Fanatical Change is at it again. The planning has begun for our next event which will be held on October 30th 2014 at a venue to be determined. Our last Halloween Party was such an overwhelming success that we have decided to do it again but only this time bigger and better. This is what we were able to accomplish last time. This is what will be out done.(past02)

Fantical Change Impacts Dallas-Fort Worth!

Fanatical Change Foundation's Inaugural DFW Howdy Halloween Charity Event held last night, October 25th, in Irving TX; helped three families who suffered heart-breaking tragedies:

Mr. and Mrs Acosta: A disabled man escaped a fire but his home was destroyed. It happened just after midnight in Irving. Abe Acosta said he heard a pop at the back of the house and was met with heavy smoke and flames when he went to investigate. He uses a walker to get around, but was able to get out of the house unharmed. Acosta's wife was at work at the time. The family lived in the home for about 40 years. Acosta said despite losing almost everything, he's counting his blessings. Two of his 2300 books survived -- two bibles. Thanks to everyone who donated and all of our sponsors including ExxonMobil, XTO Energy, and Zeus Mortgage we were able to give the Acosta family a $500 gift card to Target, $500 gift card to Kroger, a gift basket, flowers for Mrs. Acosta, a Kindle for Mr. Acosta along with a $100 Amazon gift card to get him started on building his electronic book collection.

 http://www.myfoxdfw.com/story/23776415/fire-destroys-couples-home-of-40-years?autoStart=true&topVideoCatNo=default&clipId=9449302

Donna Dixon and 4 year old Kylie Terlisner: The family of 28-year-old Stephanie Terlisner says she was due to give birth any day, but now they are planning her funeral. Dallas police say she was shot in the chest during a home invasion. It happened in Southeast Oak Cliff. They say the suspect used a handgun in the shooting that killed Terlisner and her unborn child. Terlisner, the mother of a 4-year-old girl, Kylie Terlisner; had recently lived with her grandparents. "Her mother called us very hysterical that something was wrong," said Donna Terlisner, Stephanie's step grandmother. She says she started making phone calls to find out if what they were hearing was true. "I called the hospital. When I finally got to talk to someone they told us there was no need to come. She was already gone," said Terlisner. Terlisner says she last saw her step granddaughter a few weeks ago. Stephanie went to their house to pick up mail. She said everything seemed fine and Stephanie was looking forward to the birth of her second child. She wanted to keep the gender a secret. Fanatical Change wanted to brighten little Kylie's day after the loss of her mother and unborn sister. We gave the family a $1,000 Target gift card, Toys, and a $500 savings bond.

 http://www.myfoxdfw.com/story/23680485/a-pregnant-dallas-woman-was-shot-and-killed-by-a-robber#ixzz2iniAr944

A 17-year-old student at Dallas ISD’s law magnet school was shot to death Thursday night in DeSoto. Lovell Jenkins III dreamed of becoming a lawyer since middle school and decided on his own to apply to one of the district’s top and most exclusive schools, the Judge Barefoot Sanders Law Magnet at Yvonne Ewell Townview Center, his mom said. “He wanted to be a lawyer,” said Melissa Steward, who was so emotional about her son’s death that she could barely talk Friday. “He applied to the Townview law magnet by himself. He went to the interviews by himself.” DeSoto police were trying Friday to piece together what happened Thursday. Police said that Jenkins and two friends were in a car outside a house around 9 p.m. when someone shot him in the chest. Steward said her son was shot as his friend’s car pulled in front of a group of men. Fanatical Change gave a $500 Kroger gift card to help with food for the Family after the funeral, a $1,000 scholarship in Lovell Jenkins III's name, and $2,300 to pay for Lovell's headstone that the family could not afford.

 http://educationblog.dallasnews.com/2013/10/dallas-isd-student-at-townview-shot-and-killed-in-desoto-on-thursday.html/

Special Thanks to Tom Pennington, Bryan Beeler, Jason Wells, Angel, David Saenz, Chas Cahn, and all of the volunteers and donors in the Dallas-Fort Worth Metroplex that made all of this possible! As well as a special thanks to the Zeus Mortgage family that came from Houston to support the Howdy Halloween Charity Event!

Howdy Halloween: Costumes, Cowboys & Cocktails

We’re expanding to aid families in the Dallas-Fort Worth area! On Friday, October 25th, 2013, between the hours of 6pm and 10pm, join us at The Fanatical Change Foundation’s inaugural 2013 DFW event Howdy Halloween: Costumes, Cowboys & Cocktails at the Omni Mandalay in Las Colinas, Texas to continue the mission of our charitable organization. Throughout the event, guests will enjoy live music, entertaining costumes, cocktails, hors d’oeuvres, auction of unique items, and the company of individuals, successful entrepreneurs, and professionals who desire to see a change come to DFW and how a transparent charity works.

Our mission is simple and focused. The Fanatical Change Foundation hosts events in order to raise funds to provide life-changing assistance to families who’ve just suffered a life-altering tragedy where donors can personally witness the impact of their donations immediately following the fundraising event. If you donate money to a conglomerate non-profit, your funds oftentimes seem to make no real impact because they are spread so thin. We want to “change” all that, and provide a way for DFW residents to donate money, know who receives the benefit of those funds before they give, and see the family receiving the funds immediately following the donation. In this, Fanatical Change Foundation seeks to restore the intimacy of charitable giving between the donor and the recipient.

October 25th | 6:00-10:00pm
Omni Mandalay | 221 Las Colinas Blvd, Irving TX 75039
Halloween Attire | $15 Minimum Donation

Cheers 4 Change: Donations, Libations & Good Vibrations

On Thursday, May 23rd, 2013, between the hours of 6pm and 10pm, join us at The Fanatical Change Foundation’s 2013 Cheers 4 Change: Donations, Libations & Good Vibrations at the Omni Houston Galleria in Houston, Texas to continue the mission of our charitable organization. Throughout the event, guests will enjoy live music, dancers, cocktails, hors d’oeuvres, auction of unique trips, and the company of individuals and local captains of business who desire to see a change in Houston and how charity works.

Our mission is simple and focused. The Fanatical Change Foundation hosts events in order to raise funds to provide life-changing assistance to families who’ve just suffered a life-altering tragedy where donors can personally witness the impact of their donations immediately following the fundraising event. If you donate money to a conglomerate non-profit, your funds oftentimes seem to make no real impact because they are spread so thin. We want to “change” all that, and provide a way for Houstonians to donate money, know who receives the benefit of those funds before they give, and see the family receiving the funds immediately following the donation. In this, Fanatical Change Foundation seeks to restore the intimacy of charitable giving between the donor and the recipient.

May 23rd | 6:00-10:00pm
Omni Houston Galleria | 4 Riverway, Houston TX 77056
Cocktail Attire | $15 Minimum Donation

The Fanatical Change 2012 Masquerade Ball

The Fanatical Change 2012 Masquerade Ball was a phenomenal success. We would like to thank all of those who attended and gave so generously. Here is the first video of the delivery of goods and services that we were able to provide as a result of all of the attendee's generosity.

Fanatical Change Presents; The 2012 Masquerade Ball

Fanatical Change is proud to present the 2012 Masqurade. Join us May 17, 2012 at 6:30pm for what is sure to be the event of the year. The event will be held in a historic mansion in the Montrose District of Houston. There will be many suprises and great auction items. Get your ticket today!!!

Come Help Plan The Next Miracle!

Hello Fanatical Change!

Stewart Specialty Insurance Services is hosting the next Fanatical Change event planning meeting.

When: Wednesday February 1st, 2012 at 6:30PM - 8:30PM

Where: Stewart Specialty Insurance Services/ Stewart Title Retail Office

1980 Post Oak Blvd. Suite R2C (Residential Closing.)

*Parking Directions: Enter entrance to Stewart from Post Oak Blvd. Pull into the parking lot past the small guard tower/gate. Parking is free after 6pm. Go to the Stewart Title Residential Closing office where the meeting will be held.

Refreshments provided.

Please call Helen Weaver at 832-549-1363 should you have any questions.

WHAT WE'RE ABOUT: The Fanatical Change Foundation restores the intimacy in charitable giving by identifying recent victims of life-altering tragedy and letting the power behind their individual stories of suffering inspire our donors to be the change they wish to see in the world. www.fanaticalchange.org

TOO BUSY TO VOLUNTEER? Don't worry, we know you're busy. That's why we created SPEED VOLUNTEERING. With SPEED VOLUNTEERING we assign only short and simple tasks that have very little or no follow-up required so even our busiest friends can contribute to the change. Email me for details with "SPEED VOLUNTEERING" in the subject line.

1st Planning Meeting for Our Next Event

Hello and Happy Holidays!

We are pleased to announce our next Meet-n-Greet event for The Fanatical Change Foundation. Please join us for the planning of our May 17th 2012 Masquerade Party and upcoming volunteer opportunities.

If you volunteered, donated, or attended Rocktoberfest in October we will be giving out our remaining t-shirts from that event. While supplies last.

WHERE: Panera Bread - San Felipe and Post Oak (1709 San Felipe, Houston, TX 77056)

WHEN: WEDNESDAY January 11th from 6:30p to 8:30p

COST: Gratis!

Fanatical Change is Honored By Omni Houston

On December 1, 2011 The Fanatical Change Foundation was recognized along with 29 other Houston charities for its service to the local community. Members of Fanatical Change were honored to be included with the charities listed here;

Fanatical Change would like to thank Omni Hotels for the humbling recognition.

Rocktoberfest Delivery of Goods & Services

Thank you so much for everyone who made Rocktoberfest such a success. More video is coming. Below you will find three of the families that received assistance as a result of all of the money that was raised. Please stay tuned as the finished product is currently being edited.

Robertson Family

Kimberly Ann Blanco-Jones

Porter High School Teens

Are You Ready?

Are you ready to be a part of something amazing? Are you ready to manufacture miracles. We are. The Selection Committee is currently hard at work finding families to assist. The Program Committee has dotted every I and crossed every T and has only to set up Jones Plaza for what will be a magical evening. The beers will be cold, the food will be great and the entertainment will be electrifying. A guitar signed by every member of The Rolling Stones, an autographed Michael Jackson album, an autographed KISS album will all have new homes and someone will be off to The Grammy Awards, the NBA All Star Game and be a fighter pilot for a day.

All of these wonderful items will be the fuel in the foundries that manufacture miracles. So the question is, what are you doing on Saturday. No matter what it is, it is not cooler than manufacturing miracles. So see you at Jones Plaza on Saturday from 6-11pm.

Go to www.fanaticalchange.org for your discounted tickets now!

Keep The Change!

FCF BOD

Silent Auction Sneak-Peek!

Your Sneak-Peek! Here’s a sneak-peek at the premium auction items that will be available at Rocktoberfest 2011. The Fanatical Change Foundation has become famous for helping families immediately following a major tragedy, but they’ve also been recognized for having some of fundraisings most incredible and exclusive auctions items. Click here for the event flyer: http://db.tt/eIxNOvY

Premium Collectors Auction Items

1. The Rolling Stones Autographed Guitar
2. KISS Autographed Record Album
3. Pink Floyd Autographed Record Album
4. The Beatles Autographed (McCartney/Starr/Harrison) Record Album
5. The Rolling Stones Autographed Record Album
6. U2 Record Autographed Album
7. Al Pacino Autographed “Scarface” 11X14 Photo
8. Justin Bieber Autographed 11X14 Photo
9. Michael Jackson Autographed 8X10 Photo
10. Jack Nicklaus Autographed 16X20 Photo
11. Mickey Mantle Autographed 16X20 Photo
12. Muhammad Ali Autographed Boxing glove
13. Madonna Autographed Record Album
14. Aerosmith Autographed Record Album
15. AC/DC Autographed Record Album
16. Bob Dylan Autographed Record Album
17. The Grateful Dead Autographed Record Album

Premium Experience Auction Items

1. The Grammy’s - Music’s Biggest Awards Show 2012 in Los Angeles with Bronze Level Tickets, 3-Night Stay and Airfare for (2)

2. 2012 NBA All-Star Game 3-Night Experience in Orlando including Slam Dunk Contest, Three-Point Shootout, In-Arena Hospitality, and Airfare for (2)

3. Live TV Show Experience in New York City: The Daily Show with Jon Stewart, plus 3-Night Stay for (2)

4. Fighter Pilot For a Day Adventure for (1) with 4-Night Stay and Airfare for (2)

5. NASCAR Car Racing Experience with 4-Night Stay and Airfare for (2)

6. Great White Shark Adventure for (1) in San Francisco with 3-Night Stay and Airfare for (2)

7. Hot Air Balloon Adventure with 2-Night Hotel Stay for (2)

8. Napa Valley Wine Country Experience Features Chauffeur, Wine Train, Meritage Resort and Spa 3-Night Stay and Airfare for (2)

Can't Wait 3 Weeks For Rocktoberfest? How is Wednesday For You?

Wednesday September 21st from 5-7pm ARG will be hosting a party at the fabulous Magnolia Hotel in downtown Houston. Please come and get a taste of some of the auction items that will be available at Rocktoberfest.

Rocktoberfest on October 1st 2011!

Click here for print version: http://db.tt/eIxNOvY

The Selection Process Has Begun

The Selection Committee has begun its process to select recipients for Rocktoberfest. The news will be monitored for stories of tragic events, the families will be contacted to see if assistance is available for them. Then the board of directors will vote on which families will be helped on the night before the event. If you are interested in volunteering for this committee please email jcuevas@fanaticalchange.org

A Special Thanks to Kroger

The Board of Directors would like to thank Kroger for their continued support of the Fanatical Change Foundation. We received a commitment from Kroger for a $1000 donation that will go to help the beneficiaries of our Rocktoberfest event on October 1. We commend Kroger for their dedication to serving the Houston community, and for extending a helping hand to those in dire need.

Thank You Indy Quest!

Special thanks to Creston and Holly Inderrieden of Indy Quest. They are not only rising stars in real estate (no really they are, the Houston Area Realtor's Nextgen Realtor Group named them among the 20 Rising Stars Under 40) these fledgling philanthropists have put us $1,000 closer to our goal of $100,000. Thank you so much Creston & Holly. We will see you on the delivery since your donation qualifies you to come along and deliver the goods and services to the families we help. Talk about restoring intimacy! You don't get to watch the video, you get to come on the bus for the delivery and be in the video!!!

We want two or three buses. Any donation of $1,000 or more earns the donor a spot on the bus to deliver the goods and services. Once you experience selfless giving on this scale your life will never be the same. To bring a smile to a woman's face who just lost her child or bring a father whose children are laying in hospital maimed while he morns the death of his wife relief is like nothing else on this earth. It is the only payoff that anyone involved with running Fanatical Change gets since it is a 100% volunteer organization. But this payoff is priceless. That kind of emotional connection with another human being cannot be bought, imitated or forgotten.

Complete Property Services Comes Through Again!

The Board of Directors would like to thank Glen Dickson of Complete Property Services for his continued support of Fanatical Change. Glen has been at every event since the very beginning. Your loyalty to our cause is extremely appreciated and as a result of your generosity we will be able to deliver a miracle to family in need.

For more information about this amazing company and how they can help you, please click on their logo above.

Thanks Again,

The Fanatical Change Board of Directors

UPS Delivers!

We are happy to report that UPS has donated $25,000 to Fanatical Change! This donation is sure to have a huge impact for the families that will be helped as a result of Rocktoberfest coming up on October 1st at Jones Plaza. All donations of $1,000 or more or becoming a core volunteer will earn you a spot on the bus for the delivery. This is the most rewarding part of the process. It is incredibleto see the impact of your donations on the website after the delivery, but it is a life changing experience to actually participate. This boost is sure to make Rocktoberfest a success however we are only at 25% of our goal of $100,000 and this will provide assistance to 20 Houston families. We need your help. Get involved. Tell your boss, tell your friends and family, come and volunteer. For information on how to volunteer please send an email to info@fanaticalchange.org



Special Thanks to Kevin Ward at UPS for all of his efforts. You are awesome! After only five months with our organization you have had an amazing, lasting effect. You are very appreciated. Miracles are now possible as a result of your efforts.

Sincerely,

The Fanatical Change Board of Directors

Success!

The Rocktoberfest Pre-Party was a huge success! The Fanatical Change Board of Directors would like to say thank you to all who attended. A special thanks to The House of Blues for providing such and amazing space, to Sheila Swift and DJ Yogi-G. Good times were had by all and we are on our way to making Rocktoberfest our best event yet.

The new Event Brite portal will be posted shortly. There are only a few more VIG packages left which include Back Stage Passes. These will be made available on a first come first served basis. We look forward to seeing you on October 1st at Jones Plaza but you dont have to wait that long. If you are interested in becoming a volunteer our next meeting is on Tuesday August 9th at 6:30 at the Panera Bread on San Felipe and Post Oak. 1709 Post Oak Blvd Houston, TX 77056. We utilize Speed Volunteering in which there is a set of tasks to be completed and if everyone just picks one task then no one person had to do a lot.

Duality

There are two types of people in this world; the ones one the inside and the ones on the outside. Are you an insider? Are you one of the over 200 people who have registered thus far?

If so this is where you will be hanging out tomorrow:





If so: you will be the one who will be telling people on Friday what an amazing time you had at the Fanatical Change Rocktoberfest Pre-Party. If you are really an insider you will be discussing it with someone who attended. (hint: bring lots of friends)

Don't get left out. Register at the top of this page. Be an insider. Because if you dont come, when you hear about the party and how great it was (and now that you read this) you will know that you are an outsider.

It is way cooler to be an insider.

See You Tomorrow!

Keep the Change.

Here is some video of our last event so if you were not there you can see not only what you missed but what to expect.

Fanatical Change Presents Rocktoberfest!

Hello Change Fanatics!
The Fanatical Change Foundation's next event is in full swing! We always want to elevate our events from one to the next and this next event is guaranteed to satisfy. If you remember our last event, Hollywood Halloween, you remember a great party where you were surrounded by Houston's best exotic car collection. At Rocktoberfest, on October 1, 2011 you will be blown away by live bands, live auctions and a huge selection of craft and micro beers.

Our Pre-Party will be held on August 4, 2011 at 6:30pm. This is a thank you to all of our previous guest and a great introduction for all of those who are unfamiliar with our cause. It will be held at The House of Blues' Foundation Room, one of Houston's most exclusive venues. THERE IS NO COST FOR THIS EVENT! You just have to RSVP. You must be on the list or you cannot get in. The only way to get on the list is to RSVP. Please do so at the Event-Brite portal at the top of this page.

We will see you there and remember,

Keep The Change!

Beware of Thieves!

Have you ever had your house or your car broken into? I have, and it’s a pretty frustrating experience! Well, don’t worry about that with Fanatical Change, we WANT you to steal our ideas and start spreading some change!

Too tired to steal? That’s okay, you can just join us while we plan our next event (a Cinco de Mayo Party) on May 5th. Don't worry, you don't have to do much… just help us decide what will make a great party and we'll execute the rest.

I want to invite you and a GUEST to our next volunteer meeting on Wednesday March 2nd at 6:30PM. Remember, it's so early in the planning process that there's not heavy lifting, just heavy thinking… on ideas for our next event.

WHERE: Panera Bread 709 Post Oak, Houston - (713) 840-0729

WHEN: Wednesday March 2nd 6:30p to 8:30p

The Planning Begins!

Hello Change Agents!
It is that time again! Time to start planning the next Fanatical Change event! Tonight, January 18, 2011 the Change Agents will gather at Panera Bread on San Felipe and Post Oak in the Galleria area to start planning for the next event. This is your opportunity to get in on the ground floor.

TOO BUSY TO VOLUNTEER?
Don't worry, we know you're busy. That's why we created SPEED VOLUNTEERING. With SPEED VOLUNTEERING we assign only short and simple tasks that have very little or no follow-up required so even our busiest friends can contribute to the change. Send an email to info@fanaticalchange.org for details with "SPEED VOLUNTEERING" in the subject line.

See You Soon!

Keep The Change!

Hollywood Halloween Delivery of Goods & Services

Hollywood Halloween Recipients

Nicholas, Manuel and Refugio Martinez

The Tragedy:

These three brothers were getting ready for work at 4:30am on October 21, 2010 when they were startled by the sound of glass breaking outside their apartment. Nicholas went outside to see what was going on and surprised a burglar who shot him in the chest and head killing him instantly. When his brothers heard the shots they ran out to come to his rescue. Both suffered injuries and currently Manuel is fighting for his life at Ben Taub Hospital. Unable to work as a result of his injuries Refugio is left to deal with the stress of his ailing brother and the death of another brother. We aim to help him with housing costs, hospital bills and the final expenses of his youngest brother. With the help of the patrons of Hollywood Halloween this has become a reality.

The Fanatical Change:

It was afternoon when we arrived at Refugio's apartment. There was still crime scene tape around his vehicle with a memorial with his picture.

With the money donated to Fanatical Change we were able to allocate $2,000 for Refugio's rent for the next 4 months and provide him with $1,000 in Kroger gift cards for food and gas. Now he can concentrate on recovering from his injuries, burying his brother Nicolas and being by Manuel's side as he continues to fight for his life at Ben Taub Hospital.

Hector, Alexandra and Samantha Suarez

The Tragedy:

A family beach outing turned tragic on Sunday October 3, 2010. Hector Suarez had brought his family to the Texas City Dike for a day of fun in the sun. Instead he watched in horror as his twin girls struggled with the currents. He jumped in to rescue them but was unable to do so. He was hospitalized in critical condition as a result but the fate of his twin daughters was a parents worst nightmare. All of this occurred in front of the couple's eldest daughter, Gloria. To make matters worse as Edith, Hector's wife was visiting him in the hospital the couple's home was burglarized. Days later Hector succumbed to the trauma caused by his near drowning. Hector was the sole bread winner for his family. With the help of the fine and generous people of Houston who attended Hollywood Halloween we were able to bring a little peace to this family who has gone through something that is worse than anyone could imagine.

The Fanatical Change:

It was around 5:30 pm when we arrived at Edith Suarez's home. Her family was gathered around her and there was a large photo of her now departed husband and twin daughters hanging in the living room. Mrs. Suarez is eight months pregnant. She showed a strength that she said was so necessary for her children but under the surface we could see it was extremely hard for her. Thanks to our donors we were able to provide her and her family with $1,500 worth of gift cards to Kroger for food and gas, $1,000 to target for clothes and household needs and $1,500 to Ikea to help replace some of the furniture that was damaged during the burglary of their home. She was at a loss for words and was so thankful and surprised by the good will of her city.

Debbie Wilson

The Tragedy:

On Wednesday October 13, 2010 the sky in the Greenspoint area of Houston was thick with smoke. 37 units of the Driscol Place Apartments went up in a blaze. Debbie Wilson lost everything that she owns in the blaze. She did not have renter's insurance and without our help she was left with nothing.

The Fanatical Change:

We arrived at Debbie Wilson's new apartment at around 4pm. When we entered her apartment it really hit home how much she had lost because it was completely empty. There was no furniture, no decorations but when we left it was full of hope and thanks. As a result of our donor's generosity we provided her with $500 to Kroger so she can restock her refrigerator and pantry, $1,500 to Target for clothes and household items and $3000 to Ikea so she can fill her apartment with furniture. She was so grateful she felt compelled to call again later on in the night just to thank us one last time. She was told by Fanatical Change that her many thanks would be past on to those who made it possible through their kindness.

Theodore Jones

The Tragedy:

On Wednesday October 27, 2010 at 9:15am Theodore (Theo) Jones was waiting for the bus near his home with his seven month old son in his stroller. A car speeding and driving erratically was coming towards him but he did not see the car until it was too late as Theo was legally blind. When he realized that the car was careening toward him and his young son he threw himself in front of the carriage. He was killed instantly. His son suffered a broken arm. He is survived by his wife and two children. His family is unable to afford his funeral expenses. Thanks to the people who came out and donated at Hollywood Halloween a Fanatical Change was possible.

The Fanatical Change:

When Eleanor Jones, the mother of Theodore Jones, came to greet us she seemed as though the weight of the world was on her shoulders. It was heartbreaking to hear her tell the tale of how she actually went to the scene of the accident when it occurred but was unable to see her son due to the horrific injuries he had suffered. She told us how she wailed to the investigating officers to tell her that it was not true, not her baby. She was truly overcome with grief still. She shared with us a song of worship that he had just written for his church. There was not a dry eye as we heard the strain in her voice as she sang her son's song. It was a feeling that can not be described when we could see the relief that came over her when she was informed that she would be able to bury her son and give him a monument fitting to his life and that she would be able to get a head start on taking care of her grandchildren. We provided her with $3,500 toward his final expenses, $500 to Babies "R" Us, $500 to Target and $500 to Kroger. Mrs. Jones was overwhelmed by the generosity that her fellow citizens of showed in her time of need. She was so thankful and full of emotion.

Mohammed Elsayed

The Tragedy:

On October 13,2010 during his usual night shift as a cab driver Mohammed Elsayed was killed by two assailants who robbed him. This father of two children was working hard to put himself through engineering school and made extra money by teaching language and cultural classes to the U.S. Military. He leaves behind his wife Doaa and his two daughters ages two and eight. He was a devoted husband and father and up until now Doaa has been a home maker. Now not only does she have to deal with the loss of her husband but will now have to be the bread winner of the family. Fanatical Change, with the aid of the donors who attended Hollywood Halloween, were able assist in this difficult transition.

The Fanatical Change

When we arrived at Doaa Elsayed's apartment we were greeted by her. She invited us in and we met her children and her sister. She told us about how her husband cared for them. How he took care of everything. She showed us pictures of him. We saw him golfing and swimming in the sea. She told us about how much he loved working with the U.S. military, teaching them about middle eastern culture. She said that he worked so hard. Putting himself through engineering school. He long to be able to provide them with more and worked hard everyday towards that goal. She was over come when we presented her with $1,000 to Kroger and $1,300 towards her rent to aid her in the transition to being the family's bread winner, $1,500 to Ikea so she could have some of the nicer things that he wished to provide her with, a new $600 computer and $600 worth of Rosetta Stone so she could have a better grasp of the English language so she can have better opportunities to provide for her children. She was so thankful. We were all humbled by her strength.

Franco Olascoaga

The Tragedy:

Franco Olascoaga was a generous twenty one year old man. He was a talented soccer player who played for a club team. He spent time volunteering as a soccer coach in Porter, Texas. On September 10, 2010 while coaching his team he was struck by lightning. He fought for his life until October 7 when he succumbed to his injuries. His family was unable to provide a headstone for their beloved son and brother.

The Fanatical Change:

Franco's mother greeted us at the family's Porter, Texas home with Franco's little sister Paula at her side. In the living room was an almost life size poster of Franco in a suit most likely from his senior prom which was not that long ago. His sister had written him a letter on a dry erase board. We told his mother, Aracelia, that we were able to provide her with $1,000 to Kroger to help with gas and groceries since he was no longer around to help with the household bills. Paula and his Franco's little brother Paul received savings bonds in their brother's honor for when it is time for them to go off to college and Franco will now have a fitting monument to commemorate his life. She was overcome with emotion as she held her daughter. We all shed tears as well.

The Fanatical Change Foundation would like to thank everyone who made Hollywood Halloween such a success. Without our donors none of this would be possible. We hope that we can continue to inspire you to be the change you wish to see in the world.

The Selection Process Has Begun!

Hello Change Agents. The Selection Committee has been lucky to have some great volunteers come together this year. We will coordinate our efforts through our Facebook site. This gives everyone a chance to see how we identify our recipients. The Selection Process begins today so you will begin to see postings of tragic stories and you will be able to track our progress. Please feel free to jump in and help if you feel you can be of any assistance. We are three weeks out.

Do you know what you are going to be for Hollywood Halloween yet?

What Do You Get The Guy That Has Everything?

A guitar autographed by every member of U2 of course!




Once again The Fanatical Change Foundation will continue our tradition of amazing auction items. The guitar above and the items below are just a few of the items that will be available at the event:

The Perfect gift for your teen (or your husband who likes to keep his fan club membership a secret from his poker buddies)



Or if you secretly desire to be a child of the night this item is for you



These are just some of the amazing items we will have at our event on October 29th from 7-11pm at The Houston Motor Club which is located in the brand new City Centre. Come and hang out with local celebrities and captains of industry in a space shared with exotic cars, drinks by Tito's Vodka, Jack Daniels, Chambord and others. All of the energy spent having a blast will be in the effort to raise money for local Houston families who have just suffered a life altering tragedy.

This Halloween: Party With a Purpose!

Selection Committee Orientation

Hello Change Agents!

The Selection Committee is going to meet on Thursday October 7th at Panera Bread on Post Oak and San Felipe at 6:30pm. This committee is responsible for finding the potential recipients of the funds raised at our next event, Hollywood Halloween. Duties involve; monitoring local news for stories about tragedies that have happened to local Houston families or individuals. We will go over the type of story to look for, how to track down the people, the correct way to interview them and how to coordinate our efforts. We currently have about eight volunteers but the more we have the less work we have for each volunteer.

We look forward to seeing you then and working with you!

It's Gonna Be Cool

Hello CHANGE AGENT!

Our Hollywood Halloween Costume Party is going to be cool. We need a little help making this our biggest and best event yet.

Name/Theme: Check! Hollywood Halloween
Venue: Check! Houston Motor Club (Luxury Car Showroom in City Center)
Date: Check! Friday, October 29 7p - 11p
Entertainment: Check! Celebrity Impersonators, DJ, Live Art, Live Auction

Food: ? We need you!
Decorations: ? We need you!
Donations: ? We need you!
Silent Auction: ? We need you!
Other Event Stuff: We need you!

WE NEED YOU!

The best part of volunteering is coming in at the end when most of the grunt work is done so you can add a small contribution that makes a major impact.

Imagine getting dressed up in some crazy outfit or costume and heading to a great event while all the energy you're spending having a good time will be used to benefit a family that just suffered a tragedy.

Will you please help us plan this exciting event at our next Volunteer Meeting:

WHERE: Panera Bread (Post Oak and San Felipe)

WHEN: Tuesday September 28th 6:30p to 8:30p

We Want You!!!

The Fanatical Change Selection Committee needs ten (10) volunteers to assist in finding potential beneficiaries for our upcoming event. Searching out our beneficiaries is a fundamental part of this charity and requires people who can deal with other people who are in uncomfortably dire situations. However, the work is incredibly rewarding. The job is part-humanitarian, part-private investigator and part-avid reader of the local news. If you want to join the team, contact Juan Cuevas at 832.797.6463 or Jason Griffin at 281.748.3087. We will be holding a training/orientation session in the coming weeks.

Come be a part of deciding who Fanatical Change helps.

A Call For Volunteers!

Hello CHANGE AGENT!

Name/Theme: Check! = Hollywood Halloween
Venue: Check! = Houston Motor Club (Luxury Car Showroom in City Center)
Date: Check! = Friday, October 29 7p - 11p
Entertainment: Check! = Houston Celebrities, Celebrity Impersonators,DJ, Live Art, Live Auction

Food:? We need you!
Decorations:? We need you!
Donations:? We need you!
Silent Auction:? We need you!
Other Event Stuff: We need you!

Selection Committee Street Team: We need you!

The best part of volunteering is coming in at the end when most of the grunt work is done so you can add a small contribution that makes a major impact.

Imagine getting dressed up in some crazy outfit or costume and heading to a great event while all the energy you're spending having a good time will be used to benefit a family that just suffered a tragedy.

Will you please help us plan this exciting event at our next Volunteer Meeting:

WHERE: Panera Bread (Post Oak and San Felipe)

WHEN: Tuesday September 14th 6:30p to 8:30p

Tito's Vodka + Fanatical Change = Hollywood Halloween

We are excited to report that we officially have our first sponsor for the Hollywood Halloween party scheduled for October 29th, 2010!

A special thanks to Kevin Bartz over at Tito's. So CHEERS folks! We will see you all on October 29th.

It's Official! We Have Our Venue!

We have secured our venue for the next Fanatical Change Event! We need to keep the suspense up for just a few more days until all of the paperwork is done. Be prepared to be among some of Houston's hottest celebrities in one of the newest and most exciting venues in the city! More details to follow soon. To get the inside scoop on Fanatical Change please make sure to like/friend us on Facebook and Twitter.

We would really like to thank Mo's "A Place for Steaks" for hosting us and providing the delicious hors d'ourves. A special thanks to Carlos Zubizarretta for setting that up.

Stay tuned for more information about our next planning meeting and more details about our next event. Until then...

Keep The Change!

FCF BOD

Come to The Next Meeting

Hello CHANGE AGENT!

We're having a Hollywood Halloween Party and YOU'RE INVITED! In fact, we'd love your help in planning this event. We need your help with the location, theme ideas, silent auction, family selection, and event logistics. Imagine getting dressed up in some crazy outfit or costume and heading to a great event while all the energy you're spending having a good time will be used to benefit a family that just suffered a tragedy.

We've changed our meeting location to Mo's on Post Oak and San Felipe.

Will you please help us plan this exciting event at our next Volunteer Meeting:

WHERE: Mo's "A Place for Steaks"
WHEN: Tuesday August 24th 6:30p to 8:30p

Keep the Change!

Fanatical Change Presents: Hollywood Halloween

Last night's planning meeting was a great success. We named our next event: Hollywood Halloween. We are very excited. We will be reaching out to our celebrity friends and they will be coming out for the event. We plan to have the hottest Halloween party that Houston has ever seen.

Be Sure Not To Miss This Event!!!

This week we will nail down the exact date and the venue and begin putting all of the marketing packages together.

Our Next Volunteer meeting will be at Moe's on Post Oak Blvd on Tuesday, August 17, 2010 @ 6:30pm.

Come one come all who want to be the change they want to see in the world!

Stay Tuned,

FCF Board of Directors

Our Latest Volunteer / Planning Meeting

Last night's meeting was great! We had some new faces who are movers and shakers from the University of Houston student body and some of the usual suspects. The planning of our next meeting went extremely well. If you would like to receive invitations to these meetings please email your request to info@fanaticalchange.org. We are always looking for volunteers and new ideas and all are welcome.

Keep The Change!

Things Are Coming Along

Hello Change Fanatics!
Yesterday's Strategic Planning Meeting went very well. Thanks to those who were there. The vision of the future for Fanatical Change is taking shape in the long term the vision of expansion to other cities all over the country and then all over the world. In the short term we talked about our next event which will be a phenomenal beach party. Details will follow on that. Stay tuned for more updates and in the mean time, Keep The Change!

The First Fanatical Change Baby!

Veronica Torres, Benefacio Torres's wife, was unable to meet us when we delivered the goods and services we were able to provide her family with because she was making a delivery of her own. When she had her strength back she called The Change Agents to thank them. Everyone in the car, Steven Kaufman, Randy Kashdan, David Winters, Teresa Gallagher and Juan Cuevas were changed forever after hearing what she had to say. This is a chance for you to witness true magic. It was one of the most amazing moments that we were all able to share and as a thanks to our donors, we want to share it with you...



They sent us a picture of the little guy. He really is perfect!

Thanks To Our Sponsors

The name says it all "Accurate Title Group". These seasoned professionals know the title business through and through. Their excellent customer service shines through on every transaction. They are also great humanitarians that support many causes. Help me thank Accurate Title Group for their continued support.



Del Walmsley is a genius. Especially because he hired Steve Davis as his Vice President. A special thanks to Mr. Davis and the amazing company that he is a part of.
Del Walmsley has been Real Estate Investing for over 20 years and he can teach you how to do it. The members of his company, Lifestyles Unlimited, collectively own more multifamily assets than any other landlord in Houston. Please help me thank this great organization for their generous contribution.

Fanatical Change is All Over The News!

You Can Now Witness The Change!

Please enjoy the video of the delivery of goods which were provided by you, our donors to seven Houston families at their time of need. A special thanks to Emilio Bennett our videographer, Mauricio Brown our photographer and Natalie Camarata our editor. To our donors; this is what you made possible:



Thank You

Because of Our Donors, Beads For Deeds Was a Phenomenal Success!

On Thursday February 11th, 2010 Houstonians gathered at the House of Blues Houston for the Fanatical Change Beads for Deeds Mardi Gras Masquerade. Guests enjoyed Cajun cuisine and authentic Louisiana sounds of Big Red and Zydeco Play Makers. (A special thanks to Big Red, you guys are amazing!) Guest were able to bid on auction items and there was a live auction for the three most sought after items; A guitar signed by every member of The Rolling Stones, a boxing glove signed by Mohamed Ali and an autographed Michael Jackson Thriller album.As much fun as we all had there was a reason beyond enjoyment for being there. Seven Houston families who had just suffered a life altering tragedy would be the beneficiaries of all of the proceeds raised. These are their stories:

Brenda Jones

The Tragedy:

Brenda Jones moved to Houston after Hurricane Katrina destroyed her home in New Orleans. It was a total loss, but she felt lucky to be alive. She began to rebuild her life here in Houston and decided to stay. Life seemed to have made a turn for her. Her daughter and two grandchildren would visit frequently, and she would babysit her grandchildren while her daughter attended nursing school.
However, Tuesday, January 26, 2010 disrupted her new life. She was awakened to panicked screams to get out of her apartment. Flames had engulfed the building. Her apartment, along with all of her belongings she had gathered since Katrina, went up in flames. Brenda suffered a total loss for a second time.

The Fanatical Change:

With the Funds Raised from the event we were able to provide Ms. Jones with $500 to H.E.B.,$2,500 to Ikea and $1,250 to Target, $250 to Babies "R" Us and provide her two grandchildren with $1000 savings bonds each. Soon her now empty apartment will be filled with new furniture and household goods as a result of your generosity.

Bonifacio Torres

The Tragedy:

Bonifacio Torres and his wife, Veronica, have 2 children and another on the way. The anticipation of their new addition has brought them much excitement. In preparation, they had purchased many new items for the baby.
In the early morning hours of January 26, 2010, the Torres’ woke to the clamor of screaming and constant pounding at the door, alerting them that their building was on fire. Unfortunately, all of the new baby items, their clothes and other worldly possessions were damaged beyond repair by smoke and water.

The Fanatical Change:

We arrived at Doctor's Hospital when Veronica Torres was in labor. Mr. Torres came out to meet us and was pleasantly surprised to see so many smiling faces all there to give him aid in this time of need. You could see and almost feel the heaviness lift from him as he realized that his son, Bonifacio Torres IV, would have a home that would now smell of new items instead of the charred remains of everything that was damaged in the fire. Mr. Torres received gift cards to H.E.B. for $500, Target for $1,000, Babies "R" Us for $1,000 and Ikea for $2,500. We also provided him with a savings bond for $1,000 so he could get a jump on Bonifacio the IV's college tuition. Thanks to all of the donors who came out, his son will be welcomed into their home that will no longer smell of smoke but instead be filled with hope.

Deandre Emerson

The Tragedy:

Sukari Emerson was going out-of-town on November 11, 2009 with her new boyfriend. Her mother, Deandre Emerson was babysitting Sukari's five children while she was out-of-town. Before leaving, Sukari called her mother to see if she needed anything further for the kids. This would be the last conversation Deandre had with her daughter. Days turned into weeks; the holidays came and went. Dandrae knew something was wrong. On January 25,2010, 2.5 months later her worst fears were realized: Sukari's body was found in a heavily wooded area in northeast Harris County.

The Fanatical Change:

It was late in the evening when we arrived at Ms. Emerson's home. She welcomed us in and her grandchildren were a bit overwhelmed by how many people had come to help them but quickly warmed up to us. They were pleasantly surprised by all that we had to give them. Ms. Emerson received $600 from Target, $200 from H.E.B., counseling, enough for every member of the family to receive six sessions of therapy donated by Terry Azzouz a Licensed Therapist and Fanatical Change Board Member and the final expenses for Sukari that were on a payment plan that were $4,000 have now been taken care of giving Ms. Emerson the closure that she needed. We also were able to provide all of Sukari's children a $1,000 savings bond in their mother's honor for when they are ready to go to college, something that Ms. Emerson stated as a goal of hers for her grandchildren. Of course Ms. Emerson was thankful for all of the assistance your generosity provided but it was the counseling that she needed most for her children. Thanks to all of the donors who came out her five grandchildren will be able to begin the road to recovery from the death of their mother.

Reyna Lopez

The Tragedy:

Reyna Lopez was driving home when struck head-on by a vehicle driving on the wrong side of U.S. Highway 59. She suffered major injuries but is expected to make a full recovery. Reyna is a single mother of three. She is doing everything she can to get by. The time that she will spend recovering will have a domino effect on her financially. We gathered to come to her her aid and make sure that that first domino does not fall.

The Fanatical Change:

When we arrived at Ms. Lopez's home she was moving slowly. She welcomed us in. Her adorable son was walking around and was curious as to what all of these people were doing. He smiled and was anything but shy. His mother put on a smile of her own when she learned of the good will she was receiving as a result of the generosity of those who attended the event. We were able to provide her with a gift card to H.E.B for $500, we paid her rent for 4 months and brought her some diapers and a gift card to Pappa's restaurants for when she is recovered. She was very thankful and could not stop smiling.

Jose Azua

The Tragedy:

At around 9 pm on Wednesday, February 3rd, 16 year old Jose Azua was shot and murdered while working the evening shift at his family’s taco stand in the 11400 block of the Eastex Freeway. His mother found his body lying inside the taco stand when she went to check on him.
Jose was a teenager enrolled in AP classes and played on his school basketball team. He leaves behind his mother, three brothers (ages 21, 18 & 14) and two sisters (ages 8 & 7 mos.). His family holds much trepidation towards continuing their family’s taco stand business. Anyone of them could have been the victim; however, fate chose Jose.

The Fanatical Change:

When we arrived at the Azua home it was late in the evening. The family had gathered in solidarity, mourning the loss of their loved one. We met with Jose's mother she told us how he was an excellent student. She proudly displayed all of the acceptance and interest letters from colleges on his bed. Colleges like Auburn, Houston Baptist, Iowa State, Baylor, Washington and others.

There was not a dry eye in the room as we now shared the mourning for this poor kid who was cut down in his prime by senseless violence. Our tears were not the only thing that let Mrs. Azua know that strangers do care. As a result of the hundreds who attended Beads for Deeds we were able to provide her with $600 to H.E.B., $600 to Target, $2,000 for a headstone that would honor the memory of her fallen son and $1,800 in counseling which is enough for every family member to receive 6 sessions of therapy as they deal with this unimaginable tragedy.

Caleb Copeland

The Tragedy:

Eight weeks ago, 8 year old Caleb Copeland caught an everyday virus, which gave him a fever. However, for whatever reason, the virus caused encephalitis, a swelling of the brain. Caleb began—and continues—to suffer four to five seizures a day. His doctors advised to admit him into Texas Children’s Hospital in the Med Center. Because of the rarity of his ailments, on Monday, Texas Children’s sent him to Baylor in Dallas by ambulance.
Caleb’s parents have been staying in Dallas while Caleb receives treatment while Caleb’s two sisters, Essence and Taylor have stayed behind with relatives. Caleb’s father, Joe, works a job that pays only straight commission. While they stay in Dallas, he is limited in what work he can accomplish. The Copeland family has some immediate needs to help bridge them through this crisis.

The Fanatical Change:

We arrived in Richmond at Belin Park where family members and friends of the Copeland's were gathered smoking brisket in preparation for another benefit planned for them. We delivered gift cards to H.E.B. to Caleb's grandmother for $2,000, Target for $2,000 a Visa gift card for $500, and $500 worth of gas cards. They were overwhelmed and thanked us profusely. We let them know it was our donors who were in need of thanks and she did on camera which will be posted shortly. She was so glad to know that her fellow citizens came to her family's aid in their time of need.

The J. Wilms Family

The Tragedy:

Just this morning at approximately 2 a.m., J. Wilms was travelling down Highway 6 on the north side of town. Riding with him was Christa Rodriguez. Wilms took a left into a Whataburger parking lot when a speeding truck driven by an intoxicated man struck Wilms’ vehicle. The wreck resulted in the death of Christa. Wilms survived but remains in the ER as of this afternoon.
This accident is still so recent that Wilms’ mother, Cathy, had yet to speak to the doctors and spoke to us from the ER and so was still uncertain of their immediate needs. The Change Agents™ want to help them during this time in which Wilms and his friend were needless victims.

This Tragedy was so recent that the family is still reeling from the aftermath. At the time of delivery they stated that they were willing to receive help but just could not tell us exactly what they would need. We have allocated $2,000 for them and will post our delivery to them at a later date.

Thank you all for making this our most successful event yet. Stay tuned for news of our next event. You are the ones who make this possible.

On behalf of the Board of Directors and the families that received assistance, Thank You,

The Fanatical Change Foundation