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Up with People-Then and Now

Contributed by: Andrea C on 1/31/2008

You may remember Up with People, the traveling, song-and-dance troupe from the 60s and 70s. You may also remember the kumbaya, "we all want world peace" feeling they displayed as they visited high schools and communities around the world. But you may be thinking, what happened to them? Where are they now?

After years of struggling to attract "cast members," Up with People suspended operations in 2000 in order to redesign its business model to create philanthropic partnerships that have a unique ripple effect in host communities. Behind Up with People's momentum is visionary CEO and 1987 former cast member Tommy Spaulding. A struggling student who worked hard to overcome dyslexia, Tommy was advised by his high-school guidance counselor to give up his dreams of college and a successful career. Undaunted, Tommy went on to deliver the commencement speech upon graduation from East Carolina University and earn two master's degrees in business and non-profit management. Tommy says joining Up with People changed his life. Now, he is determined to repay his gratitude.

This year, Up with People is back in a big way with 100 cast members from 27 countries set to tour the United States, Mexico and Thailand encouraging cultural understanding and social action. Up with People kicks off the journey with its Denver Premiere Performance at the Buell Theatre on Feb. 9 at 7:30 p.m. In conjunction with the performance, the cast has also performed a community service "blitz" volunteering nearly 1,300 hours in two days at seven local nonprofits throughout the metro Denver area.

This combination of performing arts and servant leadership is at the core of Up with People's new business model. The idea is to create a ripple effect that goes beyond the cast members to the host families they live with, the sponsors that bring Up with People to the community and the nonprofit organizations that benefit from all ticket proceeds and cast member volunteer work.

Essentially turning Up with People's support into manpower, marketing and motivation, resulting in a real impact in communities worldwide and on the lives of the young people who join the cast.

For more information about Up with People, including how to become involved and how to purchase tickets to the Denver Premiere Performance where all proceeds benefit Habitat for Humanity of Metro Denver, visit www.upwithpeople.org/denver.




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CONTRIBUTOR INFORMATION

Andrea C

Centennial , CO

Andrea C has posted 7 stories and 0 comments since joining on 1/31/2008. Andrea C 's average story rating is 0.
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