Random Good Ideas: World Banana Day

Just got this email from a Disher. It’s unusual. But I’m loving it. Here’s an excerpt:

I felt compelled to tell you about a little event happening next weekend. World Banana Day – February 21st.
People dressed as bananas descending upon Uptown.
Why? 1. To spread the word about world hunger relief. 2. To enjoy the esprit de corps of fellow man and women while dressed as bananas.

Please visit WorldBananaDay.org for more information. And or World Banana Day on Facebook.

Okay, here’s the deal. If you’re interested in helping out a good cause (the North Texas Food Bank), order yourself a banana suit (like the one pictured), make a donation, and you can ride the Uptown Trolley in all your yellow glory for two hours. After the trolley ride there will be a bar hop (view the schedule at worldbananaday.org), and we can promise you will get lots of attention. This sounds like a fun way to raise money to me. Interested? Jump for the official press release and contact info.

World Banana Day February 21, 2009
Most people ever dressed as bananas to raise awareness,
money for hunger relief (and hang out dressed as bananas).
February 21st, if you happen to be in the ritzy Uptown neighborhood of Dallas do not be alarmed
if you see several people dressed as bananas. In fact, don’t be alarmed if you see well over 100
people dressed as bananas, they mean you no harm. They are merely the pioneers of World
World Banana Day is an opportunity to raise money and awareness for a very important cause:
world hunger relief. This year the group, “World Bananas” intends to act locally while thinking
globally, all funds raised will be donated to North Texas Food Bank. But the hope is as the event
grows over the years to hold events and fundraisers throughout America and the world.
Why bananas? Aside from representing one of the worlds most highly nutritious and delicious
snacks, the banana costume is without question one of the most comfortable costumes to wear.
Its bright yellow color and natural height extension is attention grabbing to say the least. “By
dressing as bananas, we believe we will bring much more attention to our cause than if we just,
say, went out and talked to people about hunger while dressed in Ed Hardy clothes or whatever
people wear in Uptown these days,” says Bill Cochran, founding member of World Bananas.
“I’ve been involved in lots of charitable events, but nothing like this. World Banana Day is one
of those rare opportunities to really give back to the community while doing something no one
has ever done before at the same time.” Greg Gardner CFP and founder of the Gardner Group
Wealth Management Firm says, “The North Texas Food Bank is a terrific organization, and I’m
proud to wear a banana suit in support of them.”
The group has rented the Uptown Trolley for part of the evening and all that is required to ride is
a donation to North Texas Food Bank and, above all else, a banana suit. No exceptions. The
evening’s itinerary will be posted on WorldBananaDay.org.
For additional information on World Banana Day contact Bill Cochran at
bill_cochran@richards.com or visit WorldBananaDay.or