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News Releases -
Not-for-Profit News
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Written by Lisa Roughley
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Friday, 06 April 2012 08:49 |
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Alex Denig’s Bike to Reunite takes her across country, covering 5,200 miles in support of organization dedicated to reuniting siblings.
MARANA, AZ. (April 4, 2012) – Riding across America in 45 days is a lofty goal, especially when the bicycle ride is being accomplished by one cyclist, hoping to bring awareness and raise funds for an organization she has supported for years. Born and raised in Sycamore, IL., Alex Denig is the youngest of three children. She first became involved with Camp To Belong in 2005 when a high school teacher spoke to her Interact Club about the organization. “I remember thinking what I’d do if my brother or sister was taken away from me and I came up blank,” states Denig. “I wouldn’t be “me” without them, so I decided to get involved.”
A few months after she was introduced to Camp To Belong, Denig participated in a year-long Rotary Youth Exchange in Denmark. This was her first time being apart from her siblings and the experience hit home. “The year I spent abroad taught me what it was like to have to live with only an occasional email from my siblings. I was lost without them, and that was when I began to think of a new way to help Camp To Belong,” shares Denig.
Camp To Belong is an international organization dedicated to reuniting siblings placed in separate foster homes for events of fun, emotional empowerment and sibling connection during a week-long summer camp experience. Denig hopes to both raise $20,000 to send youth to camp and spotlight the importance of building a camp in every state.
Her Bike to Reunite begins July 2, 2012 in San Francisco and ends in Bar Harbor, Maine. Other states she will be riding through include Oregon, Washington, Idaho, Montana, North Dakota, Minnesota, Iowa, Wisconsin, Illinois, Indiana, Ohio, Pennsylvania, New York, Vermont and New Hampshire. During the final leg of her journey, Alex will then visit Camp To Belong’s along the east coast where she will get to meet some of the siblings involved in the program including:
CTB-Maine
Camp Site: Camp Wigwam, Waterford, ME
August 14-19, 2012
CTB-Massachusetts
Camp Site: Camp Taconic, Hinsdale, MA
August 20-25, 2012
CTB-New York
Camp Site: Camp Chingachook, Lake George, NY
August 25-30, 2012
“Camp To Belong is thrilled to have such a dedicated donor,” shares Executive Director Sherry Brock. “Alex and her siblings embody what we are all about. Camp To Belong and our siblings are honored to have such spirit and enthusiasm as an additional gift from Alex!”
To learn more about Alex’s Ride to Reunite in support of Camp To Belong, please visit www.biketoreunite.com or www.camptobelong.org where you can follow her progress online on Twitter and Facebook, read her daily blog and support her ride. For each $10 or more donation, a “Bike to Reunite” bracelet will be sent as a thank you. ABOUT CAMP TO BELONG:
Camp To Belong (CTB) is an international non-profit 501(c)3 organization dedicated to reuniting siblings who have become separated in foster homes and other out of home care. CTB accomplishes its mission through our association of members who conduct summer camps filled with opportunities for fun, empowerment and sibling connection. Founded by Lynn Price, herself once separated from a sibling in foster care, the organization is in its 18th year and has reunited more than 4,500 brothers and sisters in that time. Supervised by volunteer counselors, siblings experience new things together including horseback riding, rafting, swimming, wall climbing, in addition to signature programs and activities that strengthen the sibling bond.
With eight member camps across the nation—Georgia, Maine, Massachusetts, Nevada, New York, Oregon, Southern California and Washington—plus an international chapter in Australia, the youth who attend spend a life-enhancing week at camp, building bonds to last a lifetime. The long-term goal of Camp To Belong is to develop our network so that member camps are in every U.S. state and throughout the world. To learn more about the specific needs of Camp To Belong and how you can help, please call (888) 7-BELONG.
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News Releases -
Not-for-Profit News
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Written by Chris Starman
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Tuesday, 03 April 2012 08:11 |
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COMEDY COMPETITION STANDS UP TO DIABETES
Davenport, IA Mar 6, 2012 – Iowa and Illinois comedians will raise money and awareness for the Eastern Iowa Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation with a night of standup comedy and competition in this year's Comedy For A Cause 3 - Last QC Comic Standing, April 13th at The Establishment Theatre. Tickets for finals will cost $10 in advance and $12 at the door, with all proceeds going to support the Eastern Iowa JDRF.
For the third year, DubStar has called upon area comedians to lend a helping hand to the Eastern Iowa branch of the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation. Last QC Comic Standing is the area's only LOCALLY produced comedy competition. This year, the event injects a new level of excitement with a competition format. Forty comics competed over four weeks to earn one of ten spots in the finals.
The finals will be held Friday, April 13th at The Establishment Theater. The top ten will perform for local judges Tony Tone from the Red Hot Brian Scott & Tony Tone in the Morning on B100, Entertainment Editor for the the Quad City Times – David Burke, Local headlining comedian – Jim Petersen, and local retailer and JDRF parent – Bob Boyer. These judges will narrow the field from ten to three, and then name a champion. Tickets for finals will cost $10 in advance and $12 at the door, with all proceeds going to support the Eastern Iowa JDRF. Tickets can be purchased through The Establishment Theatre’s box office: by Phone: 309.786.1111 or on the web at: www.EstablishmentTheatre.com.
"The Establishment is very excited to be hosting Comedy For a Cause 3 – Last QC Comic Standing,” says Patrick Adamson, General Manager of The Establishment. “It is important to support JDRF and DubStar, two organizations working to make a difference in our community. There is no better way to make an impact than to share some laughter for a cause."
JDRF is a leader in setting the agenda for diabetes research worldwide, and is the largest charitable funder and advocate of type 1 research. The mission of JDRF is to find a cure for diabetes and its complications through the support of research. Type 1 diabetes is a disease which strikes children and adults suddenly and requires multiple injections of insulin daily or a continuous infusion of insulin through a pump. According to the American Diabetes Association, an estimated 25.8 million people in the United States, 8.3% of the population, have diabetes, with 7 million going undiagnosed.
DubStar is an amateur fundraising group founded in 2008 by Tony Boyer and Chris Starman; both have histories related to helping diabetics. DubStar’s mission is to make a positive impact on deserving charities or groups, through fun and unique ways; “Party With A Purpose”. In February, DubStar hosted Minute 2 Win It, a recreation of the popular TV game show that raised funds for the Quad Cities Autism Center. Additional information can be found at the DubStar website, www.facebook.com/DubStarQC.
DubStar Presents: Comedy For A Cause 3 - Last QC Comic Standing
Eastern Iowa Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation Fundraiser
Finalists
Mindy Berry (Moline, IL) – 1 Year in Comedy
Christopher Schlichting (Davenport, IA) – 9 Years
Noway Josue (Joliet, IL) – 2 Years
Wayne Wiskow (Trenton, IL) – 12 Years
Brian Huggins (Cedar Rapids, IA) -- 6 Years
Bobby Ray Bunch (Riverdale, IA) – 1 year
Tom Garland (Cedar Rapids, IA) – 2 Years
James Draper (Rock Island, IL) – 4 Years
Theodrick Nelson (Omaha, NE) – 2 Years
Mike Steele (Sherrard, IL) – 7 Years
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News Releases -
Not-for-Profit News
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Written by Holly Nomura
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Tuesday, 03 April 2012 07:21 |
FIND OUT EVEN MORE on Wednesday, April 4, 2012 at 2pm at the Family Service Center, 301 W. 6th Street, Davenport
QUAD CITIES, USA – When The Salvation Army unveiled their Adopt An Apartment Program, a community resident, Kathy Rhinehart, knew how she could share her talents and connections. Over the last 8 months, Kathy has donated hundreds of hours to The Salvation Army by creating beautiful window coverings on every floor of the Family Service Center.
“It’s not about me,” said Kathy, “It’s about the businesses that donate their fabrics and the community organizations that build the boards. Since I only work part-time now, the curtains are actually a great way to keep myself busy. Most of all, it’s about the families who live at the shelter.”
Kathy also designs and sews all the curtains for the Habitat for Humanity homes in the Quad Cities.
Knilans Furniture and State Street Interiors are the generous businesses that have donated the fabric.
Eldridge Methodist Church supplies the lining, and Eldridge Lions Club builds and donates all the wooden boards and rods.
A tour of The Salvation Army Family Service Center is offered to the public and media on April 4, 2012, 2pm to see all the great improvements.
There are still 18 apartments left to be adopted and renovated. Please call Holly Nomura at 563-271-7933 to find out more about this life changing program.
About the Family Service Center
The Family Service Center, the only family shelter in the Quad Cities area, 301 W. 6th Street, Davenport, provides housing and meals to over 100 people every night. Right now, there are 55 children living at the Center. Over a year’s time, more than 40,000 meals will be served along with more than 19,000 nights of shelter.
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News Releases -
Not-for-Profit News
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Written by Operation Gratitude
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Monday, 02 April 2012 13:05 |
Military support charity Operation Gratitude and veteran-focused disaster relief organization Team Rubicon today announced a strategic partnership to send "First Responder Kits" to volunteers assisting with natural disaster and crisis relief efforts world-wide.
The "First Responder Kits" (FR Kits) will be assembled at the Operation Gratitude Headquarters in Van Nuys, CA and shipped to every Team Rubicon volunteer across the country. Each FR Kit will contain an assortment of donated items such as batteries; a drawstring backpack; a towel; energy bars; a spork (a combination utensil/tool); heavy work gloves; head lamp; safety glasses; a write-in-the-rain notebook; pens; a Leatherman; a Nalgene water bottle; a Team Rubicon t-shirt and a Paracord "Survival" bracelet hand-made by Operation Gratitude supporters.
Most of the Team Rubicon volunteers are recent U.S. Military veterans. "We sent care packages and supported these heroic service members while they were deployed overseas in combat zones," says Operation Gratitude founder, Carolyn Blashek. "Now that they are serving our country and the world by assisting with natural disasters and humanitarian relief, we will continue to express our deep appreciation and respect to them through our First Responder Kits."
Team Rubicon co-founder William McNulty agrees that the partnership between the two organizations makes perfect sense: "Team Rubicon engages U.S. military veterans, many returning home after fighting ten years of war, and offers a renewed sense of purpose for their skills and experiences," he said. "The FR Kits will provide our volunteers with essential gear as well as morale-boosting encouragement from fellow Americans who are grateful for their continued service."
As with its other programs, Operation Gratitude will rely on the generosity of the American people -- individuals and corporate sponsors -- to supply, assemble and ship the initial 5,000 FR Kits by the end of June, 2012. The organization seeks both product donations to fill the FR Kits as well as financial donations to pay assembly and shipping costs of $75,000.
Item donations may be shipped to:
Operation Gratitude/California Army National Guard
17330 Victory Boulevard
Van Nuys, CA 91406
Attn: First Responder Program
Financial donations are welcome and may be made online:
https://www.operationgratitude.com/donate/
Or by check payable to Operation Gratitude and mailed to:
Operation Gratitude
16444 Refugio Road
Encino, CA 91436
In keeping with Operation Gratitude's mission of providing "hands-on" opportunities to say "Thank You" to our nation's heroes, the organization is encouraging supporters all over the country to make Paracord "Survival" Bracelets to include in each First Responder Kit, as well as in the care packages to deployed troops. More information and instructions can be found here: How to Make a Paracord Bracelet.
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About Operation Gratitude
Operation Gratitude annually sends 100,000+ care packages filled with snacks, entertainment items and personal letters of appreciation addressed to individually named U.S. Service Members deployed in harm's way, to their children left behind, to military families and veterans in financial distress due to unemployment, and to Wounded Warriors recuperating in transition units. The organization's mission is to lift morale, bring a smile to a service member's face and express to our Armed Forces the appreciation and support of the American people. Each package contains donated product valued at ~$125 and costs the organization $15 to assemble and ship. For safety and security, assembling of packages occurs at the Army National Guard armory in Van Nuys, California. Since its inception in 2003, Operation Gratitude volunteers have shipped more than 760,000 packages to American Military members and their children.
Learn more about Operation Gratitude by visiting:
Web: http://OperationGratitude.com
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