Noise For the Needy purchased the right to post on Slog for a week in Strangercrombie, our annual charity auction. More info about our charity auction here.

Thanks to 2009's Strangercrombie gift auction, Noise for the Needy has purchased 14 Slog posts, letting the staff of NFTN loose to talk about all the things we think you should know. This week, we look forward to sharing our love for music, talking about what inspires us, offering an awesome ticket giveaway and volunteer internship opportunities, interviewing some pretty people, and announcing our beneficiary charity for 2010. We are going to start at the very beginning, with the Big Bang that started it all:

Noise for the Needy founder and Seattle native Dave Green, talks about his 1991 inspiration to put on rock shows to help those in need:

“I was inspired after working at a homeless kitchen in Hart Park near my campus (Chapman University). Most of the students had no idea that there was this problem of homelessness right down the street, I wanted to get these students’ attention so I came up with the idea to put together a benefit concert that would draw attention to the problem of homelessness, give local bands some exposure and create a event that would draw students together.”

Dave remembers seeing the early results of giving to Mary's Kitchen:

"I can remember by the third Noise for the Needy, I went to visit Mary's Kitchen and saw this 'complex' with showers and a clothing distribution program. One of the staff took me aside and said, 'Your concerts built this.' It was a pretty amazing moment."

Noise for the Needy concerts in Southern California continued successfully (drawing such performers as Black Eyed Peas, Rancid, and The Offspring) for over a decade, until Dave went on to pursue a master's degree in social work, and his brother, Rich Green, brought the vision of NFTN to Seattle.

Rich founded Seattle's Noise for the Needy in 2004 with Jeffrey Henry's help, and they have continued to combine music and charity in a big way.

Director Rich Green talks about his dream:

“This event is important to me as a member of this community as a way for all of us to come together to help our own. This was the best way of reaching the most people and making the biggest impact. Music and philanthropy are two things which I truly believe in. To bring them together is a personal dream of mine, and there is no better place to do this than in Seattle.”

Artistic Director Jeffrey Henry talks about why Noise for the Needy fulfills his needs:

“My mom worked diligently in social services for 20 years, so this gives me a great opportunity to continue the family tradition while integrating my love of music and nightlife. Way before Noise for the Needy, I was putting on shows and doing whatever my skills would let me do for charities. Music and charity are just things I have to have in my life.”

The first Seattle show included four local bands and took place at Nectar Lounge, raising $1000 for The Compass Center. Noise for the Needy has since become a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization and the festival has grown to a multi-day event spanning clubs all over the city of Seattle, drawing acts such as Talib Kweli, The Black Angels, Two Gallants, Okkervil River, CSS, The Handsome Family, Art Brut, Grand Archives, and so, so many more.

Seattle, you have helped Noise for the Needy raise over $100,000 for local charities such as:

The Compass Center
Red Cross Family Relief for King and Kitsap County
ROOTS
New Beginnings
Rise 'N Shine
Urban Rest Stop
Transitional Resources

We have enjoyed working with these amazing organizations, and we recommend taking a moment to learn more about what they do.

We look forward to enjoying the music with you at the 6th Annual Noise for the Needy Festival in June, 2010!

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