Wimbe Park Foundation

Let's start with an easy question: Who are you? 

My name is Freaklion, and I've been making digital art for more than a year. I joined the crypto and NFT space early in 2021, mainly as part of the Art Blocks Discord. Art Blocks founder Snowfro and the equally generous artists of AB inspired me with their charitable giving. Last fall, I donated the proceeds of an Art Blocks Curated work, Elementals #432, by Michael Connolly, to the Michael J. Fox Foundation for Parkinson's Research.

I have created art daily this year as part of my GM 2022 project. I am donating 50% of the proceeds of this project to charity, mainly benefiting four organizations (one per quarter).

For the first quarter, I donated 0.2 ETH to Charity:Water. In the second quarter, I donated the same amount to the Danish Refugee Council, helping refugees in Ukraine and worldwide. Thanks to my collectors, I was able to send an additional .2855 ETH to Save the Children on August 30. I donated 0.32 ETH to the Michael J. Fox foundation a week later. That brings the total to 1.0055 ETH so far in 2022. This year's transactions can be verified on chain using this Twitter thread.

And now, I want to dream bigger, go higher, and do more.

What is Wimbe Park?

Wimbe Park is an NFT-based fantasy soccer team. Wimbe Park is part of the Footium Metaverse. Like English football in real life, each Footium team plays in its division with the goal of rising through the ranks through promotion into the top division, Division 1. Players from the team's Academy (minor league) can be minted each month to improve your squad. You can also trade players with other teams as you go for the championship.

Footium is beta testing now and will launch in the fall. The floor value of teams is about .15 ETH, while the top-division teams have sold for as much as 14 ETH. Another sold for nearly $32,000 (8 ETH at the time). So, by driving Wimbe Park (The Red Oaks) from Division 8 to Division 1 and selling players along the way, I hope to have a small but growing bankroll to fund charity endeavors.

For much more on Footium, head to the Website, Discord, and GitBook Overview

Soccer?

Soccer/Football/Fútbol is a global sport relatable to people across the planet. And don't be distracted by the seed of our idea. With hard work and some luck, the Foundation will grow much more significant than one NFT. 

Our mascot is a tree, for goodness sake. 

Someday soon, I'd love for people to realize how the Foundation started and be amazed at our growth. Let's go! 

Tell me more about the Wimbe Park Foundation (WPF) and the Founders. 

The WPF will be the charitable hub of my NFT activities. My wife, photographer Just7, and I created the Foundation as a focal point for NFT artists, collectors, and others to contribute to making the world a better place. 

After this announcement post, twenty people can become WPF Founders just by purchasing an edition of my gm No. 236, which benefits Ukraine. The price is 0.02 ETH, about $35. It's that simple. 

Alongside my wife and I (as one), those twenty people will be the 21 Founders of the WPF.  After the 20 purchases, I will donate the 0.4 ETH (20 x .02) to charities supporting the people of Ukraine, the first donation by the WPF!  #DonationTuesday

The Founders' responsibilities will be minimal to start. Of course, active Founders who promote the WPF and donate their time, skills, and artistic talents will help us grow faster!  Occasionally, I will ask Founders to complete Founder Challenges. These will be entirely voluntary, but I hope most Founders choose to participate if able. Examples of tasks may include finding artists to donate artwork to the Foundation, promoting the WPF through their online communities, etc. 

What do you say? 0.02 ETH to charity and help when you can? Do you have what it takes to be a Founder? 1 of 21? Join in!

UPDATE! Founders Tokens are sold out. Secondary purchases available starting in Oct. 2022.

Will there be benefits (utility) to being a Founder?

Yes. More details soon. 

I missed the initial sale. Can I still become a Founder?

There will only ever be 21 Founders of the Wimbe Park Foundation. A Founder can transfer their Founder status if they wish (details soon). 

I missed out on being a Founder, but I'd still like to help. How can I?

As with any charitable organization, we'll always need people willing to help the less fortunate. Thank you! We'll need artists, blockchain and crypto experts, graphic designers, marketers, financial advisors, and other volunteers! Connect with us on Twitter or email us at freaklionart@gmail.com.

Is the WPF a legal foundation?

Not yet. #Goals. We are starting small, and I will be shouldering nearly all the early legwork and costs. When the time is right, and the benefits outweigh the costs, the Founders may vote to turn the WPF into a legal entity. I hope to do so when it can benefit charity through streamlining our organization. 

How can we trust you if the WPF is not a legal foundation? 

It would be best if you do not trust anyone in the NFT space without learning more about them. DYOR. But if you look at the on-chain transactions, you'll see I have donated more than an ETH to charity this year alone. If GM 2022 sells out when the project is over at the end of this year, my total donation will be more than 4 ETH. You don't need to trust me. But please, at least, continue to pay attention here. When you feel comfortable, I hope the WPF can be a part of your charitable contributions. 

You are talking crypto. Will you turn the WPF into a DAO? 

The Founders will determine all crucial decisions relating to the Foundation. A DAO is one possibility. 

How do you plan to turn a simple NFT into a significant charity hub? 

One word: Execution. 

To further answer this question, I was looking for an inspirational sports quote, and I think I found it:

To begin their history in the 1970s, the American football team Tampa Bay Buccaneers lost 26 consecutive games.  

When asked by a reporter about his team's execution, coach John McKay had a simple answer:

"I'm in favor of it."

***

Jokes aside, I will ... execute ... and do everything possible to make this charity organization successful. I will be working with the Founders to make significant contributions to charity on at least a quarterly basis starting later this year. 

What will be the main focus of the WPF's contributions?

There is no more significant threat to human prosperity and general well-being than climate change. The WPF will focus on contributing to causes that can directly help those affected by climate change the most and organizations working to mitigate the impact through global initiatives. The WPF may occasionally contribute to other causes, such as those benefiting the people of Ukraine and the Micheal J. Fox foundation. 

How will the WPF gain funds to contribute to charity?

Wimbe Park is at the intersection of sports, NFTs (digital art), and Esports. There is plenty of fertile ground in those spaces to support our Foundation in many ways. 

To start, the WPF will use profits from the team's operation to fund charities directly and buy NFT art for auction to increase the Foundation's reserves. Winning league titles and selling players to other teams will produce the most profits early on. Additional profits may be accessible in the future through stadium naming rights and IRL and Footium marketing partnerships. 

Additionally, the WPF hopes to become a hub for artist and collector donations for general giving and charities that interest those parties. 

Do you work for a company that wants to be known for charitable giving in the NFT space? Let's see if we can work together. Connect with us on Twitter or email us at wimbepark@gmail.com.

The uniforms (kits) of Wimbe Park. The foes will be terrified of our Reds, petrified of our Pinks and end in second place when we wear our thirds.

What are startup costs, and how are they paid for?

The costs for the Foundation will include player acquisitions from the Wimbe Park Academy (after the first three seasons) and other teams. Of course, gas fees for these NFT-based assets will be necessary when minting or transferring the players. 

I will pay all costs (fees, taxes, and otherwise) through 2023. That will include a dozen or so month-long Wimbe Park seasons, where hopefully, the team will rise at least a few divisions, increasing the quality of players available to us to improve the team and sell for a profit. 

My time promoting the WPF and my expertise in running the soccer team will always be free. 

Even if Wimbe Park is not successful for a few months, the WPF charitable efforts will continue through my work on the project, the actions of the Founders, other direct supporters and volunteers, and the contributions of the NFT community.

Throughout 2023 (and beyond), the Founders and I will strategize how to increase revenue and decrease fees and taxes to produce the highest charitable donations possible. 

What are the assets of the WPF now?

Wimbe Park: The team itself (.1 ETH cost) has been donated to the WPF. Remember, top teams are currently worth more than 10 ETH. Each month, new players, starting at launch this fall, will be available from our Academy to improve the team and sell as excess at a position warrants. 

Upton-Sea Rovers: This is another Footium team that I own. I will donate 25% of this team's profits directly to the Foundation.

Other sister teams: When possible, players from Wimbe Park's other sister Footium teams, Padley Villa FC and the Hon-on City Nighthawks, will be transferred to Wimbe Park to improve the team and to use as sellable assets. 

Who is part of the Foundation at this moment?

I have asked trusted colleagues and a few of my most prominent collectors to work with me from the very beginnings of the Foundation. As we ramp up our operations, they will be sounding boards for my ideas across the NFT and IRL soccer worlds, as well as the entire NFT space. 

Are you ready to turn this NFT into a charitable powerhouse? If so, join us. #1of21

Soccer Advisors (Discord names, alphabetical order)

Brains

Mozza

neoJohnZERO

Sam | Footium

NFT advisors (Discord names, alphabetical order)

DannyDigital

mucklefutz

tneuman4 

Conclusion (AKA, are you sure we can't read more FAQs?):

I will work extremely hard to make the WPF a success, and I am sure the WPF's advisors, Founders, and supporters will do all that we can to make meaningful contributions to help people around the world. 

Is it crazy to think we can make a considerable impact starting with just an idea and an NFT?

For that, I turn to another American football coach, Ted Lasso.

"Believe."