Thursday, February 26, 2009

Cards for Kyara

The University of West Georgia will host “Cards for Kyara,” a benefit show and sale in Gallery Two of the Humanities Building.

Local artists and UWG students have created dozens of artist trading cards that are miniature works of art sized 2.5 by 3.5 inches. The cards are on view in the gallery through March 6 and will be sold for $5 each at a reception on Thursday, Feb. 26, from 5 to 7 p.m.

Funds raised through the sale of the cards will benefit Kyara Dzenis, a four-year-old Newnan resident who is recovering from gastric transposition surgery in a Michigan hospital.

Kyara drank a chemical that scarred her esophagus at the age of two. When her esophagus did not heal and swallowing became difficult, the family traveled to Michigan where doctors replaced the damaged esophagus with one created from stomach tissue.

Due to complications, Kyara is still in the hospital four months later with family members staying at a Ronald McDonald House. Friend of the family and UWG student Claire Hyde coordinated the event.

For information about Kyara and her family, go http://www.kyara-carepage.blogspot.com. For information on the exhibit, call 678-472-6932.

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Tuesday, February 24, 2009

Tornado Victimes Can Replace Damaged Food Stamp Supplies

Anyone who lost food supplies obtained with Georgia food stamps as a result of severe weather on February 19 can get replacement provisions by visiting their local Georgia Department of Human Resources Division of Family and Children Services (DFCS) office.

Citizens in Hancock, Jasper, Thomas and Warren counties who currently receive food stamps may have lost supplies due to long power outages or other damage caused by Thursday’s severe thunderstorms and tornadoes. They may contact their local DFCS office and sign an affidavit stating their food loss was storm-related to have their benefits replaced.

Here is DFCS contact information for the affected counties:

· Hancock DFCS office – 220 Broad Street in Sparta; telephone: (706) 444-1203
· Jasper DFCS office – 226 Funderburg Drive in Monticello; telephone: (706) 468-6461
· Thomas DFCS office – 438 Smith Avenue in Thomasville; telephone: (229) 225-4005
· Warren DFCS office – 224 North Legion Drive in Warrenton; telephone: (706) 465-3326

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Volunteers Help “Makeover” City of Morrow Homes

"Bus driver, move that bus!” is a popular statement heard on a well-known home makeover television show. When the family hears the statement, they know the house has magically changed for the better. Some Morrow homes will be receiving a little “makeover magic” with the help of volunteers from Boston College during the week of Sunday, March 1, 2009 through Friday, March 6, 2009. The students are being hosted by the City of Morrow and the Morrow Business and Tourism Association.

During this first week in March, the volunteers will be working with the City of Morrow’s Code Enforcement Officer Marti Tracy on helping repair residents’ homes and yards. The homes chosen for the “makeover” have the greatest need for the help from Officer Tracy and the volunteers. While the volunteers are working on the homes, the families will have the opportunity to be treated like a V.I.P. at the Red Roof Inn in Morrow. Once the renovations are complete, the family will be brought back to their house for the “big reveal.”

The volunteers will also be participating in evening activities with members of the community. One of the evening activities will be “History Night,” and the volunteers will be taken on a tour of Morrow’s history with local historians. Other evening activities will include programs where the volunteers will have a chance to get to know each other. During their final evening in Morrow, the volunteers will be part of a celebration for International Women’s Day, which will be Thursday, March 5 at the Morrow Tourist Center. The celebration will be honoring the volunteers as well as The Conner's Honors program, where Conner's Florist will honor a special volunteer in the community.

The volunteers are visiting through a program called Volunteers for Communities. VfC is a program of the Southeast Rural Community Assistance Project, Inc. (Southeast RCAP) based in Roanoke, Virginia. The program trains communities throughout the Southeast to host volunteers and to help build community leadership. If you are interested in this program for your community, please contact VfC at (276) 699-1493.

The Volunteers for Communities program a unique project which matches college student volunteers with communities in need of assistance with water and wastewater system improvements or economic development projects. These volunteers assist in a variety of ways such as painting houses and other buildings, digging trenches and laying pipes, and rehabilitating and weatherizing houses.

For more information about the Volunteers for Communities program, please contact Michael Sakowitz Twomey, President & Executive Director of the Morrow Business and Tourism Association, at 678-614-3824 or mtwomey@cityofmorrow.com. For more information about Southeast RCAP and VfC, visit http://www.southeastrcap.org/.
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Wednesday, February 18, 2009

Angel Food Ministries Reaches February Distribution Milestone

/PRNewswire/ -- Angel Food Ministries ended its February distribution call-in with the highest numbers ever achieved for a February, and 63% over the same month last year. It also turns out to be the 6th biggest distribution month ever. The numbers, up 20% over January 2009, indicate a growing concern for affordable, quality food. AFM sends boxes of food to 500 communities in 39 states, and feeds more than 300 thousand families each year. Through AFM's benevolence funds, it donated $530 thousand back into local communities and churches this month and over $19 million since it began.

Pastor Joe Wingo, CEO and founder, said, "We are both proud and saddened, at the same time. Proud to have the faith of so many people, proud to be able to help so many people get proper nutrition and proteins into their diets, but saddened that the need is so vast and growing."

Pastor Wingo continued, "At the same time we are feeding so many, we also know that the news of events last week at our offices have raised concerns that Angel Food Ministries' mission may be hampered; these order totals show that the needs people are facing as a result of the economy far exceeds the best efforts to stop us from reaching out, and we will always put food on the tables of everyone who asks for it."

Angel Food Ministries (www.angelfoodministries.com) is a non-profit, non-denominational organization dedicated to providing financial support in the form of food relief to communities throughout the United States. Established in 1994 to provide relief for struggling families in the Monroe, GA area, Angel Food Ministries today serves hundreds of thousands of families across 39 states. Since inception, Angel Food Ministries has fed more than 20 million Americans. In 2008, AFM provided $120 million in direct food assistance to American families.

Angel Food offers a medium-sized box of food for $30 that contains top quality food staples from every food group, including chicken or beef, milk, eggs, vegetables, and other nutritious items. One box of food feeds a family of four for about one week, or a single senior citizen for almost a month. The menu varies each month, and consists of both fresh and frozen items with an average retail value of approximately $60.

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Tuesday, February 17, 2009

Tyler Perry Donates $110K to Covenant House Keeping Atlanta Teens off the Street

/PRNewswire/ -- Covenant House Georgia announced today that writer/director/producer Tyler Perry has donated $110,000 and a brand new 15-passenger van to the Atlanta-based homeless shelter. The funds will contribute to operating costs and the complete renovation of its Crisis Shelter for homeless adolescents in Atlanta.

"God bless Mr. Perry for this incredible gift to our kids," said Kevin Ryan, President of Covenant House. "The van will be used to rescue young people from the hopelessness of the street. His generous donation will provide immediate help to kids in crisis as well as the long-term support that will transform their lives."

"A donation of this caliber from Mr. Perry is the beginning of exponential growth for services at Covenant House Georgia," says Covenant House Georgia CEO Maxine Shoulders Brandon. "When we are able to reach more homeless youth on the streets and provide more services to the kids in our care, there will be fewer homeless that sleep under the bridge and on the streets. At Covenant House we give our youth the tools of self-sufficiency, not a handout."

Tyler Perry is no stranger to homelessness. The successful director, playwright, best-selling author and actor experienced periods of homelessness and hunger before finding success. He now focuses his philanthropic efforts to charities benefiting those who are homeless and hungry including Feeding America, the Atlanta Food Bank and Perry Place -- a 20-home community Tyler built for survivors of Hurricane Katrina in New Orleans.

Covenant House Georgia (CHGA), opened in August 2000 in downtown Atlanta and is the newest addition to Covenant House -- the largest privately funded childcare agency in the United States providing shelter and services to homeless and runaway youth. CHGA has a Crisis Shelter, Rights of Passage Transitional Living program and Community Service Center offering GED classes, life-skills training, case management and job assistance.

Last year Covenant House Georgia served over 2,000 kids providing access to immediate shelter, food, clothing, counseling, educational and vocational services. Since coming to Atlanta, Covenant House Georgia has changed the lives of close to 10,000 youth.

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Sunday, February 15, 2009

Federal and State Policy Updates; Action Requested

Dear Nonprofit Colleagues,

The purpose of this email is to provide three key federal and state policy updates and to request your action on one important item. House Ways and Means releases the list of oversight hearings for 111th Congress Data needed urgently to articulate the economy’s impact on nonprofits and steer proposed assistance plans. House Ways and Means Chairman Charles Rangel (D-NY) released a list of oversight-related hearings before the Subcommittee on Oversight this session. The Oversight Subcommittee is expected to examine how the economic downturn has affected nonprofit organizations and explore options to assist charities and foundations during the recession. It will also evaluate overall efforts of the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) to monitor tax-exempt organizations. Other subcommittee hearings are slated to examine vulnerable populations and poverty, unemployment, and health care. No hearing dates have been released.

ACTION ITEM – Your help is urgently needed!

As the Georgia Center for Nonprofits works on a state and federal level to ensure that the interests of our state’s sector are pursued and protected, we lack quantitative data to articulate the magnitude of need and impact on our state’s nonprofits and their capacity to produce community impact in the midst of this economic crisis.We need your organization to spend a few moments to provide critical data that will quantify the scope of impact that your nonprofit is experiencing as a result of the economy. Here is what your participation will help us work on:
Adequate representation in the House Ways and Means oversight hearings for 111th Congress examining the economy’s impact on nonprofits and foundations.

Proposed legislative study committee to look at the Georgia provisions in the stimulus package along with the data in the survey PRIOR to making any further appropriation cuts impacting nonprofits and to guide nonprofit investments arising from federal stimulus appropriations.
Guidance for strategic responses and initiatives from various corporate and foundation donor communities.

Media communication to educate the public about nonprofit resource needs

We understand your time is precious but now more than ever, the nonprofit community needs to work together to provide a powerful voice to our elected officials as they struggle with the tough budget, spending, and policy decisions that lie ahead. This is why we need each and every one of you to complete by February 20th the "Economic Trends and the State of the Nonprofit Sector" survey. Please fill the survey out by February 20th and forward the link to nonprofits in your network.

POLICY UPDATES

Federal Stimulus Package & Georgia Proposals: Conferees reach compromise; possible floor consideration as early as todayLawmakers reached an agreement yesterday on the American Recovery and Reinvestment Tax Act of 2009 (H.R.1) after the price tag of the package was scaled-back to $789 billion. Trimming school construction spending and leaving out some large tax cuts were components of the compromise to appease Senate Republican moderates. The compromise plan would allow funding for a $54 billion state fiscal stabilization fund, up from $39 billion in the Senate-passed bill, and $87 billion in Medicaid assistance. Full details of the package have not yet been released, but both the House and Senate are working to clear procedural hurdles to bring the conference report up for floor consideration as early as today. Source: BNA Daily Tax Report, Tax Analysts, Congress Daily AM & PM, Congressional Quarterly, Roll Call, The Hill Georgia’s Proposals for the Package:Check out the Senate’s version of the stimulus bill with the specific Georgia proposals.

Georgia's Revenue Figures Down 14.8 Percent for January The biggest news today was the release by the Governor of January's revenue figures. As you know, Lawmakers are struggling with addressing the Budget needs of Georgia in the declining revenues. Governor Perdue announced that "net revenue collections for the month of January 2009 (FY 2009) totaled $1,575,265,000 compared to $1,837,297,000 for January 2009 (FY 2008), a decrease of $262,032,000 or 14.3 percent. The percentage decrease year-to-date for FY 2009 compared to FY 2008 is 4.8 percent."Read about in the Gold Dome.

Other noteworthy GA nonprofit policy updates - HB 358 – Rep. Martin (R-Alpharetta) produced this amendment for O.C.G.A. § 48-8-3 to extend the periods of exemption from State sales and use taxes for use of prepared food and beverages which are donated to a qualified nonprofit for hunger relief purposes and use of prepared food and beverages donated for disaster relief purposes. In each of these exemptions, both will now sunset on June 30, 2011 (rather than the current sunset of June 30, 2009). - HB 359 – Rep. Martin (R-Alpharetta) also authored an amendment to O.C.G.A. § 48-8-3(57.1)(A) for exemptions from sales and use taxes for qualified food banks who purchase eligible foods and beverages. Currently, this exemption would sunset on June 30, 2010; this extends the sunset to June 30, 2012.

Warmly,
Karen Beavor
President & CEO

Coweta's Dancing Stars & Kids Day America Events Benefit Community Welcome House

COWETA'S DANCING STARS

Thursday April 23, 2009 at 7:00pm at The Centre for Performing and Visual Arts 1523 Lower Fayetteville Rd, Newnan, GA COWETA'S DANCING STARS. Event proceeds benefit Community Welcome House a safe-haven for women and children victims of domestic violence. General Admission is $10.00 preferred seating is $20.00. A sponsor for this event will select preferred seating and access to Meet the Stars in the VIP Event after the show for beverages and hors d' oevres. Contact Judi Alvey at judi_alvey@cable.comcast.net for sponsorship opportunities. Visit www.communitywelcomehouse.org to view the stars, vote for your favorite star, and purchase tickets on line. Click on Coweta's Dancing Stars.

KIDS DAY AMERICA:DEDICATED TO CHILDREN'S HEALTH, SAFETY AND ENVIRONMENTAL AWARENESS (Rain or Shine)

Saturday, April 25, 2009, communities world wide will be participating in "Kids Day America". In our community the event is being held at South Metro Ministries 3935 Highway 34 E., Sharpsburg, Georgia.

The host for this event is Dr. Matthew P. Davis and Staff of Crossroads Chiropractic. This event is free to the public. Fingerprinting/photo ID Kits donated by the Coweta Sheriffs Dept, Fire Safety though Coweta Fire Dept, Dental ID, Spinal Screenings, Handouts on Children's Health Related Issues. Free Food from Local restaurants, prize drawings and give aways every 15 minutes. Moon Walk, Inflatable Slide, Games for the Kids, McGruff the Crime Dog, Chick-Fil-A Cow, The Laparilla-Cinco de Mayo Frog, Fire Truck, Police Car, and Fire House. For information on this great event for working together for a healthier future for our kids visit www.sharpsburgchiropractor.com and click on Kids Day America. or call 770-252-1848.
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Friday, February 13, 2009

Founders Club Proudly Supports the St. Joseph's/Candler Mammography Fund

/PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Founders Club will donate $5 from the sale of its new Believe golf clubs to the Mammography Fund at St. Joseph's/Candler.

"The Mammography Fund is a great service to the community. Early detection is crucial in the fight against cancer," Jeff Andrews, CEO of Founders Club, said.

The Believe set retails for $399 and will be sold at Edwin Watts Golf stores and specialty golf retail stores across the United States.

"St. Joseph's/Candler is very proud to be selected as the national recipient for this generous donation," said Paul P. Hinchey, president & CEO of St. Joseph's/Candler. "As one of only 10 NCI-selected National Community Cancer Center Programs (NCCCP) pilot sites in the country, our Nancy N. and J.C. Lewis Cancer & Research Pavilion works hard to erase cultural, economic and other access barriers to oncology services. The funds generated from the sale of these golf clubs will go a long way in helping us fulfill that mission," Hinchey adds.

The Mammography Fund covers the cost of mammograms for women with little or no insurance. They are identified through SJ/C programs, the Mary Telfair Women's Hospital's network of services or the Nancy N. and J.C. Lewis Cancer & Research Pavilion.

From 2007 to 2008 the number of patients who used the fund increased 208 percent.

With the economy souring and more people losing insurance, the fund is becoming even more important.

Founder's Club, headquartered in Savannah, is already selling the clubs in Canada and donating to the Canadian Cancer Society. The Believe set comes with a bag and a full compliment of 11 clubs. This easy-to-hit set is designed to offer the latest game improvement technology to help improve your game and improve your golf experience.

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Wednesday, February 11, 2009

St. Christopher’s Philoptochos Society Offers Greek Delicacies for Easter

The Philoptochos Society of St. Christopher Hellenic Orthodox Church will hold its annual Greek Appetizers and Baklava Sale in time for Easter entertaining. Offered are Spanakopites (filo pastry filled with spinach, feta and onions) and Tiropites (filo pastry filled with cheeses and herbs) for $10.00 per dozen and Baklava (filo and nut filled sweet pastry) for $18.00 per dozen. The pites are already prepared and frozen for baking at a later time.

Order deadline is March 18th and pickup dates are April 3rd from 3 -6 pm and April 4th from 9am – 12 pm at St. Christopher Hellenic Orthodox Church, located at 313 Dividend Drive, Peachtree City.

All proceeds from the fundraiser will be used for charities such as Fayette County DFACS, Fayette Samaritans, St. John the Wonderworker Loaves and Fishes program in Atlanta, International Orthodox Christian Charities, St. Basils Academy in Garrison NY and the Children’s Medical Fund.

To order, please visit the website at www.saintchristopherhoc.org or contact helenngeorge@comcast.net or call 770-486-6580.
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Tuesday, February 10, 2009

2nd Annual Oscar Night Red Carpet Event to Benefit Boys & Girls Club, Newnan

It’s your chance to be a star and help raise funds for the Boys & Girls Club in Newnan

Lights, camera, action! It’s that time of year again to see which stars will walk away with the coveted golden Oscar. The annual ceremony is all about glamour and on Sunday, February 22 Southtowne Motors and 85 South-Out & About will once again host the Annual Oscar Night Benefit. You can be a star for the evening and walk the red carpet to help raise funds for the Boys & Girls Club of Newnan/Coweta County.

The black tie optional event will be held at Southtowne Motors in Newnan. Guests will be treated like Hollywood royalty as they walk the red carpet passed the crowd of ‘paparazzi’ snapping photos to memorialize the night. ‘Last year’s event was a big success and guests loved the idea of the ‘paparazzi’. The whole evening is about being a star and making a difference for children and teens who attend the Newnan Club,’ says Steve Mader, a Newnan Club Board Member.

The Gala begins at 7:00pm with a cocktail reception and silent auction. Guests will have the chance to bid on a variety exciting items including artwork, autographed pictures, a vacation package in New Smyrna Beach, Florida, and a private dinner prepared by Mike Hutchinson of the ‘Dishing with Mike Show’. While guests enjoy a four star menu they can view the Oscar ceremony on one of the big screens donated by Best Buy in Ashley Park.

Tickets are $80 each. Tables are available at $600 for 8 and $1,000 for a corporate table of 10. For more information or to purchase your tickets call the Boys & Girls Clubs at (770) 427-0475. All proceeds benefit the Newnan/Coweta County Club.

ABOUT BOYS & GIRLS CLUB OF METRO ATLANTA

Boys & Girls Clubs of Metro Atlanta operates 30 Clubs in 13 metro counties and serves more than17,000 youth annually by offering specialized programming and a safe haven for at-risk and underprivileged children and teens. At the Newnan/Coweta County Club a trained and professional staff serves more than 400 at-risk children and teens annually. Membership cost only $35 per school year and scholarships are available for those who need assistance. For more information, call the Club at (678) 423-0309 or visit www.bgcma.org and select ‘Club Locations’ for the Newnan page.
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Monday, February 09, 2009

March for Meals

1 Mile/5K Fun Walk/RunSaturday, March 21 • 9 a.m.

The community is invited to participate in this special walk/run to benefit Fayette Senior Services’ Meals-on-Wheels program.

Fayette Senior Services. A non-profit, 501(c)(3) organization, delivers more than 40,000 meals throughout Fayette County to homebound seniors each year.

Participants may choose the one-mile or the 5K routes. Participants are welcome to form teams as well. The registration fee is $25 per person and all walkers/runners will receive the event tee-shirt and a goodie bag. The start and finish line will be at Fayetteville First Baptist Church, 205 Stonewall Avenue, Fayetteville.

Registration forms are available online at www.fayss.org and at Fayette Senior Services, 4 Center Drive, Fayetteville. 770-461-0813 - www.fayss.org.
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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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Tuesday, February 03, 2009

Americans Come Together to Fight Global Poverty and Honor International Women’s Day at A POWERFUL NOISE Live! a One-Night Big Screen Event on March 5

(BUSINESS WIRE)--Americans are invited to join the fight against global poverty by turning a night out at their local cinemas into a movement to help empower poor women around the world. To honor International Women’s Day, A POWERFUL NOISE Live!**, a one-night, in-theatre event on Thursday, March 5th, will give audiences a glimpse into the unbending efforts of three women to create change in Bosnia, Mali and Vietnam. The event will also provide an exclusive opportunity to hear from top experts and advocates about the broader problems – and solutions – facing women in the world’s poorest countries. A town hall discussion LIVE from New York City will be simulcast to more than 450 participating movie theatres that night, immediately following the documentary “A Powerful Noise.”

Tickets for A POWERFUL NOISE Live! are available at participating theatre box offices and online at www.FathomEvents.com. For a complete list of theatre locations and prices, please visit www.FathomEvents.com (theatres and participants may be subject to change).

Presented by National CineMedia’s (NCM) Fathom and CARE, in partnership with ONE and the UN Commission on the Status of Women, A POWERFUL NOISE Live! event begins at 7:30 p.m. ET/ 6:30 p.m. CT / 5:30 p.m. MT / 8:00 p.m. PT (tape delayed) with the documentary followed by a panel discussion.

Event panelists include:

* Christy Turlington Burns – CARE advocate for maternal health and contributing editor for Marie Claire magazine
* Nicholas Kristof – Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist, New York Times columnist and acclaimed author
* Dr. Helene Gayle - CARE president and CEO

"The world isn't living up to its potential right now because most women and girls lack basic human rights and opportunities we often take for granted in the United States," says Christy Turlington Burns, CARE advocate for maternal health and contributing editor for Marie Claire magazine. "But like the three women featured in ‘A Powerful Noise,’ you can become a champion in your own community to help impact the lives of other women in our world. You can start taking action by joining us on March 5th to really learn about the issues facing women and girls in poor countries."

“Your ticket is a passport into the lives of women and girls who are overcoming seemingly insurmountable odds,” says philanthropist and entrepreneur Sheila C. Johnson, executive producer of “A Powerful Noise.” “By joining us on March 5th, you will help empower women and girls around the world, meet like-minded people and stoke your teen’s interest in giving back.”

A POWERFUL NOISE Live! appears on the big screen in high-definition with Cinema Surround Sound in more than 450 select movie theatres, including AMC Entertainment Inc., Celebration! Cinema, Cinemark Holdings, Inc., Clearview Cinemas, Cobb Theatres, Georgia Theatre Company, Goodrich Quality Theatres, Hollywood Theaters, Kerasotes Showplace Theatres, Marcus Theatres, National Amusements and Regal Entertainment Group movie theatres, as well as Arlington Theatre (Santa Barbara, CA), Grand Theatre (Bismark, ND), Palace Cinema 9 (South Burlington, VT) and Penn Cinema (Lititz, PA) through NCM’s exclusive Digital Broadcast Network – North America’s largest cinema broadcast network. The event will be broadcast LIVE from the Kaye Playhouse at Hunter College in New York City.

“During these uncertain times where communities across America are coming together, NCM Fathom is proud to present an event that communicates the power of hope that these three amazing women have brought to so many,” said Dan Diamond, vice president of NCM Fathom. “A POWERFUL NOISE Live! will inspire and motivate audiences in local theatres nationwide to join together in the fight against poverty, from their neighborhoods to communities around the world.”

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Sunday, February 01, 2009

Donor Advised Funds Addressing Community Needs

Report finds funds provide majority of community foundation grants

Did you know that donor-advised funds comprise about one-third of the total assets of U.S community foundations yet make up 62% of annual grants? A new report from Council on Foundations, Donor Advised Funds Provide the Majority of Grant Funds Awarded by Community Foundations, reveals a number of interesting facts about these funds and their role in addressing community needs. Click here to access the report.

Donor-advised funds are the most popular giving vehicle at The Community Foundation. Donors have the flexibility to add to their funds and receive a tax benefit immediately but recommend grants to nonprofits later after learning more about the issues and organizations. In 2008, The Community Foundation awarded an estimated $90 million in grants to nonprofit organizations in the Atlanta region and beyond. This was a record-breaking amount of grants since our founding in 1951. In addition, 81% of those grants were from donor-advised funds.
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The Golden King Partners with the Golden Arches to raise funds for Atlanta Ronald McDonald House Charities

Organizers of “Tutankhamun: The Golden King and the Great Pharaohs” at the Atlanta Civic Center announced Friday the “To Give is Golden!” partnership with Atlanta Ronald McDonald House Charities, which kicks off on February 2. Beginning in the month of February, more than 260 participating McDonald’s restaurants throughout the Atlanta area will provide customers with discount coupons for $5 off regular-priced adult tickets to the King Tut exhibition at the Atlanta Civic Center. For each coupon redeemed, exhibition organizers will donate $5 to Atlanta Ronald McDonald House Charities, with a minimum donation of $10,000 pledged by exhibition organizers. The total donation amount will be determined at the end of the promotion, when all coupons have been redeemed.

The coupons, which are good for use until April 1, can be redeemed through www.ticketmaster.com/kingtut, or at the King Tut box office at the Atlanta Civic Center. People can purchase up to eight tickets with the discount on ticketmaster.com. If purchasing tickets at the box office, there is a limit of one discounted ticket per customer.

“Atlanta Ronald McDonald House Charities is grateful for the support of The King Tut exhibit. Their generous support will help to provide a ‘home away from home’ to families of ill and injured children staying at Atlanta’s two Ronald McDonald Houses,” says Linda M. Morris, president/CEO of ARMHC.

Additionally, to celebrate the promotion, employees of the participating McDonald’s restaurants will be entitled to a 50 percent discount off regular-priced adult tickets during the month of February.

“We are proud to partner with an organization that is committed to providing support to children, families and the community,” said John Norman, president of Arts and Exhibitions International. “This partnership provides families the opportunity to see this once-in-a-lifetime exhibition and, as a result, help raise funds that will allow Atlanta Ronald McDonald House Charities to continue its mission of supporting families devastated by the illness or injury of a child.”

The exhibition opened at the Atlanta Civic Center on November 15, 2008 and will remain in Atlanta until
May 25, 2009.

ABOUT THE EXHIBITION

Premiering November 15, 2008, to May 25, 2009, at the Boisfeuillet Jones Atlanta Civic Center, “Tutankhamun: The Golden King and the Great Pharaohs” features striking objects from some of the most important rulers throughout 2,000 years of ancient Egyptian history, from the 4th Dynasty into the Late Period (about 2600 B.C. – 660 B.C.). Derived from a variety of contexts, including temples and royal and private tombs, many of these artifacts have never before visited the United States.

Tutankhamun was one of the last kings of Egypt’s 18th Dynasty and ruled during a crucial, turmoil-filled period of Egyptian history. The boy king died under mysterious circumstances around age 18 or 19, in the ninth year of his reign (1323 B.C.).

The exhibition highlights more than 50 treasures from Tutankhamun’s tomb and more than 70 artifacts representing other pharaohs and notables, along with the latest scientific research about King Tut. The storyline follows the splendor of the Egyptian pharaohs, their function in the earthly and divine worlds, and what kingship meant to the Egyptian people.

Four galleries devoted to King Tut correspond to the four rooms of his nearly intact tomb, where the treasures were discovered by British explorer Howard Carter in 1922. Legendary artifacts from the antechamber, the annex, the treasury and the burial chamber include Tutankhamun’s golden sandals, jewelry, furniture, weaponry and statuary.

The final gallery features CT scans of Tutankhamun that were obtained as part of a landmark, Egyptian research and conservation project, partially funded by National Geographic, that will CT-scan the ancient mummies of Egypt. The Tutankhamun scans were captured through the use of a portable CT scanner, donated by Siemens Medical Solutions, which allowed researchers to compile the first three-dimensional picture of Tutankhamun and discover more about his life and death.

TICKET INFORMATION

Tickets to the exhibition at the Atlanta Civic Center can be purchased for visits every day of the week, on the half-hour from 9 a.m. – 5 p.m. (galleries close at 7 p.m.). Single tickets range from $16.50-$32.50 and are available at the exhibition box office, 1-877-TUT-TKTS (1-877-888-8587) or www.Ticketmaster.com. Group tickets for 10 or more are available at 1-866-52GROUP (1-866-524-7687) or www.kingtut.org. Audio tours ($7) and tickets for “Egypt 3D: Secrets of the Mummies” ($5) can be added at the time of purchase or at the exhibition.

ABOUT ATLANTA RONALD McDONALD HOUSE CHARITIES

Atlanta Ronald McDonald House Charities is a 501 (c)(3) non-profit organization dedicated to serving the needs of children by providing temporary housing and support services to families of critically ill and injured children being treated at Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta, Scottish Rite and Egleston and by awarding scholarships to qualifying high school seniors. Atlanta’s first Ronald McDonald House, the fourth in the world, located at 792 Houston Mill Road featured 16 bedrooms and hosted more than 24,000 families since opening in 1979. This facility closed May 1, 2008 as the new 50-bedroom Gatewood facility opened on June 9, 2008 less than a mile away. In June of 1994, the second house opened at 5420 Peachtree Dunwoody Road which includes 11 bedrooms and has hosted more than 8,000 families.

At the Ronald McDonald House, families can enjoy many of the comforts of home, receive nutritious meals prepared and served by volunteers and obtain emotional support through contact with other families experiencing similar situations. No family is turned away if they cannot afford the $20 per night requested contribution and many of these families stay at the Ronald McDonald House for weeks and sometimes months while their children receive treatment at local children’s hospitals.
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