Sharpie is teaming up with an all-star country line-up this Tuesday, June 22nd for “NASHVILLE RISING: A Benefit Concert for Flood Recovery” at Nashville’s Bridgestone Arena!  Spearheaded by country sensations Tim McGraw and Faith Hill, all proceeds from this star-studded concert will benefit The Community Foundation of Middle Tennessee, which is working to address flood relief and recovery in Middle Tennessee.  

Performances by: Jason Aldean, Brooks & Dunn, Luke Bryan, Billy Ray Cyrus, Miley Cyrus, Montgomery Gentry, Amy Grant, Faith Hill, Toby Keith, Miranda Lambert, Lynyrd Skynyrd, Martina McBride, Tim McGraw, LeAnn Rimes, Julie Roberts, Blake Shelton, Michael W. Smith, Taylor Swift, Carrie Underwood, ZZ Top

Sharpie goin’ country

During rehearsals, a massive Sharpie Autograph Wall will be set up backstage for all the performers, special guests and celebs to sign.  On the day of the event, the Sharpie Autograph Wall will be opened up to the public so that they can check out their fav. country stars’ signatures and even sign themselves! 

NASHVILLE RISING Sharpie Autograph Wall

For every autograph signed on the wall, Newell Rubbermaid and Sharpie, Paper Mate & EXPO brands will donate $1, up $10,000 to the cause.  We will also be donating a year’s supply of school supplies to Kingston, a local Nashville school, to help in their rebuilding efforts caused by the flood.

Want to help out but can’t make it to NASHVILLE RISING? 

Not a problem! Text RISING to 501501 to donate $10 to flood relief at The Community Foundation of Middle Tennessee. Click HERE for details.

I’ll follow up with and update & pics from the event so stay tuned for more! In the mean time, check out www.nashvillerising.org for more info, The Community Foundation of Middle Tennessee, how to donate to the flood relief, check out the celebs & learn about all of the event’s sponsors. 

Feels good to help someone out, doesn’t it!

Lucky for you, I’ve got plenty of time to peruse the magazine stands and make your life a bit easier…

The current issue of Rolling Stone Magazine, (featuring Jay-Z on the front cover) shows Get Him to the Greek star, Russell Brand posing with a black Fine Point Sharpie marker in hand, along with an autographed copy of his very own cover issue!

*sigh* And now you may return to your other inquiries.

Have you UNCAPPED today?

“I got to sign the Radio City signature book next to the Glee cast. Now I can forge all their signatures on checks.”

-@ConanOBrien (June 1, 2010)

On a print out of the article, Trump wrote in black Sharpie ink:

“I DON’T wear a toupée.

It’s ALL mine (for better or worse).” 

The actual letter! (Read full article at Styleite.com)

Just goes to show, when it comes to self-expression, nothing beats a Sharpie.  (Even this kajillionaire knows it!)

Sharpie-Style Cross-Check

How does your office, company or school show support for hometown sports teams?

 Jimmy Fallon host of Late Night on NBC, even confirms his love for Sharpie in the current issue of People Magazine.   In “6 Revelations of Jimmy Fallon,” the host reports that Sharpie as the “Best Autograph Pen!” 

“I have terrible handwriting so that either makes it less legible or more understandable when it’s messy.  Like if it were a Bic pen people would be like, ”Dude, you should be a doctor”

*1 point Sharpie.  0 points that other brand… (muaha)

Take a peek at the issue:

Check out Sharpie in People Mag. on stands now!

  … the opportunity is right here!

Literacy Chicago invites you to attend their annual fundraising event, The Well-Read Affair, in support of adult literacy programs taking place on February 25^th!  Join L.C.  in the penthouse ballroom of Hotel 71 for an evening of music, cocktails and hors d’oeurves, accompanied by a silent auction in which attendees will bid on a host of custom bookmarks hand designed with Sharpie markers by artists and celebrities!

Get your ticket here!

Here’s a sneak peak of some of the bookmarks that will be up for bid:

6 words made famous by the great James Earl Jones (another noteworthy performance as Mr. Mertle in "The Sandlot")

Marc Brown's fav book (side 1)

Your everyday Aardvarks (Marc Brown, side 2)

Webster put the actress' picture under "H-O-T"

What's Scarlett Jo.'s fav? The Pokey Little Puppy! (side 2)

Bookmark created by Zac Efron. Mick Jagger anyone?

Literacy Chicago is a not-for-profit organization dedicated to improving the literacy skills of Chicago-area adults and families.  Their programs and services range from free classes in reading and math, to GED prep, one-on-one tutoring in Adult Basic Literacy and English as a Second Language and more.

 Visit Literacy Chicago online for more information about The Well-Read Affair, to purchase your tickets, and learn about all of their programs, as well as other events and volunteer opportunities.    

 The Well-Read Affair

Click here to purchase tickets.

A few more pics just for fun:

A whole lotta Sharpie goin' on (What Elvis would have said)

Sharpie provided lots of markers used to create the bookmakrs that will be up for bid at Literacy Chicago's Well-Read Affair!

Just to make your day a little bit more difficult to get through, here’s a reminder:  V-Day (or should I say D-Day) is right around the corner! The pressure is really on to get your that quality gift.  So what does this mean?  Are you excited or aggravated by this fact?  Maybe last week you were all for the lovey dovey holiday but as the pressure mounts are you beginning to change your mind?  Or maybe you absolutely hated the thought of hearts and candy last week and now that you have a date, you’re all for it!  Hey, I don’t know what your thoughts are…but that’s why I’m asking:

Valentine’s Day: Love it or Leave it?

Check out these brand new videos from our on-street Chicago interviews and see what people had to say:

Join the debate on Facebook !  Upload your videos, pictures & comments all before Sunday – VALENTINE’S DAY!

So you’ve heard!! – Sharpie is sponsoring a Valentine’s LOVE ♥ HATE Debate Feb. 1st thru 14th)!

For a quick recap, on Monday the conversation focused around whether or not you LOVE or HATE Valentine’s Day.  For the most part, I’m getting Lots O’ Love!  but believe me the numbers are there in terms of  Haters!  *I’ll fill you in on the official L vs H count later on!*  We also debuted the 1st set of several videos from interviews hosted on Chicago’s Maginificent Mile, featuring what people had to say about V-Day !  (You can still see Monday’s videos on Sharpie’s YouTube page, under the “Valentine’s Day -Love Hate Debate Playlist”

Now, onto Today’s topic…

      Today is all about the GIFTS!!

Valentine’s Day is different from other gift-giving holidays.  Let’s be honest, there is plenty of room for error here and sometimes our sweethearts hit the target right on, while other times we aren’t so fortunate and end up with a half eaten box of chocolates and a carnation. 

Check out our latest and greatest videos from our Michigan Ave interviews where we asked Chicagoans about their V-DAY gift giving experiences:

 So now that you’ve seen these vids., let’s get to talking!  Here are some topics that could stir up some debate! - However, if you have a topic of your own, go right ahead and start up the convo! 

• “OMG! BGE (best gift ever)!!”
• “You’ve got to be kidding…YouREALLY thought I would like this?!?”
• Back in the Day Valentine: FavoriteValentine’s Day memory from when you were little.
• Awkward V-Day!
• “I left blatantly obvious clues, but he/she just didn’t get the hint!”
• Homemade OR Store bought?  Which do you prefer?
• ONE-OF-A-KIND Valentine: What original Valentine’s Day gifts have you received and/or given?!  *(this could go both ways, good or bad )

As a reminder, here’s how the debate works…

Share your thoughts, stories & all the in between:

1. Make a video and upload it to YouTube (post a video response in the comment section) on: http://www.youtube.com/SharpieUS
2. Join Sharpie’s Fan page and leave your comments, videos and photos on our wall: http://www.facebook.com/Sharpie
3. Follow & share your thoughts on Twitter with @SharpieSusan! Don’t forget to add #SharpieDebate hashtag

♥ Check out SharpieUncapped for more!