One night they might be overrunning the karaoke at Chasers Food and Spirits, belting out Jimmy Buffett tunes and enjoying a few beers. The next morning they could be the sea of Hawaiian shirts and leis showing up as one of the best supporting groups at Mall Golf for the Special Olympics. With prominent members like Corona Girl, Mutt and All Night Annie and a club president known as Pirate Rick, the Parrot Heads of the Prairie might seem like a questionable group.
They do like to get a little crazy every now and then, but they also love to help out local charities. What really makes them happy is when they can put the two together. They call it “partying with purpose.”
The Parrot Heads of the Prairie is the local chapter of the Jimmy Buffett-themed humanitarian group Parrot Heads in Paradise Inc., which is made up of more than 200 clubs worldwide. Located in Sioux Falls, PHOP currently has more than 120 active members. While they dream of Margaritaville, they focus their fund raising efforts locally.
So what kind of person makes a good parrot head? According to Gregg “Mutt” Helms, it’s simple. “A person with an island soul and the spirit of the great heart. A person who enjoys life and sharing it with others. A person who wants to leave the world just a little better for their having been here.”
The group has helped raise money for the Sioux Falls Civil Air Patrol, the Junior Sioux Wheelers, the BackPack Program, the Special Olympics and other charities.
“We have raised over $50,000 in the past four years and donated over 1,500 community service hours helping others. None of it handed down by a judge that we know of, but then again, we don’t ask” said Helms.
PHOP’s biggest fund raising event is the Make a Difference concert held in early March each year. This year’s event will be on March 5th at the El Riad Shrine in downtown Sioux Falls. Last year’s event was a big success and the club expects this year to be even better.
“We raised over $13,000 for Camp Gilbert and Sammie’s Day Care, two organizations who serve children with juvenile diabetes.” said club president Doug “Pirate Rick” Wade.
Make a Difference 2010 will once again raise money for Camp Gilbert and also for Camp M.A.S.H., a facility that helps children with juvenile arthritis. With Cruize Control opening for A1A, a nationally known Buffett cover band, there will be a mix of rock, Buffett songs and other tropical rhythms for dancing. Tickets for the event are $15 in advance and available at Lewis Drug locations and at the El Riad Shrine or $20 at the door.
“Anyone who attends by purchasing a ticket is helping out. They get to party and help a purpose at the same time,” Wade said.
South Dakota may be a land-locked state, but that doesn’t mean that pirates, beach bums and hula dancers aren’t living among us. In the case of The Parrotheads of the Prairie, they don’t just live among us, they work hard to make life just a little bit better for the whole area. If they happen to have a little fun during the process, well, that’s just the parrot head way.
Top photo: Parrot Heads of the Prairie members raised $125 at the 2009 Mall Walk for Juvenile Diabetes in January. (Courtesy photo)
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Partying with a purpose by Tyler Omoth http://bit.ly/cPQCxy http://bit.ly/dbUdSE
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Sounds like a good group! Great story Ty! RT @ThePostSD: Partying with a purpose by Tyler Omoth http://bit.ly/cPQCxy
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They like to help, they like to party. http://ow.ly/19IWd
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Makes US Proud to be associated with such a PHLOK,
Jan and I ” SALUTE” you.. Weather is “HERE”.. I wish “WE” were Beautiful….You Guys Sure Are..Party On…and Greetings from Your PHINE PHOENIX PHRIENDS and PHairly new PHlock members “MATIE” MARSH and “JOLLY-ROGER” Jan