I first heard about Project 143 at an All Time Low concert
when I went to talk to my friend in line and saw she was helping someone sell
wristbands. She introduced me to Jared and he told me a little bit of what his
organization was about. He told me how it was in support of cancer patients,
and how he wanted to use music to help people. So I bought a couple of wristbands for my friend and I but
by the end of the night, although I really liked what Project-143 was all
about, I didn’t really think to do any more research on the organization. A few
weeks later I went to a local Bay Area battle of the bands, still wearing the P-143
bracelet, when I noticed a P-143 booth set up in the back. I talked to Jared and started to learn
even more about Project-143, which really inspired me to support this cause. I
felt like I could really connect with the way Jared used his passion for music
to help others. Before I left I bought a couple of tshirts and another
wristband that said Project-143 on them. Every time I would wear a shirt or the
wristband I would get questions from friends asking me what P-143 was. I do my
best to explain it to them, and it almost always seemed like they became
inspired to support it as well. The only problem was they had more questions
than I had answers, so in order to answer any questions my friends and I had, I
asked Jared if he would mind if I interviewed him. So thank you, Jared, for
taking the time out of your schedule to answer these questions.
Q: What is the story behind
Project-143?
A: When I first came up with the idea
for Project 143, I was 14 years old. The idea for Project originally began as
an idea to put on a benefit concert here in San Jose and donate all of the
proceeds to American Cancer Society. After working on this idea for a while
with little success, I was referred to another organization called Skate 4
Cancer by one of my friends. I was inspired by their work so much that I
reached out and emailed them, asking if they would be willing to collaborate on
the idea. They said that they thought what I was doing was awesome, but that
they didn’t have enough staff or manpower at the moment to help pull of an
event of that size (granted, the show was going to be at HP Pavilion with over
30 bands). But at the same time, they suggested to me that I go ahead and start
my own organization and keep them posted on my work. And thus, Project 143 was
born.
Q: Is there a personal reason
why the organization is set up to benefit cancer patients? Or why music is the
basis of what you do?
A: When I was 6 years old, my
grandfather passed away from lung cancer, and when I was in 7th
grade, my neighbor who was a great friend of my family’s passed away from
bladder cancer. It was really emotional for me, and I guess in the back of my
mind, I always said that one day I would do something to help out with cancer
relief, do a Relay For Life event or something like that. During the summer
that I came up with the idea for Project, my friends and I had really been
getting into music, and discovering every band, like Taking Back Sunday, Fall
Out Boy, Boys Like Girls, Cobra Starship, The Academy Is…, you name it. It just
kind of happened naturally. I wanted to combine my love of music with my love
of helping other people.
Q: Why did you choose to start the
organization when you did? Did you
receive a lot of outside encouragement or was it a difficult to get started?
A: When I started the organization, it
just kind of happened. I definitely didn’t plan it out that way, I had never
said to myself “I’m going to start a non-profit organization when I get older”,
and I think that’s what is really cool about it. It happened naturally, and
everything just kind of fell into place. When I had first told my parents what
I wanted to do, they supported it but were a little skeptical. As I started to
set up booths at more shows and eventually get booked on Warped Tour, they
started to see that I was much more serious about it, and they’ve given me
nothing but an incredible deal of support. All of my friends have been nothing
but supportive, and I love them for it. There is only one instance of
discouragement I have ever received that I can recall, and it was in my junior
year of high school. One of my peers told me I was too young to start an
organization and that I should probably be focusing on other things. Oh well,
here I am.
Q: When looking for support
from a band, how do you approach them/contact them?
A: There are a number of different ways
I approach a band about working with them. Most of the time, I will find out
when they will be coming through my area, and I will set up a brief meeting
with them by emailing their manager. In some cases, I’ve actually been
fortunate enough to run into them at shows without arranging any meeting, and
speaking with them about Project 143 on their own time. The bands are always
willing to help in some way, shape or form, whether just by donating some
autographed merchandise for a patient or for an auction we are holding, doing a
signing at our tent during Warped Tour, or filming a video for us.
Q: What bands are currently
most involved with for P-143?
A: As of right now, the bands I would
say that have been the most involved with Project 143 at the moment would
probably be Pierce The Veil, Breathe Carolina, and Set Your Goals. They are the
ones we have worked with the most within the past few months, and they have
been really great to work with!
Q: What bands would you like to
get more involved in P-143?
A: I’m open to any artists becoming
involved with us. If we’re talking about my personal music tastes, I would love
to work more with A Day To Remember and The Devil Wears Prada. But other than
that, if you are a musician, we are always open to working with you regardless
of genre!
Q: Are there any other
organizations you connect with?
A: We haven’t completely done any kind
of official partnerships or anything like that with other organizations, but I
can definitely say that I find inspiration from groups like To Write Love On
Her Arms, Keep A Breast Foundation, Music Saves Lives, and Invisible Children.
We’ve actually even been fortunate enough to collaborate with the Make A Wish
Foundation office in San Francisco when they messaged us in regards to a
project they were working on.
Q: Do you find the kids you
work with through other organizations? And how do you choose which children
benefit?
A: Back in May, we sent out a mailer to
every Children’s Hospital in the United States telling them about our
organization and what our aspirations are in terms of helping patients and
survivors. We included these questionnaire forms that patients fill out, and
then send back to us, informing us of their favorite music and genres. We then
work to see what we can provide them, whether it be concert tickets,
merchandise, etc. We have been receiving them ever since May, and we work as
hard as we can to make sure that we can fulfill as many as possible.
Q: What are some of your
favorite stories/experiences?
A: I can recall two. The first is when
we got tickets for a patient and a survivor to attend a Green Day concert last
September at Shoreline Amphitheater. It was an indescribable feeling to hand
them the tickets and showing them to their seats, knowing that they were going
to see an artist that they loved. The other memory I have was from when Madina
Lake complimented Project 143. At our first Warped Tour date in 2009 in San
Francisco, I was walking back to the site to make sure we had picked up
everything, when I see Nathan Leone from Madina Lake walking. I talked to him
for a second, and told him about what I was doing. He said it was really cool,
and my friends and I took pictures with him. Right when we left, he looked at
me, smiled, shook my hand, and said, “Thank you for doing something so great to
help this world.” It’s one of the most unforgettable compliments I’ve ever
received from anyone, and it meant a lot to me that someone said that.
Q: What do you hope for the
future of Project-143?
·
Do you plan to continue with it after you
graduate from college?
A: I plan to make Project 143 one of
the most well known non-profit organizations in the country, by making sure
that we can successfully help as many patients and survivors as possible and
promoting our work in as many places as possible. I hope that we can successfully
create partnerships with more Children’s Hospitals and musicians, and just
continue growing as an organization. I’m very excited for all of the work we
are doing! I definitely plan on continuing with Project
143 after I graduate from college.
Q: What are some ways in which
people can help support and bring awareness to Project-143?
A: One of the easiest ways that people
can help raise awareness of Project 143 and the work we do is actually pretty
simple. Go like us on Facebook, follow us on Tumblr (p143.tumblr.com, we follow
back!), and follow us on Twitter (@Project143). All really simple ways, and
they are honestly some of the most effective ways to promote what we do. The
Internet has become such an important tool for us in terms of promotion, and
it’s an effective way to communicate with our supporters and let them know
about our work! You can also take a look at our website, which will be having a
brand new layout very soon, at www.project143.org. Other than that, tell
everyone you know about Project 143! J
I
think the way that Jared decided to use music to reach out to those who need
comfort and joy in their life is really great. It’s also pretty amazing that he
didn’t let the fact that he was only fourteen get in the way of him accomplishing
something he felt convicted to. Now that you know what P-143 is all about, I hope
you find yourself inspired to support Jared and his organization in whatever
way you can. Oh yeah, and in the time between the interview itself and now,
Jared found out he would be going on the road with Pierce the Veil for part of
Warped Tour this summer. So if you’re going to Warped you should look for the
Project-143 table and go say hi, and maybe even buy some cool stuff.
