My name is Steve, I have always been a volunteer of many diverse causes. One day I thought: Non-profits are amazing and they work so hard, wouldn’t it be great to have a big strong army of them instead of so many that just struggle to stay alive? Aha! I will start a 501c3 non-profit that will financially reward those charities that are doing wonderful things, thus helping them to keep helping others and encourage more people to start their own and therefore even more good will be done. But, I failed.

I had a great idea, designed my own logo, got my domain, built a site, etc., but only had out-of-pocket money behind it. I tried lots of ways to raise funds for it but it just didn’t happen. Years went by, the usual slugging away at the daily grind and rat race left me very unenthused. But I found reward in all the volunteer work I continued to do at work and on weekends. Even became the National co-leader of the NBCUniversal Veterans Network and recipient of the Army Chief of Staff’s Outstanding Citizen Award at the Pentagon as a civilian volunteer.

My young daughter started to really enjoy and do well in her singing class and it gave me an idea. With the ever popular TV talent shows I thought it would be great if people from all across America and around the world, who would never have the chance to be on a big show, could still have the opportunity to express who they are, build self-confidence, have fun and have friends and family be so proud of them.

Aha! I can make an online talent contest and help charities I already support like UNICEF and Children’s Hospital Los Angeles. Hmm, good idea but don’t want to fail again. But wait, a better idea, I can create this as a tool for charities to increase their own fundraising efforts. Totally free for them, the charities immediately and directly get 100% of what a user donates to the charity they choose (not just 0.5% on a shopping link or 20% while trying to drive people into a restaurant, or even 50% like other fundraising tools offer- but 100%) and the modest contest entry fee will take care of all the operational costs of the site build, maintenance, prizes, future live tour and hopefully enough left to keep supporting my own favorite charities.

And if all goes real well I may even be able to resurrect my own charity, The Greater Good Award, and your worthy non-profit could be the future recipient of that valuable prize. So that’s the story of how it all began and with a lot of hard work, research, feedback discussions with NGO fundraising officers, supporters that would use the site, and all the wonderful talent that would love to join and even have a chance to perform at an NBA or MLB game, the journey gets going here at CLT. So join us and be a part of something good so we can help YOU help others!