Merry Christmas !!

A look at the past 25 days ...

Van & Band @ JuiceBlendz - 2 nights ...

Night 1 -
When: Friday December 19th from 7:30 - 9:30 pm
Where: JuiceBlendz Weston 4533 Weston Road Weston, FL 33331
What: Live Music, TGR Van , Free Smoothies!
click here for map

Night 2 -
When: Saturday December 20th from 7:30 - 9:30 pm
Where: JuiceBlendz Miramar 2933 SW 160th Avenue Miramar, FL 33027
What: Live Music, TGR Van , Free Smoothies!
click here for map

See you there ... invite your friends !!! Free smoothie cards given away on location ...

And we're back...

City of Coral Springs Holiday Parade 2008

Wednesday, December 17, 2008, 7 p.m.

Sample Road from Coral Springs Drive to City Hall

Rain date: Thursday, December 18, 2008 at 7 p.m.

This year's "A Tropical Paradise" Holiday Parade will feature floats, 

bands and other entries, all with a tropical theme.

Van & Buggy Doctor

The Gift Mobile has been in coma all weekend long but is leaving the Buggy Doctor today ! Whoo Hoo !! Check back soon for a loaded schedule of events where you can see the van and meet the band ! 9 days left to inspire the world .. have you shared your story yet ? Share now!

In case you missed it ...

Birthday on the Road

St. Petersburg & Tampa

Despite the VW loosing it's engine , the truck losing a tire , and some of our cars having a minor bumper collision on a Tampa highway ... it has been a blast ! We have kept it going one mile at a time .... St. Petersburg and Tampa have been revolutionized... we've got some great photos and videos coming soon .. so check back tommorrow! Wait till you see what we've found and what has happenned.... the people have been inspired - one gift at a time!! Remember ... whether big or small , it makes a world of difference!

Santa's Ride is a Little Flat...

Leave us a note of encouragement by sharing a Gift Revolution story that you've done today or plan to do this week. And while your here, share it at thegiftrevolution.com as well. 

Naples...

The Revolution must go on ....

Well ... this is not what we planned .. but it will have to do for now ... The Revolution must go on!! We are having some major engine problems ... The main Pulley/Fan fell off and the engine overheated (so if you're a VW buff , or just want to sponsor our trip .. this is your chance !! We may need a completely new engine... anyone please?) We're still towing the van to Naples, Fort Myers and Tampa this week - we have some events and Rallies scheduled there and the road trip crew is there waiting .... If you'd like to help us - please email me at heredes.ribeiro@flamingoroad.org - The Revolution must go on ... have you shared your story yet ? This may be an opportunity for you! ;)

Follow the Van this week ...

- Sunday - driving across the state - Fort Lauderdale to Fort Myers
- Monday - Revolution at the beach and hot spots (Fort Myers Beach, Estero, Bonita Springs)
- Monday Night - Revolution Rally - Naples Fl http://tlcnaples.org/
- Tuesday - drive to Tampa - pit stops in Port Charlotte, Sarasota, St. Petersburg
- Tuesday Night - Tampa Plaza Rally - Tampa Fl - 6:30-8Pm (In the plaza off Linebaugh between Sheldon and Montague with Tijuana flats, cold stone creamery, and tropical smoothie café.)
- Wednesday - Drive South to Fort Lauderdale Fl

See the Van , Meet the Band - Miramar Fl

Come see theGiftRevolution.com van & meet the band in Miramar Fl - tonight! At the inauguration of their Cultural Town Center and Performing Arts Facility ... filled with live music , entertainment and much more ... free gifts from theGiftRevolution.com - tonight ! (Special surprise appearance by Troy Gramling and other leaders and celebrities...)

More info and directions here !

Leaving Orlando ... heading to the Rally!

theGiftRevolution.com South Florida Rally - Tonight @ 7PM
12401 Stirling Rd. Cooper City, Fl 33330
...See the van and meet the band...
Live music, giveaways, special guests and more...

Road Trip vLog #3 - from Orlando

Orlando - Day 1

We had a safe trip to a very cold Orlando ... it sure doesn't feel like Florida! ;) We hit up the World's largest Flea Market and then made a splash at Universal's City Walk ... good times! The Revolution has caught on in Orlando - thousands of cards have been spread!! Be sure to share your stories and adventures @ theGiftRevolution.com
...Check back for a video update soon...

Camping in style

Last Week's Road Trip ...

The van is hanging out in north and central Florida right now .... until we get some footage to ya'll .. here's a reCap of last's week's adventure .. enjoy! Be sure to share your story in text, photo or video @ theGiftRevolution.com

Where is the VAN at?

Road Trip Update by Ana Sanchez

I came on TGR Road Trip not knowing what to expect and now that I've
arrived back home I can say that it was unlike anything I've ever done
before! We kick started TGR Road Trip by spreading hope in the Keys
and in Homestead. In order to inspire others to join the revolution,
we did random acts of kindness, such as paying for meals, parking
spots, handing out gift cards, water bottles, and food.

We got lots of stares as we rode around the VW van singing Christmas
songs and passing out TGR cards, letting everyone know that TGR had
begun. I haven't sung Jingle Bells and I Want to Wish You a Merry
Christmas so much in my life. The people on this trip (aka
"revolutionaries") got to know each other as we gave gifts, laughed
together, ate meals together and in some cases, slept in the same tent
or RV together.

But out of all the things we did, the most memorable one for me wasn't
the most expensive gift we gave, it wasn't even the most expressive
reaction we received but it was the story that touched my heart the
most...

In South Land Mall, I bought a ticket for a carousel ride. Then, I
turned around and gave it to a mom with a little girl in a stroller.
Confused, the lady asked, "You don't want the $2?" And handing her TGR
card I said, "No, Mam. It's a gift." After that, I went on to the next
gift revolution. When I was walking back to the carousel part of the
mall, the gentleman that I bought the ticket from motioned me over. He
told me the lady I had given the ticket to was completely stoked! She
couldn't believe a complete stranger would give her a gift. He told me
how that lady comes by every day after work, buys her little girl a
cookie, sits down with her until she finishes and then gives her a
ride on the carousel. She told the gentlemen, "I've never gotten a
gift from a stranger before and much less has my little girl." I
didn't get to see this reaction from the lady when I gave her the
ticket but I was lucky to hear the story. Even if you never get to see
it, you never know how your gift can impact someone. I hope that
everyone that received a gift passes it on to someone else because on
this trip I was convinced that, "when a gift is given, whether big or
small, it makes a world of difference."

vLog #2

NBC6 - Saturday Morning @ 9am - Live

If you're in South Florida .. be sure to tune in to NBC6 from 9-10am to see theGiftRevolution.com spread with Pr. Troy Gramling and the NBC crew...
... The van may even make a pit stop there ...

Broward Outreach Center

The van is back in Broward ... and for thanksgiving - it made a morning pit stop with the Revolution Band at the Broward Outreach Center ... where hundreds of people in need where being fed and cared for (2,100 to be exact)... the Gift Revolution continues!

HAPPY THANKSGIVING!!
-The Gift Revolution Road Trip Team

Where is the VAN at?

VW Video Byte

Marathon, FL

Quick stop at some churches and radio stations in Marathon. The revolution is on the road!

Update by Matt Palant

Hey everyone. Today was such a great day! We drove "the gift mobile" up and down Duval St. in the Keys handing out water bottles and bags of chips with thegiftrevolution.com stickers on them. We attracted a lot of attention with people snapping pictures and getting the van on video. All went well until i attempted to jump out of the van to give a water bottle while the van was still moving and hit the road right in front of a Starbucks with many people watching. No damage was done to me, but everyone was laughing. We met a group of about 10 homeless people and fed them and spent time playing tic-tac-toe, reading bible verses, and just hanging on the beach. Sunset we were by the cruise ships where we watched the street performers do their thing, and helped a husband and wife raise some extra money. On the way back to the campsite we drove around singing jingle bells while strumming a guitar and hitting the tambourine. I saw so many people just waving and smiling. I pray that everyone we have talked to and reached out to today will pass it on. See you later

Helping out

We just helped these street performers raise over $40 bucks in just 10 minutes...

Keywest

We're hanging out at the Pier in Keywest... We paid for the street performers lunch... They are all super nice and friendly... We have given away hundreds of water bottles and candy canes and the revolution is CONTAGIOUS... We have even been gifted food, drinks and many postcards!! Whoo Hoo...

Inspiring the world...one mile at a time!

vLog #1

Say hello and leave us a comment below... life sure is a highway!

We made it ...

The VW Van - aka "Gift Mobile" made it's first 158 mile drive today ! Boy that "4th gear" sure is sweet .... specially for a 33 year old car - it's kicking some asphalt! Pray for it ... hundreds of miles to go ! ;) We head to the tip of the keys in the morning ... maybe some will swim to Cuba to spread the revolution there ... - Heredes

Where is the VAN at?

"Inspiring the world one mile at a time"

Gift Revolution Road Trip from TheGiftRevolution.com on Vimeo.

Welcome!

Intro from TheGiftRevolution.com on Vimeo.

We hit the road on 11.23.2008 ... follow the van and stay up to date with this site!