Out in the world, people know me as Ya Fav Trashman and Terrill. But at home, around my three kids (ages 5, 9 and 10), I’m Dad.
The other day, I was picking up my 10-year-old from school when I witnessed a scene. That scene starred my daughter. As she and her friend walked away from the school building and toward me, I noticed her friend toss a wrapper on the sidewalk. I then noticed my daughter lose her … Let’s just say, my little girl snapped out.
“Do you know who my dad is?!?!” was one of the things she shouted that I was more proud of.
Littering starts with kids. They see trash on the streets. They do not see enough trash cans. They do see adults and teens litter. So, kids litter too.
I plan to distribute the money I raise not in one big check to the PSD — but by bringing individual donations to each of Philly’s 215 schools, one by one, as part of my fall book tour.
Littering becomes a truly bad habit that contributes to bringing down neighborhoods and communities. It’s a vicious cycle.
I, Ya Fav Trashman, Terrilll, Dad, plan to stop that cycle. I’m going to do it with a children’s book, a book tour and a fundraising campaign for the School District of Philadelphia that will raise awareness about caring for our city. Here’s how:
My new children’s book, I’m Cool Too, comes out in late June. Right now, it’s being pre-sold online, for $20 a book. So far, I’ve sold 395 of them.
Starting right now, I will donate $5 of every copy sold to the Philly School District. My goal is to raise $1,000,000 for the students of Philadelphia. In order to hit that goal, I must sell 200,000 books. If you know me, you know I’m a confident guy. I believe I can reach the goal by my birthday, September 3. (I’m also challenging 100 local businesses to each buy 100 copies of the book.)
What’s more, I plan to distribute the money I raise not in one big check to the School District — but by bringing individual donations to each of Philly’s 215 schools, one by one, as part of my fall book tour. (If you’re doing the math, this means I’ll be giving $4,651 to each school.) I want to ensure each school gets to use the funds as they see fit — and I want every kid in Philly to have a chance to meet Ya Fav Trashman and learn it’s cool to keep our neighborhoods clean.
Follow me on Instagram to find out what parks I’ll bring I’m Cool Too for pop-up story times this summer. While you’re there, tag your fave school, and I’ll pick one to receive 25 free copies of I’m Cool Too.
Terrill Haigler, Ya Fav Trashman, is a former Philly sanitation worker with a serious gift for organizing and employing social media and direct action to mobilize an impactful movement to clean up our city. As a change-maker dedicated to making Philadelphia the best version of itself, Haigler is also a member of “Generation Change Philly,” a partnership between The Philadelphia Citizen and the nonprofit Keepers of the Commons.
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