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TAF

The Awareness Foundation (TAF) is a California Nonprofit Corporation 501(c)(3) that was founded by Michael McMeel, former drummer with the rock group Three Dog Night.   In addition to his dedication to music, Mr. McMeel is a man who has committed a significant part of his adult life to developing and implementing principal-based programs for the benefit of the at-risk youth in our communities.   After over two decades of service operations,Mr. McMeel has not taken any compensation for his efforts, instead the payoff has been the hope of a better future for our kids and a better society for us all.

Since 1992, The Awareness Foundation, under the vision and direction of Michael McMeel, has acted as a vehicle for reconciliation and hope within the communities it serves.   Its primary purpose has been to seek unity, peace, compassion, justice and dignity of the human spirit; and these ideas are sought without any qualification by ethnic origin, sex, religion, education or any other trait that could be used to divide rather than embrace.    The Awareness Foundation has worked to accomplish these goals by developing and supporting programs that are aimed at igniting the imagination and passion of our youth while instilling attitudes of hope, prosperity, peace, self-reliance and freedom from fear.    These program are designed to infuse the participants with increased self-esteem, confidence and integrity –teaching them the basic skills for operating successfully in our society, and obtaining gainful employment.  Our vision is to help our young people become responsible citizens, compassionate leaders and the dream-builders of tomorrow.

After testing various programs that embody these values and objectives, Mr. McMeel started an equine-based program called Inner City Slickers (ICS), about which you will hear more, later in this document.  This program has been “put to the test” over twenty years of pilot operations and refinements in Agua Dulce (Los Angeles County) and other areas in California. It is now time for Awareness to expand its programs and make its vision and resources available to great numbers of youth.  In order to accomplish this, the Foundation is embarking on an expansion program that will place Inner City Slicker ranches throughout the United States, and perhaps even abroad.

In order to accomplish its national goals, The Awareness Foundation plans to work synergistically with city councils, governments, community foundations and colleges, local business and non-profit groups (including other at-risk youth programs) to energize communities around the above objectives and principals.   The result will be to create opportunities for local youth and communities at large.

In support of its expansion efforts, The Awareness Foundation is seeking donors who are willing to provide land  for its Inner City Slickers program either on a tax-deductible donation basis or a long-term low or no-cost lease.     In addition, the viability and strength of the programs offered by The Awareness Foundation are based, in part upon the availability of tax-deductible financial donations and fundraising efforts.    It is expected that all donors will receive appropriate recognition for their contributions at levels that are practical, legal and desired.    The Awareness Foundation will work creatively to provide the recognition that donors deserve as our desire is to have the donor names associated with the founding principals of the Foundation:   Integrity, Responsibility and Commitment.