Rolling for Heroes

On Saturday, September 7, 2013, bikers came out to support Healing 4 Heroes in their 3rd annual "Rollin' for Heroes" Remembrance Ride in Newnan, GA. 

We happened along at the end for the fun side of the event.  Listening to the great band and participating in the raffle for the prizes was a treat for all the participants and their families.

Mike Quinn, a local Newnan Vietnam Vet, urges others to get involved with Healing 4 Heroes as the veterans with PTSD need our help and support.

Shanon Clay of Williamson, GA, commented she is proud to support Healing 4 Heroes in their mission to help wounded veterans through training and supplying of service dogs for all their individual needs.  In addition, she encourages others to support our troops, support their families as our heroes are important to us.

Healing 4 Heroes is a nonprofit group based in Peachtree City whose mission is to train and place psychiatric service dogs to veterans with PTSD.  What makes this group so special is they train shelter dogs to become companions to the vets.  The dogs are trained to assist the veterans with up to seven tasks.

 What can we say?  Saving two lives just touches our heart.

To learn more how you can help, follow Healing 4 Heroes on Facebook or send an email to healing4heroes@aol.com .  Or better yet, pick up the phone.  Call 678-364-9993 and ask Piper how you can become involved.

Books A Million Bookfair Benefits Advo-Kids CASA

Books A Million in Peachtree City is partnering with CASA to raise funds through their Bookfair program, a special day of discounts and matching contributions. This is a great time to pick up the new book or magazine that you've been wanting.

On Saturday, September 19th from 10 AM until 4 PM all purchases presented with our special Books A Million CASA coupon will earn a 10% discount. Not only will you receive a discount, but Books A Million will contribute a matching amount to Advo-Kids CASA! Click this link to open and print your copy of the coupon flyer.

You can help our contributions grow by forwarding this flyer to your friends and family and urging them to shop at Books A Million on September 19th.

Books A Million is located at 258 City Circle in The Avenue Shopping Center in Peachtree City. Please note that this offer excludes the use of the BAM card or other offers and the coupon must be presented at the cash register with your purchase between the hours of 10:00 AM and 4:00 PM.

Advo-Kids CASA wishes to thank you as well as Books A Million and their Peachtree City store staff for the kind and willing support!
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Jeffrey Fashion Cares Atlanta Announces 2009 Live Auction Items

Featuring an Array of Unparalleled Auction Items Including a Napa Valley Wine Experience and New York Fashion Week Getaway with Tickets to the Jason Wu Runway Show for his Spring 2010 Collection

Jeffrey Fashion Cares, benefiting the Susan G. Komen for the Cure Greater Atlanta Affiliate and the Atlanta AIDS Partnership Fund (AAPF), has announced the live auction items for its 2009 event on Monday, August 31st at 55 Allen Plaza in Downtown Atlanta. Patrons will have the opportunity to bid on a variety of items and unparalleled opportunities during the fashionable fête, including a unique Napa Valley wine experience for four and a New York Fashion Week getaway that includes coveted tickets for the Jason Wu runway show for his Spring 2010 Collection. The event also includes a silent auction, which will feature items from Jeffrey Atlanta. Silent auction items will be on display at Jeffrey Atlanta in Phipps Plaza through Sunday, August 30.

In addition to giving attendees the option to make installment payments on their tickets or patronships, bidders online and at Fashion Cares can also choose to make payments on this year’s live auction items in a discreet, confidential way. Fashion Cares is accepting bids now on both the silent and live auction items that will be carried over to the night of the event. There is also an option to “Buy It Now” for ‘must-have’ items bidders can’t live without. For up-to-date information on all auction items, visit www.jeffreyfashioncares.com and then, email bids@jeffreyfashioncares.com to place a bid or secure items prior to the event.

“We are very fortunate to have so many generous organizations behind our efforts to present an array of unforgettable live auction items at this year’s event in order to help us meet our goals in raising money and awareness for our beneficiaries. We also understand the current economic climate has taken a toll on everyone; and feel it is more important than ever to present viable payment options to our attendees,” say Event Chairs Sacha Taylor and Lila Hertz.
Live auction items to be auctioned off at event include:

Napa Valley Wine Experience--May 6 - 9, 2010

A unique Napa Valley wine experience for two couples, along with time in San Francisco is complete with luxury accommodations, “behind the scenes” winery and vineyard activities, as well as your very own private wine guide.
- Four Delta first-class, round-trip, unrestricted airline tickets from any location in the US.
- Accommodations for four at the winery, Cardinale, for three nights. Cardinale is a wine inspired by the mountain terroir of its Napa Valley estate and select vineyards along the Mayacamas and Vaca Ranges. Cardinale's densely planted, low yielding vines endure the challenging elements that produce exceptional grapes. The wine is nurtured and animated through careful mountain viticulture and innovative artisan methods. It is a very special place with beautiful views and wonderful hand crafted wines produced from Jess Jackson’s finest Napa Cabernet Sauvignon vineyards. It is also the sometime California retreat of the thoroughbred racehorse Curlin.
Michael Venezia, Corporate Director of Education of United Distributors Inc., wine connoisseur and gourmand, will be your personal aide de camp during you stay in Napa Valley.
- Private, VIP tours and tastings at Cardinale, Silver Oak and Opus One.
- Also, included is a one-night stay at the W San Francisco for two couples--In the heart of the SoMa district, the city is in reach. Neighbors with the San Francisco Museum of Modern Art, W San Francisco faces the beautiful Yerba Buena gardens and is blocks away from Union Square's shops, the Financial District & the Waterfront. Panoramic views of the Bay Bridge and the city skyline fill each of guest room.

Compliments of: Delta, W San Francisco & United Distributors

New York Fashionista Fantasy TripGrab your best girlfriend and jet off to New York Fashion Week—September 2009--as you rub elbows with world's most fashionable set. You may even catch a glimpse of Anna Wintour!
- Two Delta first-class, round-trip, unrestricted airline tickets from any location in the US.
- Two Nights, Three Days at The St. Regis New York--In the heart of Manhattan, a refined atmosphere and gracious service rank The St. Regis New York among the top hotels. In 2008, it received the Mobil Travel Guide Five-Star Award and AAA Five Diamond Award for the 15th consecutive year.
- Two tickets for the Jason Wu Runway Show for his Spring 2010 Collection.
- Two $500 gift certificates for a shopping spree at Jeffrey.
A $200 gift certificate at any of Chef Laurent Tourondel’s BLT restaurant concepts.
- Two $100 Bliss Certificates for spa treatments--The new Bliss 57, which is walking distance from The St. Regis, features an over-the-top treatment menu that includes their famous facials, mesmerizing massages, and mind-boggling body treatments. Their latest spa location caters to our indigenously uptown clientele (celebrities, supermodels, moms) by offering the same unique vibe, along with some aaah-inspiring improvements.
Lastly, celebrate your trip to NY with a $250 gift certificate to the Four Seasons NY’s newest addition, The Garden, an expansive wine & champagne bar serves small plates such as charcuterie & artisanal cheeses

Compliments of: Delta, Bliss, Jeffrey Kalinsky, BLT, Jeffrey, Four Seasons NY, Dan Normandin & Fashion Cares

Tiffany & Co. Earrings
How about an early Holiday Gift? Have an Anniversary coming up? A Birthday?
A Pair of 18kt Yellow Gold and Platinum Paloma Picasso Rubellite and Diamond earrings. 186 Diamonds totaling 4.11 Carats & 2 Oval Rubellites totaling 11.55 carats—Retails for $26,675

Compliments of: Tiffany & Co.

Elton John's Oscar Party
Walk the red carpet and be immersed in paparazzi flash bulbs, enjoying every bit of the glitz and glamour during this celebrity filled event.
- Two Delta first-class, round-trip, unrestricted airline tickets from any location in the US
- Invitation for two to private cocktails & dinner during the 81st Academy Awards--Sunday, March 7, 2010
- Admittance for two to a private Elton John Performance.
- Admittance for two to the Post-Oscar Elton John Party.
- Two Nights at the SLS Hotel in Beverly Hills, CA--Ideally situated at the crossroads of Beverly Hills and Los Angeles, the SLS Hotel is a landmark of sleek sophistication, just steps from The Beverly Center, the sparkling storefronts of Rodeo Drive, and favorite celebrity haunts.

Compliments of: Delta, ING, Elton John AIDS Foundation & Jeffrey Fashion Cares

Barcelona Bliss
-Where Miro meets the Mediterranean, medieval quarters showcase modernista masterpieces and Catalan cuisine complement caliente clubs, the W Barcelona is an avant-garde icon rising above a stunning waterfront in Spain’s most dynamic and stylish city.
- Six nights, Seven Days at the newly-built, W Barcelona (Opens October 2009).
- Two Massages from Bliss Spa.
- Two welcome drinks in the rooftop bar, Eclipse, with VIP access during your stay.
- Daily use of a poolside, VIP Cabana and a W beach picnic basket.
- Two W Beach Towels designed by Spanish glam illustrator, Jordi Labanda.

Compliments of: W Barcelona

The “Uptown” Atlanta Ultimate ExperiencePlace all aside and head to the posh St. Regis Atlanta for a complete getaway for two couples & wine experience of a life time!
- A night’s stay in the Empire Suite, which has two bedrooms (valued at $6,000 a night)--The 2,800 square-foot Empire Suite surrounds guests with every possible luxury and the potential for many more through the services of a bespoke St. Regis Butler. With a full kitchen and elegant dining area, a piano and a fireplace, the suite is a natural venue for intimate gatherings.
- A dinner party for four in the Empire Suite to include a private wine tasting with The St. Regis Wine Director & 3rd Best Sommelier in the World, Herve Pennequin.
- A private tour of the “back of the house” during your stay.
- Spa treatments of your choice at Remede Spa.
- A 16”X8” watercolor painting of your choice from French Artist Georges Nasri, whose art adorns the walls at the St. Regis Atlanta.

Compliments of: St. Regis Hotel, Remede Spa & Huff Harrington Fine Art, LTD.

The “Downtown” Atlanta Ultimate ExperienceIn Atlanta’s exciting Downtown, the W is a lush hideaway infused with natural elements and sensual style, where revitalization and rejuvenation beckon amid major corporations, specialty shopping, upscale living and everything cool about Hotlanta.
- A weekend night’s stay in a WOW Suite.
- Two Spa treatments of your choice at Bliss (Pick from either: Blissage75 or Dew Diligence Facial).
- Two cool cocktails from either Drink Shop, Wet Bar or Living Room.
- A private tour of the “back of the house,” including the W Residences.
- Dinner for six at nearby French American Brasserie where you will start the evening with a glass of champagne & canapés on the Rooftop Terrace. Then, Chef Stephen Sharp will prepare a savory four-course dinner for six, in their intimate wine cellar. Expect an innovative French inspired menu with wine pairings, created just for you and tailored to your palate.
- Helicopter Tour of Downtown and Buckhead, taking off from the W’s Rooftop Helipad (25-Minute Tour).

Compliments of: W Atlanta Downtown, Air Atlanta, French American Brasserie

Jeffrey Fashion Cares 2009, which includes a Pre-Show Cocktail Reception, Couture Fashion Show and Silent & Live Auctions, will kick-off Monday, August 31 at 7 p.m. at 55 Allen Plaza in Downtown Atlanta -- with fashion superstar, Jason Wu, as this year’s special guest. Immediately following the show, a VIP After-Party hosted by the W Atlanta Downtown Hotel & Residences will feature a musical performance by another special guest--Fred Schneider of the B-52’s. Jeffrey Fashion Cares, now in its 17th year, will once again benefit Susan G. Komen for the Cure Greater Atlanta Affiliate and the Atlanta AIDS Partnership Fund (AAPF). Last year’s sold-out event raised an unprecedented $800,000 with 95 cents on the dollar being donated to its beneficiaries.

2009 Presenting Sponsors to date include, Atlanta Magazine, Delta, Dennis Dean Catering, the Elton John AIDS Foundation, ING, Jeffrey, Nordstrom, Tiffany & Co., W Atlanta Downtown Hotel & Residences and We Rent Atlanta.

For more information and to purchase tickets to Jeffrey Fashion Cares 2009 event, including patron and corporate sponsorship opportunities, please visit www.jeffreyfashioncares.com/atlanta or call (404) 745-0293.
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HUD Releases Annual Homeless Assessment Report

HUD Releases 2009 (AHAR) Annual Homelessness Assessment Report
The Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) has released the Annual Homeless Assessment Report (AHAR). The AHAR showed that that the total number of people experiencing homelessness countrywide is flat, but rates of family and chronic homelessness have slightly risen. The AHAR is based on 2008 data.

The report shows Georgia's large homeless population shrank between 2007 and 2008, but found there was not enough shelter space available statewide and more than half of Georgia's homeless go unsheltered. The 2008 Annual Homeless Assessment Report to Congress, issued by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development Thursday, found there were 19,095 homeless people living in Georgia in 2008. That's down from 19,639 in 2007. The report also found Georgia was one of only eight states where the majority of homeless were unsheltered. It found 54 percent of Georgia's homeless were typically unsheltered, but said warm weather may encourage homeless to sleep outdoors.

According to the report, there are 13,936 beds available for homeless statewide. The AHAR is released annually by HUD, and the report released includes data from one-night homelessness counts that were conducted by communities in January 2008 combined with administrative data collected throughout 2008.

View The Full Report
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UGA Student Leads National Service Projects at Conference in Knoxville

Traci Jarrett, a family and consumer sciences education major at The University of Georgia and vice chair of outreach and service for the American Association of Family & Consumer Sciences (AAFCS) Student Unit (SU), along with other SU national officers, led two community service projects in Knoxville, Tennessee, during the recent AAFCS 100th Annual Conference & Expo.

More than 50 students and other conference attendees picked up trash near the Knoxville Convention Center as part of “Keep Knoxville Beautiful.” Students also worked with Lions Club International to collect over 500 used prescription and non-prescription eyeglasses and sunglasses for the “Recycle for Sight” program. The students presented the donations to Clare Crawford, a member of the Knox County North Lions Club.

“Each year millions of used eyeglasses collected by the Lions help change the lives of poor citizens in developing countries around the world. The Lions are grateful for caring partners like AAFCS in our mission to improve the lives of our fellow citizens,” said Crawford.

“As members, we are celebrating 100 years of AAFCS. When choosing our service project, the other Student Unit officers and I wanted to choose a project that would embody the governing principles of AAFCS. Our organization’s vision is ‘bringing people together to improve the lives of individuals, families and communities,’ and by participating in the Recycle for Sight project, members are doing just that,” noted Jarrett.

Founded in 1909 by Ellen Swallow Richards, the first woman graduate and professor of the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), AAFCS is the only national not-for-profit organization that provides leadership and support to FCS students and professionals across multiple practice settings.

FCS professionals help individuals, families, and communities make informed decisions about their well-being, relationships, and resources to achieve optimal quality of life. AAFCS’ 6,000 members are elementary, secondary, and post-secondary educators, researchers, and administrators; Cooperative Extension educators; and other professionals in business and industry, not-for-profit organizations, and government.

These professionals provide research and applied knowledge in the areas of personal finance, child development and parenting, consumer education, housing and environment, apparel and textiles, and health and nutrition. With national headquarters based in Alexandria, Va., AAFCS has 52 affiliates located across the United States and Puerto Rico.
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Alzheimer's Association Team Captain's Luncheon Fayette County

The annual Kick-Off Luncheon for the Fayette County Team Captains of the 2009 Southern Crescent Alzheimer’s Memory Walk was recently held with over 60 volunteers in attendance. The luncheon was hosted by the Outback Steakhouse in Peachtree City.

Following a moving presentation by caregiver Michael Dziak, Walk co-organizer Iola Snow discussed plans for this years’ 10th anniversary event planned for October 3rd.

The Walk includes participants from six different counties.

Pictured from the left are Anita Odell, Caregiver Relations - Senior Helpers; Sally Fleming, Walk Registration Chair; Elaine Gaillard, Community Relations Director - Ashley Glen; Linda Pirog, Administrator - Senior Helpers; Michael Dziak, Caregiver & program speaker; Fred Brown, Walk Co-Organizer; Donna Chavez, Owner - Outback Steakhouse; and Iola Snow, Walk Co-Organizer.

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Chef Todd Hogan Headlines at Kool Kidz Classic Polo

Renowned culinary master is featured chef at September 12 annual fundraiser

FOCUS announced today that Professional Executive Chef Todd Hogan will again offer his culinary expertise and prepare a picnic to remember for guests at the 7th Annual Kool Kidz Classic Polo Tournament, Saturday, September 12 on the polo fields of Dr. & Mrs. Phil Beegle at Cedargate Farms in Newnan, Georgia.

Chef Todd Hogan is the culinary master behind Chef Todd Hogan events, including Forever in a Day, Foods to Suit and Home Appetit. Member and recurring guest chef of the word-famous James Beard Foundation, he has held executive chef positions at fine restaurants throughout the Southeast.

The Kool Kidz Classic Polo Tournament fundraiser is an eight-goal tournament featuring exceptionally talented local, national and international players in a high quality, exciting match. In addition to the championship polo match, activities include a silent auction, a raffle, champagne and divot stomping, as well as an evening party with music.

The Kool Kidz Classic historically has benefited the Kool Kidz Foundation. As of January 2009, the Kool Kidz Foundation merged with FOCUS, a 26-year-old nonprofit that also serves children with disabilities. These two organizations combine their strengths to come together to benefit the children and the 3,000 families that they serve. The Newnan, Peachtree City, and Fayetteville communities have helped the Kool Kidz Classic Polo Tournament grow into a profitable fundraiser over the past six years.

For more information on sponsorship or the event, please contact Lucy Cusick, Executive Director, FOCUS at 770-234-9111 or at lucy@focus-ga.org or visit www.focus-ga.org.
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Kool Kidz Classic Polo Tournament Returns September 12

Annual fundraising event benefits programs for children with disabilities and their families

FOCUS announced today that the Seventh Annual Kool Kidz Classic Polo Tournament will be Saturday, September 12 on the polo fields of Dr. & Mrs. Phil Beegle at Cedargate Farms in Newnan, Georgia. The Kool Kidz Classic historically has benefited the Kool Kidz Foundation. As of January 2009, the Kool Kidz Foundation merged with FOCUS, a 26-year-old nonprofit that also serves children with disabilities.

The Kool Kidz Classic Polo Tournament fundraiser is an eight-goal tournament featuring exceptionally talented local, national and international players in a high quality, exciting match. In addition to the championship polo match, activities include a silent auction, a raffle, champagne and divot stomping, delicious food by well-known chefs, as well as an evening party with music.

Kool Kidz Foundation was founded in 2002 when a group of physical and occupational therapists noticed a gap in facilities and services available for children who fell outside the norm of their able-bodied peers. Kool Kidz Foundation developed exceptional programs and services where all children, especially those with physical, social, emotional, and cognitive needs, can learn and play together in an inclusive and challenging environment.

FOCUS began in 1983 when two medically fragile children shared a hospital room. The parents of these children became friends, finding in each other comfort, information, and friendship. FOCUS was founded to offer emotional, informational and physical support to families of children with disabilities or ongoing medical needs. FOCUS has grown to reach almost 3,000 families in metro Atlanta.

These two organizations combine their strengths to come together to benefit the children and families that they serve. The Newnan, Peachtree City, and Fayetteville communities have helped the Kool Kidz Classic Polo Tournament grow into a profitable fundraiser over the past six years.

For more information on sponsorship or the event, please contact Lucy Cusick, Executive Director, FOCUS at 770-234-9111 or at inquiry@focus-ga.org or visit www.focus-ga.org.
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Clayton State’s Parkerson Helping to Raise Funds for Agriculture Research Center in Costa Rica

John E. Parkerson, Jr., director of the Office of International Programs at Clayton State University, takes an activist role in building international relationships.

In addition to directing Clayton State’s many and varied international programs, Parkerson is also Honorary Consul of Hungary for the states of Georgia, Tennessee, North Carolina and South Carolina. And, he also serves as secretary of the board of The Tropics Foundation, the funding arm of the Tropical Agricultural Research and Higher Education Center (CATIE). CATIE’s mission, which targets impoverished communities in Latin America and the Caribbean, is to reduce rural poverty by promoting competitive and sustainable natural resource management, through higher education, research and technical cooperation. Parkerson, and his colleagues on The Tropics Foundation, are currently involved in fund-raising in support of CATIE’s center in Costa Rica.

According to Tropics Foundation President Wayne Reece, sustainable agriculture research centers have proven instrumental in alleviating poverty in developing countries in the Americas.

CATIE was formerly the field office of the Inter-American Institute for Agricultural Sciences created in 1942 by the Pan American Union (now the Organization of American States). CATIE was officially established in 1973 to serve as a graduate school, research institute and training center dedicated to rural poverty reduction through promoting sustainable agriculture and natural resource management.

Parkerson is also familiar with fund-raising foundations, since he is a past president of the board of trustees of the Clayton State University Foundation.

A unit of the University System of Georgia, Clayton State University is an outstanding comprehensive metropolitan university located 15 miles southeast of downtown Atlanta.
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Governor Lights Flame of Hope for Special Olympics Georgia at State Capitol, Kicking Off Summer Games

Governor Sonny Perdue will help light the Flame of Hope for Special Olympics Georgia (SOGA) athletes at 9:15 a.m. Friday on the front steps of the State Capitol, kicking off State Summer Games this weekend.

The torch has been passed across the state by law enforcement officers for the last few weeks and will stop at 8 p.m. Friday at the Summer Games Opening Ceremony at Emory University’s McDonough Field.

At the games, 2,100 athletes will compete in gymnastics, aquatics, athletics, volleyball, soccer, tennis and other sports Saturday and Sunday at Emory’s Woodruff P.E. Center and the Candler Soccer Field, which are free and open to the public.

Friday’s torch passing is part of a press conference to announce the 2009 Final Leg of the Law Enforcement Torch Run. Once the Governor and SOGA athlete Elena Weaver light the torch, they will pass it off to members of the 2009 Law Enforcement Torch Run, comprised of the Atlanta Police Department, Immigrations and Customs Enforcement, Georgia State Patrol and other agencies’ officers across the state.

Perdue, Weaver and Chief Billy Grogan of Dunwoody Police Department and LETR State Director will speak at the conference.

The top five Torch Run fundraising agencies are: Kennesaw Police Department, Marietta Police Department, Chatham County Sheriff’s Department, Gwinnett County Sheriff’s Department, and Villa Rica Police Department. The Torch Run’s presenting sponsor is Publix Supermarkets.
Click here for information about the games. Click here for the schedule in the program book and here for the cover and list of sponsors.

Special Olympics Georgia mission
Special Olympics Georgia provides year-round sports training and athletic competition in a variety of Olympic-type sports for 22,797 children and adults with intellectual disabilities, giving them continuing opportunities to develop physical fitness, demonstrate courage, experience joy and participate in the sharing of gifts, skills and friendship with their families, other Special Olympics athletes and the community.

KidsPeace Awarded Gold Seal of Approval by Joint Commission

Nation’s Oldest, Largest Standards-setting and Accrediting Body Notes Quality of Local Children’s Charity

By demonstrating compliance with The Joint Commission‘s national standards for health care quality and safety, KidsPeace National Centers of Georgia and the KidsPeace Wellness & Behavioral Health Center of Georgia have earned the Joint Commission’s Gold Seal of Approval™.

“We have always sought to give the best to kids who have been through the worst,” said Scott Merritt, executive director of the local children’s charity’s center in Bowdon. “The Joint Commission accreditation is powerful recognition of our commitment to safety and quality care for those in the greatest need.”

“KidsPeace’s accreditation achievement is a demonstration of the organization’s leadership and staff commitment to excellence,” says Mary Cesare-Murphy, Ph.D., executive director, Behavioral Health Care Accreditation Program, The Joint Commission. “Joint Commission accreditation requires organization-wide dedication to providing safe, client-focused care, treatment and services.”

The Joint Commission conducted an on-site evaluation of KidsPeace’s programs from March 23-25, 2009. The accreditation award, covering recognizes dedication to complying with the Joint Commission’s state-of-the-art standards on a continuous basis.

Founded in 1951, The Joint Commission seeks to continuously improve the safety and quality of care provided to the public through the provision of health care accreditation and related services that support performance improvement in health care organizations. The Joint Commission evaluates and accredits more than 15,000 health care organizations and programs in the United States, including more than 8,000 hospitals and home care organizations, and more than 6,800 other health care organizations that provide long term care, assisted living, behavioral health care, laboratory and ambulatory care services. The Joint Commission also accredits health plans, integrated delivery networks, and other managed care entities. In addition, The Joint Commission provides certification of disease-specific care programs, primary stroke centers, and health care staffing services. An independent, not-for-profit organization, The Joint Commission is the nation's oldest and largest standards-setting and accrediting body in health care.

KidsPeace has provided hope, help and healing to hundreds of Georgia children since opening its doors in 2004. With a major residential campus in Bowdon, KidsPeace helps children to overcome crises of growing up. Supported by VIP leaders, including its national spokesperson Leeza Gibbons and child safety and self-esteem icon RETRO BILL, KidsPeace helps millions more each year through prevention and awareness campaigns designed to help America’s kids and parents avoid and overcome the kinds of crises that can strike any child - from disasters and personal traumas to family issues, depression, and the many dangers of modern life. KidsPeace was named “The Outstanding Organization” of its kind in the country by the American Association of Psychiatric Services for Children and was called “a prototype of what we need for all children everywhere” by the late, nationally renowned child and family expert, Dr. Lee Salk.

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WIC Wants to Hear from You

The Georgia Department of Human Resources is pleased to announce that the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants and Children (WIC) will hold its annual public comment beginning June 1. This is an opportunity for Georgians to provide feedback on the program and suggest ways to improve WIC services through web access. The web page was developed to give the public a more efficient and private way to comment on the program.

“We encourage Georgians to take part in this comment period so they can have an impact on the WIC program,” said Dr. Sandra Elizabeth Ford, acting director of the Division of Public Health. “State staff will review the comments and suggestions that are received and use them to update our annual program plan. We count on our customers’ feedback every year to make the WIC program better.”

To make comments or provide suggestions, participants should visit the WIC website at http://health.state.ga.us/programs/wic/. Once there, individuals should click on the “public comment” link provided on the left under Women, Infants and Children (WIC) and complete the appropriate survey.

The Georgia WIC program, the nation’s fifth largest, provides monthly vouchers for supplemental foods such as cereal, eggs, juice, milk, peanut butter and infant formula to more than 320,000 participants. Women enrolled in the program also receive nutrition counseling, breastfeeding support and referrals for other health and social services.

WIC benefits are available to eligible pregnant women and women who have recently given birth, as well as infants and children up to five years of age. Eligible participants must have an income at or below 185 percent of the U.S. Poverty Income Guidelines (i.e., about $32,560 for a family of three). Participants must also be state residents who are at nutritional or medical risk as determined by a health professional.

There are more than 1,600 authorized food retailers that participate in the WIC food delivery system. WIC is 100-percent federally funded and administered by the Georgia Department of Human Resources, Division of Public Health.

For more information about Georgia’s WIC program, please call (800) 228-9173 or visit: http://health.state.ga.us/programs/wic/index.asp.

2008 WIC Eligibility Guidelines for Georgia

Size of family
(includes unborn children) Yearly income*
1 $19,240
2 25,900
3 32,560
4 39,220
5 45,880
6 52,540
7 59,200
8 65,860

*Add $6,660 for each additional family member. Also, new federal income guidelines will become effective 7/1/09.
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Fayette: Boot Drive to Benefit Heroes Campaign

On Saturday, May 23, 2009, the American Red Cross, in partnership with the Fayette County Department of Fire and Emergency Services, the Fayetteville Fire Department and the Villages Amphitheater will be hosting a boot drive for the benefit of the 2009 American Red Cross South Metro Heroes Campaign.

The boot drive will take place at The Villages Amphitheatre, located in the heart of downtown Fayetteville in the historic Main Street District. The Army Ground Forces Band will be providing world-class music in support of the U.S. Army Forces Command, headquartered at Ft. McPherson in Atlanta, Ga.

For 95 years, the American Red Cross has been a hero for thousands of people in metro Atlanta. Now, members of the community are stepping forward to be ‘Heroes for the Red Cross,’ each helping to keep the vital services of the Red Cross alive and well in Atlanta's South Metro Counties.

The South Metro Heroes Campaign is a grassroots campaign that takes place during the month of May, during which individuals, businesses, and organizations have the opportunity to raise money to support Red Cross services in Clayton, Henry, Fayette and Butts Counties.

To learn more about the South Metro Heroes Campaign, or to make a donation, please visit http://american.redcross.org/goto/southmetro.
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Gingrich Foundation Announces Charitable Contribution to the Learning Makes a Difference Foundation

The Gingrich Foundation has made a charitable contribution to the Learning Makes a Difference Foundation in Atlanta, Georgia.

The Learning Makes a Difference Foundation aims to accelerate and enhance student learning through innovative education strategies, such as the Learn, Earn and Achieve program, which provides small-group tutoring sessions and compensates students for their participation and increased grades.

“Learning Makes a Difference is committed to improving the future of our country by creating solutions to some of the most significant challenges in education,” said Callista Gingrich, President of the Gingrich Foundation. “Newt and I are thrilled to help students increase their commitment to education and prove that learning really does make a difference.”

"Thanks to the Gingrich Foundation's commitment to improving education, we have helped change the direction of nearly 75 underperforming math and science students in Atlanta,” said Heather White, Executive Director of Learning Makes a Difference. “We are grateful for the Gingrich Foundation’s support in helping our program to become a model for future innovative learning programs.”

Callista Gingrich is the President of Gingrich Productions, a performance and production company focusing on audio, video, and photographic production in Washington, D.C. Former Speaker of the House Newt Gingrich is the General Chairman of American Solutions for Winning the Future, Chairman of the Gingrich Group, and Founder of the Center for Health Transformation in Washington, D.C. and Atlanta, Georgia.

The Gingrich Foundation is a domestic non-profit corporation founded by Callista and Newt Gingrich to support charitable purposes.
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Hands On Atlanta Calls on Facebook Friends for Votes

Target Selects HandsOn Network As One of 10 Charities to Receive a Portion of $3 Million

HandsOn Network is one of 10 nationwide charities selected to participate in Bullseye Gives, Target’s first-ever Facebook giving campaign. Through May 25, HandsOn Network’s and Hands On Atlanta’s Facebook fans, constituents, donors and supporters can vote for the organization at Bullseye Campaign page to win a portion of a $3 million charitable donation. The more votes, the larger the donation.

“At Target, our reputation is built on our legacy of service, and Bullseye Gives is an incredible opportunity for us to continue to engage the public in our giving,” said Laysha Ward, president of community relations, Target. “This is a unique way to help raise awareness of the important work these deserving charities do and increase local volunteerism nationwide.”

Each charity will receive a portion of $3 million, based on the percentage of votes received per charity. All votes and dollars allocated will be updated in real time on Target’s Facebook page throughout the course of the contest and site visitors can vote once a day, every day, throughout the contest. Final donation allocations will be announced May 26. Hands On Atlanta is proud to support this campaign and is spreading the word across its 40,000- member volunteer base. As an affiliate of HandsOn Network, Hands On Atlanta stands to receive a portion of Hands On Networks’ earnings from this campaign.

The selected charities fall within Target’s core areas of giving, as well as causes that are of specific interest to its guests. The other nine charities participating include the Breast Cancer Research Foundation, Feeding America, Kids In Need, Parent Teacher Association, National Park Foundation, Operation Gratitude, Red Cross, St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital®, and The Salvation Army.

About Hands On Atlanta

In the late 1980s, Hands On Atlanta sparked a grassroots volunteer movement in Atlanta, igniting a dynamic service model that has since spread to communities across the country. As one of the nation’s largest community-based volunteer service organizations, Hands On Atlanta brings people together every day to transform neighborhoods, support nonprofit organizations and strengthen our city’s public schools.

Hands On Atlanta is an affiliate of HandsOn Network, an international alliance of volunteer organizations with affiliates in the U.S., the Netherlands, the Philippines, Brazil, China and South Africa. For more information on Hands On Atlanta, call 404-979-2800 or visit HandsOnAtlanta.org.
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Fayette: Cushing Wins Big, Raises Money for Children in Need

The results are in for the 18th annual Fayette Youth Power Parade! Peeples Elementary 5th grader, Michaela Cushing (shown here with PE coach Deborah Friday) won first place in the county, raising $900 to benefit children in need. Michaela won not only a trip for four to Disney World as the top money raiser in the county but also the school prize, all-day passes donated by Dixieland Fun Park.

Coach Deborah Friday led Peeples Elementary to raise $6,500, the most money of any school in the county, and brought them the top prize, a $500 gift certificate for PE equipment.

Held in all 17 Fayette County elementary schools, the Fayette Youth Power Parade is endorsed by the Fayette County Board of Education and benefits Fayette Youth Protection Homes, a non-profit organization which offers shelter and supportive services to children who have been the victims of abuse or neglect. At the Friday-Johnson Home, children and youth receive comprehensive services in a loving, homelike environment. FYPH also operates a community-based foster parenting program and a clothes closet for children living in foster homes and group home care.

For more information about Fayette Youth Protection Homes, call 770-461-7020 or visit their website http://www.fyph.org/.

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Legal Community Volunteers to Spruce Up Atlanta Area School for the Deaf

ServiceJuris Celebrates 10th Anniversary with School Beautification

Hands On Atlanta is proud to announce its 10th annual ServiceJuris community service project, which will feature extensive indoor and outdoor beautification of the Atlanta Area School for the Deaf on Saturday, June 27.

Hundreds of members of Atlanta’s legal community, as well as State Superintendent of Schools Kathy Cox, are expected to gather at the school for a day of volunteer service. Tasks include filling the drab hallways with colorful, themed murals; painting classrooms in energetic colors; restoring and securing outdoor play and learning areas; and reorganizing the school’s library.

The Atlanta Area School for the Deaf, located in Clarkston, Ga., was founded in 1972 and is one of only two state schools that cater to the needs of deaf children and their families. The school serves about 200 deaf and hearing-impaired children ages three through 21.

“Our school is so fortunate and appreciative that ServiceJuris selected us for this year’s project,” said Kenney Moore, director of the Atlanta Area School for the Deaf. “This project will transform our school into a more vibrant learning environment and provide a welcome surprise for students and families as they return for the 2009-2010 school year.”

This year’s ServiceJuris project marks the tenth by Hands On Atlanta, a non-profit organization that helps individuals, families and corporate and community groups find flexible volunteer opportunities at more than 400 service organizations and schools. Each year, ServiceJuris gathers volunteers from law firms, law schools, courts, corporate in-house legal departments, bar associations and companies associated with the legal community to revitalize a school, agency or local neighborhood in need. Among those who have benefited from ServiceJuris are Grant Park Conservancy, Atlanta Charter Middle School, the Vine City community, Cabbagetown Community Center and Adair Park.

“Over the past nine years, ServiceJuris volunteers have contributed more than 19,000 service hours, and now they’re ready to do it all over again,” said Gina Simpson, chief executive officer of Hands On Atlanta. “Their efforts have improved the learning conditions for thousands of school children, renovated 10 major parks, and enabled 6,500 people to better utilize their neighborhood community centers.”
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Jeffrey Fashion Cares Atlanta Announces Jason Wu as the 2009 Special Guest Designer

17th Annual Event Will Once Again Be Held at 55 Ivan Allen Plaza in Downtown Atlanta

Atlanta’s premier charitable fashion event, Jeffrey Fashion Cares, announced Jason Wu as the special guest designer for 2009. The annual event, hosted by acclaimed retailer Jeffrey Kalinsky, will once again be held at 55 Allen Plaza in Downtown Atlanta on Monday, August 31 beginning at 7 PM. Wu, who at only 26 years old has emerged as one of the leading new American designers, will follow in the footsteps of acclaimed Fashion Cares guest designers Isaac Mizrahi (2008) and Oscar de la Renta (2009) – making this year’s event one of Atlanta’s most highly anticipated fundraisers.

“I am so excited that one of the most important names in American fashion today is this year's guest designer for Jeffrey Fashion Cares,” says Kalinsky.

Combining modern lifestyle dressing with the spirit and detailing of haute couture in a way that is both innovative and romantically reflective, it was no surprise when First Lady Michelle Obama appeared wearing a Jason Wu collection ivory silk organza gown on Inauguration Night. A favorite among press, stylists and celebrities, Wu continues to receive accolades including Fashion Group International’s Rising Star Award for Women’s Ready-to-Wear in January 2008 and in July 2008 he was named one of the finalists in the CFDA/Vogue Fashion Fun.

Influenced by the classic photography of Richard Avedon and the collections of Charles James and Jacques Fath, Wu celebrates the female form by emphasizing a women’s hourglass silhouette while utilizing the most luxurious fabrications and detailing. Harking back to the days when women were always polished and styled to perfection, the Jason Wu collection aims to revitalize the art and perfection of dressing with a relaxed and youthful attitude. For more information on Jason Wu visit www.jasonwustudio.com.

For the third year, the 55 Allen Plaza building, a beautiful postmodern high-rise in Downtown Atlanta, will be the host venue for the fashion forward charity event. Co-chaired by Lila Hertz and Sacha Taylor, the 17th Annual Jeffrey Fashion Cares will once again benefit the Susan G. Komen for the Cure Greater Atlanta Affiliate and the Atlanta AIDS Partnership Fund (AAPF). Last year’s sold-out event raised a record-breaking $800,000, with 95 cents on the dollar being donated to its beneficiaries.

2009 Presenting Sponsors to date include Atlanta Magazine, Delta, Dennis Dean Catering, the Elton John AIDS Foundation, ING, Jeffrey, Nordstrom, W Downtown Atlanta Hotel & Residences, and We Rent Atlanta.

The annual event includes a Pre-Show Reception, Fashion Show, and features a special guest designer and Honorary Chair. Additional details about Fashion Cares 2009 will be announced in the coming months. For more information on Jeffrey Fashion Cares 2009, including Patron and Corporate Sponsorship, please visit www.jeffreyfashioncares.com/atlanta or call 404.745.0293.
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Pins for Promise Place Support Victims of Domestic Abuse

A day filled with bowling, great food and prizes, was the most recent fundraiser to help Promise Place continue to serve victims of domestic violence in Fayette, Upson, Spalding and Pike counties. Held at Magnolia Lanes in Griffin, bowlers came from all four counties to compete for trophies donated by Vision Trophies & Engraving.

Promise Place, also known as the Fayette County Counsel on Domestic Violence, has seen a great increase in violence in the recent economic downturn. In 2008 Promise Place assisted 1,685 women and 1,241 children in various ways. Over 450 women attended support groups and 197 victims were assisted with temporary protective orders, a court order that mandates that the abuser have no contact with the victim.

Through their Teen Dating Violence program, 1,724 high school students in the Fayette County schools were addressed by Promise Place volunteers about the red flags of an unhealthy dating relationship. Their emergency shelter stays full with women and children seeking safety in a crisis. Most come with nothing but the clothes on their backs and no financial means. Promise Place provides victims all they need to get back on their feet again.

Promise Place is always in need of donations and volunteers. Volunteer opportunities include answering the 24 hour crisis line, helping with transportation and relocation assistance, providing childcare for weekly support groups, becoming a community advocate or Teen Dating Violence prevention program presenter in the high schools, and helping with special events. Financial donations, non perishable food, paper goods, and cleaning supplies are always a need. If you would like more information on Promise Place or their programs please call 770-461-3839.

Photo: L to R starting from the top row: George Martin, Promise Place Executive Director of Operations, Vanessa Motley, Amy Leuenberger, Lance Gauntt as Abzilla the World Gym Gorilla, President of the Board of Directors Leslie Torok, Nelda Wright, Dave Banks, Bottom row: Michele Blose, Elena Dickerson
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Soles4Souls Founder Looks to the Future Through the Lens of the Past

Wayne Elsey, CEO of Shoe Charity, Challenges People to Create Habits that Stand Test of Time

Five years can seem like a long time when looking into the future. Will our priorities be the same? What will our economy look like in 2014? Will we have the same administration, or will someone else be in charge?

It's odd to imagine our 12 year-old children graduating high school, and impossible to imagine new technologies and gadgets we haven't yet invented (even if they will be the "hot" thing we can't possibly live without).

When looking to the past, five years seems so fleeting. Five years ago, the Asian tsunami wiped out 230,000 people in a matter of hours. It's a number that is beyond true comprehension. We watched the TV reports, mouths agape, at the immense suffering unfolding before our eyes.

It made a huge impact on me as I sat alone on a couch in Florida, wondering what I could do to actually have an impact on something that could not be fixed. I saw a single shoe washed up on a battered beach, and it struck a nerve because I was -- I am -- a "shoe guy," an executive for a boot company.

I felt challenged to act by locating and donating what I worked with everyday. Surely the survivors would need solid work boots to rebuild the countries shredded by the floods. In fact, any decent pair of shoes would do.

So I called my friends in the industry and asked some hard questions. Could they part with a hundred shoes? Five hundred? Thousands? I called competitors and laid out my specific challenges. And they all answered, with numbers that blew me away. In all, we sent 250,000 pairs of new shoes to people in the region.

Five years later, we stand as an official 501(c)(3) charity with three warehouses, a staff of 29, hundreds of celebrity supporters and thousands of donation locations across the country. We could astound you with the numbers of shoes we have collected and sent around the world, but the only number that really matters is 1.

One person goes into their closet and packs up shoes, takes them to a donation location, and places them in the box. For us, it's a life-changing moment, because we put these shoes on the feet of one person, one pair at a time.

There's a profound moment when we are kneeling before a needy person and putting new shoes on their tired feet. It happens when we look up at them and share the one-on-one moment that cannot be faked or re-created in a can. It's the gift of new shoes to a person in desperate need, and it is magical.

We work with shoe companies, retailers, churches & synagogues, civic groups, schools, and many other organizations that choose to partner with us for that magical moment -- putting one pair of shoes on a person's feet.

We send shoes to far off places like Afghanistan, where the public's suffering is ongoing and terror so commonplace that it is normal. We also donate new shoes to Americans in need, because we recognize that even 1st World countries can have 3rd World problems. In fact, more than 55% of our shoes stay in the United States to help the homeless population, foster children, victims of natural disasters, women escaping abusive homes, and dozens of other frightening scenarios.

Soles4Souls is pure grassroots -- you can see it when people flood your phone lines, begging to get involved. When the movement takes off and all you can do is watch it and applaud from the sidelines. People 'get' our charity because they recognize the need -- and discover the solution in their own homes and hearts. Our programs and events, like the current Soles4Souls RV Tour, are successful because people WANT to get involved... they don't need convincing. They simply need a way to get plugged in, and that's where we come in.

Our footwear donations are up 83% over last year. We move 45,000 pairs of shoes per week through our warehouses. Every 13 seconds, another person in need experiences that magical moment. And still, time ticks on.

We have found avid supporters in footwear companies, on the street, in the churches, and even online through social media programs like facebook, YouTube, Twitter, and the like. We know there will be new tools and technologies that we will use to find more supporters, because we want that magical moment to be reproduced every single second.

Where will you be in five years? What impact will you leave on the hearts of mankind? I challenge you to choose positive actions, because when done consistently, they become habits, and habits become character.

Don’t wait. Visit www.giveshoes.org to join Soles4Souls, and make a profound difference in the life of one person. Who knows, that one person just might be you.

About Soles4Souls
Nashville-based Soles4Souls™ facilitates the donations of both new and used shoes, which are used to aid the hurting worldwide. Soles4Souls has distributed more than 5 million pairs (currently distributing one pair every 13 seconds) to people in over 125 countries, including Honduras, Uganda, Romania, and the United States. The charity has been featured recently in Runner's World and the Green Guide by National Geographic. It has also appeared on CNN, NBC, ABC, FOX, CBS, BBC and hundreds of regional outlets around North America. Soles4Souls is a 501(c)(3) recognized by the IRS; donating parties are eligible for tax advantages. Visit www.giveshoes.org for more information.

Please research all information and any organization prior to donating or contacting. The Georgia Front Page and the Fayette Front Page share information as provided from a variety of sources. We do not necessarily support, endorse or research the legitimacy of the various organization's information prior to including. We can not be held responsible for the reliability of the information or outcomes if you choose to donate or follow up with the organization (s).

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