The Lady Spartans, the dance team for the La Crosse Spartans indoor football team, will be “freezin’ for a reason” this weekend as they participate in the annual Coulee Region Polar Plunge. The event is held annually to raise money for Special Olympics Wisconsin and the La Crosse Parks & Recreation Department. The Lady Spartans will be contributing an impressive $830 to this year’s cause, which is looking to improve on last year’s $200,000 fundraiser.

Members of the community will take the plunge into the icy river waters just off of Pettibone Beach in La Crosse all day tomorrow. The Lady Spartans will be hitting the icy waters at 1:18 p.m. tomorrow afternoon. The forecasted high temperature for tomorrow is 33 degrees. La Crosse’s plunge is one of 12 held throughout the state of Wisconsin.

[La Crosse Lady Spartans]

Ken Ryan
Mineola Patch
January 24, 2011

Food drives are common occurrences during holiday seasons, especially between Thanksgiving and Christmas. However, hunger on Long Island knows no off-season.

Alan Smith, manager of Roni Deutch Tax Center at 134 E. Jericho Turnpike in Mineola, understands this better than most people do. He is a member of the speaker’s bureau for the Interfaith Nutrition Network (INN) in Hempstead and his mission is to raise awareness of this issue.

The INN operates a growing network that includes 1,500 volunteers managing 19 soup kitchens. Together they serve more than 320,000 meals annually, according to the organization.

The INN, founded by volunteers in 1983, addresses the issues of hunger and homelessness on Long Island by providing shelter, long-term housing and supportive services in what Smith says is a “dignified and respectful manner.” Smith said the INN has a “don’t ask” policy when it comes to feeding the hungry.

“If you’re someone who has the guts to go there, you probably need a meal,” Smith said. “A lot of the people probably [who come for food] have jobs but don’t make a lot of money.” Instead, studies show, they make sacrifices like paying for utility bills and rent while cutting back on food.

TheRoni Deutch Tax Center collected non-perishable food items and clothes Saturday as part of its commitment to fight hunger and homelessness on Long Island.

In exchange for donating five non-perishable food items, customers received a 25 percent discount off their 2010 tax preparation fees. For every non-perishable can of food, the tax center takes off $10 on the bill, up to $50 (five cans).

“This is ongoing through the tax season,” Smith said. “We’re very community minded here.” The offer extends to unemployed workers who will receive a 50 percent discount off the price of their 2010 federal and state returns.

All food donations will go to benefit the INN.

The New York Islanders organization took part in the food drive by sending two members of the Islanders Ice girls’ team to Mineola to collect food and greet passersby. The Ice girls at the event were first-year member Victoria and third-year member Danielle. As per the organization’s policy, they do not give out their last names.

The 11-member New York Islanders Ice girls’ team, the first of its kind in the National Hockey League, takes part in many community efforts during the season. Each Ice girl goes to four events of her choosing.

“I chose this one because I thought it would be cool,” Danielle, who identified that she was a student at Adelphi University and a competitive skater and coach, said.

Victoria, a rookie on the team, had competed in Europe the previous 3 years. Her plans include attending C.W. Post. She is happy to be an Ice girl, which requires speed and precision skating. “I love it so much,” Victoria said, calling it, “My dream came true.”

Smith praised the Islanders organization for their service to the community. “The Islanders bend over backwards for their corporate sponsors,” he said.

South Florida Sun-Sentinel
December 1, 2010

On a recent Saturday in honor of Domestic Violence Awareness Month, more than 1,200 community members took to the pavement at Markham Park to raise awareness about domestic violence and to raise funds for the much needed programs and services offered by Women In Distress.

The “SAFEWALK” united community leaders, families, student and professional groups, companies, and more, including 61 teams in taking a step to end domestic violence. More than $85,000 was raised in support of the crisis intervention and shelter services offered by Women In Distress.

As honorary chairs of the event, the Miami Dolphins’ Cheerleaders kicked off the morning with their official cheerleader warm-ups for the crowd and spearheaded the eager walkers and runners to the starting line of the race.

Also welcoming the crowd was Broward County Commissioner Kristin Jacobs, who spoke of the need for more domestic violence education and prevention. According to the FBI, one in three women is a victim of domestic violence and, in Broward County, domestic violence homicides are on the rise. Fortunately, Women In Distress and its supporters offer hope.

Scattered throughout the race course were red silhouettes, “silent witnesses,” representing each victim who lost their life to domestic violence this past year and participants received event t-shirts that included the Women In Distress crisis line prominently displayed on the back. Helping to make the event possible, key sponsors included JM Family Enterprises, SE Toyota, Sun Sentinel, Panera Bread, Seminole Hard Rock Hotel & Casino, and other dedicated friends of the organization.

The “SAFEWALK” website will remain open through the end of the year, with photos of the event and an opportunity to make a donation active at http://www.safewalk2010.kintera.org.

Women In Distress of Broward County is the only nationally accredited, state-certified, full service domestic violence center serving Broward County. Their mission is to provide victims of domestic violence with safe shelter, crisis intervention and resources, and to educate the community in order to Stop Abuse For Everyone (SAFE) through intervention, education and advocacy. For more information on Women In Distress of Broward County or to make a donation visit http://www.womenindistress.org.

Tessa Harrington’s involvement with the Sea Gals and their charity auction on Dec. 6 is a way to remember Travis Britt, her high school boyfriend who died of cancer.
By Clare Farnsworth
Seahawks.com
Nov 27, 2010

Tessa Harrington’s charitable work as a member of the Sea Gals isn’t just a labor of love; it’s a way to remember a lost love.

Her involvement with the Seahawks’ dance team began because of Travis Britt, her high school boyfriend who died from a form of bone cancer in 2007 at the age of 19. Her continued commitment – including serving as co-chairperson for the Sea Gals’ 22nd annual charity auction on Dec. 6 – allows Harrington to honor his memory.

“A lot of people love giving back and it’s like, ‘Oh yeah, it means a lot,’ ” Harrington said. “But I think being connected with where the money is going it just means so much. Travis is there with me while I’m doing this.”

The charity auction, which benefits Broadview Women’s Shelter and the Sea Gals’ Children’s Hospital Guild, will be held at Fox Sports Grill, 1522 6th Ave. in Seattle. The silent auction that begins at 5:30 includes sports memorabilia, spa packages, weekend getaways and restaurant and hotel certificates that have been solicited by the Sea Gals, and will continue through halftime of the Monday Night Football game between the New York Jets and New England Patriots. There also will be a live auction during halftime as well as raffle drawings for prizes throughout the evening.

“One of my favorite things with the Sea Gals is fund raisers,” Harrington said. “It’s a lot of work, but it’s totally beneficial.

“And because of Travis, we spent our whole senior year at Children’s Hospital. So it’s very fun to give back, because just going through that we received so much support. So it’s like an honor to have the opportunity to give back.”

Harrington, 23, began dancing at the age of 6 and was a member of her school dance teams in junior high and at Kentridge High School. It was Britt’s stepmother who suggested she try out for the Sea Gals, right out of high school.

“The Seahawks were very active with Travis’ treatment,” she said. “They would visit him at Children’s. And in 2006, his Make-a-Wish (request) was to go to the Super Bowl. He was going even before the Seahawks went, so he looked at one of the players and said, ‘Hey, I’m going to the Super Bowl. I’d really like it if you would go.’ ”

The Seahawks did just that, beating the Carolina Panthers in the NFC Championship game at Qwest Field to advance to the franchise’s first Super Bowl – against the Pittsburgh Steelers at Ford Field in Detroit.

“So we went to a lot of Seahawks’ games that season,” Harrington said. “His stepmom said, ‘Hey, you should try out for the Sea Gals.’ I was like, ‘OK.’ It was just random. I saw an article in the paper about the tryouts and I just showed up.”

She’s still showing up, because of Britt.

“He was very proud of me,” she said. “Travis loved the Seahawks. He was a huge fan. So I think me making the squad is something I do in his honor.”

Harrington credits her enthusiastic outlook on life to watching Britt handle his situation.

“I’d be crying and he’d say, ‘Why are you crying?’ Then he’d make me laugh,” she said. “He just had a great outlook, and I think that’s where I get my outlook in life – from him.”

Harrington’s life includes finishing the program to get her teaching credential at the Des Moines campus of Central Washington University, with her student teaching starting in January and graduation set for June. She also is a part-time nanny, coaches a dance team and works in marketing at Snoqualmie Casino.

But there’s always time for the annual December visit to Children’s Hospital for the Seahawks’ Captain’s Blitz.

“I still see some of the nurses and doctors from Travis’ time there,” she said. “So it’s very special.”

You may remember a couple of weeks ago, I posted about Sierra, a Junior Charger Girl who was raising money for the Make A Wish Foundation. Sierra’s initial goal was to raise $1,000 for the organization. For several weeks straight, Sierra stood outside of businesses, passed out flyers door-to-door and even set up a PayPal account for pledges. Not only did she reach her goal of $1,000, but she kept on fundraising to raise over $1,200.

Sierra with her Aunt Marissa at Jr. Charger Girls practice

Sierra has such a big heart! The Top 4 Fundraisers were given the opportunity to cheer the entire game with the Charger Girls – Many of the girls were hoping to be in the Top 4. Sierra decided to take the risk of not being in the Top 4 to give some of the money she raised to help her best friend who also wanted to participate, by helping to cover her Jr. Charger Girl registration costs. She didn’t make the Top 4 Fundraisers, but she put her whole heart into the spirit of helping others. Sierra plans on keeping her website up all year long to continue to raise money for the Foundation.(Click here to visit supportsierra.com)


Marissa goes “GI Jane” at the Chargers game on Halloween

Check out the 2010 Jr. Charger Girls’ performance:

This is Sierra, an adorable 8 year old from San Diego:

Sierra is a busy girl, and one of her most recent activities is participation in the Jr. Charger Girls program. (Her Aunt Marissa is a rookie on the team this year, so the experience is extra special for both of them.)

The Junior CG program raises money for the Make-A-Wish Foundation and the Chargers Community Foundation. Each participant is required to raise $175 in sponsor pledges in order to participate in the halftime performance at the Chargers home game on October 31.

Philanthropy is nothing new to Sierra. She has been involved with Operation Shoebox and the American Heart Association, as well as other organizations through her Girl Scout troop. Knowing how many kids benefit from the Make-A-Wish Foundation has motivated Sierra to set her sights high. She wants to raise $1,000 for the organization, and she has until Saturday to do it. She’s well on her way!

Click here to read a note from Sierra. Maybe you can help her reach her goal.

Shirley Jones shares message with animal lovers
By Samantha Gowen
The Orange County Register
Sept. 15, 2010

ANAHEIM HILL Distinguished oncologists, cardiologists and nephrologists mingled with 200 guests Saturday night on the grounds of a hillside estate.

Laker Girls smiled and handed out programs. By the pool an enormous Newfoundland dog named Lucy slurped water from the shallow end.

Actress and singer Shirley Jones and husband Marty Ingels rubbed elbows with fans and posed for photographs.

Guests had gathered not for the celebrities of Hollywood, but for four-legged friends and the people who fix them. The doctors here, the heroes of the evening, specialize in pet care, not people.

The annual Paws for Cures event raises money for the American College of Veterinary Internal Medicine Foundation, which funds grants to study cancers, kidney disease and other ailments suffered by man’s best friend… [Article Continued]