Newspaper Page Text
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in action
making a difference
off the field and to
get active in your
own community, visit
jointheteam.com.
BMLFY VOLUNTEERING. COURTESY DENVER RESCUE MISSION; ROETMUSBEBGCR WITH DOG. DOUG PENSINGER, G€TTY IMAGES
Warren, Ohio, more than 80 projects have
been registered with the Tribune Chroni
cle. The newspaper, which has rallied readers
to Make A Difference Day for five years,
is leading the effort to mobilize Trumbull
County to do cleanups, food drives and a
“Life Lite” effort that
Wr In some cases, the city doesn't need a dog, but it needs
■ bulletproof vests for its animals, just like a regular officer would
wear. Many police department budgets don't include funding for
protective K-9 vests. The police tell us what's needed.
Unfortunately, I'm not able to meet most of the dogs our grants
provide, but I have played with Spike, Flip's successor. He is an
amazing animal and can jump right up to the ceiling of an office
building like 8 feet
Wk
Ben Roethlisbjerger
with Zeus, his Rottweiler
will turn donated cellphones into cash to
buy Home Finders special light socket
devices that blink when turned on and make
it easier for emergency equipment to locate
a 911 caller.
In the Gulf region, more than 15,000 vol
unteers led by the non-profit KaBOOM!
« BIG BEN HANDS ITT© CANINES
Growing up in Findlay, Ohio, I always had dogs
around my house, and my dad instilled in me a love
and respect for animals. Today, I have two wonderful
dogs to come home to every day.
Last year. Flip, the lone police dog in my hometown, was
shot and killed, so I bought the department a new dog and
came up with a concept. Part of my Ben Roethlisberger
y Foundation which already funds a youth football
|L program in Findlay and benefits the Ronald McDonald
■ House in Pittsburgh would provide grants to buy a
I service dog for police and fire departments in every city
I where we play a game this season and, when we play at
F home, somewhere in Pittsburgh.
I was raised to appreciate my blessings and always try to help
others not as fortunate as myself. Making a difference is about
influencing and changing lives. We all have the power to do that
Make A Difference Day is your chance to help your fellow man
or man's best friend.
BY BEN ROETHLISBERGER, Pittsburgh Steeiers quarterback
will build new playgrounds at the Guste Homes hous
ing development in New Orleans and at War Memo
rial Park in Long Beach, Miss. Playgrounds in both
locations were affected by Hurricane Katrina.
Nationwide, volunteers with the U.S. Army FYee
dom Team Salute program will be stationed in front
of libraries and VFW and American Legion posts to
give special recognition to U.S. Army veterans. The
program, begun in 2005 by the secretary of the Army,
has honored nearly 1 million veterans and aims to
reach all of our nation’s 14 million Army vets.
An astounding 75,000 members of Kids Care Clubs,
ages 5 to 13, are being encouraged to volunteer in one
of four areas homelessness, literacy, senior citizens,
and troops and veterans. Projects include decorating
homeless shelters and having read-a-thons and book
collections. Quaker partnered with the children’s group
to provide project grants.
The National Foundation for Celiac Awareness is
hosting cooking demonstrations and screenings to
raise awareness of celiac disease, an autoimmune di
gestive disease. Information will be available nation
wide at Whole Foods stores and at select Wegmans
Continued o)i page 8
HOW YOU CAN
MAKE A DIFFERENCE, TOO
USA WEEKEND'S MAKE A DIFFERENCE DAY
HAS A SIMPLE MISSION:
Put your cares on hold for one day to care for
someone else. The nation's largest day of volunteering.
Make A Difference Day inspires 3 million people to help
20 million others on the fourth Saturday of each October.
Next Saturday, Oct. 27, is 2007's big day.
SIOO,OOO FOR CHARITY:
USA WEEKEND, Paul Newman and Newman's Own
Foundation will salute volunteers by awarding SIO,OOO
donations to charities selected by each of 10 honorees.
MORE INFORMATION:
Call 800-416-3824 or visit makeadifferenceday.com.
SPONSORS:
USA WEEKEND'S Make A Difference Day is held in
partnership with Points of Light & Hands On Network.
Paul Newman and Newman's Own Foundation fund the
national awards.
♦ USA
WEEKEND
POINTS OF LIGHT
HANDS ON NETWORK
USA WEEKEND • Oct. 19-21,2007
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