After two years on hiatus, the Awesome Foundation Orlando chapter is once again taking applications for projects that “will add awesomeness to Orlando.” Each month since July 2013, the Orlando Chapter of the Awesome Foundation handed $1,000 to an individual or organization to create some event or project that would cause people to say, “That’s awesome!” The pandemic caused the group of 10 citizens — who each bring $100 to the table on a monthly basis — to stop meeting. When the Orlando Board of Awesomeness meets in April, they will review and vote on the application that they think is most awesome.
Successful projects have included public murals, public performances of brass players on rooftops and spires, a public post box where anyone can receive and write an anonymous letter to another person, and more. The application of four questions and a photo is simple and easy to complete.
“There are no rules,” says Awesome Dean Terry Olson, “but this Board tends to like creative projects that will surprise and delight people. And they prefer that their $1,000 be an integral part of making the project happen. Other than that, anything goes!”
The Orlando Chapter is one of nearly 100 Awesome Foundation chapters world-wide that all are composed of local citizens coming together each month with a contribution that gets distributed to the applicant of their collective choice.
Applicants apply online and will hear within the month if they will be selected for that month’s $1,000 grant. Past projects in Orlando can be seen online as well.
