The 10,000 Hours Show Promotes Volunteerism by Encouraging Citizens to Earn Concert Tickets

The 10,000 Hours Show Promotes Volunteerism by Encouraging Citizens to Earn Concert Tickets

Tickets Can't Be Purchased: Concert-Goers Earned Admission to Guster Performance by Giving at Least 10 Hours of Verified Community Service

IOWA CITY, Iowa, April 22 /PRNewswire/ -- People across Iowa signed up in droves to be a part of it. Community organizations were eager to get on board. Sponsors and supporters gave their time, money and talent to help pull off this unique idea that might one day kick-start a nationwide humanitarian phenomenon: promote volunteerism by letting citizens earn in-demand concert tickets through community service.

And now The 10,000 Hours Show (10K) is infecting a few rock stars, too.

"We loved the concept ever since we heard about it," Guster guitarist and singer Adam Gardner said. "We definitely wanted to be a part of it. It's a great idea."

Guster, the four-man frenzy from Boston, headlined a record-setting second edition of The 10,000 Hours Show (10K2) Sunday night in the Main Lounge of the Iowa Memorial Union on the campus of The University of Iowa in Iowa City. Iowa City-based band Public Property opened the show with an energetic reggae set.

There, they played in front of a crowd that collectively served the state for 20,009 hours -- a jump of more than 6,000 hours from a year ago. In all, 1,684 volunteers registered for 10K2 to serve at 138 community organizations across Iowa. Those figures dwarfed last year's, when 876 volunteers registered with 10K and combined for 13,572 verified service hours.

A one-of-a-kind concept, no money changes hands for admission to The 10,000 Hours Show. Instead of paying, concert goers give at least 10 hours of verified community service to nonprofit organizations.

After a decade of touring, the concept was a refreshing one for Guster.

"As a band, you always want to feel like you're doing more than just feeding your ego when you play on stage," Gardner said with a chuckle. "So it's good to be a part of something that's so helpful to the community."

Playing a variety of vintage cuts and a few new songs from a studio session that just wrapped up on Wednesday, Guster delighted the 10K crowd. "I'm a huge Guster fan, and it's absolutely unreal that I got to see them for only a few hours of my time," said Brian Ruger, 22, of Iowa City. "I had a great time volunteering here in Iowa City -- it's an experience I won't forget."

Sunday's show comes after 10K's groundbreaking first year in 2004, when singer/songwriter Ben Folds headlined the inaugural concert. In its second year, 10K expanded its reach to all of Iowa, and volunteers in 31 counties across the state served at participating community organizations.

10K originally sought 1,000 volunteers who would perform 10 hours of service apiece - hence, The 10,000 Hours Show. This year's concert more than doubled the initial goal.

"After the success in Johnson County for our first year, we were thrilled to help more communities in the state of Iowa experience The 10,000 Hours Show," 10K Executive Director Amanda Styron said.

About The 10,000 Hours Show

The 10,000 Hours Show is an endeavor of The James Gang, an Iowa City-based nonprofit organization, and The Public Project, its student organization affiliate. 10K is sponsored in part by the Stepping Up Project, University of Iowa Student Government, UI Hospitals and Clinics, UIHC Volunteer Services, UI Office of the Provost, and countless other organizations, businesses and individuals. A full list of sponsors and supporters is available on the 10K Web site.

To download photos from the 10K Guster concert or to learn more about The 10,000 Hours Show, visit http://www.10000hours.org/ .

Preparing for 10K3

Sunday's show was the end of a full year of volunteering, but it's also a beginning. Starting Monday, volunteers can begin serving at community organizations for next year's show. Registration is open to everyone who serves in Iowa.

Interested volunteers can visit the 10K Web site at http://www.10000hours.org/ and check out 10K's list of participating community organizations across the state. If volunteers are interested in serving with unlisted community organizations, they can contact the organization and ask if it will participate, or email 10K at organizations@10000hours.org and one of 10K's representatives can help. Volunteer registration forms, information about registering new community organizations, and a searchable database of participating organizations are also available online.

Source: The 10,000 Hours Show

CONTACT: JoAnn Seeman for The 10,000 Hours Show, +1-319-330-2234, joann_seeman@10000hours.org

Web site: http://www.10000hours.org/

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