Press
iPhone App Developers Aim to “Make Philanthropy Cool” with Bipolar Bear
News Release – For Immediate Release
CONTACT:
Scott Sandland, C.Ht.
Co-Creator, Bipolar Bear App for iPhone
(949) 999-0831
scott[at]gohypnotherapy.com
http://MyBPBear.com
March 1, 2010 – (NEWPORT BEACH, CALIFORNIA) “Bipolar Bear is a cartoon polar bear who shares what’s on his mind at random, probably inappropriate times,” says Scott Sandland of the iPhone app he created with his friend Mark Braden. “When he’s manic, Bipolar Bear blurts out things like ‘This turned out even better than on my vision board!’ When Bipolar Bear is depressed, he might tell you he hates you. There’s no point—it’s just supposed to make you laugh.”
“We modeled the Bipolar Bear App on entertainment apps like the iFart—but there is a point to what we’re doing,” says Mark Braden. “We want to use technology to make philanthropy cool and easy and automatic. When you download Bipolar Bear, we hold back 30% of the net proceeds and donate them to non-profit organizations working on behalf of people with bipolar disorder.”
And if the pair meets their goal of selling 1 million apps, they will end up donating $200,000 to charity.
So, why bipolar disorder?
“In my job as a clinical hypnotherapist, I work with a lot of people who are facing mental health struggles,” says Sandland. “I know how devastating mental illness can be, how disruptive. In Mark’s case, he was in a significant relationship with a woman who suffered with bipolar disorder. It affected them both on a daily basis and eventually destroyed their relationship.”
That’s not unusual, according to Dr. Rob Danoff, D.O., M.S., writing on MSN.com. “Someone suffering from bipolar disorder may have periods of increased productivity at work only to be followed by more destructive and reckless mania, such as gambling, infidelity or substance abuse. Needless to say, having bipolar disease can put a strain on even the best relationships.” Some sources say that up to 90 percent of marriages with a bipolar partner end in divorce.
“On the one hand, bipolar disorder is a very serious issue,” says Sandland. “But Mark and I also think that laughter is the best medicine. So we wanted to raise money for bipolar disorder research, but we wanted to do it in a funny and lighthearted way. We think we’ve achieved that with Bipolar Bear.”
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About Bipolar Bear
Released in late 2009, the Bipolar Bear Application for iPhone and iTouch is an entertainment application. When the app is running, Bipolar Bear’s face appears on screen. When he’s happy and smiling, Bipolar Bear may enthusiastically announce, “Let’s go give hugs to strangers!” When Bipolar Bear is depressed, he blurts out morose, negative non-sequiturs. Bipolar Bear’s announcements are completely random, but you can change the settings to determine how often Bipolar Bear announces what’s on his mind.
About Scott Sandland
Scott Sandland is a certified medical hypnotherapist specializing in addiction recovery and pain control. He serves on staff at two drug rehabilitation facilities, a physician’s office and a dental practice in Newport Beach California, where he also has a private practice, Goal Oriented Hypnotherapy. Sandland serves on the board of the International Medical and Dental Hypnotherapy Association and is a chapter president for the International Association of Counselors and Therapists.
About Mark Braden
Mark Braden is the chief technology officer of Katalyst Corp, a Southern-California-based services company. When not working in a technical capacity, Mark manages and operates private business jets all around the globe. Mark holds an MBA and a BS in Business Information Systems.