Thursday, September 30, 2010

Delta Takes Support of The Breast Cancer Research Foundation Online and Overseas

/PRNewswire/ -- Delta Air Lines (NYSE: DAL) is taking its support for The Breast Cancer Research Foundation (BCRF) worldwide with its new Boeing 767-400 signature "pink plane" and online with a virtual lemonade stand on Facebook and Sky Miles donations to BCRF when customers download the Delta iPhone application or use the app to check in. Also throughout October, in its sixth year of support for BCRF, Delta will continue donating proceeds from onboard pink lemonade and jelly bean sales.

"The personal impact breast cancer has had on me and so many of our customers, employees and families has motivated Delta to always give more in our support of The Breast Cancer Research Foundation," said Delta CEO Richard Anderson. "I've launched the first pink lemonade stand on Delta's Facebook page in honor of my mother who died from this horrible disease many years ago. The combined efforts of more than 75,000 Delta employees and millions more of our customers are making a difference in raising funds necessary to find a cure."

ONLINE, MOBILE SUPPORT AND DONATIONS

Beginning Oct. 7, Facebook members can create their own 'virtual' pink lemonade stand on Delta's Facebook page to share their stories and honor loved ones and donate to BCRF.

During October, Delta will donate 100 SkyMiles to BCRF for every Delta iPhone application download and each check-in using the mobile app, up to one million miles. In addition, all mobile phone users can text "DRINKPINK" to 27722 to donate $5.

NEW "PINK PLANE"

Delta's new international "pink plane," a Boeing 767-400 featuring BCRF's trademarked pink ribbon logo on the tail of the aircraft and adjacent to the boarding door, will make several special visits in the U.S. with Delta employee breast cancer survivors and executives, before flying internationally to help raise awareness for BCRF in Brazil, Italy and Spain. The pink plane will fly about 2.1 million miles this year, enough to circle the globe more than 84 times. Delta's international pink plane replaces the existing pink-and-white Boeing 757 that between 2005 and 2010 flew throughout the United States, Latin America and the Caribbean to generate awareness for the cause.

The new pink plane was painted at Delta's Atlanta headquarters by Delta TechOps employees, including aircraft maintenance painter technician, Derek Snider.

"It definitely hit close to home for me because my mom was diagnosed with breast cancer in 2008. As soon as I learned we'd be painting the pink plane, I called my mom because she fought hard to beat breast cancer. She's now on the road to recovery," said Snider. "The team here was really excited when we learned we'd be painting the 767 pink plane. There was a lot of pride put into that Delta paint scheme and that airplane, and it was humbling to do our part."

PINK for PURCHASE

"Delta really 'goes pink' in October, when thousands of our Delta flight attendants and customer service agents wear pink uniform pieces to support the cause. Our employees and our customers look forward to this effort every year," said Joanne Smith, senior vice president of In-Flight Service.

In addition to Delta's efforts online and the global visibility of the pink plane and pink uniform pieces, throughout October Delta sells pink lemonade and BCRF-branded pink Jelly Belly 'Sport Beans' onboard and in Delta Sky Clubs. All proceeds from the sale of the pink lemonade and $1 from the sale of each package of Jelly Belly Sports Beans benefit BCRF. In the first five years of the campaign, Delta raised $2.5 million for BCRF, including $1 million in 2009 alone. To date, Delta's donations have funded the work of nine research projects dedicated to the mission of achieving prevention and finding a cure for breast cancer.

"The Breast Cancer Research Foundation is so grateful to the employees of Delta for their personal commitment to eliminate breast cancer," said Evelyn H. Lauder, Founder and Chairman of The Breast Cancer Research Foundation. "Since 2005, Delta employees have gone above and beyond to raise both awareness and funds for the Foundation. This exemplary effort will truly make a difference in finding a cure for breast cancer in our lifetime."

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Thursday, September 23, 2010

Ride for Prostate Cancer Awareness with Radiotherapy Centers of Georgia

/PRNewswire/ -- Come ride with the thrill of fresh air in your face all while supporting one of the leading killers of men in the state of Georgia. According to the American Cancer Society, Georgia ranks 6th in highest estimated deaths caused by prostate cancer; this is a serious concern for the state and for Radiotherapy Centers of Georgia, a center of excellence in treatment for prostate cancer. To raise awareness and support the Georgia Prostate Cancer Coalition, Radiotherapy Centers of Georgia is hosting a motorcycle ride on Saturday, Sept. 25, with all proceeds from this motorcycle ride supporting the statewide license plate initiative to build prostate cancer awareness.

Anyone can participate – whether as a rider or a passenger – in this motorcycle ride, which will begin and end at Killer Creek Harley-Davidson in Roswell, Ga. The registration is $25 for each motorcycle rider (and includes a t-shirt) and $10 for each passenger. To register, visit www.beatprostatecancer.com or call 678-965-4756 Ext. 115

Radiotherapy Centers of Georgia's own physicians and staff will be riding for prostate cancer awareness and invite the community to come ride with ride for Prostate Cancer awareness in Georgia! For more information, contact Toni Karasik at tkarasik@rccancercenters.com .

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Aflac Celebrates 10 Years of its Iconic Duck with $2 Million for Aflac Cancer Center

/PRNewswire/ -- Aflac, the company that pays policyholders cash fast when they are injured or ill, will celebrate its 10th year airing television commercials featuring the Aflac Duck by renewing its commitment to the fight against childhood cancer this September. The company is pledging a corporate gift of $2 million to the Aflac Cancer Center and Blood Disorders Service of Children's Healthcare of Atlanta, bringing the total money raised by Aflac for childhood cancer research and treatment to $60 million since 1995. September is National Childhood Cancer Awareness Month.

"We are please to continue our deep and long-standing support of pediatric cancer through this gift," Aflac Chairman and CEO Dan Amos said. "The terrific men and women who work the front lines at the Aflac Cancer Center work hard to save lives and restore hope for families touched by cancer. They deserve our unending support."

Aflac, whose primary philanthropic cause has been the Aflac Cancer Center since 1995, has often lent the Aflac Duck's image to the cause of raising money and awareness for pediatric cancer. The Aflac Duck, a corporate advertising icon, has been used in fundraising literature and fundraising events while 100 percent of the proceeds from special plush Aflac Ducks that have been sold to the public since 2001 go toward childhood cancer research and treatment.

"People know and love the Aflac Duck as a corporate advertising icon," said Aflac Foundation President Kathelen Amos. "But many people are not aware that the Aflac Duck is also a symbol in the fight against pediatric cancer, and we could not be more pleased to lend our support and our iconic company image to this cause."

In addition to corporate donations, Aflac's independent sales force contributes regularly to the Aflac Cancer Center. Each month, more than 16,000 agents donate more than $325,000 from their commission checks. In addition, Aflac employees at the company's headquarters in Columbus, Georgia, routinely donate through payroll deductions while others will donate their time taking company-sponsored bus trips to the Aflac Cancer Center to spend time with children at the hospital.

"While September is Childhood Cancer Awareness Month, we want to be certain people know that our friends at Aflac support the Aflac Cancer Center's team and patients year-round and have done so since 1995," said Dr. William G. Woods, Director of the Aflac Cancer Center and Blood Disorders Service of Children's Healthcare of Atlanta. "It is impossible to put into words what $60 million and countless volunteer hours from Aflac mean to children with cancer and blood disorders. But we do know that this amazing commitment gives real movement toward a cure for childhood cancer and blood disorders and inevitably a brighter future for kids everywhere."

In October Aflac will continue to celebrate the Aflac Duck's 10th birthday with a special program in conjunction with Beads of Courage, Inc., a not-for-profit organization that provides special beads to children with cancer to help chronicle their treatments and milestones. The company is sponsoring a special new Aflac Wingman bead to honor the courage of children with cancer and to let them know that there are people who support them during their fight against cancer.

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Wednesday, September 22, 2010

Meehan’s Public House Guzzle for Gus

On Thursday, Sept. 30th Meehan’s Public House in Sandy Springs will hold a very special event for employee Erin Carrasquillo’s two-year old son Gus, recently diagnosed with brain cancer. The Carrasquillo’s have racked up a hefty hospital bill and are in need of immediate help. Guzzle for Gus will include a keg bar, drink specials, live music, and more – all in support of the mighty Gus! There will be a $10 cover charge, directly benefiting the Carrasquillo family.


Thursday, Sept. 30, 2010 at 6 p.m.
Meehan’s Public House | 227 Sandy Springs Place, Atlanta, GA 30328
$10 cover directly benefitting the Carrasquillo family
Lexi Tabback-Corn | ltabback@gmail.com | 678-907-9768
http://101concepts.com/meehanssandysprings/

For more information, contact Lexi Tabback-Corn at 678-907-9768 or call Meehan’s Public House - Sandy Springs at 404-843-8058.

Monday, September 20, 2010

1 a Minute Live Supporting Susan G. Komen for the Cure

Big Screen Event Brings Together Breast Cancer Survivors Melissa Etheridge, Olivia Newton-John and others to Share Their Stories of Hope, Courage and Survival

Presented by NCM Fathom and UniGlobe Entertainment, Docu-Drama Takes Audiences on Journey through Stages of Breast Cancer from Diagnosis to Recovery Featuring a Live Panel Discussion with Survivors

Evening of Awareness & Inspiration to be Broadcast Live to More than 525 Movie Theaters Nationwide on October 6


Breast cancer claims the life of one woman every 69 seconds - a haunting number that translates into more than 465,000 deaths each year. That statistic will form the backdrop for a one-night, star-studded event broadcast live to select movie theaters across the country illuminating women engaged in the battle of their lives against this deadly disease. 1 A Minute LIVE Supporting Susan G. Komen for the Cure will bring together survivors and celebrities for an inspiring evening of hope, awareness and discussion on Wednesday, October 6 at 8:00 p.m. Eastern / 7:00 p.m. Central / 6:00 p.m. Mountain / 8:00 p.m. Pacific (tape delayed). The 1 A Minute LIVE Supporting Susan G. Komen for the Cure event will feature a live panel discussion with cancer survivors and celebrities Melissa Etheridge, Olivia Newton-John, William Baldwin, Namrata Singh Gujral, Barbara Mori and others, bringing to light the issues faced by women with breast cancer and their families, while highlighting the optimistic strides made against the disease in recent years.

Presented by NCM Fathom and UniGlobe Entertainment, tickets for 1 A Minute LIVE Supporting Susan G. Komen for the Cure are available at www.FathomEvents.com and presenting theater box offices. For a complete list of theater locations and prices, please visit the web site (theaters and participants are subject to change). For more information about ‘1 A Minute,’ please visit www.1aminute.com.

Directed by Indo-American actress and breast cancer survivor Gujral and narrated by Kelly McGillis, the docu-drama “1 A Minute” portrays one woman’s journey through the various phases of breast cancer diagnosis and treatment, interwoven with the personal stories of celebrity survivors. The “1 A Minute” docu-drama features:

William Baldwin and Daniel Baldwin – sons of cancer survivor, actors
Nancy G. Brinker (survivor) – Susan G. Komen for the Cure Founder and CEO Goodwill Ambassador for Cancer Control for the World Health Organization
Diahann Carroll (survivor) – actress (Claudine), singer
Dr. Deepak Chopra – Eastern medicine practitioner
Priya Dutt – mother of actress Nargis Dutt, who died from cancer
Melissa Etheridge (survivor) – musician
Kelly McGillis – actress (Witness, Top Gun)
Barbara Mori (survivor) – actress (La Mujer de Mi Hermano)
Mumtaz (survivor) – actress (Tere Mere Sapne), singer
Olivia Newton-John (survivor) – actress (Grease)
Lisa Ray – actress (Water, Bollywood/Hollywood)
Namrata Singh Gurjal (survivor) – actress (Americanizing Shelly, Kaante), director
Dr. Dennis Slamon – oncologist and developer of Herceptin®
Jaclyn Smith (survivor) – actress (Charlie’s Angels)

“Having already lost two young aunts to breast cancer and furious at the toll that cancer takes around the world, I decided to turn my harrowing journey into a positive outcome. I launched ‘1 A Minute’ while going through my third chemotherapy treatment” said Gujral. “I did not want to put lipstick on cancer. Cancer is ugly and will remain so. But ‘1 A Minute’ is hopeful, positive and uplifting.”

The special event, broadcast LIVE from Woodbury University in Los Angeles, coincides with National Breast Cancer Awareness Month and will help promote awareness and prevention and support survivors of women’s cancers. Donations received from ‘1 A Minute’ will support Susan G. Komen for the Cure’s promise to end breast cancer forever.

“Thirty years ago, I promised my dying sister Susan G. Komen to do everything in my power to end breast cancer forever,” said Nancy G. Brinker, Founder and CEO of Susan G. Komen for the Cure. “1 A Minute helps fulfill that promise by encouraging a dialogue about this awful disease.”

1 A Minute LIVE Supporting Susan G. Komen for the Cure will appear in 530 select movie theaters, including AMC Entertainment Inc., Celebration! Cinema, Cinemark Holdings, Inc., Clearview Cinemas, Cobb Theatres, Georgia Theatre Co., Goodrich Quality Theaters, Hollywood Theaters, Kerasotes Showplace Theatres, Malco Theatres, Marcus Theatres, National Amusements, Rave Motion Pictures and Regal Entertainment Group movie theaters, as well as Arlington Theatre (Santa Barbara, CA), Bainbridge 5 (Seattle, WA), The Carolina (Asheville, NC), Palace Cinema 9 (South Burlington, VT), Penn Cinema (Lititz, PA) and El Raton Theatre (Raton, NM), through NCM’s exclusive Digital Broadcast Network – North America’s largest cinema broadcast network.

“There is nothing more important than giving communities the opportunity to support, discuss and share hope in the ongoing battle to cure this terrible affliction that strikes so many,” said Dan Diamond, vice president of NCM Fathom. “Breast cancer is no longer six degrees of separation—all of us in one way or another have been touched by its impact whether through a friend, mother, sister, wife or co-worker. Together, through this moving, educational and thought-provoking evening we can take another step to stop the clock to beat breast cancer.”
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Sponsor a Child Today and Give Hope for a Better Tomorrow

I bet you would be shocked to know that every 30 seconds in the United States, a child is abused. And, that annually, there are over 100,000 abuse cases reported in Georgia alone. Many more children need a safe place to live, free from the threat of abuse in the night, or abandonment in the morning.

Since 1965, The Children’s Village at Christian City has been “home” to over 1,000 abandoned, abused, and neglected children! Christian City is a nonprofit, nondenominational organization that provides these special children a safe haven in a loving, family centered, residential setting. They also provide foster care placement in well qualified homes in the community.

The Children’s Village cares for children both by private placement and from the Department of Family and Children Services. With a focus on family, education and healing, Christian City is known and respected throughout the State of Georgia for providing a program of excellence. We minister to those who are dealing with life crisis, such as the death of a parent, divorce, or sexual, physical, and emotional abuse. The program’s family environment allows children from every background to have access to a traditional family unit and support systems to help mend their wounded spirits. The Children’s Village may be the only home some children ever know.

On a 500 acre campus in Union City, the children live in cottages with full time house parents. Each cottage functions as one big family including daily chores, homework, regular church attendance and traditional sit-down meals. Dedicated house parents are an important component of why the Children’s Village has so many successes in turning broken-spirited, angry or sad children, into productive, successful, good hearted kids. Many of these children grow up to become happy, healthy adults who serve the community as firefighters, school teachers, air line employees, or in the legal field. Sara’s story demonstrates this well:

Sarah’s father was in prison and her mother had the mental capacity of a third grader and was unable to care for her. She spent her adolescent years living at Christian City. Sarah says, “If it weren’t for Christian City, I don’t know where I would be. I came to Christian City at the end of my 6th grade…I was twelve. I had been living in and out of emergency shelters. My house parents treated me as their own child from the first time we ever met. Even if I was hard to get along with, they still loved me. We had a great life and were very connected as a family. My house parents encouraged me in my school work and in extra activities. When I was struggling academically, they hired a tutor. They were always there to help me with my homework, and then later to help me apply for a good college. I recently graduated from Goizueta School of Business and am planning to go to law school. I am where I am today, because of the positive influence of my house parents and of Christian City.”

Christian City has a new focus on fundraising through their Child Sponsorship Program, where you can Sponsor a Child for as little as $30 a month. This is an easy way to support The Children’s Village and is very simply done with a check, debit, or credit card. If you are able to give less than “a buck a day” on a monthly basis, would you please consider Sponsoring a Child Today?

For more information on The Children’s Village at Christian City access www.christiancity.org or call Heidi Becker at 770-703-2636.

Thursday, September 16, 2010

Charity Car Show at Atlanta Motor Speedway

Friends of Jeff Brown will be conducting a charity car show this Sunday, September 19, 2010, at Atlanta Motor Speedway.

You are invited to come and participate beginning at 12:00pm this Sunday. Organizers will also be offering a bake sale, yard sale and an escorted motorcycle ride through Henry County at 2:00pm. Proceeds from this event will be given to Jeff Brown and his family to defray the costs of his medical care.

For additional information, contact the organizers, Jerilynn Robinson and Shawn Miller at 678-492-7707 or 404-310-2210.

Rebuilding Together Atlanta and Pepsi Beverages Company Revitalize Carter G. Woodson Elementary School

/PRNewswire/ -- Rebuilding Together Atlanta, an affiliate of the nation's leading nonprofit working to preserve affordable homeownership, is working with Pepsi Beverages Company (PBC) to drive revitalization efforts to a local elementary school, Carter G Woodson Elementary.

This project is one of seven Rebuilding Together affiliate projects awarded fall 2010 grants from PBC. The amount of grants donated by Pepsi totals more than $100,000, which gives affiliates the means to help homeowners and community centers free of charge, across the country this fall.

"The work being completed will not only directly benefit the teachers, staff and students, but it will also benefit the health and welfare of our school system and community," said Jan Jordan, executive director of Rebuilding Together Atlanta. "Pepsi's dedication to our community will allow our neighborhoods to continue on a path of positive growth and revitalization."

PBC associates will join the Rebuilding Together Dallas team to revitalize The Salvation Army community center. In addition to refurbishing the community center in Dallas, Pepsi Beverages Company, the North American beverage business unit of PepsiCo, is mobilizing associates in its six business units to refurbish homes and community centers in San Diego, Atlanta, Washington D.C., Pittsburgh, St. Louis, and Seattle throughout the months of September and October.

Carter Woodson Elementary School (K-5) has been serving the Atlanta area for over 40 years. Located in a low-income area of Atlanta, the school serves over 400 students, and was recently recognized as a National Blue Ribbon School of Excellence. The students at Woodson are called "scholars" because Dr. Carter G. Woodson was the second African-American to receive his doctorate from Harvard University, therefore high expectations, hard work and risk taking is mandatory at Woodson.

The Pepsi Beverages Company has adopted this school and has raised funds on their behalf. The project will engage over 60 volunteers to engage in a varied workscope, including: building book shelves, painting and some exterior work.

As a National Corporate Sponsor, the Pepsi Beverages Company has been an active collaborator and sponsor of many Rebuilding Together projects and efforts since 2008. During this time, nearly $1 million has been utilized to serve communities in need through Pepsi's support of Rebuilding Together. These contributions are an articulation of PBC's and PepsiCo's dedication to "Performance with Purpose" - Pepsi's commitment to give back to the communities in which it serves as well as delivering sustainable growth. The 'PBC Gives Back' projects identified by Rebuilding Together preserve affordable homeownership by providing repair, accessibility modifications, and energy efficient upgrades for low-income homeowners and community centers serving low-income neighborhoods.

"Pepsi is committed to serving homeowners and communities who are in need of our resources and volunteer-power," said Catherine Patterson, senior manager, PBC Foundation & Community Engagement. "We are pleased to continue our work with Rebuilding Together to deliver tangible impact to communities nationwide and rebuild houses and centers into safer and warmer places."

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Indoor Cyclists Not Just Spinning Their Wheels

Ovarian Cycle Events Fund Research

One of their mottos is “where there’s a wheel, there’s a way,” and Ovarian Cycle participants have found a unique way to raise funds for cancer research. To celebrate the success of their 2010 rides, the Atlanta-based non-profit organization will donate $190,000 to Ovarian Cancer Research this September. September is Ovarian Cancer Awareness Month and to date, there is still no reliable early detection test for Ovarian Cancer. Ovarian Cycle participants hope to change that.

On Wednesday, September 15, Ovarian Cycle announced donations to three Ovarian Cancer Research Organizations: Ovarian Cancer Institute (Atlanta), Ovarian Cancer Research Fund (New York) and The Norma Livingston Ovarian Cancer Foundation (Birmingham). The funds were raised through Ovarian Cycle Ride to Change the Future™, a signature indoor cycling event (6hours/100 virtual miles) now in its seventh year.

Ride to Change the Future™ was launched in Atlanta in 2004 in memory of Atlanta native, Debbie Green Flamm. The event continues to expand. Birmingham, Alabama hosted their first Ovarian Cycle Ride to Change the Future™ in 2008. Now, in 2010, Ovarian Cycle’s signature indoor cycling events have expanded to Tallahassee, FL, Boulder, CO, and Seattle, WA.

“Each year we continue to grow,” said Ovarian Cycle Founder Bethany Diamond. “Over 240 riders participated in our spring 2010 rides and Boulder and Seattle are still to come this fall.” She added, “I continue to be amazed by the dedication of the riders who train for weeks and solicit much needed donations.”

About Ovarian Cycle
The Ovarian Cycle “Ride to Change the Future” started in 2004 in Atlanta to raise funds for research leading to the early detection of ovarian cancer. Ovarian Cycle’s signature cycling events (6 hours/100 virtual miles) inspire people to fitness while raising both funds and awareness for this important research. Since its inception, Ovarian Cycle, Inc., a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization, has raised more $886,000.



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Charity Car Show This Weekend at Atlanta Motor Speedway

Friends of Jeff Brown will be conducting a charity car show this Sunday, September 19, 2010, at Atlanta Motor Speedway.

You are invited to come and participate beginning at 12:00pm this Sunday.  Organizers will also be offering a bake sale, yard sale and an escorted motorcycle ride through Henry County at 2:00pm.  Proceeds from this event will be given to Jeff Brown and his family to defray the costs of his medical care.

For additional information, contact the organizers, Jerilynn Robinson and Shawn Miller at 678-492-7707 or 404-310-2210.

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Monday, September 13, 2010

Foresters, KaBOOM! & Volunteers Build New Playground for Southeast Atlanta Children

/PRNewswire/ -- Thomasville Heights Elementary School received a brand new playground September 11 thanks to the effort of more than 200 volunteers from Foresters(TM), the school and non-profit KaBOOM! The new playground will serve 7,500 children and their families in the Atlanta community for years to come.

"Foresters is more than a life insurance provider," said Bruce Burak, National Sales Manager with Foresters. "Foresters also invests in its members and in communities where they live, such as Atlanta. Foresters believes in creating opportunities for families to spend healthy time together, like the Thomasville Heights Elementary playground we all built here together."

Foresters, a life insurance provider committed to the well-being of families, is funding 20 playground builds across North America in 2010. By investing $1.5 million in these projects, Foresters is partnering with KaBOOM! to build playgrounds that will eventually serve more than 250,000 children and their families.

The playground at Thomasville Heights Elementary will provide 7,500 children and their families in the southeast Atlanta community with a great place to play. In less than eight hours, the child-designed playground was built from scratch by hundreds of volunteers from Foresters, the school and the surrounding community. In addition, children and families spent the day playing games and participating in arts and crafts activities. Playgrounds are an ideal place for families to get to know other families and build strong communities.

"With the addition of this playground, our children and their families will have a safe place to connect and play," said Thomasville Heights Elementary Principal Charles Penn. "This play space is going to be a tremendous asset to our entire community."

Thanks to the work of Foresters, Thomasville Heights Elementary and KaBOOM!, children and their families now have a 3,600 square-foot playground to call home that includes features such as a Slither Slide, Rockblocks Climbing Wall and Tic-Tac-Toe Activity panel.

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Celebrity Artists and Musicians Take the American Cancer Society's Campaign for More Birthdays to the Next Level

/PRNewswire/ -- The American Cancer Society, the official sponsor of birthdays, today announced details of a unique new campaign that marks the next phase of the Society's movement for More Birthdays. Over the past several months, dozens of the biggest names in music and art have come together, inspired by the efforts of the American Cancer Society, its supporters and everyone affected by cancer, to generously donate their talent and artwork to help amplify the voice of the More Birthdays movement. To date, artists such as Keith Urban, Justin Bieber, Jack Johnson, Colbie Caillat, Eric Carle, Maroon 5, Masha D'Yans and more have joined the More Birthdays movement, and others continue to join every day.

Musicians joining the campaign each perform their own special rendition of "Happy Birthday," one of the most well-known songs in the world, while each visual artist creates or donates artwork inspired by specific facts about how the American Cancer Society has contributed to progress against cancer. The musician and artist contributions have been turned into traditional advertising elements such as television, magazine and online ads, as well as birthday merchandise housed in a new art and music gallery on morebirthdays.com. There the public can help celebrate More Birthdays by sending custom e-cards or buying gift wrap, posters, limited-edition prints and more - all created from the exclusive art and music donated to the campaign. Each donation made or item purchased will help the American Cancer Society raise money and save more lives to create a world with less cancer and More Birthdays.

"I love the spirit of the American Cancer Society's More Birthdays campaign because it celebrates life," said three-time Grammy Award winner Keith Urban. "The marking of time, especially when spent with family and friends on that special day, helps to remind us of the little things that are most important to all of our lives."

"I think it's really important to support More Birthdays because the Society is helping out so much to save lives," said multiple platinum singing sensation Justin Bieber. "Hopefully, me singing Happy Birthday to people through this effort will make them smile."

"Thanks in part to the progress we've made, today we are celebrating 350 birthdays each and every day that would have been otherwise lost to cancer," said John R. Seffrin, PhD, chief executive officer, American Cancer Society. "Now we are working relentlessly toward a world where we can celebrate tens of thousands More Birthdays every day, and we need every tool at our disposal. We hope the support of these wonderful artists and musicians will capture the public's attention and inspire them to help us make more progress and move us closer to a world where cancer never steals another year of anyone's life."

The campaign is the creative work of the Society's partner advertising and public relations agencies, led by The Martin Agency with strategic support from Brodeur Partners and Vanguard Entertainment Media Marketing Group.

The American Cancer Society invites everyone to visit morebirthdays.com and join these entertainers, artists and the thousands of supporters who have already joined the movement to create a world with less cancer and More Birthdays.

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Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation Names Morgan Kendrick Corporate Chair for Its Annual Walk to Cure Diabetes

/PRNewswire/ -- The Georgia Chapter of the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation (JDRF) has announced that Morgan Kendrick, incoming president of Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Georgia (BCBSGa), will serve as the Corporate Chair for its annual fundraising event, Walk to Cure Diabetes. As the JDRF Georgia Chapter's largest event, the Walk is expected to bring together more than 10,000 diabetes supporters. The event is scheduled in Atlanta at Centennial Olympic Park on Saturday, Oct. 16, 2010, and Johns Creek at State Farm Technology Park on Sunday, Oct. 17, 2010.

"Diabetes is becoming an epidemic in our country, and chances are we all know someone impacted by this disease. This is certainly true for me, and many of our 3,000 employees and 3 million members in Georgia, and that's why we have chosen to partner with JDRF and the Walk to Cure Diabetes. We want to make a real difference in the lives of those that we touch," said Kendrick.

In 2009, the Walk raised more than $2.1 million to fund research to find a cure for Type 1 diabetes. With the assistance of BCBSGa, JDRF plans to once again exceed $2 million and accelerate the cure for this widespread disease.

"We are enthusiastic to once again have the support of BCBSGa at the 2010 Walk to Cure Diabetes. The exceptional growth and success of the Walk is a direct result of our loyal partners, like BCBSGa," said Clanci Jordan, JDRF Georgia executive director.

As many as 3 million people in the U.S. are now living with Type 1 diabetes. Each year, more than 15,000 children are diagnosed with diabetes - that's 40 children per day. More than 80 percent of JDRF's expenditures directly support research and research-related education.

Corporate sponsorships, corporate Walk Teams and Family Walk Teams will be the key to the success of the Walk to Cure Diabetes. For more information about JDRF, the critical research they fund and how you can help, call 404-420-5990, or visit www.jdrf.org.

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Saturday, September 11, 2010

Soles4Souls, the Shoe Charity, is Running Out of Shoes!

Nashville-based charity asking its grassroots network to immediately collect new and gently worn shoes 

Soles4Souls Inc., the shoe charity that gives away free shoes to people in desperate need, is running out of shoes. The non-profit organization has responded aggressively to the many natural disasters around the world and has nearly depleted its stock of both new and gently worn shoes.

“Now, more than ever before, we need our friends and partners to stand with us and send us all the shoes they can spare,” said Wayne Elsey, Founder and CEO of the charity. “We've sent everything we had to suffering people. Thankfully, we have the most amazing support network of individual heroes, and today, we need them to engage their family and friends to clean out their closets and help us respond to the needs of people around the world and here in the U.S.,” he said.

Elsey said that supporters could create their own neighborhood shoe drives, network with their friends (school, church, gym, or Facebook) to create a community event, or simply clean out their own closets and send the shoes to the closest collection point (locations listed at www.giveshoes.org).

In addition to participation locations for individual donations, 12 Suddath locations have joined forces with our four permanent warehouses to act as collection points for large donations. Suddath has teamed with Soles4Souls during the past year by offering discount transportation and collection facilities. They requested to be a part of this effort to help reuse the estimated 1.5 billion pairs of shoes sitting idle in closets. The charity acts as a comprehensive recycling program for footwear, as it gives new purpose to shoes lying dormant in closets, attics and garages.

Soles4Souls does not throw out any footwear it receives. If any donated shoes are unusable, the charity recycles the footwear into materials used for playgrounds, insulation and other uses. According to Soles4Souls, this has happened once before when the charity responded to victims of three natural disasters within a 5 week period.

Today, because of the charity's aggressive donation policy toward helping victims in the Gulf Coast, survivors of the Haiti earthquake and Pakistan floods, and answering countless requests from Americans in need (combined with a sluggish economic climate), it is running low on much-needed footwear donations.

“If you ever wanted to be an active part of the Soles4Souls team, now is the chance to jump in with both feet and make a significant impact in your community and around the world,” Elsey said. “We need you to respond to our call to action and contact us,” he said.

Visit www.giveshoes.org to get contact information and learn more about the way Soles4Souls benefits people in need around the world and in your community.

More About Soles4Souls® 
Soles4Souls collects shoes from warehouses of footwear companies and the closets of people like you. We distribute these shoes, free of charge, to people in need around the world. Since 2005, Soles4Souls has given away over 11 million pairs of new and gently worn shoes in 126 countries (currently distributing one pair every 7 seconds). Soles4Souls is a 501(c)(3) recognized by the IRS and donating parties are eligible for tax advantages. Visit www.giveshoes.org for more information.

Friday, September 10, 2010

Homes Dedicated on 9-11

/PRNewswire/ -- On Sept. 11 thousands of volunteers are wrapping up a week of building, repairing or dedicating more than 100 homes for those in need as part of the worldwide Millard Fuller Legacy Build, organized by the Fuller Center for Housing.

The Fuller Center for Housing is an affordable housing nonprofit working in 60 U.S. cities and 17 nations throughout the world. The Legacy Build, now in its second year, was established to honor Millard Fuller, the founder of Habitat for Humanity and The Fuller Center.

"September 11 affected the lives of millions and destroyed a community. This is a way that I can rebuild a community close to my own home," Jodi Newell, a volunteer from Indianapolis, Ind. said. "It's a day out of my life that will help the lives of many others."

Six newly renovated homes will be dedicated on Sept. 11 in Atlanta, Ga. as part of the Legacy Build. The Fuller Center of Greater Atlanta is calling the dedication a Day of Celebration. Six families will celebrate as they walk their new homes that were once abandoned or in dire need of major renovation.

In a time where the nation has seen record numbers of home foreclosures, the Fuller Center for Housing, with the help of thousands of volunteers, is demonstrating the capability of citizens to continue to address the housing needs of low-income families.

Indianapolis, Ind. is the international host city for the worldwide Legacy Build. Home dedications in that city will be held Sept. 10 for the 22 families. In just one week, eight new homes were completed, 13 dilapidated homes received major repairs and one abandoned duplex was completely remodeled.

"When I get those keys, I'll be filled with joy," Sherrice Harris said about Friday's dedication of her new home. "I'm filled with joy now seeing all these people come together to help me and my family."

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Wednesday, September 08, 2010

CURE Childhood Cancer Announces 6th Annual “A Tribute to Our Quiet Heroes”


September 25 Luncheon Hosted by Chris Glavine to Support Pediatric Cancer Research

CURE Childhood Cancer announces its 6th Annual “A Tribute to Quiet Heroes” luncheon, to be held from 11a.m. to 2p.m. on September 25, 2010 at the Grand Hyatt in Buckhead. The event, which honors mothers of children with cancer whose love and tireless dedication guide their families through an unimaginable journey, has raised more than $1 million for pediatric cancer research since its inception in 2005.

"The ‘Quiet Heroes’ luncheon is our way of honoring and providing a day of respite to the women who take care of their children with cancer so quietly and selflessly throughout the year. We love being able to treat these mothers to a special day out, all to benefit a cause we are passionate about,” said Kristin Connor, CURE’s Executive Director.

The event is hosted each year by Chris Glavine, wife of former Major League Baseball player Tom Glavine, who helped launch the inaugural event five years ago. Emmy-award winning news anchor Jill Becker of 11 Alive, herself the mother of a childhood cancer survivor, will emcee, and the featured speaker will be Nancy Keene, author and co-author of several books for families of children with cancer, including Childhood Leukemia and Childhood Cancer.

The event will also include a silent auction with items such as an autographed Justin Bieber guitar, an opportunity for one lucky Little League team to receive coaching from Tom Glavine at his home and play baseball on the infield in his Country Club of the South backyard, dinner with Chris and Tom Glavine, a Macbook Pro and 2011 Masters’ Tournament final round badges available for bidding. Tickets are $125 and can be purchased online at www.quietheroes.org.

Founded in 1975, Atlanta, Georgia-based CURE Childhood Cancer has raised millions of dollars for research and ongoing education of pediatric cancer and is focused on supporting childhood cancer experts, locally and nationally, who work daily to discover a cure for pediatric cancer. CURE Childhood Cancer currently funds two pediatric oncology Fellows at the Emory University School of Medicine. CURE Childhood Cancer also offers programs that address the critical/urgent needs of patients and their families. For more information go to www.curechildhoodcancer.org or contact Ms. Kristin Connor, Executive Director, at 770-986-0035.
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Belk Fall Charity Sale on November 6 to Benefit Local Charities and Schools

Spring Charity Sale raised more than $4.5 million for hundreds of nonprofits throughout the South

Belk invites local charities, schools and other nonprofit organizations to participate in its Fall Charity Sale on November 6. The event will once again benefit communities throughout the company’s 16-state market area. The last Belk Charity Sale held May 1, 2010, raised more than $4.5 million for hundreds of participating nonprofit organizations.

Charity Sale tickets are available at all Belk stores for participating local, nonprofit organizations to sell in advance of the event. All proceeds from each $5 ticket sold will be retained by the charity. Beginning Friday, October 29, tickets may also be purchased at Belk stores with all donations equally divided among the participating charities and schools from each local store. 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 the tickets and collateral materials at no cost to the participating groups.

The four-hour, in-store shopping event on November 6 offers an excellent fundraising opportunity for participating organizations and a chance for customers to support their favorite charities and take advantage of special discounts on purchases made during the event.

In exchange for a $5 donation, customers will receive a ticket admitting them to the Charity Sale on November 6 from 6 to 10 a.m., entitling them to merchandise discounts ranging from 20 to 70 percent on purchases throughout the store, including special savings on rarely discounted brands. Customers will also receive $5 off their first purchase of $5 or more at the event, and Belk cardholders will receive double Rewards points for card purchases. Belk Elite cardholders will receive triple Rewards points for card purchases.

When the doors open at 6 a.m. on November 6, the first 100 customers in each store will receive a free Belk gift card and three lucky winners company-wide will receive a gift card valued at $1,000. In addition, all participating charities and schools will be automatically registered to win one of three $1,000 donations from Belk in a company-wide drawing.

The event, held semi-annually since Fall 2007, has raised a total of more than $22 million for participating nonprofit organizations in Belk markets throughout the Southeast.

Charity representatives interested in taking part in this one-of-a-kind fundraising event should contact their local Belk store manager for more information.

Click here for your local Belk contact information

In order to participate in the Belk Charity Sale, organizations must have an IRS Section 501(c)(3) designation from the Internal Revenue Service.

Friday, September 03, 2010

DRAGON*CON 2010 Charity Auction to Benefit Lupus Foundation of America

Dragon*Con, held annually over Labor Day weekend in Atlanta, GA, is North America's largest annual science fiction and popular arts convention, but it is much more. Each year Dragon*Con selects a charity to benefit from an auction held during the convention. This year’s charity is the Georgia Chapter of the Lupus Foundation of America.

The Lupus Foundation of America (LFA) is the nation's leading nonprofit voluntary health organization dedicated to finding the causes of and cure for lupus and providing support and services to all people affected by lupus. Locally, the Georgia Chapter serves the 55,000 Georgians living with lupus with awareness and educational programs. Nationally, the Lupus Foundation of America supports research into the causes of lupus and the development of new treatments to improve the quality of life for people with lupus.

Lupus is an autoimmune disease that can vary in severity from mild to very serious. It can affect any part of the body, though it most commonly affects the skin, joints, and internal organs. Normally, our immune system responds to foreign ―invaders, such as bacteria and viruses, by producing antibodies. In lupus, the immune system can’t tell the difference between a true threat and its own tissue. The body then creates autoantibodies, which attack healthy tissue, causing pain, inflammation, and damage to the affected part of the body.

Lupus can strike anyone of any age. It is more common in women than men, and more common among people of color. An estimated 1.5 to 2 million Americans are believed to have lupus – more than the number affected by multiple sclerosis, cystic fibrosis, cerebral palsy, sickle cell anemia, leukemia, and HIV combined. Because the symptoms vary so much, many people go years before receiving a diagnosis.

The cause of lupus is unknown and there is no cure. However, it is highly treatable with medication and most patients are able to lead a normal life.

The Dragon*Con Charity Auction will take place Sunday, September 5th from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. in the Regency V Ballroom of the Atlanta Hyatt Regency Hotel. Items up for bid include memorabilia donated by Dragon*Con guests, artwork, signed books, and comics- related items. The Georgia Aquarium has donated four passes to the aquarium’s behind the scenes tour, valued at $280. All bidders must check in to receive a paddle to be used to bid during the auction.

The auction will be followed at 4 p.m. by the Stargate Multiverse Track auction, featuring memorabilia, props, and artwork from the Stargate film and television series. The proceeds of the Stargate auction also benefit the Georgia Chapter of the Lupus Foundation of America.
Over the past three years, Dragon*Con’s charity auctions have raised over $75,000 for charities including the American Diabetes Association, the American Heart Association, and the Alzheimer’s Association.

Additional information about the charity auction can be found at http://www.dragoncon.org/charity.php. Ticketing and other convention information can be found at www.dragoncon.org.

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Thursday, September 02, 2010

NASCAR Driver Tony Stewart and the Office Depot Foundation Team Up to Donate 4,000 Book Bags to Atlanta-Area Children in Need

(BUSINESS WIRE)--Office Depot® (NYSE:ODP), a leading global provider of office products and services, and the Office Depot Foundation announced today that Tony Stewart, driver of the No. 14 Office Depot/Old Spice Chevy Impala in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series™, will join the Foundation today, September 2, to donate 4,000 book bags to non-profit organizations and schools in the Atlanta area.

“The Foundation is tremendously excited to offer this award-winning program for the 10th consecutive year”

The donations will be made during a special “Back-to-School Celebration” event beginning at 4 p.m. local time at the Office Depot store located at 2625 Piedmont Road in Atlanta. In addition to Stewart, special guests will include Andrea Boone, commissioner of Constituent Services for Atlanta Mayor Kasim Reed and Saundy Hutto, director for new business development and marketing with Speedway Children’s Charities.

This year, the Office Depot Foundation is celebrating the 10th anniversary of its National Backpack Program. Since the program began in 2001, Office Depot and the Office Depot Foundation have donated approximately 2.3 million backpacks and book bags to children in need.

“The Foundation is tremendously excited to offer this award-winning program for the 10th consecutive year,” said Mary Wong, president of the Office Depot Foundation, who will participate in the event. “Every year, we have seen our backpacks and book bags bring hope to children whose families might not be able to afford to buy one for them. Parents and teachers alike tell us that we truly are helping children to build self-confidence, boost self-esteem and achieve greater success in the classroom – all as a result of being properly prepared for school.”

Stewart will help host the “Back-To-School Celebration” event as he prepares for the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series™ Emory Healthcare 500 race at Atlanta Motor Speedway (Sunday, Sept. 5, 7:30 p.m. EDT, ESPN). He is a two-time Sprint Cup Series race winner at the 1.54-mile track. Stewart is partnering with the Office Depot Foundation for the second year in a row and is helping the organization donate more than 300,000 backpacks and book bags throughout this 2010 back-to-school season.

“I am very proud to partner with the Office Depot Foundation again this year and to be able to help kids in need across the country,” Stewart said. “I can tell you from experience how rewarding it is to see the look on these kids’ faces when they get a new book bag – it’s an automatic boost of confidence for them and helps them feel ready to take on the new school year just like everybody else. No matter what career path you choose in life, education is the foundation to success, and every kid deserves to head back to school with the tools they need to succeed.”

The non-profit organizations and schools scheduled to participate in the September 2 donation event include:

* Atlanta Public Schools
* Clayton County Schools
* DeKalb County School System/DeKalb County Public Schools Foundation
* Fulton Education Foundation
* CaringWorks
* CHRIS Kids, Inc.
* City of Refuge
* Communities In Schools of Atlanta
* Easter Seals North Georgia
* Georgia Alliance to End Homelessness, Inc.
* Metro Atlanta CASA
* SafeHouse Outreach
* Walter F. White Elementary School
* Women’s Resource Center to End Domestic Violence

The Foundation is hosting more than 20 “Back-to-School Celebrations” in cities across the U.S. – five of which will include Tony Stewart. The Office Depot Foundation is partnering with a number of national non-profit organizations – including the Tony Stewart Foundation, the National Court Appointed Special Advocates (CASA) Association, Community Anti-Drug Coalitions of America (CADCA), Feed The Children, the Kids In Need Foundation, Nourish America, Zach Bonner’s Little Red Wagon Foundation and the National Foundation for Women Legislators – whose members participate in all 50 states. For the third consecutive year, donations will be made to children of the Navajo Nation in Arizona and the Rosebud Sioux Tribe in South Dakota.

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Wednesday, September 01, 2010

Libby's Fruits and Vegetables Offers Families the Chance to Receive a Year's Supply of Canned Vegetables by Supporting Feeding America

/PRNewswire/ -- For the second consecutive year, Libby's Fruits and Vegetables is celebrating Get Back to the Table month by launching its annual Virtual Canned Food Drive in support of Feeding America and the increased demand on its network of food banks. This online food drive encourages families to rally their communities to help those less fortunate enjoy a meal together. Families who raise $1,500 or more for Feeding America will get their pantries stocked with a year's supply of canned vegetables from Libby's (1). In addition, Libby's Fruits and Vegetables will match up to $40,000 of donations raised by Dec. 13, 2010, to help provide more than half a million meals for needy families.

This forms part of Libby's long-term commitment to hunger relief. Earlier this year, the company donated a record five million pounds of canned food to Feeding America food banks across the country.

"Libby's is committed to bringing affordable, simple and delicious meals to the family table. Get Back to the Table month is a celebration of family mealtime and all the benefits dining together brings," commented Bruce Wolcott, vice president of marketing, Seneca Foods Corporation. "Many American families struggle to put food on the table, so we are working with Feeding America to make helping others easier than ever. With just the click of a mouse, anyone can help less fortunate families enjoy a meal together."

Food banks are feeling the pressure of the slow economic recovery. A recent report released by the U.S. Department of Agriculture showed that nearly 17 million children in the U.S. live on the brink of hunger. Overall, more than 16 percent, or 49 million people in the U.S., run short of nutritious food.

"Feeding America is currently providing food to nearly six million Americans each and every week, about 50 percent more than just four years ago," said Vicki Escarra, president and CEO of Feeding America. "We are grateful that Libby's Fruits and Vegetables continues to work with us to find new ways to get more food to more people in need. We could not accomplish the critical work we do without partners like Libby's."

To help Feeding America with this growing problem, families are encouraged to participate in the Virtual Canned Food Drive by visiting GetBacktotheTable.com. There they can create a team profile and engage their communities to help hungry families in their area. For every $5 raised, Feeding America will help provide 35 meals to those in need.

(1)The prize will be awarded by Libby's Vegetables in the form of 200 manufacturers coupons good for any Libby's Vegetables product.

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