What's up Philly and beyond,

Getting the chance to put together this week's video has made me extremely proud to be a Philadelphian.

A couple weeks ago I had the privilege of attending the Artists for Heat event at Philadelphia's Trocadero Theatre, where Everlast, Philly-bred hip-hop band the Roots and Public Enemy performed to raise money to pay the heating bills of low-income and elderly Americans.

Six million Americans will go without heat this winter because they're unable to pay their heating bills, which have risen to an all-time high this year. Philadelphia is particularly vulnerable: In this city alone, more than 300,000 people are at risk of losing their heating service, according to Liz Robinson, executive director of Philadelphia's Energy Coordinating Agency.

The Venezuelan-owned,  Houston-based oil company Citgo agreed to match the money raised from this year's Artists for Heat, which, with an impressive billing of top-tier talent, stands to exceed last year's total of $8,000. (UPDATE: Funds raised from the event this year totaled $13,500, which Citgo will match through their Low Cost Heating Oil Program.)

Local public school students involved with Philly's Building Blocks program also got a chance to make signs in support of the event, present them on stage and attend the concert for free.

Overall, the event was a great success, and 3Kingdoms President Dan Levin and CEO Mikal Kamil deserve a ton of credit for putting it together.

Hopefully Artists for Heat will continue to grow, and someday we'll reach a point where no American family will ever face a choice between heating their home and feeding their children.

Check it out:

-c