Serial entrepreneur Dan Fleyshman, founder of social media agency Elevator Studios and 1stslice.com, created and funds his own charity the Model Citizen Fund. Model Citizen creates backpacks filled with over 150 emergency supply items for the homeless.
Created in 2011, Dan was seeking to provide underprivileged people around the world with the tools and confidence to build and rebuild their lives. Whether it’s a natural disaster, a famine-stricken village in Africa, or a homeless shelter, Dan wanted a Model Citizen backpack to contain all the necessary items to help someone survive.
“When I started Model Citizen Fund, I wanted to create an impact like I wanna see, feel, and touch,” said Dan. “I wanted to do something like feed somebody, get them water, clothes, shelter, a blanket. I wanted to do something that will make them feel human, just simple things. I wanted to have a true impact and I know when somebody donates to this charity, there will be a cause and effect.”
Model Citizen is a community of socially conscious individuals who have created a way for people to make a direct impact in the world. Using the power of social media Model Citizen has created a badge reward system to promote “model citizens” motivating others to do the same.
Distributing life-sustaining backpacks filled with 150 items that include food, health, and survival essentials to the homeless and disaster victims is Dan’s mission for Model Citizen. They have partnered with companies like Stay Alive Pack, which creates top of the line first aid kits, to ensure all Model Citizen backpacks can provide support to those in need.
“For years I would raise money for other charities through my live events and then never see where those five or six figure donations would go,” said Dan. “Our assistance provides backpacks to the homeless with 150 items inside. Each backpack has around half food and water, the other half is sleeping bag, poncho, a watch, a game set, and a first aid kit. Model Citizen is a passion that I will be doing for the rest of my life. I wanted a very simple charity, that has a true cause and effect. I know by handing out backpacks with 40 pounds of supplies, people will have something that helps their lives.”
Model Citizen has been the official charity of the World Series of Poker Europe the past few years and has been featured on Fox Sports, NBC, MTV, and ESPN for supplying homeless shelters, teen abuse shelters, and orphanages around the world.
Dan’s passion for helping others does not stop with Model Citizen. As an entrepreneur, Dan seeks to inspire and support business owners and entrepreneurs alike through his Elevator Night talks and his co-founded business mentorship program 100 Million Mastermind Experience, which gets business owners face-to-face with elite entrepreneurs.
To learn more about Model Citizen Fund visit modelcitizenfund.org or find them on Instagram @modelcitizenfund.
Follow Dan on Instagram @danfleyshman.
Learn more about the 100 Million Mastermind Experience at 100MME.com.