Poverty is Real Announces 2012 Show Schedule

Building on a wildly successful inaugural year in 2011, Poverty is Real is excited to announce four upcoming shows in 2012. The first will be in Decatur, Georgia at Eddie’s Attic July 27-29 to benefit the Decatur Cooperative Ministry. Six weeks later, PIR will head to the beautiful North Carolina mountains for a show at The Orange Peel in Asheville on September 8 to benefit Pisgah Legal and Give to the Music. Shows in Nashville, Tennessee at the Bluebird Café and Exit/In in late November and early December will benefit Open Table. And PIR will close out the year with a return to Athens, Georgia in December 2012, with the dates and location(s) to be determined.

Futurebirds perform at Poverty is Real - Athens 2011

Futurebirds perform at Poverty is Real - Athens 2011

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As always, each show will feature a commemorative CD with songs donated by the performing artists and additional local musicians. Thanks to R.E.M.’s generous donation of a live recording of “The Lifting” from a 2001 show in Germany, Poverty is Real will re-release the “Athens: 2011” album in June and donate all proceeds to Whatever It Takes, our Athens beneficiary for the 2011 event.

PIR president Mike Killeen said R.E.M.’s involvement is especially fulfilling for the organization. “We have received incredible support from many musicians, businesses, and of course the communities we’ve partnered with,” he said. “R.E.M.’s song donation means so much not only because of their stature, but also because they are heroes of several members of our organization who grew up in Athens listening to their music.”

In June of 2011 PIR hosted its inaugural concert series: four full-house shows featuring Rebecca Loebe, The Bitteroots, Matthew Kahler, Trances Arc, and others at Eddie’s Attic in Decatur. Thanks to the generous support of the music community, the show brought in $6,000 for Decatur Cooperative Ministry. Then, in December of 2011, PIR raised $7,500 for Whatever It Takes at a concert featuring Patterson Hood, Futurebirds, Claire Campbell, and others at The 40 Watt Club in Athens, Georgia.

PIR plans to expand its reach in 2013 with concerts across the U.S. to benefit community organizations fighting poverty.

Poverty is Real leverages great music to combat poverty at the local level. We take our fundraising concerts on tour, coordinating the goodwill of local musicians, businesses, media, and music lovers to raise money for local community organizations fighting poverty. There are more than 46 million Americans living in poverty, but Poverty is Real believes our communities can make a difference when we work together.

Recent Poverty is Real News

Poverty Is Real Athens show raises $7,500 for Whatever It Takes

Funds will help break cycle of poverty in Athens

Poverty is Real (PIR) – a Decatur-based non-profit group – held their second fundraising concert at the 40 Watt Club in Athens on December 6 to support Whatever It Takes. The event brought in $3,750 and PIR contributed an additional $3,750 to donate a total of $7,500 to Whatever It Takes.

Whatever It Takes is an Athens-based non-profit organization … (read more…)

Poverty is Real Receives IRS Non-Profit Designation

Donations to Poverty is Real Are Eligible For Federal Tax Deductions

Poverty is Real (PIR), a Decatur, Georgia-based non-profit, is now a federally recognized, 501(c)(3), tax-exempt organization. The IRS notified PIR in a letter dated January 26. Donations made to PIR after March 11, 2011 are eligible for federal income tax deductions.

Poverty is Real leverages great music to combat poverty at the local level by coordinating and promoting fundraising concerts that raise money for community organizations fighting poverty.

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From Drive a Faster Car Blog:

Non-profit organization, Poverty is Real, based in Decatur, organizes fundraising concerts to aid organizations that work to fight poverty at a local level. Their first show, in June, presented a two-night concert series at Eddie’s Attic, raising $6,500 for Decatur Cooperative Ministry, a local group working to alleviate homelessness in the area. (read more…)

Athens World Blog: Concert at 40 Watt to benefit Whatever It Takes

The Futurebirds, Patterson Hood, Woodfangs, Claire Campbell, and My Cousin, The Emperor are lined up for a show at the 40 Watt Club on December 6 at 8 p.m. to benefit Whatever It Takes, an Athens non-profit working to break the cycle of poverty through education. This concert is organized by Poverty Is Real and will be presented by Flagpole. Read more…(read more…)

Sound Check Music Blog Writes about Poverty is Real Concert

“One of the core principles of the Whatever It Takes initiative is collaboration with other organizations to maximize the effect we all have on our community,” said Ryan Lewis, Communications Director of Whatever It Takes. “Partnering with Poverty Is Real and the participating musicians and local businesses gives us an opportunity to showcase the creativity that makes Athens such a special town while providing people with an easy and fun way to help all children in Athens succeed in life.” (read more…)