Friday, November 20, 2009

WASHINGTON REDSKINS CHARITABLE FOUNDATION ANNOUNCES PARTNERSHIP WITH PRINCE GEORGE’S COUNTY SOCIAL SERVICES

PARTNERSHIP INTRODUCES NEW SELECTION PROCESS FOR PARTICIPANTS IN THE REDSKINS – HARRIS TEETER HARVEST FEAST


Landover, MD –
To reach thousands of Prince George’s County residents in need during the holiday season the Washington Redskins Charitable Foundation will partner with the Prince George’s County Department of Social Services who will determine eligibility for participation in the seventh annual Redskins-Harris Teeter Harvest Feast, a Thanksgiving food distribution program. Thousands of Prince George’s County residents, deemed eligible by the Prince George’s County Department of Social Services, will receive a whole turkey and fresh and packaged food on Tuesday, November 24th at FedExField. For more information on eligibility requirements residents should contact Prince George’s County Department of Social Services at 301.909.7153.
In order to qualify, proof of residency must be provided and residents must meet established income guidelines.

Over 300 corporate volunteers from FedEx, Harris Teeter, Ryan Homes, and Wachovia will join the Redskins to provide families with a whole turkey from Harris Teeter and packaged and fresh food from Operation Blessing. All children in attendance will receive a special children’s gift bag which includes a Redskins Read activity book, toys, and treats. Since 2003 the Redskins have gifted over 600,000 pounds of packaged and fresh food and 204,000 pounds of turkey to families in need in our area.


*The event is not open to the general public.

HARRIS TEETER-REDSKINS “HARVEST FEAST”

The Washington Redskins, Harris Teeter, Ryan Homes, Operation Blessing, and Prince George’s County Department of Social Services Partner to Distribute Food to Prince George’s County Residents in Need


Landover, MD - On Tuesday, November 24th at 1:00 p.m. Redskins Owners Daniel M. Snyder and Dwight Schar and Redskins players including Ladell Betts, London Fletcher and DeAngelo Hall and their families will join the Hogettes and over 300 corporate volunteers from FedEx, Harris Teeter, Ryan Homes, and Wachovia to distribute Thanksgiving food baskets at FedExField to Prince George’s County residents in need. This is the seventh year the Redskins have hosted this food distribution event. The Harris Teeter- Redskins “Harvest Feast” presented by Ryan Homes will be held rain or shine on the main level concourse between the Sprint Gate and Comcast Gate at FedExField.

The event is not open to the general public. Prince George’s County Department of Social Services will determine eligibility for participation in the Harris Teeter- Redskins Harvest Feast food distribution program. In order to qualify, proof of residency must be provided and residents must meet established income guidelines. For more information on eligibility requirements residents should contact Prince George’s County Department of Social Services at 301-909-7153.

Media is encouraged to attend the Thanksgiving food basket assembly starting at 10:30 a.m. and the distribution which will begin at 1:00 p.m.

The Redskins will provide families with a whole turkey; in total over 36,000 pounds of turkey, provided by Harris Teeter, will be distributed. In addition, over 108,600 pounds of packaged and fresh food will be provided by Operation Blessing to complete the Thanksgiving food baskets. All children in attendance will receive a special children’s gift bag which includes a Redskins Read activity book, toys and treats.

Volunteers from the Health Care for All! Coalition, Maryland’s free and low-cost health care program, will be on-site to distribute information and answer questions from Marylanders about the new eligibility guidelines and various public health care coverage options.

FedEx Special Delivery will feature a Redskins player delivering turkeys and Thanksgiving food baskets to the following Prince George’s County shelters: Prince George's County Transitional Housing Department in Landover, Family Crisis Center in Lanham and
Shepherds Cove in Capitol Heights.

Since 2003 when the Redskins started the program, over 600,000 pounds of packaged and fresh food and 204,000 pounds of turkey have been gifted to families in need in our area.

About the Washington Redskins Charitable Foundation
The Washington Redskins Charitable Foundation, the non-profit philanthropic arm of the team, combines the influence and popularity of the Washington Redskins with the resources and assets of Washington area corporations. Founded by owner Daniel M. Snyder, the Charitable Foundation is guided by its Leadership Council that consists of CEOs who help shape and define the philanthropic efforts of the Redskins to achieve a measurable impact on youth development in the areas of education, community outreach and health and wellness. Visit http://www.redskins.com/ and click on Community for more information.

About Harris Teeter
Harris Teeter, Inc. with headquarters in Matthews, NC, is a subsidiary of Ruddick Corporation (NYSE:RDK). Harris Teeter is the 36th largest supermarket in the United States with 2008 sales of $3.99 billion. The grocery store chain employs over 21,000 associates and has 194 stores in North and South Carolina, Virginia, Georgia, Tennessee, Maryland, Delaware, Florida, and the District of Columbia.

About Ryan Homes
Ryan Homes is the Washington Metro Area’s largest homebuilder, operating under the corporate umbrella of NVR along with NVHomes, NVR Mortgage, and NVR Building Products. As one of the top ten home builders and financial service companies in the United States, Ryan Homes was started as a family business in Pittsburgh and has built a successful operation that now spans the Eastern half of the United States. Ryan Homes now operates in Maryland, Virginia, West Virginia, New York, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Delaware, Ohio, North Carolina, South Carolina, Florida and Tennessee. Ryan Homes has been building quality single-family homes, townhomes and condominiums to meet every lifestyle for over 60 years. Ryan Homes is the largest home builder in Prince Georges County, Md.

About Operation Blessing
Operation Blessing International (OBI) is one of the largest charities in America, providing strategic disaster relief, medical aid, hunger relief, clean water and community development in 22 countries around the world on a daily basis. In 2009, OBI was awarded Charity Navigator’s coveted 4 star rating for sound fiscal management for the fifth year in a row, a feat that only 4% of rated charities have ever achieved. Forbes, which currently ranks OBI as one of "America's 200 Largest Charities" as well as one of "America’s Most Efficient Charities," awarded OBI a perfect 100% rating in fundraising efficiency and 99% efficiency in charitable commitment. Additionally, the Chronicle of Philanthropy recently ranked OBI as the 58th largest non-governmental organization and 9th largest international charity. Founded in 1978, Operation Blessing International has touched the lives of more than 215 million people in more than 105 countries and 50 states, providing goods and services valued at over $2.1 billion to date.

OBI's Hunger Strike Force (HSF) has delivered and given away more than 603 million pounds of food since 1992. Its fleet of trailer trucks transports a weekly average of 2 million pounds of food and relief supplies to a network of 120 community-based partners in the USA. The food is then distributed to roughly 4,400 local food pantries and hunger relief agencies nationwide.

National Anti-Bullying Week


As part of National Anti-Bullying Week, PGCPS encourages you to check out strategies to combat bullying.
Resources:
Stop Bullying Now! Website
Bullying, Harrassment, or Intimidation Reporting Form Investigation Form

Thanksgiving Dinner for needy Children & Families

The Step Ahead Program will once again make a difference in our community this holiday season by hosting our 7th Annual Thanksgiving Dinner to Celebrate Children attending our community schools and with the special emphasis this year on "Keeping Hope Alive" in our Families".

I am now writing to you as Administrators, Principals and Coordinators to please collect all names of families and children who you feel can and would appreciate a hot and prepared Thanksgiving Dinner. Let us know the number of students and families who plan to attend the upcoming Annual Thanksgiving Dinner "Celebrating" Children on Saturday, November 21st, 2009 at 1 p.m. - 5 p.m. in order that we may be prepared to serve them.

Please know that all are welcome, including Principals and Teachers; this is a joint initiative to serve our community; please gather the name list for children whom you feel their family would benefit on this special day and turn it in to the Office of the Principal or the coordinator for the school.

Please contact Mr. Brady at (301)674-9702 (cell) at your earliest convenience so that we will have an idea of how many people we will serve. Each school is allowed to invite up to 40 families who may be in need this year. Please do not hesitate to contact me with any questions. Let us continue to work together in making our "Children" our Top Priority. Again, I appreciate all that our educators are doing to save our young people. "Keep Hope Alive". . . . .You are also welcome to contact Mrs. Kim Smith, Ass't Director of the Step Ahead Program & Missions Coordinator at (571)228-9353.This is the season to give Thanks.Thank you in advance for your prompt consideration of this very important matter. Hoping to see your students at the event.

AASA TOOLKIT HELPS SCHOOL LEADERS SUPPORT MILITARY CHILDREN

Some two million U.S. military children have had one or both parents deployed since 2001. Understanding the challenges facing military families -- and the resources available to assist military children -- is essential to meeting their unique educational needs. The American Association of School Administrators has released a toolkit on Supporting the Military Child to help school leaders meet the needs of children whose parents are deployed or in transition. This free, online resource is available on the AASA website at www.aasa.org/MilitaryChild.aspx


"Children of military families often face multiple stressors, including frequent moves and extended periods of separation from loved ones,” said AASA President Mark Bielang, superintendent in Paw Paw, Mich. “School leaders play an important part in helping these students maintain a sense of stability and stay on track to achieve their educational goals.”

Military Children Scholarship applications are now available

DECA OFFERS SCHOLARSHIPS FOR MILITARY CHILDREN

2010 Scholarships for Military Children opened on Nov. 3. Scholarship applications are now available in commissaries worldwide and online through a link at http://www.commissaries.com/ and directly at http://www.militaryscholar.org/. Only dependent, unmarried children, younger than age 21 (age 23 if enrolled as a full- time student at a college or university) of active duty personnel, reserve, Guard and retired military members, survivors of service members who died while on active duty, or survivors of individuals who died while receiving retired pay from the military may apply for a scholarship. Eligibility is determined using DEERS, the Defense Enrollment Eligibility Reporting System database. Applicants should ensure that they, as well as their sponsor, are enrolled in the DEERS database and have a current ID card.

The applicant must be planning to attend, or already be attending, an accredited college or university full time in the fall of 2010, or be enrolled in a program of studies designed to transfer directly into a four-year program. Applicants should prepare to submit an essay on the topic "You can travel back in time; however, you cannot change events. What point in history would you visit and why?" Applications must be turned in to a commissary by close of business Feb. 17, 2010. At least one scholarship will be awarded at every store location with qualified applicants. For more information, contact the Dahlgren Comissary at (540) 653-7317/7318.

Photos of the 2010 Parental Engagement Conference

Your pictures and fotos in a slideshow on MySpace, eBay, Facebook or your website!view all pictures of this slideshow

The Middle School Years

Visits From Engaged Parents and Dedicated Educators