NextAIDS' Bids 4 Beats is underway

NextAid and cMarket Present
“Bids 4 Beats” Online Auction
To Benefit Orphans Affected by African AIDS Pandemic
May 5, 2008 – June 1, 2008

NextAid, a Los Angeles-based nonprofit humanitarian organization, and cMarket, the leading provider of charitable online auction services, will once again collaborate to produce the second annual “Bids 4 Beats.” The auction will raise awareness and funds through the global electronic music community in support of NextAid’s mission: to implement sustainable solutions to the challenges facing African children. “Bids 4 Beats” will commence at 8:00am PST on Monday, May 5, 2008 and close at 6:00pm PST on Sunday, June 1, 2008. In 2006, “Bids 4 Beats” raised more than $12,000 from online bidding, resulting in total proceeds of over $24,000 due to bids matched by a private donor. This year, the auction includes items from previous auction supporters, such as Glacéau, who has generously donated a year’s supply of VitaminEnergy drinks, and Rane, a manufacturer of audio gear, as well as new contributors including music recording software developer, Cakewalk, who has donated the award winning virtual instrument, Rapture. Online partners supporting this event include Fusicology.com and Remix Magazine.

To reflect the sustainable element of NextAid’s initiative, the catalog will include donations from leading players in technology and “green” living in addition to items of great interest to the international dance music scene. Biddable items are accessible through this web site: www.nextaid.cmarket.com.

Other unique auction donations include: a Yoga Spa session ($250 value) from SF Yoga School, Studiophile Q40 headphones ($180 value) from M-Audio, Ableton Live 7 music production software ($389 value) from Ableton, a VIP night with bottle service at NYC’s award-winning Cielo nightclub, music production classes from DubSpot, and a massive record collection from DJ Dan. Other contributors include Temple in SF, Zip Car, DJ Angola, Traxsource, BASIC NYC, Nomadic Wax Records, Freddi C, Nook Bistro (West LA), Putumayo Records, IKY Clothing, Natural High Lifestyle, Yeah Yeah Clothing, Seventh Generation, Carol Ann Blanding, OM Records, and Bodega Wine Bar (southern California). Items will continually be added up through May 17th as more donors jump on board.

Uniting the world of electronic music while helping impoverished children in Africa, NextAid utilizes the momentum of the dance music community to produce music benefits and awareness-raising activities. Its pilot project, the building of a children’s center in Dennilton, South Africa, is on its way to completion. Launched in the summer of 2005 with a team headed by Joseph Kennedy, a world-renowned eco-architect, NextAid has completed ten buildings, trained local builders in eco-friendly construction techniques and helped secure funding for small business development.

NextAid’s projects – and fundamental mission -- have garnered intensified support throughout the years from major artists and industry leaders. Some have really stepped up the plate, including DJ Dan, DubSpot and OM Records who have each “adopted” a structure at the children’s center in Dennilton that is slated for construction this year. DJ Dan is committed to funding the Art Room of the Main Center, initially donating a 5,000-piece record collection to NextAid. DubSpot is funding a portion of the playground and has also sponsored the poignant PSA recently released by NextAid. The video demonstrates the degree of artist support for the cause and the gravity of the orphan pandemic, while showcasing their pilot project in South Africa. It can be viewed through YouTube on the NextAid web site (http://nextaid.org/NEXTAIDPSA.html).

cMarket is the leading on-demand, online auction platform solely for organizations engaged in fundraising for nonprofit causes. With more than 1,000 customers, online auctions powered by cMarket.com have generated funding successes by allowing organizations, both large and small, to identify new sources of income and, at the same time, build mission awareness and heightened caring for the cause. In the past year they’ve worked with such charities as the United Way, orchestrating auctions with a diverse group of participants including the Red Sox, Matt Damon, George Clooney and more. For more information please visit www.cmarket.com.

NextAid is a Los Angeles-based nonprofit organization committed to developing and implementing sustainable solutions to the challenges facing African children. NextAid's mission is to promote community-driven, environmentally sustainable, economically and socially empowering responses to the AIDS orphan pandemic. NextAid collaborates with individuals, businesses and nonprofits to produce creative, culturally rich, awareness-raising projects and music events involving technology, the arts, public education projects, and volunteer opportunities. For more information please visit www.nextaid.org.