Project FIN – local business donates sun protective clothing to homeless

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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
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CONTACTS:
Maria Aller, Author of this release; Founder, ShapeShifter Fish and Friends
407-616-7420 – ssfishandfriends@gmail.com
Mike Mikola, Event Production – Lust 4 Steel Productions
Tracy Luchtenberg, Tampa Homeless Outreach
Gina Alderman, Event coordinating and planning sponsors
WHAT:
Kickoff of the ShapeShifter Fish and Friends “Project FIN”, at the Jeeps and Bikes Ride for the Homeless Event (International Female Ride Day for the Homeless)
WHEN:
Saturday, MAY 1, 2021 | 9 am to 10 pm

WHERE:
Brandon Harley Davidson, 9841 E Adamo Dr Tampa, FL 33619
WHO:
Donations by: ShapeShifter Fish and Friends
Event hosted by: Brandon Harley Davidson, The Fran Haasch Law Group
Benefitting: Tampa Homeless Outreach

COST:
FREE* family-friendly festival

EVENT INFO
Facebook Event Page: https://www.facebook.com/events/503015637751209

WHAT IS PROJECT FIN:
Beyond the brand itself, we have recently decided to personally fund a community program called Project FIN (FIN stands for Friends In Need) to provide sun protective shirts for the homeless in Florida. There are approximately 11,000 individuals that face homelessness in our state. No shelter means they have virtually no protection from the harmful UV rays our sun produces, and puts them at a much higher risk for skin cancer. Most of us are able to enjoy AC, unlimited access to fresh water, and shaded shelters. But for our homeless friends, they are at higher risks for dehydration, heat exhaustion, heats strokes, and most importantly, skin cancer. It’s crazy, there are a TON of sun protective style companies in Florida and we could not find a single one that is doing this! So, there is definitely a need…

Our goal is to introduce Project FIN and bring awareness by co-sponsoring the International Female Ride Day For The Homeless Event at Brandon Harley Davidson on May 1. In addition, beginning May 1, a portion of every ShapeShifter Fish and Friends shirt we sell will go towards Project FIN, to continue to provide shirts to the homeless community. We will be setting up additional donation opportunities for any of our friends who also want to contribute, to help us grow our reach and provide even more shirts all over Florida.
WHY PROJECT FIN:
Being that we are a brand who features many animals, other charitable contributions probably seem more obvious. But the idea for Project FIN was created from a personal relationship, owner Maria has, with a local homeless man named Gary. Gary has lived in a wheelchair in her neighborhood since she moved there in 2018, and through the years Maria has provided meals, blankets, umbrellas, clothing, hats, and most importantly, friendship. But in late 2020, Gary disappeared and she had no way of finding out what had happened to him or where he went. She figured it was one of two things, always hoping it was on the positive side.
So Maria was shocked when Gary reappeared 2 months ago in his wheelchair in his usual spot, using a neck brace as a hat. Gary unfortunately didn’t leave because he found a permanent home, he was in the hospital that whole time with SKIN CANCER. It seems so obvious now, but before we didn’t realize how big of an issue this is with the homeless community, and how little the disease is addressed and talked about.
As an owner of a company who now provides sun protective clothing, it was almost fate as to what we were supposed to do next. Thus, the creation of Project FIN. Our goal with this initiative is to bring awareness to the risk of skin cancer to our Friends In Need, encourage more free public skin checks, and help personally combat the disease by providing sun protective clothing to the Florida homeless community.