BIOGRAPHY - FOUNDER
Tony Coolidge
What brought me to found Katrina's Angels? I, like millions of other, watched as the tragedy unfolded. The unprecedented need for kindness and compassion screamed at me. I believed that by bringing together people with compassion in their hearts, we could fulfill any need.
Tony Coolidge is currently developing an international media network by developing the distribution and marketing tools and establishing relationships between international media groups.
In September 2005, in response to Hurricane Katrina, he founded Katrina's Angels, a volunteer organization dedicated to providing long-term employment and housing solutions for the evacuees of Hurricane Katrina.
In December 2004, with a production crew from Florida, he organized and funded a trip to Taiwan to shoot the documentary film, Voices In The Clouds. This documentary film, with a budget of $100,000, highlights the indigenous cultures of Taiwan and expresses the importance of discovering our roots.
In October 2004, he made Orlando the showcase of the indigenous world with the Indigenous Heritage Festival, an international gathering of tribal groups, featuring films, performances and exhibits. He founded, organized and raised money for the $30,000 event, which brought together 14 tribes from three continents. The ATAYAL organization partnered with the Seminole Tribe of Florida and other groups to create the event.
In May 2004, Tony spoke to world tribal leaders at the United Nations during the Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues on a panel on issues facing indigenous youth. This opportunity expanded Tony's vision and the direction of the ATAYAL organization.
From 2001-2005, Tony Coolidge has worked as Director of ATAYAL, a 501 (c)(3) non-profit organization he founded. The organization is dedicated to heightening the awareness and understanding of the disappearing indigenous culture of Taiwan. Since speaking at the United Nations and networking with other tribal leaders, Tony has expanded the company to unite indigenous cultures of the world.
In 1999, he co-founded and was President of the Internet auction company, iBidUSA.com, which is now a publicly trading company on the American Stock Exchange. Tony co-developed the concept, patented it and wrote the business plan. He worked with three partners to raise money, hire staff and develop the software and marketing system. Within the first year, the company expanded to 20 employees and two offices and almost $1 million in sales.
From 1997-1998, Tony created the marketing concepts and materials for American Access Technologies, a telecommunications manufacturing company. The well-developed corporate image allowed the fledgling company to compete with and attract Fortune 500 companies immediately. He served in the capacity of Vice President of Marketing before he developed iBidUSA.com. American Access Technologies is now a debt-free multi-million-dollar publicy-trading company.
From 1995-1999 and from 2001-Present, Mr. Coolidge served as President of PROactive Media, Inc., a web, multimedia and production company, which has produced work for hundreds of clients nationally. The company is now developing an international media content network and with global partners, the International Media Bank™.
Tony Coolidge received a Bachelor's of the Arts in Advertising and Marketing from the University of Texas at Austin in 1992.