Like most residents of Joplin, Tara Johnston’s mind is frozen in time when she thinks back to that late Sunday afternoon on May 22, 2011 – the day a catastrophic tornado destroyed thousands of homes, including her house on S. Jackson Ave.
While her daughter and the rest of her family survived the tornado, she was faced with the daunting task of rebuilding her home – made even tougher because she had no insurance. Johnston told her story from the front porch of that very home today at a press conference. The house, which is just weeks away from being completely rebuilt, is the result of many helping hands coming together to get one more displaced family back into their home.
To view Multimedia News Release, go to http://www.multivu.com/mnr/58615-toyota-boosts-home-reconstruction-in-joplin-since-devastating-tornado
Last summer, Sierra Coulthard’s life changed forever.
She spent a week identifying her strengths and discovering who she was. She learned what it takes to be a leader and how leaders can change lives. And the Wisconsin high school student realized just how real and rampant poverty is in the world today.
“My eyes were opened to so many troubles in the world,“ she said. “I saw how real the needs of people are and I wanted to do something to help.”
Coulthard returned home and immediately connected with Nashville-based Soles4Souls, which since 2005 has secured more than 17 million new and gently used shoes for people throughout the world. The charity shipped her a large supply of new shoe boxes that she placed throughout her home town of Neillsville to encourage donations. Nearly 1,000 pairs of shoes were donated to the “Sierra’s Shoes” drive.
And last month, she was able to travel to Haiti and pass them out to deserving children who needed them.
Coulthard’s vision for the drive was developed at the National FFA Organization’s annual Washington Leadership Conference, which focuses on leadership development, personal growth and community service. More than 2,200 students – up to 340 a week – from throughout the U.S. who are FFA members will attend one of the conference’s seven week-long sessions in June and July.
To view Multimedia News Release, go to http://www.multivu.com/mnr/56306-2012-national-ffa-organization-washington-student-leadership-conference
Jessica is not dog crazy like the rest of the town, or the hunky town vet, but she volunteers to for the annual dog festival anyway. But when a freak accident has her switching bodies with a white German Shepard her life has definitely gone to the dogs. Romance, comedy and a wag of the tail is all you need for Dog Days. Find out more about the author http://www.elsawatson.net/ and find out more about the book http://bit.ly/DogDaysBook Dog Days by Elsa Watson Book Trailer Romantic Comedy
This is Opera Australia's most ambitious project ever, costing $11.5m with over 130 performers, 240 Opera Australia staff and 60 volunteers. Staged under the night sky and against the spectacular backdrop of the Sydney skyline, performers and audiences alike will be lit up nightly by this sparkling opera production complete with fireworks on five barges. Featuring Mardi-Gras-inspired costumes, the world's largest Chesterfield and a live orchestra housed on the water line, Handa Opera on Sydney Harbour is more than opera, it's an event. Already called the 'world-wide number #1 opera event of 2012' by The Guardian, it's set to dazzle 3000 people nightly, over its 3 week season. Directed by renowned US director Francesca Zambello and starring Australian sopranos Emma Matthews and Rachelle Durkin alternating in the role of Violetta, with two of the world's leading tenors, Italian, Gianluca Terranova and Korean, Ji-Min Park alternating as Alfredo. Handa Opera on Sydney Harbour: La Traviata opens 24 March 2012 with tickets from $85. www.operaonsydneyharbour.com.au
To view Multimedia News Release, go to http://www.multivu.com/players/English/54816-opera-australia-on-sydney-harbour/
Health leaders around the world today will acknowledge an important achievement in the fight against polio as India marks one year since the last recorded case of wild poliovirus in the country.
This success is the result of the Government of India’s hard work and great partnerships with Rotary International, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, WHO and UNICEF as well as millions of volunteers, health workers and community leaders.
To view Multimedia News Release, go to http://www.multivu.com/mnr/49366-gates-foundation-commends-india-on-one-year-polio-free
On Thursday, December 15 at noon (ET), 24 Salvation Army volunteer bell ringers in cities across America will compete against one another in an attempt to set a world record for the longest continuous hand bell ringing by an individual. The contestants will seek to raise awareness for The Salvation Army’s 120th Red Kettle Campaign and support the Mission of The Salvation Army in serving people in need. Bell ringers will set an official Salvation Army record for 2011 when they surpass the 36 hour record set in 2010, and many hope to ring for as many as 60 hours.
To view Multimedia News Release, go to http://www.multivu.com/mnr/53624-salvation-army-bellringers-attempt-world-record
Looking for a way to help out in the community this winter? Join Project EverGreen’s SnowCare for Troops, a non-profit program entering its second year that matches volunteers with military families to provide free snow removal services. SnowCare for Troops is underwritten by THE BOSS Snowplow.
Following a successful launch last year, Project EverGreen hopes to double participation in SnowCare for Troops during the 2011-12 snow season. Nearly 1,000 volunteers have already joined to clear snow from driveways and sidewalks for military families with a spouse or family member serving in the armed forces.
To view Multimedia News Release, go to http://www.multivu.com/mnr/53111-project-evergreens-snowcare-for-troops-by-the-boss-snowplow
Global superstar and Grammy award winner Enrique Iglesias will perform LIVE for The Salvation Army’s 15th annual Red Kettle Kickoff during halftime of the Dallas Cowboys Thanksgiving Day game against the Miami Dolphins at 3:15 CST on the CBS television network. The nationally televised performance launches The Salvation Army’s 120th annual Red Kettle Campaign, which began on the wharf in San Francisco in 1891 and has spread worldwide to raise money for people in need. Last year, the campaign recorded a record $142 million, mostly in small denomination donations from holiday shoppers. This year, the nation’s oldest and longest running fundraiser will continue to expand its partnerships and use of technology to give donors and volunteers more ways to help others.
To view Multimedia News Release, go to http://www.multivu.com/mnr/52629-salvation-army-s-red-kettle-campaign-120th-anniversary-dallas-cowboys
Easter Seals this morning released a new report Our Nation’s Children at Risk: A State-by-State Report on Early Intervention during its 2011 International Convention currently being held in Washington, D.C. In meetings with Members of Congress on The Hill today, more than 300 Easter Seals volunteers, staff and families with disabilities will share both the report’s findings and a petition with nearly 40,000 signatures urging legislators to invest in young children.
The new report details how well each state takes care of its youngest children with disabilities and delays. The unfortunate news: infants and toddlers in nearly every state continue to fall behind, many will never catch up.
To view Multimedia News Release, go to http://multivu.prnewswire.com/mnr/easterseals/49505/
This January, as part of National Mentoring Month, Big Brothers Big Sisters launches Start Something™, a national initiative inviting all adults - not just volunteers - to support quality mentoring to help children who face adversity beat the odds.
To view Multimedia News Release, go to http://multivu.prnewswire.com/mnr/adcouncil/47788/
Thrivent Financial for Lutherans announced that in 2011 it will fund the construction of 164 Habitat for Humanity homes in 33 states with a $10.4 million contribution. Thrivent Financial’s total six-year commitment to Habitat for Humanity to help families achieve the dream of homeownership will surpass $150 million in 2011. This commitment is through a unique partnership called Thrivent Builds with Habitat for Humanity.
To view Multmedia News Release, go to http://multivu.prnewswire.com/mnr/thriventbuilds/47118/
In partnership with the National Parks Conservation Association, Arrowhead® Brand Mountain Spring Water held the first jointly supported, volunteer-based restoration project at the iconic Joshua Tree National Park to help revitalize and restore the park, leading up to its 75th Anniversary. Breaking ground on Saturday, October 23, Arrowhead Mountain Spring Water representatives teamed-up with park officials and community volunteers to restore two highly travelled areas of the park – the Hidden Valley Trailhead and trails leading out to the popular rock climbing area, Houser Buttress. Once a refuge for cattle rustlers and mountain lions, Hidden Valley is one of the park’s most popular rock climbing, picnicking and hiking destinations that was in critical need of conservation and restoration work.
To view Multimedia News Release, go to http://multivu.prnewswire.com/mnr/nestlewaters/46276/
