Human Tribe Project

Kindred wins Emmy for Best Documentary

Human Tribe Project — Sun, 23 Dec 2012 05:05:40 GMT

Kindred, a documentary by Mike Sternoff and Beth Bennett, won an Emmy for Best Documentary at the Chicago Midwest Emmys. Kindred is the story of Kindra McLennan's cancer journey, the journey which inspired Human Tribe Project. It is a superb film and can be purchased from Amazon here.

Congratulations to Mike, Beth and the rest of the team!

UPDATE - Delay in Sending Steel Tribe Tag Orders

Human Tribe Project — Thu, 01 Nov 2012 18:51:42 GMT

Due to production issues and hurricane Sandy in the northeast, we are experiencing an unfortunate delay in sending out steel tribe tags. Steel tribe tags ordered 10/24 and later may take an additional 2-3 weeks to arrive. We sincerely apologize for this delay. Please feel free to contact us at info@humantribeproject.com with any questions, to request a refund or to change your order to a silver tribe tag.

This delay will not affect silver tribe tag orders.

UPDATE:

All steel tribe tags that have been delayed will be shipped from our New York facility by November 27, 2012. We sincerely apologize for this delay and thank you for your understanding and support.

Big shoes to fill

Human Tribe Project — Sun, 07 Oct 2012 06:36:00 GMT

For those of you that know the history of Human Tribe Project, you know that this website, and the support it provides for loved ones going through a health crisis, was inspired by Kindra McLennan, a dear friend who lost her battle with cancer. I'm happy to announce that on September 24, 2012, my husband Ryan and I introduced Maryn Kindra Foutz into the world. She is named after my grandmother Mary and Kindra, two women who made the world better just by being a part of it. I hope to pass on to her the joy, love and laughter for which both Mary and Kindra are remembered.

Silver Tribe Tags Are Back!!!

Human Tribe Project — Thu, 10 Mar 2011 04:29:23 GMT

For those of you that have ordered silver Tribe Tags over the last month, we finally have them back in stock and will be shipping them out over the next few days. We sincerely apologize for the delay and we thank you for your patience. If you'd like tracking information on your silver Tribe Tag order, please email us at info@humantribeproject.com.

Thank you, Human Tribe Project

Temporarily Out of Stock of Silver Tribe Tags

Human Tribe Project — Sun, 30 Jan 2011 22:57:27 GMT

I'm so sorry to report that we are temporarily out of stock of silver Tribe Tags. We won't have them back in stock for another 2-3 weeks. But, if you order a silver Tribe Tag, your monetary gift will still be sent to your Tribe beneficiary. It will just take a little longer than normal to receive the tags. Please contact me directly at jaclyn@humantribeproject.com regarding any questions or refunds. We are so very truly sorry for this inconvenience.

Sincerely, Jaclyn Foutz Human Tribe Project

Matt's Personal Take on Human Tribe Project

Human Tribe Project — Sun, 05 Dec 2010 17:31:30 GMT

When we launched Human Tribe Project a year and a half ago, we knew how helpful it would be for family and friends to support a loved one, but we didn't realize how helpful it would be for us personally. But, several months ago Matt's daughter (my niece), Mia was diagnosed with brain cancer. Princess Mia's Tribe Page has been a life line ever since. Here are Matt's own words about Human Tribe Project:

I want to talk about Human Tribe Project again for a minute. Last night's crowd was easily a couple of hundred people. It's impossible to know because you overpaid for the door fee, but for almost the whole night it was difficult to get around through the crowd. We had friends and family fly in from as far as Ohio, Colorado and Virginia. I saw faces I haven't seen in a decade. I met people I've never spoken too. I was surrounded by the most important people in our lives but also by people I met for the very first time.

So what does that have to do with Human Tribe Project? When Steve and I came up with the name for HTP, the name came to symbolize the human connection that runs through us all and makes us who we are. The ability to connect with strangers based on a primal, hard wired answer to a call of distress in a fellow person. It meant that we are all part of this universal tribe and if given the opportunity to connect, we would rally together, even for someone we didn't know.

The people that came last night that have a personal relationship with Mia were a very small minority. The people that came that have a personal relationship with BOTH Sandra and I would have fit in the kitchen. The vast majority of you last night barely know us or didn't know us at all before this all started.

But through HTP and Mia's page and blog, you have been invited into our struggle. Into our nightmare. It's not like reading the paper or seeing us on TV. It's much more personal than that. We've opened our lives to you all and asked you to take part in healing our daughter.

Last night's event proved to me that Human Tribe Project works. It's bigger than the sum of the parts. It's not about selling necklaces or blogging or posting cute pictures of puppies. It's about joining the human race and tapping into our universal spirit. What we created here is special.

I don't mean this statement to be controversial. Were it not for HTP, last night would not have been very successful. That's not taking anything away from what Becky and Chris did. It's about the why. I have hundreds of friends on Facebook that didn't attend last night. That's nothing against them. Some aren't from here and some were busy. But I promoted the event much more heavily on Facebook and There wasn't a single person that attended last night that was a friend of mine on Facebook but not a member of Mia's tribe.

Think about that for a minute. Facebook has changed the world since it launched by connecting people. Long lost friends, far away relatives, former colleagues. HTP isn't on the radar yet. It's an infant and totally unknown website. And we were able to create a connection with our guests last night that brought you out to a fundraiser of for all intents and purposes, strangers.

Hot damn, that feels good! We will change the world. And when we do it will be for the better. HTP has changed my life and the lives of my family and it has given my daughter the most precious gift. I'm gushing here (and I realize that my 1 minute of talking about HTP expired about 60 ago) but I think it's vital to point out the why.

Why do you care? Why do you read this blog every day? I believe the reason is that we all want to help. We're in a world where all people really want to do is make a difference. There are so many things that we can't affect or are beyond our control. But with HTP you have the opportunity to contribute in healing and supporting a fellow person's struggle. It's so very, very powerful and all I can say is thank you for helping. Thank you for participating. Thank you for joining Human Tribe Project.

Ok, minute is up.

Happy Anniversary!

Human Tribe Project — Wed, 28 Jul 2010 20:42:37 GMT

Last week marked the first anniversary of Human Tribe Project’s website launch. We didn’t have any big celebration but we did take time to think about all that has happened in the past year. On a personal level, my life changed dramatically when my son was born at the end of March (which explains why I haven’t posted a blog since March, sorry). For the website, we have grown to 4,500 users and over 200 Tribes and have gifted almost $60,000. For the individual Tribe beneficiaries, many have gone through cancer treatment and come out cancer free, others have successfully rehabilitated themselves after car accidents, some are no longer with us and many are still fighting with the help and support of their wonderful Tribe Members.

A lot can change in a year; this year proves it. But, as the saying goes, life is the journey, not the destination. It’s what happens in between the anniversaries that means the most. So, instead of looking forward to our second anniversary, I’m focusing on our Tribes and how Human Tribe Project can help them support their loved ones. I welcome your feedback and suggestions!

Lessons from the Today Show

Human Tribe Project — Mon, 08 Mar 2010 20:19:40 GMT

A few weeks ago, the Today Show’s Nancy Snyderman did a piece on 7 Ways to Simplify Your Life and how simplification can improve your health and well-being. The first thing on her list? Give back!

Giving back might be a strange suggestion for a medical expert to give on how to improve your health and well being, but plenty of other experts have weighed in on the health benefits of altruism. Whether you believe the reports that giving back makes your heart grow stronger, slows the aging process or just gives you a “helper’s high,” there is plenty of evidence that giving to others can be good for yourself.

In the midst of the aftermath of the hurricanes in Haiti and Chile, and local problems affecting our own communities, there is never a shortage of places, people or organizations to give back to. Oftentimes however, there is an equally great need to give back to a loved one in need. Human Tribe Project is here to make it as easy as possible to give to your loved one facing a health crisis. Who knew that buying a Tribe Tag could not only support your loved one but improve your health as well!

Whether you are a member of a Tribe or not, take a moment to give back to someone. You’ll feel so good about it, you won’t even realize the benefits you have reaped yourself!

Feb 17th HEAL dinner

Human Tribe Project — Mon, 15 Feb 2010 21:44:12 GMT

For those of you in the Phoenix area, please join one of our Tribe Members as she raises money for the Happily Ever After League at Wildflower Bread Company in North Scottsdale from 5-8pm on February 17th. Just bring the attached brochure and 15% of the cost of your dinner will be donated back to HEAL....

Happy New Year

Human Tribe Project — Mon, 04 Jan 2010 16:36:12 GMT

It seems natural to begin each new year with a look back at the one that just ended. 2009 was a rough year for many of us. The economy tanked and however directly you were affected, we’ve all had to tighten our bootstraps. It was a rough one for me personally as well. My friend Kindra died in January and my grandfather died a few months later. Friends got sick, my mother was diagnosed with cancer, friends’ parents passed away . . . .

This last year had its fair share of heartache. Yet, with each tragedy, we were able to learn and live life a little better because of it.

2009 also had plenty of joy! Four of my close friends all had healthy happy babies this year and a handful more are pregnant now. New relationships have blossomed, family has celebrated and Human Tribe Project was launched.

It is impossible to remember the past year without thinking of the people we’ve shared it with. Some are no longer with us but most have helped us make it through. It is these relationships that carry us along, make the sad times bearable and the good times better. These are the relationship that make up our Tribe and help us along the way.

To my Tribe, thank you for your love and support this year. I’m looking forward to whatever 2010 has in store for us all!