[15 Below Jacket Signed By RUSH]
TAXI is a Canadian advertising agency that was founded back in 1992 in Montreal. In 2007 they celebrated their 15th anniversary and they came up with an innovative idea to both mark the occasion and give back to the community. Thus was born the 15 Below Project. Its first initiative was to create a jacket for the homeless. From the website:
The jacket would be breathable, waterproof, lightweight, and the lining would be made up of pockets throughout. And these pockets would be able to be stuffed with newspaper to provide adjustable levels of insulation from the cold. “We’ve survived 15 years, now we’re going to help others survive the night,” said Mykolyn, who enlisted long-time friend and designer, Lida Baday, to create the jacket.
Adding weight to the 15-year theme, as well as lending the project a name, is the Cold Weather Alert many cities issue when the temperature drops to -15ºC.
“It’s a lifeline for people without homes. They’re a pretty low-cost, immediate way to address a huge issue,” said Paul Lavoie, co-founder, chairman, and chief creative officer of TAXI. “Our approach to solving problems – of any sort – has always been to question convention. This won’t eliminate homelessness, but it can make a lot of people more comfortable.”
On behalf of clients and staff, 3,000 15 Below jackets will be donated to people living on the streets throughout Canada and the U.S.
To raise money for the project, TAXI enlisted the help of 15 celebrities including our favorite Canadian power trio, Rush. Between now and November 25th you can bid on a package which includes one of the 15 below jackets signed by all 3 members of the band at the final stop on the 2008 Snakes & Arrows Tour; a signed tour book; a local crew pass; and a souvenir VIP backstage pass from the 2008 tour. For details and to place your bid go to this eBay link. Thanks to Skip Daly for the heads up.
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