“Cops on Doughnut Shops” Raise Dough for Special Olympics Georgia

You’ve Heard the Jokes About Cops IN Doughnut Shops… Now See Cops ON Doughnut Shops!

WHO: Krispy Kreme Doughnuts, Inc., Special Olympics Georgia and Georgia police officers

WHAT: Krispy Kreme is once again teaming up with Georgia police officers to “raise dough” for the Law Enforcement Torch Run® for Special Olympics Georgia. Officers will take to the roofs for Georgia’s seventh annual “Cops on Doughnut Shops” weekend from 6 a.m. on Friday, May 1 to 6 p.m. on Sunday, May 3, where they will collect donations from customers as they eat, sleep and play on the rooftops of eleven Georgia Krispy Kreme stores. Customers who donate money to the cause will get a sweet treat in return, ranging from a free Original Glazed doughnut to a complimentary doughnut party for generous corporations, organizations or individuals donating $1,000 or more.

Atlanta’s 2008 Cops on Doughnut Shops event raised an amazing $90,000 for the Law Enforcement Torch Run® for Special Olympics Georgia; this year, the participating officers hope to increase that number to $100,000.

WHEN: The officers will take to the roofs of participating Georgia Krispy Kreme stores at 6 a.m. on Friday, May 1 and aren’t coming down until 6 p.m. on Sunday, May 3.

WHERE: The following Georgia Krispy Kreme stores are participating in this year’s event:
· Albany – 400 N. Slappey Boulevard
· Athens – 3703 Atlanta Highway
· Atlanta ­– 295 Ponce de Leon Avenue
· Buford – 3387 Buford Drive
· Commerce – 40103 Highway 441 S.
· Duluth – 1550 Pleasant Hill Road
· Lilburn – 4129 Highway 78
· Marietta – 299 Cobb Parkway, South
· Roswell – 791 Atlanta Street
· Savannah – 11506 Abercorn Street
· Savannah – 2749 Skidaway Road

For more information about the Law Enforcement Torch Run®, visit www.specialolympicsga.org.
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Krispy Kreme and the Law Enforcement Torch Run(R) Are Teaming Up to Raise Funds and Awareness for Special Olympics

/PRNewswire / -- Krispy Kreme Doughnuts, Inc. is once again teaming up with Georgia police officers to "raise dough" for the Law Enforcement Torch Run(R) for Special Olympics Georgia during the first weekend in May. Officers will take to the roofs for Atlanta's seventh annual "Cops on Doughnut Shops" weekend from 6 a.m. on Friday, May 1 to 6 p.m. on Sunday, May 3, where they will collect donations from customers as they eat, sleep and play on the rooftops of the eleven Georgia Krispy Kreme stores. Due to the success of the event in years past, Cops on Doughnut Shops is being held at Krispy Kreme stores across the country, raising money for each state's local Special Olympics program.

Atlanta's 2008 Cops on Doughnut Shops event raised a record $90,000 for the Law Enforcement Torch Run(R) for Special Olympics Georgia; this year, the participating officers hope to increase that number to $100,000. In addition to accepting donations from Krispy Kreme customers, the officers will also make calls to local individuals and business leaders asking for pledges, and local celebrities and community leaders are being asked to lend their support up on the roofs throughout the weekend.

Following are the participating Atlanta-area Krispy Kreme stores for Cops on Doughnut Shops 2009:

Albany - 400 N. Slappey Blvd.
Athens - 3703 Atlanta Highway
Atlanta - 295 Ponce de Leon Avenue
Buford - 3387 Buford Drive
Commerce - 40103 Highway 441 South
Duluth - 1550 Pleasant Hill Road
Lilburn - 4129 Highway 78
Marietta - 299 Cobb Parkway, South
Roswell - 791 Atlanta Street
Savannah - 11506 Abercorn Street
Savannah - 2749 Skidaway Road


"Cops and doughnut shops just naturally go together in people's minds," says Allison Kaczenski, Special Olympics Georgia. "We decided to have some fun with it and help a worthy cause. What better way to create awareness and raise money for the Special Olympics than to put police officers on the roofs of Krispy Kreme stores?"

Customers who donate $5 or more to the Law Enforcement Torch Run(R) for Special Olympics will receive not only the sincere thanks of participating officers, but will also receive treats from Krispy Kreme ranging from a free doughnut to a free dozen Original Glazed doughnuts every month for a year. Corporations, organizations or individuals donating $1,000 or more will receive a free Krispy Kreme doughnut party for their employees.

The mission of the Law Enforcement Torch Run(R) for Special Olympics is to raise funds for and awareness of the Special Olympics movement worldwide. Law enforcement officers from the 50 United States, 10 Canadian provinces and territories, and 5 countries carry the Flame of Hope in honor of the Special Olympics athletes in their area and around the world. The Law Enforcement Torch Run is the largest grass-roots fund-raiser and public awareness vehicle for Special Olympics in the world. Last year, this international program raised over $30 million to support Special Olympics programs. More than 85,000 law enforcement officers from thousands of agencies have carried the Flame of Hope and have raised more than $200 million since the Torch Run's inception in 1981.

Founded in 1937 in Winston-Salem, North Carolina, Krispy Kreme is a leading branded specialty retailer of premium quality doughnuts, including the Company's signature Hot Original Glazed. Krispy Kreme currently operates approximately 365 stores and 40 satellites in 45 U.S. states, Australia, Canada, Mexico, the Republic of South Korea and the United Kingdom. Krispy Kreme can be found on the World Wide Web at www.krispykreme.com.

For a list of all participating Krispy Kreme store locations, visit www.krispykreme.com.

For more information about the Law Enforcement Torch Run(R), visit www.specialolympicsga.org.

Information contained in this press release, other than historical information, should be considered forward-looking. In particular, the Company has made predictions about its forecasted growth in systemwide sales for the second half of the fiscal year and the fiscal year overall, its revised development plans and estimated new store openings for the fiscal year and the potential for its new product and cost saving initiatives. Forward-looking statements are subject to various risks, uncertainties, and assumptions. Should one or more of these risks or uncertainties materialize, or should underlying assumptions prove incorrect, actual results may vary materially from those anticipated, estimated or expected. Among the key factors that may have a direct bearing on Krispy Kreme's operating results, performance or financial condition are its dependence on franchisees to execute its store expansion strategy, supply issues, changes in consumer preferences and perceptions, the failure of new products or cost saving initiatives to contribute to financial results in the timeframe or amount currently estimated, the outcome of the pending investigation by the Securities and Exchange Commission, the pending shareholder class action, and the pending shareholder derivative action, and numerous other factors discussed in Krispy Kreme's periodic reports, proxy statement and other information statements filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission.

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Georgia Relay Now Offering 10-Digit Phone Numbers for VRS and IP Relay Users

New FCC Regulations Make Telephone Use and 911 Access More Efficient for the Deaf, Hard of Hearing and Speech Impaired

Georgia Relay, the free public service that enables people who are deaf, hard of hearing, deaf-blind and speech-impaired to place and receive calls via a standard telephone line, is announcing the availability of 10-digit telephone numbers for Video Relay Service (VRS) and Internet Protocol Relay (IP Relay) users. The 10-digit telephone numbers are being offered in response to new Federal Communications Commission (FCC) rules implemented in 2009 to make telephone communication and 911 access more efficient for people who are deaf, hard of hearing and/or speech impaired.

Under the new FCC regulations, every VRS and IP Relay user nationwide must have a 10-digit phone number registered with a Relay service provider and updated with a current physical address by March 31, 2009. After June 30, 2009 VRS and IP Relay services will not be available for anyone without a registered 10-digit number.

There are two main benefits of a 10-digit telephone number for VRS and IP Relay users. First, it is now easier for voice telephone users to place calls to VRS and IP Relay users. Voice telephone users are now able to simply dial a VRS or IP Relay user’s 10-digit phone number – just as in standard voice telephone service – to reach that person directly through his or her relay provider, as opposed to first dialing a relay provider and giving the current IP address of the user to a communications assistant who would then place the call.

The second main benefit of a 10-digit telephone number is that every user’s number is assigned to his or her physical geographic location. In the event that a VRS or IP Relay user places an emergency call to 911, the user’s address will automatically route to the 911 call center operator, who will be able to dispatch emergency services to the appropriate location more quickly. In an emergency, this will save valuable time previously spent relaying location information to the operator.

Any Georgia Relay user who needs to obtain a 10-digit telephone number for VRS or IP Relay must register that number with a current address. To learn more please contact Georgia Relay at either V/TTY 1-886-694-5824 or www.georgiarelay.org.
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Metanoia: Change Your Heart, an Art Gallery Benefit for CASA

An Extraordinary Event for an Extraordinary Reason

WHAT: A FOUR-DAY ART EVENT to benefit the work of the Advo-Kids CASA organization that covers Fayette and Spalding counties. CASA, Court Appointed Special Advocates, is a nationwide organization that provides volunteers to advocate for foster children who have been abused or neglected. Federal law requires that children of abuse or neglect have a Guardian ad Litem or CASA volunteer, or both. CASA volunteers are making a difference in the lives of these children by developing a rapport with each child, identifying their needs, finding available resources to meet those needs, with the goal in mind of a safe and permanent home

WHEN: May 14-17, 2009 (Thursday 6-10 by invitation only, Friday 6-12 pm, Saturday 11am – 5 pm & 7-12 pm, Sunday Noon- 5pm).

WHERE: ReGroup Furniture Exchange and Gallery, 2316 Main St., Tucker, GA 30084. 678-822-7888

HOW: Artists from around the country have been invited to display and sell their work at this four-day event. School as well as those children involved with the CASA program will display their work. The artwork will be offered for sale.

WHY CONTRIBUTE: Unfortunately, there are many substantiated cases of child abuse and neglect. This first annual ART EVENT is being held to raise the funds needed to assure that the Advo-Kids CASA remains strong and is able to meet the growing needs of these children. Volunteers dedicate many hours to our communities and require on-going training, support and education to be effective. And Advo-Kids CASA itself needs a safe and permanent home. It is presently housed in a donated office space and covering two counties with growing needs for these services.

YOUR financial involvement with this event helps assure that the children served by CASA volunteers receive the services and encouragement needed to grow into healthy, productive adults. The artwork will be an enduring reminder of your investment in their lives.
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Take a Bite and "Give a Bike" - Variety of Georgia and Chili's® Partner to Pepper in Some Hope and Pay It Forward

Lend a helping hand and enjoy a mouthwatering meal to make mobility manageable for youth

This summer, Chili’sâ is partnering with Variety of Georgia in its “Give a Bike” fundraising efforts. “Give a Bike” Fundraiser Days at Chili’sâ are an extension of Variety of Georgia’s Mobility for Kids Program. Launched in May of 2006, Mobility for Kids is an evolving program that aims to ensure that all of Georgia’s children with mobility challenges receive the bikes, lifts, wheelchairs, walkers and prosthetic limbs they need.

To date, Variety of Georgia has presented nine deserving children and families with specially outfitted bikes and mobility devices. In Atlanta, Chili’sâ is helping to further the cause. With each Variety of Georgia “Give a Bike” flyer presented at participating Chili’sâ restaurants on specially designated days, Chili’sâ will donate 10% of that customer’s sales to Variety of Georgia.

Experience “Give a Bike” Fundraiser Days every second Tuesday of the month through July at participating locations. Come enjoy food, philanthropy and fun at all metro Atlanta Chili’sâ restaurants, excluding airport and Discover Mills locations, on May 12, June 9 and July 14 – and pepper in some hope this summer with Variety of Georgia’s “Give a Bike” Fundraiser Days.

About Variety of Georgia
Established in Atlanta in 1939 as the 21st chapter of Variety Clubs International, known as “The World’s Greatest Children’s Charity”, Variety of Georgia has donated over $1 million dollars to enhance the lives of children in need who may be challenged by physical and/or mental disabilities, poverty, abuse or neglect. Following the tradition of the founders of the first Tent (chapter) in Pittsburgh back in 1927, 80% of the current members of Tent 21 (21st chapter to be formed) as it is known, are from the Motion Picture Industry, though membership is open to all who care about children and meeting their needs.

The vernacular of the circus is employed in the Variety structure with the clubs often called "Tents" and the members "Barkers" since the first fundraising affair in Pittsburgh used the circus motif and was held under a "Big Top" tent with a sawdust floor. Since those humble beginnings, Variety Clubs International has grown to 52 chapters in 14 countries worldwide with over 15,000 members – raising over $1 billion for special needs children.
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Legendary Coach Gene Stallings Delivers Memorable Message at Sams School Fundraiser

Gene Stallings, legendary University of Alabama football coach, exemplary father, and co-author of the New York Times bestseller Another Season, A Coach’s Story of Raising an Exceptional Child was the keynote speaker at The Joseph Sams School’s Annual Fund Campaign Kick-off Dinner held on Thursday, March 12th at Glendalough Manor (www.glendaloughmanor.com) in Tyrone. This event raised over $155,000 for the school’s annual fund, which provides scholarship funding and specialized services to The Joseph Sams School’s students.

Guests included the school’s annual campaign donors as well as 30+ community members who had never attended a Sams School event. The event was by far the most successful Kick-off Dinner in the school’s history, and the school’s leadership believes that Coach Stallings presence and inspirational message contributed to the event’s success. A phenomenal speaker, Coach Stallings discussed the life of his late son, Johnny, and all of the unique trials and triumphs of raising a child with special needs.

Gene Stallings coached football for The University of Alabama, Texas A&M University, the St. Louis and Phoenix Cardinals, and the Dallas Cowboys. He was the head football coach at the University of Alabama from 1990-1996. During this time, the University of Alabama had 70 wins, 15 losses and one tie. Gene led the team to the National Championship in 1992 with a 13-0 season.

Sponsors of this event included an anonymous donor, The Hampton Inn, and Glendalough Manor.
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Hundreds of Thousands of Volunteers to Provide Day of Service in Eleven Southern States

/PRNewswire/ -- Hundreds of thousands of volunteers from community and faith-based organizations will strengthen communities and bring relief to those struggling because of the economic downturn in an unprecedented single day of service across 11 southern states on 25 April 2009.

The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints organized the project under the direction of Elder Walter F. Gonzalez, who presides over church affairs in the southern United States. He challenged over 665 congregations from Florida to Indiana to join forces with other faiths and civic organizations to render significant community service in what is being called "The Helping Hands and Linking Arms Project."

Elder Gonzalez said: "It's powerful when like-minded people join together to meet a wide spectrum of needs in diverse communities. We can bring help and hope to others no matter what their circumstances."

"The impact of these feet on the ground during the day of service will do in one day what takes us four months as an organization to accomplish," said Jack Morgan, CEO for the Northeast Chapter of the American Red Cross in Jacksonville, Florida. "We are hoping that this partnership is not just about this one day but about our future working together to prepare the community for disasters and to help with response when disaster strikes."

The project includes gleaning crops, restocking community food banks, holding career fairs and blood drives, cleaning and repairing community facilities, building a Habitat for Humanity home, planting container gardens for low-income families, sponsoring a 5k run for charity and even preparing Mother's Day gifts for homeless children. In Tennessee volunteers will prepare and plant eight vacant lots in the inner city with vegetable gardens that will be cared for by neighborhood organizations, and in North Carolina foster children will be "adopted" for the day of service to show them the benefits of giving to others.

"When I heard about the day of service, I thought it was a perfect way to serve," said Stacy Somers, president of the Wellington Citizens Volunteer Organization in Florida. "It will be a great activity for adults and children, singles and families. This kind of project is what volunteerism should be all about."

The project will not only help community service organizations but also everyday people struggling to serve and make ends meet. For example, Gwendolyn Brown-Johnson is a grandmother in Charlotte, North Carolina, who noticed that several children in her neighborhood were not getting an evening meal and invited them in for a warm dinner. That was 10 years ago. Today, she has 70 children joining her every night for dinner. She calls her initiative the Parkview Kids Cafe. Brown-Johnson believes it is her calling to take care of these children as the loving grandmother they might not otherwise have in their lives.

"The only way I can feed 70 children every night is through generous donations from so many organizations," Brown-Johnson said. "Second Harvest Food Bank provides the food the children need, but we also rely on churches, such as yours, to provide the extras that bless the lives of these children with food for the weekends, day camps and field trips."

Volunteers will stock Brown-Johnson's "emergency pantry" with jars of jam and jelly, meals children can microwave, and powdered milk. From this emergency pantry, she fills a backpack for every child and sends it home with him or her on Friday night, ensuring that each child will have food for the weekend. The volunteers will also paint Brown-Johnson's dining room and help with cleaning.

In several states, the project will focus on helping communities that were hard hit by past hurricanes to become better prepared. Two thousand volunteers will distribute disaster prevention materials to 40,000 homes in Florida, and hundreds of young people will install smoke alarms and reflective address signs for the elderly in Louisiana as part of a newly enhanced 911 service.

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Clayton: Local Boys Scouts to Host Fundraising Event

On Thursday, April 23, 2009, the Clayton County Boy Scouts of America will host the 1st Annual Tara District Golden Eagle Low Country Boil at Stately Oaks Plantation in Jonesboro, Georgia. The mission of the 1st Annual Tara District Golden Eagle Low Country Boil is to provide an avenue for community leaders to raise funds to support the Clayton County Boy Scouts of America “Friends of Scouting” Campaign.

The event, which will last from 6:00 p.m. until 8:00 p.m., is being sponsored by the Southside Seafood Co., who is a member of the Morrow Business and Tourism Association. There is no specific price to attend the event. During the event, everyone in attendance will be asked to make a meaningful contribution through a pledge that they can pay over the remainder of the year.

“Friends of Scouting” is the annual campaign where the Atlanta Area Council asks Scouting families, businesses, and civic-minded citizens to support the Scouts’ mission of providing the Scouting program to tens of thousands of young people in the Atlanta Area, which includes Clayton County. Supporting “Friends of Scouting” provides many opportunities for our local Scouts, including local programs and activities throughout the council territory; camp scholarships, uniforms, and registration fees for at-risk youths; accident and liability insurance to protect both youth and adult members; professional staff who counsel, guide, and inspire volunteer leadership; and many more.

For almost 100 years, Scouting programs have instilled in youth the values found in the Scout Oath and Law. Today, these values are just as relevant in helping youth grow to their full potential as they were in 1910. Scouting helps youth develop academic skills, self-confidence, ethics, leadership skills, and citizenship skills that influence their adult lives. The Mission of the Boy Scouts of America is to prepare young people to make ethical choices over their lifetimes by instilling in them the values of the Scout Oath and Law.

The Atlanta Area Council Boy Scouts of America covers 13 metro-Atlanta Counties: Carroll, Cherokee, Clayton, Cobb, DeKalb, Douglas, Fulton, Gwinnett, Haralson, Newton, Paulding, Pickens, and Rockdale. Last year, the Atlanta Area Council served over 44,000 youth, and 10,000 adult volunteers, with over 900 youth 400 adults in Clayton County Scouting. The Atlanta Area Council Volunteer Service Center, located at 1800 Circle 75 Pkwy, Atlanta, Georgia, is the operations center for all of the Council’s activities throughout the year.

For more information about the 1st Annual Tara District Golden Eagle Low Country Boil, please contact Lee Harper at 404-790-6455 or at lharper@atlantabsa.org.
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Spinal Missions Silent Auction

What’s Needed?

We are requesting and accepting all types of donations. The event will be attended by college students and faculty, chiropractors and other area humanitarians. We have attendees from throughout the U.S. and a small number from other countries.

Who Benefits?

Proceeds from the silent auction will be used to support the advancement of chiropractic world wide. It also supports the scholarship plans that we use to make the journey more affordable for students that wish to serve in the humanitarian efforts. These scholarships help allow future chiropractors provide health care in third world countries.

Who Are We?

Spinal Missions is a non-profit organization. Our mission is to aid people of underprivileged nations in dealing with health care issues. The main goal of this organization is give passionate chiropractic students and doctors an opportunity to serve people in Latin American cultures. We raise money to promote health care in these Hispanic cultures. We offer free clinics to the people. Our goal is to continue and expand our efforts. With your support, this will be possible.

What Do Donors Receive?

In addition to the “feel good” opportunity of helping to support those who are working to make a difference. Silent auction donors will receive:

· Listing in Silent Auction section of program guide
· Business cards/literature display next to donation in Silent Auction area (if provided)
· Receipt for tax deduction (upon request)

2561 Spencers Trace
Marietta, GA 30062
(678) 365-8522
www.spinalmissions.org
Missionhonduras@spinalmissions.org

Please research all information and any organization prior to donating or contacting. The Georgia Front Page and the Fayette Front Page share information as provided from a variety of sources. We do not necessarily support, endorse or research the legitimacy of the various organization's information prior to including. We can not be held responsible for the reliability of the information or outcomes if you choose to donate or follow up with the organization (s).
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U-Haul Offers 30 Days of Free Storage to Families Affected by Recent Storms in Columbus, Ga. and Phenix City, Ala.

/PRNewswire/ -- The U-Haul Company of Southern Georgia is offering 30 days of free storage to Columbus and Phenix City residents whose homes have been damaged by recent storms and tornadoes.

In addition to the 30-days-free self-storage assistance being offered, people needing boxes can take advantage of the U-Haul Take a Box, Leave a Box Program. The program enables customers to return their reusable boxes and allows others to take them as needed - FREE. U-Haul encourages anyone who has any type of reusable box to drop it off at the nearest U-Haul location and allow another family to reuse the box, free of charge, instead of throwing the reusable box into the recycling bin. U-Haul also has propane available and urges customers to stop in to ensure that their propane tanks are topped off, since propane is a good thing to have on hand when these storms come through.

Families needing more information about the 30-days-free self-storage assistance program should contact the following storage facilities.

U-Haul Metro Center
930 Tenth Avenue
Columbus, GA 31901
706-324-4336

U-Haul Center Box Road
1700 Box Road
Columbus, GA 31907
706-568-0322


"These storms have caused tremendous damage to the communities we serve," stated Tony Fretwell, president, U-Haul Company of Southern Georgia. "I hope these efforts will provide assistance to families that truly need a helping hand if their homes or businesses were affected by these storms. We will continue to help our friends and neighbors during their time of need."

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Cancer Patient Advocate to Speak at Survivor Dinner

Lynn Eib is passionate about her job. Lynn is a Cancer Patient Advocate who offers emotional and spiritual support to cancer patients and their caregivers. A Patient Advocate gives verbal encouragement, emotional support and spiritually intercedes on behalf of a cancer patient and his/her family. The Patient Advocate comes along side patients to help keep up their spirits and to lend strength during the stressful time of dealing with cancer.

Eib has been doing this job since 1996 after surviving her own battle with metastic colon cancer.

Lynn’s cancer battle began on June 27, 1990 when a doctor stood at her bedside after examining her colon with a scope and told her that he had found a tumor. Lynn could see her husband's ashen face as he stood at the foot of the bed. He lost his first wife to Lou Gehrig’s disease some 20 years before.

Lynn says that there are no words to describe how it feels to be told that you have cancer at age 36, when your daughters are 8, 10 and 12, and your husband has already watched one wife die a slow, debilitating death. “Shocked and devastated are too mild. It was as if someone had hit me between the eyes with a brick, made me get back up and then hit me again.”

Lynn Eib will share her story with local cancer survivors and their caregivers at the 2009 Relay For Life of Fayette County Survivor dinner. She will describe how her cancer journey and her spirituality have led her to start cancer support groups and teaching others to become Patient Advocates. Lynn is the author of four books: When God & Cancer Meet: True stories of hope and healing (2002); Finding the Light in Cancer’s Shadow: Hope, humor and healing after treatment (2006); He Cares (2007) and When God & Grief Meet (2009). Additional information about Lynn and patient advocacy are available on her web site at www.cancerpatientadvocate.com.

The 2009 Relay For Life Survivor Dinner will be held Friday, April 24th at the New Hope Baptist Church in Fayetteville. The dinner is sponsored by Fayette Piedmont Hospital. If you are a cancer survivor who would like to receive an invitation to the Survivor Dinner and participate in the 2009 Relay For Life of Fayette County you can register at www.relayforlife.org/fayettecounty. Follow the Survivor/Caregiver link under Event Information.

Invitations to the Survivor Dinner will be mailed to all registered Relay Survivors. Registration forms are also available at the Fayette County American Cancer Society (ACS) office located at 301 Kelly Drive, Suite3, Peachtree City. For more information about the Relay For Life event and the Survivor's Dinner, please contact Bill Evans, Survivor Development Chairperson at 404-539-9913 or by email at wm.d.evans@gmail.com.

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GEICO associates raise more than $40,000 for Special Olympics

(BUSINESS WIRE)--Last month, more than 500 Macon area runners took part in the 26th Annual GEICO Road Race to benefit Special Olympics. When the day was over, GEICO runners had raised over $40,000 in pledge contributions while dozens of their GEICO colleagues spent the day looking after the runners and spectators.

Georgia Milton-Sheats, CEO of Special Olympics Georgia, and local Special Olympic chapter leaders and athletes will accept GEICO’s check in excess for $40,000 on Monday, April 20, 12 noon at GEICO’s 4400 Ocmulgee East Blvd. location.

Milton-Sheats said, “The incredible support that GEICO gives the local program in the Macon area is truly one of a kind. For 26 years GEICO has been a fan of the Special Olympics athletes in and around Bibb County. Special Olympics is fortunate to have the on going relationship with GEICO and the tremendous volunteers who plan and organize sports trainings and competitions for children and adults with intellectual disabilities in the community.”

She further explained that the funding helps for their yearly events in track and field, basketball skills, bowling, golf and sailing competitions.

GEICO’s race directors Gary Musolf, Keely Buchanan and Randy Thompson work together to make this race a success for the community.

Musolf, GEICO’s assistant vice president of claims, who has been involved with the GEICO Annual Road Race since its inception in 1984, said “The many months of collaboration of all our associates make this event so special for us. It’s heartwarming to know that we helped make a difference in the life of the Special Olympians in Middle Georgia.”

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2009 Jim Shafer Memorial Tournament of Angels

You Drive, So We Can Fly!

Tee up for the 2009 Jim Shafer Memorial Tournament of Angels, sponsored by Magnolia Plastics Inc., and your entry fee will support Angel Flight. This means every shot you take helps provide free air transportation to anyone who needs specialized medical care.

Of course, a tournament this heavenly could only take place at equally divine courses: The Woodlands and Chateau Courses at Château Élan Golf Resort on Thursday, May 14th, 2009. Registration begins at 9:00 AM, with a shotgun start at 11:00 AM. A delicious boxed lunch will be provided by Publix and the day concludes with an awards banquet and fabulous dinner by
Fat Matt’s Rib Shack in the Pavilion!

Come enjoy a great round and help Angel Flight get people to the hope of potentially life-saving medical treatments! The Angel Flight philosophy is that the cost of travel should never stand in the way of receiving medical care. We are totally committed to our mission of removing the obstacle of transportation for individuals with medical and financial needs. And, in addition to getting people to medical care on a daily basis, we are privileged to be a “first-responder” in times of national crisis. By supporting the Tournament of Angels, you can help us fly patients from, to and through Georgia, Alabama, Mississippi, North Carolina, South Carolina and Tennessee. Our pilots will take flight to get patients to the hope of lifesaving treatment. And, all of our services are free!

Your participation will make a difference in the lives of the families that are touched by our service and all proceeds support Angel Flight. Be sure and reserve your round today…You’ll never play a more rewarding game of golf!

Sponsorship and foursome opportunities are available. Please visit www.AngelFlightSoars.org for additional information.
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Welfare Watch Newsletter - April 15, 2009 - DHR Board Meets

Note: As a rule we don't share newsletters, but we've found the Welfare Watch newsletters to be interesting so we've been passing them along. We'll try to watch the readership and comments to see whether you find them similarly worthy of reading. - GFP

HB228 will change the way Georgia provides child welfare services in Georgia. This legislation breaks the Department of Human Resources into two new Departments, the Department of Human Services (DHS) and the Department of Behavioral Health and Developmental Disabilities (DBHDD). Public Health and most regulatory functions of DHR will move to the Department of Community Health. The community living arrangements, residential and foster care regulatory functions of the Office of Regulatory Services will remain with the new DHS.

The Divisions of Family and Children's Services, Aging and Child Support will remain with DHS. The DHR Board was presented with an organizational chart that clearly maps how the new Departments and Divisions will look. Health and Human Services Restructuring Legislation

Within the new Department of Human Services, child welfare will continue with the values that have been driving its practice over the last several years. These values have been largely shaped and informed by best practice, Federal and State policies, and lawsuits. These practices are supported by outcomes that have been tracked over the last several years. Safety and permanency are the paramount values within the Department and are measured through ten outcome measures. The Board received their monthly Child Welfare Outcomes report. The number of children who are in our child protective service system and our child placement systems are at a five year low. The number of children who are reunited with their families or relatives or are adopted, remains a concern of the Department. These numbers have reached a plateau over the last year and remain well below their targets.

Family centered practice will continue to be a focus of this new Department. Mark Washington and his consultants presented a proposed Roadmap to Continued Transformation Through Values Driven Practice. Within this roadmap the emphasis is placed on prevention, family supports, community partnerships, use of best practice and leadership teams.

B.J. Walker, the last commissioner of DHR and the first commissioner of DHS, in her report presented her concerns about the budget. The new Department will have a $1.6 billion budget. This is $133 million less than its base in FY08. In spite of deep cuts, much of the budget for FY09 and FY10 is dependent on TANF funds. These funds will run out at the end of FY10. Her concern is how the hole that TANF and the stimulus dollars are presently filling will be replaced later. There are no guarantees that the economy will improve, and these dollars can be later filled with State dollars.

Welfare Watch,
an email newsletter of the
Georgia Association of Homes and Services
for Childrenas a public service.
http://www.gahsc.org
Normer Adams, Editor

Habitat "Fore" Humanity South Fulton; 1st Annual Golf Tournament Fundraiser

May 8, 2009 • Whitewater Creek Golf & Country Club • Fayetteville, Georgia

HOW YOU CAN HELP!

DONATE ITEMS FOR OUR GOODIE BAGS or RAFFLE:
Gift certificates, coupons or promotional items with your company name or logo.

PARTICIPATE
Register to play as an individual or team.

SPONSOR A HOLE
Enjoy the great benefits of sponsoring a hole for only$100.00

DATE & LOCATION:
Friday, May 8, 2009
Whitewater Creek Golf & Country Club
175 Birkdale Drive, Fayetteville, GA 30215

REGISTRATION:
Registration forms are attached to this email and are available on line at: www.HFHSF.org
Or visit: www.golfdigestplanner.com/4144-Habitat_Golf_Challenge to register on-line.

Event Registration, Warm-up & Breakfast 7:30 AM
Shotgun Start-Scramble Format 9:00 AM

$125.00 Individual * $400.00 Foursome

HOLE IN ONE PRIZE
2009 CADILLAC CTS

GREAT CONTEST PRIZES!

Habitat for Humanity of South Fulton works in partnership with God and people everywhere, from all walks of life, to develop communities with God’s people in need by building houses so that there are decent houses in decent communities in which people can grow into all that God intended. This event will raise money for our programs and families.

Atlanta Symphony Takes Part in Orchestras Feeding America

March 26 through March 31, the Atlanta Symphony took part in Orchestras Feeding America, an initiative inspired by the movie The Soloist about Nathaniel Ayers, a Julliard trained string player with schizophrenia who found himself homeless on the streets of Los Angeles. Over 250 orchestras in all 50 states participated in this unprecedented effort by collecting and donating food for local food assistance agencies.

The ASO partnered with the Nathaniel Anthony Ayers Foundation and the Fulton County Department of Mental Health, Developmental Disabilities, and Addictive Diseases to raise awareness about artists and performers with mental illness and collected 1300 pounds of food for the Atlanta Community Food Bank (ACFB). During the drive, Jerome Lawrence, a Nathaniel Anthony Ayers Foundation Artist-in-Residence, displayed his work in Gallery 100 at the Woodruff Arts Center.

If you'd like to see photos: http://www.atlantasymphony.org/Aso/MediaCenter/photos/food_drive.aspx
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Sprint’s New Community-Grant Programs to Award Atlanta-Area Non-Profit Organizations More Than $50,000 in 2009

(BUSINESS WIRE)--Sprint (NYSE: S) announced two new community programs through which the Sprint Foundation, Sprint’s philanthropic arm, will award more than $50,000 in grants to Atlanta-area charitable organizations during 2009. The programs will help local non-profits continue to offer important services to Atlanta, while also recognizing the hard-working and dedicated individuals who themselves have made a difference in this community.

“At Sprint, giving back to the community is an important part of what we do, and the two new philanthropic programs we’re launching in Atlanta are a great example of that,” said Debby Ballard, Sprint’s director of Community Relations. “We are pleased to offer these grants, which will not only help local non-profits further their critical programs, but also shine the spotlight on some of Atlanta’s unsung community heroes.”

Sprint Local Grant Program – Supporting local organizations

The Sprint Local Grant Program will provide two $25,000 grants to Atlanta-area organizations to help fund programs supporting Sprint’s charitable focus areas of youth development, arts and culture, and environment stewardship. Eligible organizations must be a 501(c)3 non-profit with offices in the Atlanta area (Cherokee, Clayton, Cobb, Coweta, DeKalb, Douglas, Fayette, Forsyth, Fulton, Gwinnett, Henry, Paulding and Rockdale Counties).

Nominations for the Sprint Local Grant Program may be submitted between May 1 and June 30, 2009. Finalists will be notified in September, and the two recipient organizations will be awarded their grants at a recognition event later in 2009.

Sprint Community Champions Program – Recognizing local individuals

The Sprint Community Champions Program recognizes one adult and one high-school student who have made positive impacts on the people and organizations in the Atlanta community. The adult – called a Local Champion – will have a $5,000 grant donated in his or her name to a qualified non-profit organization of his or her choice. The high-school student – called a Youth Champion – will have a $2,500 grant donated in his or her name to a qualified non-profit organization of his or her choice. Eligible individuals for both the Local Champion and the Youth Champion must reside in the Atlanta area (Cherokee, Clayton, Cobb, Coweta, DeKalb, Douglas, Fayette, Forsyth, Fulton, Gwinnett, Henry, Paulding and Rockdale Counties).

Nominations for the Sprint Community Champion Program will be accepted between May 1 and June 30, 2009. The two selected individuals will be notified in September, and grants in these individuals’ names will be awarded to qualifying organizations of their choice by the end of the year.

For additional information about the Sprint Local Grant Program or the Sprint Community Champions Program or to submit a nomination for either program (beginning May 1), please visit www.sprint.com/localgiving.

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Eric Boulton and Garnet Exelby Named 2009 Gilner-Reeves Community Service Award Winners

Atlanta Thrashers forward Eric Boulton and defenseman Garnet Exelby have been named the 2009 recipients of the Gilner-Reeves Community Service Award, according to Executive Vice President and General Manager Don Waddell. Boulton and Exelby will receive the award during an on-ice ceremony prior to this evening’s game against the Washington Capitals at 7 p.m.

The award, presented annually since the Thrashers’ 1999-2000 inaugural season, is named in honor of Stephen Gilner and Steve Reeves, two Cobb County police officers killed in the line of duty in 1999. It is given to the Thrashers player who not only has made an impact on the Atlanta community, but is willing to commit his efforts and talents above and beyond the call of duty.

Gilner's wife, Elisa, daughter, Nikki, and his sister, Vicky, will be joined by Waddell to present the award. In recognition of the award, the Atlanta Thrashers Foundation will also contribute $10,000 in the players’ names to a Georgia children’s charity.

During the course of the 2008-09 season, Boulton and Exelby participated in numerous team-related community outreach programs throughout the Atlanta area. Earlier this year, both players and their teammates visited Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta to spread some holiday cheer to kids by distributing Thrashers gifts and signing autographs. Boulton and Exelby also sponsored families from the Traveler’s Aid Adopt-A-Family program, which provides low-income families with new clothes, toys and food during the holiday season. They also have served as instructors in local youth hockey events, including the Atlanta Thrashers Summer Hockey Camp. In addition to their joint efforts, both take part in several individual projects as well.

Boulton is actively involved in Garth Brooks’ Teammates for Kids Foundation, where NHL players donate money for specific statistics that they accumulate, including goals, assists, shots and sometimes penalty minutes. In February, Boulton took part in the opening of the Child Life Zone, a state-of-the-art educational and therapeutic environment, at Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta. He also devoted his time to the Agape Community Center, an organization aimed at building a community and strengthening local families. He helped distribute backpacks filled with school supplies to children and present a $10,000 check in support of the center’s GOGIRLGO! program. On April 15, he will be hosting a Wii Party at the Zone at Children’s Healthcare, where he will play video games and spend time with the children.

Exelby recently offered cooking classes to local children at the Young Chefs Academy to promote healthy eating and encourage discovery and creativity. He also took part in Right to Play, an international humanitarian organization that uses sport and play programs to improve health, develop life skills, and foster peace for children and communities in some of the most disadvantaged areas of the world. Exelby made monetary contributions to the organization based on his minutes played in a game. Additionally, he has represented the Thrashers at several youth functions, including their Youth Hockey Banquet.

Tickets for all regular-season Thrashers games at Philips Arena can be purchased by visiting atlantathrashers.com, calling (800) 326-4000, or by visiting the Philips Arena Box Office or any Ticketmaster Ticket Outlet.
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Ashworth College supports March of Dimes

Ashworth College announced today that it will continue its community service endeavors through its supports of the March of Dimes. Throughout the month of April, Ashworth College administration and staff will accept monetary donations in the form of coins, cash and checks.

“A number of Ashworth students are working mothers balancing careers, family and education, so this is a particularly relevant cause,” said Melissa Maddox, Business Services Manager. “This is reflected in several of our current initiatives, including Ashworth Moms Challenge and Project Working Mom…and Dads, Too!”

Among Ashworth College’s most popular programs are Early Childhood Education and Childhood Career Skills. Ashworth also offers a range of health care, technology, and business programs.

Throughout the year, Ashworth makes a concentrated effort to support worthwhile causes to include Dress for Success Atlanta, Mothers Against Drunk Driving (MADD), the American Cancer Society, the American Red Cross, The Salvation Army, and March of Dimes.
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GSU basketball teams coach After-School All-Stars Atlanta kids

The Georgia State University men’s and women’s basketball teams coached more than 200 Atlanta Public School seventh and eighth grade students at a basketball clinic March 28 in the Sports Arena.

The clinic was sponsored by the After-School All-Stars Atlanta program, housed in the College of Education’s Department of Kinesiology and Health.

The students, who play on middle school basketball teams, listened to a motivational speaker and then received help from GSU players with basketball fundamentals, including dribbling, passing, layups, rebounding and defensive slides.

The After-School All-Stars Atlanta program, part of a national initiative, currently provides more than 2,000 at-risk students in nine middle schools in Atlanta with tutoring, recreation, technology instruction and club activities. The partnership between Georgia State and the After-School All-Stars program began in 1999.

“We make after school fun and exciting,” said Walter Thompson, executive director of the program and GSU Regents professor of exercise physiology. “Kids are learning and they don’t even know they’re learning.”

After-School All-Stars Atlanta has been shown to improve student achievement, Thompson said.
Students who participate in the after school program have higher test scores in all three categories of the Georgia Criterion Referenced Competency Test, better attendance rates and higher GPAs, sometimes as much as a letter grade, Thompson found.

“We’re sure the program is effective,” Thompson said. “We have a model we think is scalable and cost effective enough for us to expand into all the middle schools in and around Atlanta.”
Community members are noticing the impact of After-School All-Stars Atlanta as well. The program last year received the “Regional Excellence Award” from the Civic League for Regional Atlanta, one of four awards given by the non-profit to individuals, organizations or initiatives that create a better Atlanta region. The program also received in October a $2 million grant from the Georgia Department of Human Resources’ Division of Children and Family Services to expand its programming.

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Welfare Watch

March 5, 2009 - The Legislative Session is Over
Georgia Association of Homes and Services for Children

This Legislative Session will go down as one of the toughest in recent memory. Several huge initiatives were planned during this session, which possibly was more than this General Assembly could handle.

Juvenile Justice Code Rewrite, Residential Child Care Licensing Reform, Mental Health Reform, the Reorganization of the Department of Human Resources, and not to mention the budgetary crisis that the State and Nation faced, made the job of the Legislators much harder (and Lobbyist too.) The battles were often bitter with competing interests playing out on the House and Senate floors, behind closed doors, and in the halls of the the Capitol.

Several worthy initiatives were postponed until next year or even later. The Juvenile Justice Code Rewrite is huge and will take careful deliberation by the legislature to fully appreciate. Residential Child Care Licensing Reform was lost in the breakup of DHR and lack of support by DHR and the Governor's Office. Mental Health Reform was partially addressed with the Division being pulled out of DHR along with Developmental Disabilities. This breakup came without any additional funding to address it's major challenges. The budget begs the question of reform.

The budget was saved by the Federal Stimulus package which addressed many of the concerns faced by the Department of Education, Community Health and Human Resources. This package would have been even more effective at addressing critical needs if the Legislators had passed a Tobacco Tax and not given some additional tax cuts. The Georgia Budget and Policy Institute makes a persuasive case why Georgia can not afford any more tax cut incentives.

Below are some of the highlights or lowlights:

FY10 - Budget -
Child Welfare Services were devastated with a $25 million cut. This represents nearly a 7% cut to their budget. Promises of the continuation of a 15:1 Child to Case Worker ratio is going to be difficult to maintain.
The Out of Home Budget of DHR has been cut by more than $22 million since the FY09 budget was first cut in September. This represents an 8.3% cut for the foster children who are in the custody of the State.
Spared from budget cuts were the rates for our Child Placing Agencies and Child Caring Institutions.
Cuts to the budget were made by lowering the utilization of RBWO and the savings reflected in using in home services.

Of interest to Out of Home Care Providers:
Restored - Child Placing Agency Rates for the lowest three levels of care - $2 million
Cut - Reflect savings to RBWO through lower utilization - $1.2 million
Cut - Reduce funds to higher utilization of in-home services - $4.7 million
Restored - 5% cut in DOE Education Funds to Residential Treatment Center - $120,000

Reorganization of the Department of Human Resources. - HB228 was legislation that saw passage this session concerning the reorganization of DHR. This legislation creates two new Departments, the Department of Human Services and the Department of Behavioral Health and Developmental Disabilities. The new Department of Behavioral Health and Developmental Disabilities will oversee the mental health, addictive disease and developmentally disabilities programs currently housed in DHR.

The reorganization plan would place the Division of Public Health and the health regulation programs of DHR within the Department of Community Health. Most health care regulatory activities now in the Office of Regulatory Services will be moved to this new Division of Public Health. The licensing functions of the Office of Regulatory Services of Children's Residential Services will remain with DHR and will regulate only residential child care and community living arrangements.

In HB228 ORS were given vast new powers to issue warrants to secure entry into private agencies and to secure their records without the permission of the agency. These warrants must be secured from a judge for cause. Community Living Arrangements licensing will remain with DHR.

The remaining social services under DHR will become the Department of Human Services. Programs included in this department will include Developmental Disabilities, Aging, Division of Family and Children Services (DFCS) and Child Support.

Other reports of legislation of interest to child welfare stakeholders, by clicking link.

Collin Raye Partners with Operation Kids to Raise Money for Children Facing Extraordinary Medical Expenses

Country music star Collin Raye and Operation Kids have teamed up to offer a free download of Collin’s new song, “She’s With Me,” to anyone who donates $5 or more to Operation Kids to help children facing extraordinary medical expenses through their website (http://operationkids.org/collinraye/).

After making the donation online, fans will be directed to click through to a special page where they will be able to download the track before it is available anywhere else. “She’s With Me” was recorded for Raye’s forthcoming album, Never Going Back (released April 28th on Time Life), and is an intensely personal, poignant song of unconditional love written by Raye for his severely neurologically ill granddaughter. This free download offer will run through May 10th.

Operation Kids is a non-profit organization that matches caring donors with qualified children’s charities and programs in the areas of health, education, safety and well-being. Operation Kids seeks to measurably improve the lives of children by identifying charities and programs most effectively addressing key issues.

Operation Kids will reward the metropolitan area that raises the most money during the campaign by contributing a portion of the proceeds to a local children’s health charity or program to help children in their own community.

“Operation Kids is an amazing charity in that they benefit SO MANY and in such different circumstances, not just limiting to one thing or another” says Raye. “And the lengths they go to to be accountable, assuring the donors of where the money goes and to whom,” he continues, “that in itself makes Operation Kids very special. Through them, so many children are helped. It’s a true honor and privilege to be associated with Operation Kids.”

“The song deeply touches everyone that hears it and from the beginning we wanted to work with Collin to bring Operation Kids some help for all their great work,” said Mike Jason, Time Life Senior Vice President Audio & Video Retail.

Collin Raye is one of country music’s most beloved stars, with four #1 Billboard country singles, 21 Top 10, four platinum albums, three AC hits, several CMA and ACM nominations and years of sold out tours. He will appear on the Today Show, the CBS Early Show and a number of other programs in early May to promote the release of Never Going Back. On his new album, Raye mixes up the laid back rock and folk of mid-seventies Southern California with country and rock n’ roll, creating a sophisticated and diverse album. Never Going Back evokes the spirit of the day when an artist could record an album and perform it just as it sounds in a smoky club or on a stadium stage. Recorded in Alabama’s historic Muscle Shoals, the album feels guided by the ghosts of the country, rock, blues and pop albums that the region cultivated throughout the 70s.

About Operation Kids

Operation Kids is a trademarked d.b.a. of the OK Foundation, a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization dedicated to more effective giving. We manage donations that serve the needs of the Whole Child – their education, health, safety and well-being. Founded in 1999, the mission of Operation Kids is to support a community of children’s issues through qualified and measurably effective charities and programs. The “OK Charity” designation means donors can give with confidence and expect accountability and results. 100% of all donations go directly to programs. More at www.operationkids.org.
Blog: http://operationkids.wordpress.com
YouTube: http://www.youtube.com/operationkids

About Time Life
Time Life and the Time Life logo are registered trademarks of Time Warner Inc. and affiliated companies, used under license by Direct Holdings Americas Inc., which is not affiliated with Time Warner Inc. or Time Inc. Headquartered in Fairfax VA, Direct Holdings Americas Inc.'s history began in 1961 as Time Life a direct marketing division of Time Incorporated specializing in music and books. The business has been operated as a separate company since the mid-1970s when it relocated to Virginia, and has since grown to become one of the world’s largest direct marketers of audio and video products throughout North America, Europe and Australia. The Company has set the standard in the direct response industry by pioneering direct marketing techniques and building one of the most trusted and recognized brands in commerce. The Company now also sells its products through major traditional and non-traditional retailers around the world as well as via the Internet. The Company was sold in 2003 to private investors.

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Fayette Senior Services Seeking Volunteers to Serve on Advocacy Council

Fayette Senior Services, Inc. is seeking qualified volunteers to serve on the Senior Advocacy Council of Fayette County. Under the auspices of Fayette Senior Services, members of the Council will serve as a positive voice for the senior community and will advocate for the common good and general welfare of Fayette County’s senior citizens. The Council will align itself with the mission of Fayette Senior Services, Inc. to promote the emotional, social, and physical well-being of older adults through a variety of life-enhancing programs and services that help seniors improve their quality of life and maintain their independence.

Applications are available at www.fayss.org or at Fayette Senior Services Life Enrichment Center located at 4 Center Drive in Fayetteville. For more information contact Susan Landais, Program and Operations Manager, at 770-461-0813 ext. 115.

Founded in 1978, Fayette Senior Services is a non-profit, 501(c)(3) organization that offers older adults the opportunity to be involved in a variety of social, leisure, recreation, and educational activities at its Life Enrichment Center. The agency also helps seniors improve their quality of life and remain independent through programs such as Meals on Wheels, Adult Day Referral Service, Information & Assistance, Transportation, In-Home/Personal Services, and Case Management.
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Belk Spring Charity Sale on May 2 Benefits Local Charities and Schools

Belk’s Spring Charity Sale on May 2, 2009, will once again benefit local charities, schools and nonprofit organizations throughout the company’s 16-state market area. Belk’s previous Charity Sale, held November 15, 2008, raised more than $4.5 million for hundreds of participating nonprofit organizations.

The four-hour, in-store shopping event offers an excellent fundraising opportunity for participating organizations and a chance for customers to support worthwhile charities and take advantage of special discounts on purchases made during the event.

In return for a $5 donation, customers receive a ticket admitting them to the Charity Sale on May 2 from 6 to 10 a.m. and entitling them to merchandise discounts ranging from 20 to 50 percent on purchases throughout the store. Customers also receive $5 off their first purchase of $5 or more at the event, and Belk cardholders will receive double points for card purchases.

Participating local charities will sell the Charity Sale tickets in advance of the event and the proceeds from each $5 ticket will be retained by the charity. Beginning Friday, April 24, tickets may also be purchased at the store with all donations divided among the participating charities and schools. There is no limit to the number of tickets charities can sell, and no limit to the amount of money that can be raised. Belk provides tickets and collateral material at no cost to the participating nonprofit organizations.

Charity representatives interested in taking part in this one-of-a-kind fundraising event should contact their local Belk store manager for more information. In order to participate in the Belk Charity Sale, organizations must have an IRS 501(c)(3) designation.
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Chili's Teams Up With Special Olympics Georgia - You Win!

Chili’s proudly supports Special Olympics Georgia!

With each flyer presented on Special Olympics Georgia Day,
Chili’s will donate
10% of the sales
you bring in to this organization.

Let us do the cooking and support Special Olympics Georgia at the same time!

Special Olympics Georgia Day is:

Thursday, April 23rd, 2009
from
11am to 9pm

At: All Metro Atlanta Corporate
Locations (excluding Statesboro, Discover Mills and Airport restaurants)

For further information regarding this Give Back Day or the State Summer Games on May 29th - 31st, please contact Jennifer Daniell at 770-414-9390 ext 110.

Pepper in Some Fun!

PDF flyer

Wandering WiFi Donates Wireless Services and Support to Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta

-(BUSINESS WIRE)--Wandering WiFi, a leader in providing secure public and private wireless technology solutions, announced today it has donated equipment, installation, services and on-going technical support to Children's Healthcare of Atlanta, ranked one of the top 10 pediatric hospitals in the United States. Children's has launched the service, offering Wandering WiFi’s wireless fidelity (Wi-Fi) free to all visitors, patients and physicians in its office park and three Atlanta hospitals, serving over half a million patients a year.

Children’s practices family-centered care, offering family-friendly facilities, libraries and business centers. Ranked one of America’s top pediatric hospitals by Parents magazine and U.S. News & World Report, the organization staffs 510 beds and saw more than 550,000 patients in 2008. The Children’s Sibley Heart Center and the Children’s Orthopaedics Program were both ranked No. 5 nationwide, and physicians performed more than 38,000 surgical procedures between the three locations.

“The focus of our team goes beyond superior clinical care. At Children’s, we put energy into easing the pressure on visiting families to make the time they spend at our hospitals as comfortable as possible,” said Jim Atwood, director architecture and solution design, Children’s. “When you are committed to patient care, you really must consider the entire experience around that care. Parents and families are given 24-hour visitation throughout the hospital and typically use the time between visiting to catch up on communication with family, friends and work. By offering wireless access and support 24 hours a day, seven days a week, we hope to provide a higher level of satisfaction by giving them easy access to Wandering WiFi’s services and providing them with the opportunity to stay connected to others in their circle of support.”

Using the existing Cisco wireless network, Wandering WiFi implemented its HotSpot solution with SonicWALL’s content filtering appliance to provide the ideal combination of performance and protection. The solution offers Children’s customized branding options, usage controls, and bandwidth management, with 24/7/365 system monitoring.

“As a parent of three children, I support and regard the work Children’s Healthcare offers our own community and beyond. As a company, we wanted to help Children’s provide this extra level of service for their patients, visitors, doctors and staff to support its mission to care for the whole patient family,” said Alan Dabbiere, chairman of Wandering WiFi. “We specialize in mobile device and WLAN management software, so having the opportunity to use our expertise to help such a worthwhile organization is rewarding. As we continue to expand on this project, with Children’s and other pediatric hospitals nationwide, we hope to positively impact millions of families each year.”

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Gov. Perdue Declares Apr 19-25 Toastmasters Week in GA

In an effort to inform the public of the importance of public speaking skills, Georgia Governor, Sonny Perdue declares April 19-25, 2009 as Toastmasters Week in Georgia. Toastmasters Week is proclaimed in an effort to inform the public of the importance of public speaking and the benefits of improving speaking skills.

The fear of public speaking is one of people's biggest fears. In today's job market, companies seek employees who possess good communications skills. For over 80 years, Toastmasters International has worked to help thousands overcome the fear of public speaking thus enabling these people to achieve their career and personal goals.

Toastmasters Week in Georgia culminates with the District 14 Spring Conference to be held April 24-25, 2009 at the Atlanta Marriott Century Center. The conference features the Georgia Champion Speaker contest, Toastmaster of the Year award, and the Communication and Leadership award presented to a non-Toastmaster who exemplifies outstanding communication and leadership skills. Further information about the Spring Conference may be found on the District 14’swebsite, www.gatoastmasters.org.

Toastmasters International is a worldwide, nonprofit organization teaching skills in public speaking and leadership. Georgia is the home of 260 individual Toastmasters clubs. To locate a club near you visit www.gatoastmasters.org. For information about Toastmasters International visit www.toastmasters.org

Photo L-R: Carol Lunsford, Public Relations Officer Division A District 14; Theresa Spralling, District 14 Toastmasters International Lieutenant Governor Education; Governor Perdue; Cindy Cannon, District 14 Governor Toastmasters International; Kene Iloenyosi, District 14 Toastmasters International Public Relations Officer

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2009 Georgia Planned Giving Council Greater Good Award will go to Emory Schwall

The Georgia Planned Giving Council (GPGC) will award Emory Schwall with the fifth annual GPGC Greater Good Award at a noon luncheon on Thursday, April 30th at the InterContinental Buckhead. Last year’s award winner, Zoe Hicks, will deliver the keynote speech at the luncheon. The Greater Good Award Program begins with an educational session on planned giving from 11 a.m. to 12 p.m. presented by Larry Stelter of the Stelter Company.

The Greater Good Award will then be presented to Mr. Schwall during the noon luncheon program.

Phyllis Silverstein, President of the Georgia Planned Giving Council, remarked “The Georgia Planned Giving Council created the Greater Good Award to recognize exemplary career-long work by an individual on behalf of philanthropy in Georgia. It is a great pleasure for us to present the 2009 GPGC Greater Good Award to Emory Schwall. As one of our most respected attorneys in Georgia for over fifty years, Emory is known as an exceptional advocate for his clients and charitable organizations throughout the community."

Ty Tippett, Director of Planned Giving for the Shepherd Center Foundation, remarked “Emory
has donated countless hours of his personal time, as well as his considerable legal expertise, in making the consummation of philanthropic transactions for the benefit of charitable organizations in Georgia possible.”

SunTrust Bank is the luncheon sponsor for the Greater Good Award. The Community Foundation for Greater Atlanta is the award sponsor and will grant $2,000 to the charity selected by the Greater Good Award recipient, half of which will come from the Berman Greater Good Award Endowment established by past recipient, Steve Berman, and his wife Candy, and half from The Community Foundation for Greater Atlanta.

Emory Schwall, a native Georgian, born in Moultrie, has lived in Atlanta since 1945. He attended Georgia Institute of Technology, Woodrow Wilson Law School and Emory University Law School. He has practiced law in Atlanta for over 50 years, is a Special Assistant Attorney General for the State of Georgia representing the Insurance Commission, a certified Estate Planner, a member of the Atlanta Estate Planning Council, Atlanta Bar Association, Georgia Bar Association and the American Bar Association. He has represented Hillside Truth Center International for years. He is a member of the Emory Law School Council, is Vice-President and a Director of Shepherd Center, Inc. and a Trustee of Shepherd Center Foundation, Inc.

He is a member of Trinity Presbyterian Church where he has served as a Deacon. He is a member and former President of Cherokee Town & Country Club. He has been active in numerous charitable and civic organizations, including the American Heart Association and Arthritis Foundation. He is on the Piedmont Hospital Foundation Gift Planning Council, President of Atlanta Medical Heritage, which operated the Academy of Medicine. Last year, under his guidance, Atlanta Medical Heritage donated the Academy of Medicine building (designated as a Historical Landmark) to the Georgia Tech Foundation in order to assure preservation of the building. He has served on the Board of Trustees of Georgia Women of Achievement.

He is on the Advisory Board of Presbyterian Homes and is a member of the Board of Governors 1 Alive Community Service Awards. He was married to the late Peggy McCready Schwall, who was active in numerous charities. They had three sons, two of whom live in Atlanta and one lives in Omaha. He has four grandsons.

The GPGC Greater Good Award is an annual award to recognize exemplary service among Georgia's charitable advisors. Nominees have served at least ten years in the field of planned giving and uphold superior standards in the field, increasing the quality and quantity of planned gifts to charities in Georgia. In choosing the winner, the selection committee cited Mr. Schwall’s work helping his clients meet their charitable goals and benefiting scores of Georgia charities in the process. Past award winners include Ben White in 2005, Henry Bowden in 2006, Stephen M. Berman in 2007 and Zoe Hicks in 2008.

The Georgia Planned Giving Council is the statewide affiliate of the National Committee on Planned Giving, now known as the Partnership for Philanthropic Planning. Its membership consists of non-profit professionals, professional advisors and others throughout Georgia committed to promoting planned giving to charitable organizations. For more information on the Greater Good Award and to register for the event, please visit www.gpgconline.org or contact the Georgia Planned Giving Council office at 770-433-4137 or info@gpgconline.org.
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Ronald McDonald House Charities(R) Makes it Easy for Supporters to Give Back Through Its '30 Ways in 30 Days' Campaign

/PRNewswire/ -- In support of National Volunteer Month, Ronald McDonald House Charities(R) (RMHC(R)) is encouraging people to give back to their communities through the Charity's "30 Ways in 30 Days" Campaign. Starting in April, people can visit rmhc.org to get daily inspiration on ways to give back, reminding them that by volunteering they give families one of the biggest gifts of all - more time together while their children are being treated for serious illnesses.

"RMHC wouldn't be able to serve millions of children each year if it weren't for its strong network of volunteers," said Linda Dunham, chairperson of the Global Board of Trustees for RMHC. "More than 30,000 volunteers donate millions of hours, saving the Charity nearly $2 million annually. And, most importantly they enable us to help more than 10,000 families every day. This April, we're celebrating their contributions and making it easier than ever before for people to join our Friends of RMHC volunteer network and give the gift of time."

The "30 Ways in 30 Days" campaign kicks off a new partnership with VolunteerMatch. Through the partnership, visitors to rmhc.org can now search for volunteer opportunities at local RMHC chapters, and chapters can use www.volunteermatch.org to recruit from VolunteerMatch's network of volunteers, the Web's largest of its kind. In addition, RMHC will shine the spotlight on volunteers through a new online community powered by Facebook Connect on the Charity's Web site that provides a forum for people to share their personal stories, read firsthand testimonials from current volunteers and be inspired by the "30 Ways in 30 Days" tips on how they can lend a helping hand this April and year round.

Some of the simple volunteer tips included in the "30 Ways in 30 Days" campaign include:

-- Prepare and serve a home-cooked meal for families staying at a local
Ronald McDonald House(R)
-- Help a local RMHC Chapter with a golf tournament, auction, gala or
fundraising event to raise awareness for the Charity
-- Stuff backpacks with school supplies for children visiting a local
Ronald McDonald Care Mobile(R)
-- Answer phones, greet visitors or do light office work at a local
Ronald McDonald House or Ronald McDonald Family Room(R)
-- Host a pizza party, ice cream social, or popcorn and movie night at a
local Ronald McDonald House
-- Donate at rmhc.org or drop off spare change in a RMHC Donation Box at
a local participating McDonald's(R) restaurant

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