Nine Inch Nails frontman Trent Reznor might look like he has a heart made of stone, but it just isn't so. The singer used the band's final tour as an opportunity to raise an astonishing $850,000 to help one of his fans get a heart transplant.
Eric De La Cruz was denied placement on transplant lists because of the lack of transplant centers in Nevada. Reznor heard about his situation through the grapevine after De La Cruz's sister, a former CNN.com anchor, started a website to raise funds for his surgery.
Eric and his sister, Veronica
The twittering singer was so touched, he joined forces with tour-mates Janes Addiction to help a brotha' out by offering VIP packages to attendees to benefit Eric's transplant fund. A $300 donation gives fans access to a pre-show soundcheck and meet-and-greet with the band, while $1,000 actually gets you backstage for dinner and relaxing with the band, as well as stage-side viewing for the show, autographs and pictures. Considering this is NIN's final tour EVER (i.e., your last chance to attend a show), that is a total bargain. Not to mention the money is going to save someone's life!
The response has been SO great, they've had to actually stop offering the VIP package for North American tour dates, said Reznor in a letter on his website. Instead, NIN has teamed up with pro skater Tony Hawk, who has kindly donated 1,000 collectible/signed complete skateboards. Supporters who donate $1,000 will now get one of these along with an autographed copy of NIN's rarest album STILL.
Of course, not all of us have a spare $1,000, so you can also donate in $10 increments on their website.
De La Cruz's fundraising website is just as focused on raising awareness for the unfortunate circumstances for a transplant patients like Eric in Nevada, and petitions Senator Harry Reid and other Congress members to improve legislation.
Make your donation at NIN's website, and sign the petition to improve NV transplant legislation here.
via Neatorama
