A Post-Workout Film for the 2-Minute Fitness Challenge #EndHomeFires #SoundTheAlarm

Long before opening The Madlab Post studio, I crewed, wrote, produced and directed several short films including the urban romantic drama, Abyss: The Greatest Proposal Ever. This film is a candid glimpse into the wild adventures of a U.S. Army officer who gets stranded at an inner-city bus stop when a botched TV audition shakes up his wedding plans.

Abyss: The Greatest Proposal Ever had its World Premiere at a movie theater in New York City. Yet, getting this film ready for its theatrical debut was a long journey with seemingly no end in sight when a massive fire destroyed the home of my Associate Producer on New Year's Day.

Since that tragic morning, I have provided emergency relief for more than 20 veterans and civilians displaced by home fires by donating proceeds from my short film's DVD sales to the American Red Cross and this month, I'm taking on their 2-Minute Fitness Challenge while helping families install smoke alarms, create escape plans and practice two-minute fire drills.

Home fires kill more people each year than all natural disasters combined, yet most of us don’t realize we only have two minutes to escape safely. You have the power to change that as I wrap up this year's 2-Minute Fitness Challenge with an online stream of my film to save lives!

To raise awareness and funds for home fire relief, I am completing as many reps of exercise as I can (jumping jacks, planks, squats, crunches, lunges, burpees, sit-ups, push-ups, jump rope, etc) in 2 minutes everyday leading up to a 72-hour online stream of my film, Abyss: The Greatest Proposal Ever as part of "Sound the Alarm," a nationwide Red Cross initiative with fire safety events taking place throughout May and early June.

Grab your ticket(s) to stream Abyss: The Greatest Proposal Ever as we raise critical funds and support for the American Red Cross in their goal to prevent fire-related deaths, injuries and severe property damage in the U.S. by going door-to-door to install 50,000 free smoke alarms in high-risk communities around the country.

Another way you can support is by purchasing a group of tickets in the quantity of your choice, to Sponsor free screenings for firefighters and Red Cross volunteers.

Every ticket purchase counts as you join me in making an impact and supporting this lifesaving work!

The Fire Relief Fund: My Red Cross Film Tour at a Glance

So I went on tour with my film not too long ago, hoping to sell a lot of DVDs while raising awareness for disaster relief and building an audience for future work. Adjustments had to be made along the way and this initiative raised more than $100 for the American Red Cross. The experience taught me some things about fundraising, charities, people and communities. Here is an overview of what went down to provide blankets, a hotel night stay, groceries, toiletries and/or other immediate needs for a handful of people who are displaced by home fires that claimed everything they owned.

F is for Fundraising 

That's all I have for today. How is YOUR Tuesday going so far?

Sunday Synopsis: A $100+ Gift of Hope Goes to the American Red Cross

It’s been seven months since my Red Cross fundraiser launched with the first stop on my Dinner-and-a-Movie tour. As the dust settles on this campaign, I am blogging today to thank the small businesses, military families and citizens from the southern and northeastern regions of the country who helped make it possible.

The tour raised over $100 to provide emergency shelter for men, women, children and pets who escape home fires. Did you know fires are the biggest disaster people experience in the United States? Just within the last few weeks, this organization assisted dozens of families who became displaced when fires destroyed their homes and belongings in a matter of minutes, leaving them with nowhere to go.

Individual donations enable the Red Cross to cover a night in a hotel, food, and clothing as well as provide emotional and spiritual support to these survivors, among other services including finding new homes. After the Red Cross provided aid to the U.S. Air Force Veteran I worked with who lost his home in a New Year’s Day fire, I am glad that I decided to use my short film “Abyss: The Greatest Proposal Ever” as a vehicle for hope – putting more people on the path to recovery following our nation’s most common disasters.

How often do YOU practice fire safety drills with your family (including children)?