In 2004, Pearl Jam toured the United States as a part of the “Vote for Change” tour. During that time, we wanted also wanted to help make a change – a change for the better.
In October of that year, we started a grassroots, word-of-mouth campaign in St. Louis, Missouri. The plan was simple; fans would meet up before the concert and bring a can of food or extra clothing to donate to the St. Louis Food Bank. Brent Hinson and Laura Trafton organized the fundraiser party at Humphrey’s in St. Louis and the response was overwhelming! Over 200 pounds of food and clothing were donated by fans, with little promotion.
In 2005, we decided to expand our efforts. Mike McCready, guitarist for Pearl Jam, is an outspoken advocate for the Crohn’s and Colitis Foundation for several years.
In May of 2005, Pearl Jam announced a tour of Canada for the fall. We instantly set our sights on raising awareness and funds for the Crohn’s and Colitis Foundation of Canada.
Relying on word-of-mouth promotion through several Pearl Jam fan web sites – primarily the official Pearl Jam Message Pit forums – fans were able to hold several successful fundraisers across Canada.
In just over a month, Pearl Jam fans raised $15,000 for the CCFC.
Brad Laing and Brian Leslie create the guitar ‘pick’ inspired t-shirts for fundraisers.
After such a successful fundraising ‘tour’ across Canada in 2005, a group of us began to take the steps to legally formalize and incorporate the organization.
February provided another chance for us to take our fundraising efforts to a new level when Pearl Jam announced a 2006 World Tour to support their new self-titled studio album.
With the help of many dedicated fan-volunteers, we were able to organize over twenty-one fundraisers, in over fifteen cities across the United States that corresponded with Pearl Jam’s tour dates.
In the Spring of 2006, the Wishlist Foundation paired up with two innovative fans that had created t-shirts in honor of Pearl Jam guitarists Mike McCready and Stone Gossard. Brad and Brian’s guitar ‘pick’ inspired t-shirts were a huge hit amongst fans and expanded the fundraising ability of the organization by more than 50%.
On September 14, 2006, the Wishlist Foundation was legally registered as a nonprofit corporation in Illinois. Around the same time, the Wishlist Foundation secured an all-star lineup of some of the best rock concert poster artists in the industry to create a series of posters for Pearl Jam’s Australian and Hawaiian legs of their tour, to benefit the Northwest Chapter of the CCFA.
By the end of 2006, Pearl Jam fans had raised over $35,000 for the Northwest Chapter of the Crohn’s & Colitis Foundation of America from pre-concert fundraisers. Other fan donations were made to the American Cancer Society ($150), the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society ($150), the Bridge School / Building Bridges Camp, Hui Malama i ke Kai Foundation ($2,330) and Australian organizations Kaleidoscope ($100) and the ACCA.
Because of financial contributions from Pearl Jam fans, we created a variety of gift items like our guitar ‘pick’ inspired t-shirts, wristbands, stadium cups, posters/art prints, and other items and donated over $10,000 to the NW Chapter of the CCFA. We supported Mr. Backspacer and the leatherback turtles through Conservation International and watched them migrate halfway across the world ($700.00). Over $45,000 was donated to the NW Chapter of the CCFA from the 2006 poster series.
The Flight to Mars VIP Pre-Party conceived and hosted by the Wishlist Foundation raised over $8,000 for the NW Chapter of the CCFA and included Mike McCready & Flight to Mars participation.
Fans rallied together to have parties during the off-tour season and held simultaneous fundraisers on April 28 in New York and Chicago, raising close to $2,000. The fan community came together again at the Lollapalooza pre-party on August 8, raising $2,172.
We supported fellow fan David Town and his team the “I Got IDs” for their CCFA Guts & Glory 5k Walk/Run. We donated to the Northwest Chapter Crohn’s & Colitis Foundation ($1,607) , Advocacy for Patients with Chronic Illness, Inc. ($2300), Conservation International, Save the Children, St. Baldrick’s Foundation ($500) and the Hui Malama i ke Kai Foundation.
December: Backseat Lover and Boston fans hold fundraiser for Wishlist Foundation and raise over $2,300!
From Vancouver to San Diego, seven fan fundraisers are held along the west coast the Eddie Vedder solo tour. Wishlist & fans raise $9,482 for the local chapters of Surfrider Foundation and PETA.
Wishlist hosts the Flight to Mars VIP preparty for the second year and raises $7,000 for the Northwest Chapter, CCFA and $1,257 for Advocacy for Patients for a total of $8,257.
Eleven fan fundraisers are held along the east coast Pearl Jam tour in June. Wishlist & fans raise $17,470 for NW Chapter Huntington’s Disease Society of America, Twin To Twin Transfusion Syndrome Foundation, PA Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals, Monosomy 1P36 Syndrome (Lisa Shaffer) Research, Stray from the Heart, Brooklyn Animal Resource Coalition, Rational Animal, Advocacy for Patients with Chronic Illness, Inc., Station Family Fund, and Northwest Chapter Crohn’s & Colitis Foundation of America.
Seven fan fundraisers are held along the west coast in honor of the Eddie Vedder solo tour in August. Wishlist & fans raise $6,118 for the local chapters of Surfrider Foundation, Dans La Rue, Share the Warmth, Annex Cat Rescue, White Ribbon Campaign, Companion Animal Resource and Adoption Center, and Chicago Iraq Veterans Against the War.
Total donated to beneficiaries in 2008 was $82,323.11.
In May, Wishlist hosts the Flight to Mars VIP preparty and raises a total of $11,550 for the Northwest Chapter, CCFA and Advocacy for Patients.
Team McCready joined forces and is welcomed as a division of the Wishlist Foundation in January, starting the year off right.
Team McCready hosted a one-day, world-wide benefit event on Saturday, April 10th stretching from the United Kingdom to the United States. The fundraiser benefited Advocacy for Patients with Chronic Illness, an organization Pearl Jam’s lead guitarist Mike McCready supports. This event raised over $18,000!
Flight to Mars, the UFO Tribute featuring Mike McCready, Gary Westlake, Paul Passereli, Kelly Van Camp, Ty Bailie and Tim DiJulio, performed their 8th annual benefit concert at Seattle’s Showbox on Friday, April 23rd. Wishlist Foundation hosted the VIP Pre-Party for the fourth year running and raised $15,767. It was organized by Laura Trafton, Eric Long, Brad Laing, and Mike Livingstone. The fundraiser was filmed by Jason Leung, podcasted by Donny Anderson, managed by Chris Adams and photography by Anna Knowlden. What started as a small idea among friends and fans has blossomed into an inspiring time destined to bring good will to each community we reach.
August 28: $2,833 raised at the Little Rock, AR Eddie Vedder rally for the West Memphis Three.
March 26: Team McCready global fundraisers in 9 cities around the world – New York, Seattle, Boston, London, Hartford, Council Bluffs, Los Angeles, Maui and Adelaide – raise over $10,000 for Advocacy for Patients with Chronic Illness.
Eddie Vedder embarked on a month-long US tour on June 15th in Providence, Rhode Island which wraps up on July 15th at Seattle’s Benaroya Hall. Special guest Glen Hansard (The Swell Season, The Frames) joined Vedder on the road. Wishlist Foundation preparty fundraisers were held at each stop along the way.
September: Pearl Jam PJ20 Fundraiser Weekend and Canadian preparty fundraisers were held.
Another successful Team McCready fundraiser in March and Flight to Mars preparty fundraiser in May that raised approx $25,000 for Advocacy for Patients.
$7000 was raised for Pathway Caring of Children at our Philadelphia and Pensacola preparty fundraisers in September.
Fundraisers were held before Eddie Vedder North American tour concerts which benefited 10 different organizations.
JAA online fundraiser for TOSA Skateboarders United and 826 Seattle.
Team McCready fundraiser in March and Flight to Mars preparty fundraiser in May that raised approx $13,000 for Advocacy for Patients.
July: Pearl Jam performed at Wrigley Field in Chicago on Friday, July 19th, the fastest-selling concert in the stadium’s history. In honor of, and inspired by the band, Pearl Jam fan nonprofit organization, Wishlist Foundation, hosted a fundraiser prior. The fundraiser benefitted The Olmsted Falls Early Childhood Center, Marwen and South Chicago Art Center.
Pearl Jam embarked on a two-leg, twenty-four date North American tour this fall. Leg one kicked-off in Pittsburgh on October 11 and wrapped up in New Orleans with the band’s previously announced headlining performance at Voodoo Music + Arts Experience during the weekend of November 1. The second leg of the tour commenced in Dallas on November 15 and closes in the band’s hometown of Seattle on December 6. Preparty fundraisers were held for almost all of the concerts.
February 13: Eddie Vedder Sydney, Oz Wishlist Foundation Preparty and Fundraiser
March 29: This year’s Team McCready Global Event features events you can attend in person either in Asbury Park, NJ or Seattle, WA as well as virtually.
June/July: Amsterdam Holland and Leeds UK preparty fundraisers.
October 2: Pearl Jam Fan Preparties 10th Anniversary; Ten years of preparties. Ten years of friendship. Ten years of community.
October 25: Pearl Jam Bridge School Benefit Wishlist Foundation Preparty Fundraiser
December 19: Eddie Vedder’s 50th birthday #CauseTheWave to #HealEB event. Pearl Jam fans wish Eddie Vedder Happy Birthday! Check it out: https://youtu.be/oBFTo6SGKkI
February 13: #CauseTheWave to #HealEB Pearl Jam Fan Movement; share your love on Valentine’s Day and help #CauseTheWave to #HealEB! Wishlist Foundation is sponsoring a global fundraiser event to raise awareness about EB, (Epidermolysis Bullosa), a devastating group of life-threatening skin conditions that affects children from birth and currently without a cure, and funding for EB Research Partnership.
May 14: Eddie Vedder/Pete Townshend Chicago IL Wishlist Foundation Preparty & Fundraiser.
September 25: Pearl Jam NYC/Global Citizen Festival Wishlist Foundation Fan Preparty & Fundraiser.
Multiple online fundraisers by JAA benefited Ravenwood Outdoor Learning Center, Stronghold Society and Big Sandy Skatepark.
Pearl Jam North American Spring and Summer Tour where multiple preparty fundraisers were held before each show.
July: #CauseTheWave Pearl Jam Fan Movement project is born.
August: Wishlist Foundation Reaches $1 Million in 10th Anniversary Year
November: Members of Seattle rock legends Pearl Jam and Soundgarden will reunite for their first ever Temple Of The Dog tour to mark the historic 25th anniversary of their self-titled album. Pearl Jam fan-run nonprofit organization Wishlist Foundation hosted Temple of the Dog “Hunger Strike” fan preparties and canned food drives before each of their eight concert dates across the country. In celebration of reaching our collective achievement of raising $1,000,000 in our 10th anniversary year by going back to our roots and conducting a massive food drive at our preparties to support those who are food insecure in our country. Our goal is to bring the Pearl Jam, Soundgarden and Temple of the Dog fans together to celebrate this momentous tour and collect canned goods to celebrate TEN years of Wishlist!
December: #CauseTheWave Pearl Jam Fan Movement; Cause The Wave 52 for 52: Birthday Celebration for Eddie Vedder
Artist Don Pendleton donation the print “Transitions”. JAA and Wishlist were able to raise approx $7,700 for Montana Skatepark Association from the net proceeds.
April: Pearl Jam Rock & Roll Hall of Fame preparty and online fundraisers raised approx $18,000 for The Bronx Freedom Fund, Planned Parenthood of NYC and NYCLU.
April 17: Wishlist Foundation’s Of The Earth Day Event in recognition of Pearl Jam’s values and their beliefs to support non-profit organizations that work in the field of the environment, and in celebration of Earth Day, the Wishlist Foundation invites you to take part in community events that help create a greener, more sustainable future.
May: Flight to Mars featuring Thunderpussy preparty and online fundraisers raised approx $11,000 for Patient Advocate Foundation.
Inside Job: Wishlist Foundation’s #1in5 Selfie Challenge. May is Mental Health Month. According to NAMI, National Alliance on Mental Illness, 1-in-5 people will experience a mental health condition in their lifetime. In an attempt to raise awareness and to show your support, we are asking you to share a selfie holding up five fingers and writing the number one on your palm to show #1in5 . This can represent your own personal experience or to show solidarity with friends and family by letting them know it’s ok to talk about mental illness and ensuring them that they are not alone.
May 19: Chris Cornell Online Tribute; join us in a moment of collective silence to pay tribute to Chris Cornell. You can participate in any way that brings you comfort; light a candle, say a prayer, focus your thoughts and just “be” present in mindfulness and respect for Chris Cornell.
June 9: Wishlist Foundation Eddie Vedder Dublin Preparty fundraiser.
September: “There’s much more than this…”; in honor of Suicide Prevention Month, Wishlist Foundation held an online fundraiser to coincide with the Pilgrimage Music and Cultural Festival (Sept. 23). Proceeds raised benefited American Foundation for Suicide Prevention totalling $4441.
December: #CauseTheWave Pearl Jam Fan Movement; “No matter how cold the winter… there’s a springtime ahead…” scarf campaign and Birthday Celebration for Eddie Vedder.
