gahagan-Eddy Roof Giveaway, Sullivan said humbly, “There has to be someone more deserving. Well, I’ll be up on that roof helping you out.”

Sullivan was born in Kansas City and married Linda Zimmerman, also a firefighter at the time, in December 1998. The two met at an EMT class, their lives having intersected on the premise of serving others, and have continued this endeavor throughout their lives together. They settled in Sullivan’s parents’ home in Kansas City, Kan., which has sheltered generations of Sullivans over the course of 40 years. In 2004, the two became the proud foster parents of three children providing them a warm, loving home built on the enduring love of the Sullivan family.

Shortly after welcoming the children into their home, life took a turn for the worst for the Sullivans. Linda was diagnosed with an advanced stage of breast cancer and while battling the disease with treatments, Sullivan kept the family going. While Linda was healing from surgery and chemo, Sullivan would lay the infants with Linda to be close to their “mom” – as this was ultimately the plan, to permanently adopt these children as their own, a wish that did come true. Then in December 2011, Sullivan re-proposed to Linda in hopes to renew their vows this spring. 

Becky Craig, the coworker and family friend who nominated Sullivan for the Gahagan-Eddy Roof Giveaway, explained, “Now a single income family, as Linda is no longer able to work, Joe is the sole caregiver for his wife in addition to caring for his children, who are the light of his life. Joe carries this burden quietly with dignity. If you speak to him you would never know he has this enormous weight on his shoulders and in his heart.”

Interim Fire Chief Steve Duncan shared, “He is a quiet person that never complains. Many nights I would walk into the apparatus room and find him working on equipment long after others had settled in for the night. Any assignment given was completed quickly and never required follow up. Joe can always be found doing the right thing even when nobody is looking.”

While filled with love, the roof of their home has aged, leaks, and is not providing a sufficient cover for their family. 

“We are proud to provide Joe and his family with a new roof, easing his mind of one thing – keeping the structure safe,” Bryce Gahagan explained. “As a public servant, a caring husband, and an outstanding father, he deserves this. Joe is a great man and, as Linda often says, ‘After many bad things happen, something good is bound to happen.’ We are excited to today help out with that good.”

Learn more about the Sullivan’s story and Gahagan-Eddy, LLC, at Gahagan-Eddy.com (orExcellenceIsOurHabit.com).

About Gahagan-Eddy, LLC.

Gahagan-Eddy, LLC., is a building and roofing company based in Prairie Village, Kan., serving homeowners with exacting standards who appreciate flawless "ultra-premium" service under the Gahagan-Eddy Building Company and Gahagan-Eddy Roofing Company brands. The founders, Bryce Gahagan and Mark Eddy, met while building homes for a Fortune 500 builder known for value-producing homes for the masses. The duo felt that there was a better way. Founded in March 2002, Gahagan-Eddy has earned the distinction of being a referral-based business that caters to specific client needs with high-quality service. Gahagan-Eddy is an A+ rated company by the Better Business Bureau and was awarded the “Super Service Award” on Angie’s List, awarded to only the top 5 percent of contractors.

Bryce Gahagan has also appeared on "The Apprentice" (Season Five) with Donald Trump. He was famously "fired" when Trump told him, "You're fired. And I think you have great potential, too." Gahagan was known for his view that, "Whatever you choose to do in life, do it, but do it better than anyone else." 

This Kansas City Charity Event was brought to you by Kansas City News.

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Charity Event in Kansas City Roof Giveaway from Gahagan Eddy

In a grand gesture of Kansas City charity, Gahagan-Eddy, LLC., a Prairie Village building and roofing company, is now accepting nominations for the Gahagan-Eddy Roof Giveaway, in which the company will donate a new roof to a local home in celebration of its ten years serving Kansas City with excellence and honesty. The winner of the Gahagan-Eddy Roof Giveaway will be selected from local nominations collected through March 31. Gahagan-Eddy encourages all of Kansas City to nominate individuals or families in need of the gift of a new roof. This is a great Kansas City Charity event and Kansas City News encourages everyone to nominate someone for the free roof giveaway! Nomination forms are available at Gahagan-Eddy.com (or ExcellenceIsOurHabit.com), at select Kansas City locations, and at the Gahagan-Eddy Johnson County Home Show booth March 2-4.

"Gahagan-Eddy has thrived as a local company serving Kansas City for 10 years, and we want to give back to the community that helped build us," said Bryce Gahagan, Gahagan-Eddy co-founder and principal. "A new roof is a valuable necessity that some homeowners cannot expend the funds for in this economy or due to other extenuating circumstances, and we want to help one of those deserving families. We encourage everyone to nominate a family or individual who deserves this valuable gift. It could make an incredible difference in the life of someone in our community.”

Roof problems that may qualify a home for a new roof include deterioration, leaks, algae, poor installation, neighborhood aesthetic, blow-offs, ponding, hail damage and wildlife or insect issues. The Gahagan-Eddy Roof Giveaway is open to homeowners in the Kansas City metro area who are deserving of a new roof due to a medical situation, military service, a general hardship, or because of their community involvement and service to others. This is a wonderful Kansas City charity event!

The winner of the Gahagan-Eddy Roof Giveaway will be contacted April 6, with the new roof installed later that month. Gahagan-Eddy is now accepting nominations through March 31.

About Gahagan-Eddy, LLC.

Gahagan-Eddy, LLC., is a building and roofing company based in Prairie Village, Kan., serving homeowners with exacting standards who appreciate flawless "ultra-premium" service under the Gahagan-Eddy Building Company and Gahagan-Eddy Roofing Company brands. The founders, Bryce Gahagan and Mark Eddy, met while building homes for a Fortune 500 builder known for value-producing homes for the masses. The duo felt that there was a better way. Founded in March 2002, Gahagan-Eddy has earned the distinction of being a referral-based business that caters to specific client needs with high-quality service. Gahagan-Eddy is an A+ rated company by the Better Business Bureau and was awarded the “Super Service Award” on Angie’s List, awarded to only the top 5 percent of contractors.

Bryce Gahagan has also appeared on "The Apprentice" (Season Five) with Donald Trump. He was famously "fired" when Trump told him, "You're fired. And I think you have great potential, too." Gahagan was known for his view that, "Whatever you choose to do in life, do it, but do it better than anyone else."

For more information on Gahagan-Eddy, LLC., please visit Gahagan-Eddy.com.

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Missouri Attorney General Releases List of 15 Worst Charities

Missouri State Attorney General Chris Koster has compiled a list of the worst charities that solicit funds in the State. The criteria for the ranking was percentage of funds spent on charitable causes. Under guidelines set up by the Better Business Bureau, Non-profits should use a minimum of 65% of their revenue for charitable causes. The organizations on this list do not even come close. Non-Profits on this list have large expenses for fundraising, many of which use professional telemarketing companies that can take as much as 60% of the revenue right off the top. In this holiday season of giving, these are organizations to stay away from -Here are the worst of the worst.

1. United States Navy Veterans Association - Washington, DC
This charity is probably the worst ever - basically a fraud. According to the Attorney General's office, no more than 1% or the organization's revenue went to charitable causes. Director and CFO "Bobby Thompson" - whose true identity is not even known, is currently on the lam. A nationwide arrest warrant has been issued by the State of Ohio. Several states have also banned the organization from any fundraising in their States. Their website is also currently unavailable.

2. Law Enforcement Education Program - Troy, MI
This organization's mission statement says that their goal is to create and support educational programs for the betterment of the general public and the law enforcement community. But, according to Koster's report, they use just over 2% of their revenue for charitable programs.

3. Cancer Survivor's Fund - Missouri City, TX
Sounds like a great organization, providing scholarships and prosthetics to young adults who have survived cancer. However, their administrative costs were 96.8% of revenue for fiscal year 09-10.

4. Wishing Well Foundation - Metarie, LA
This Organization claims to give terminally ill children a wish, much like the legitimate MAKE-A-WISH Foundation - in reality, they only spend 4.4% of income on on charitable causes.

5. Firefighters Charitable Foundation - Farmingdale, NY
When you look at the list of worst charities, you see sick kids, veterans, and Fire and Police. Everyone wants to help these types of people out, but you really have to do your research. Firefighters Charitable Foundation is another one of these organizations that raises money with telemarketers making you think you are helping firefighters and their families. Less than 5% of their revenue goes to a charitable cause.

For the rest of the worst from the Attorney General's site, click here. I personally would not give money to any organization that called me without being contacted first, but at the very least, do your research before giving. A simple search at the Better Business Bureau website can be a good place to start.