Wednesday, January 30, 2008

Who's Your Man (or Woman)

Still un decided about your favorite candidate for the 2008 Presidential election? Try this cool "Candidate Match" tool I found on WGHP Fox 8's website...

Monday, January 28, 2008

Thinking Out of the Box (of Chocolates) for Valentine's Day

School Kid Chronicles is a business in Greensboro that produces professional videos of kids which can be done on a yearly basis, providing parents with wonderful memories of their kids as they grow up. And, for Valentine's day, they are offering "Valentine's Chronicles" as a unique gift for that special someone. Your Valentine's Chronicle gives you a chance to tell your love story and will include a videotaped interview with you along with your choice of music professionally produced on a DVD. The DVDs label is customized with a picture of your choosing. At $49.95, I think it's a great value.

For more information, call School Kid Chronicles at 336-698-3888. Or, visit their website: http://www.schoolkidchronicles.com/.

They have another wonderful service, called Adoption Chronicles, done in partnership with the Children's Home Society. Adoption Chronicles offer a unique way of viewing children who are waiting to be adopted. Here is the website: http://www.adoptionchronicles.com/.

Friday, January 25, 2008

Samaritan's Feet

This is a great story...here is the article as featured in the Indy Star. For more info, visit www.samaritansfeet.org.

January 25, 2008

Samaritan's Feet
IUPUI's Hunter up to his ears in donated shoes
Charity drive to put shoes on feet of African children more than exceeds IUPUI coach's goal

By Curt Cavin
curt.cavin@indystar.com
January 25, 2008

IUPUI basketball coach Ron Hunter got his pedicure, his game victory and, as a bonus, more athletic shoes than he'll ever be able to carry to Africa in July. All on bare feet.

Hunter completed one of the most inspirational walks in this college basketball season by coaching Thursday night's game shoeless for children of impoverished homes.
An announced crowd of 1,059 were on hand at IUPUI Gymnasium for the 82-69 victory over Oakland and only a few of them went barefoot, but significantly more nationwide recognized Hunter's effort.

A staggering 110,000 pairs of shoes have so far been donated to Samaritan's Feet, a nonprofit, Christian-based charity that seeks to put shoes on 10 million people throughout the world over a 10-year span. Close to $20,000 in cash was donated. More is expected.

IUPUI announced that the Department of Homeland Security, which offered 10,000 pairs, told Samaritan's Feet to hang loose while officials determine how many more shoes they can donate.

Hunter, who appeared on ESPN's top morning shows Thursday and will be ABC's Person of the Week tonight on "World News Tonight," was humbled by the response. His goal was 40,000 pairs of shoes, a figure symbolic of the 40th anniversary of the death of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. He had that many by lunch.

Soles4Souls, a Nashville, Tenn.-based charity, donated 40,000 pairs. Wal-Mart gave 25,000; Nine West, a women's shoe company, offered another 5,200. During Hunter's appearance on ESPN Radio's "Mike & Mike in the Morning" show, a Converse representative joined the program and promised another 15,000.

Most were directly shipped to Charlotte, N.C., where Samaritan's Feet is based. Hunter's office took all it could hold, becoming an impromptu warehouse. An estimated 500 pairs arrived at the gym prior to the game.

At one point in the afternoon, Hunter looked up to find 20 bags of shoes dropped off. They came without a name, just a note that read, "Coach, hope this helps."
"When we started this I thought 40,000 was going to be tough," Hunter said. "When they told me before the game we already had 100,000, honestly, I almost broke down in tears."

At that moment, he cried.

"Imagine if every coach would pick a game to coach barefoot and use their influence," said Emmanuel "Manny" Ohonme, a Nigerian who founded the charity four years ago. "We'd exceed our goals pretty quickly.

"And we're getting e-mails every couple of minutes from people who want more information or to say they just bought a pair," he said. "Plus, there's all these high school coaches around the country who say they want to coach a game barefoot."
For the record, Hunter's exposed feet weren't stepped on during the game. It bears noting that he almost never sits down when the action -- and the feet -- are flowing.
"My feet hurt so bad," he said after the game. "But imagine a child or a human going their whole lives without shoes."

Hunter, 43, said his month-long association with Samaritan's Feet has already affected him, and he knows it could be on the verge of changing the lives of others.
Several of his players have vowed to join him on the summer trip, which he'd like to take to Cameroon, home to Jaguars freshman guard Christian Siakam. In Siakam's family, shoes are a luxury; not everyone has them.

Now, a man with no ties to IUPUI has offered to charter a jet to fly the team to Africa, pending NCAA approval, of course.

"I knew when I saw Siakam's face we were doing the right thing," Hunter said.

Thursday, January 24, 2008

People Who Go Above and Beyond

Today (1/24) on the Morning Show I shared a story about the Principal of Hanes Middlle School in Winston-Salem, Mr. Childers. He went way above the call of duty last night when he spent an hour on the phone with me and my son Andrew to talk about his school. And, it made a big difference for Andrew who is now really excited about the idea of going to school there. And it turns out that lots of you have experienced someone whose extra effort made a big impression. Here are some examples:

India is a Nurse on the Oncology Floor at Wesley Long Hospital. Will Dorsett says she was a real blessing to his family while his Grandfather was battling Lung Cancer.

Delores says that Mr. Fitzpatrick at Kernersville Elementary School is amazing!

William says Bryan Bryant with Aircare Heating and Cooling in Kernersville worked on his faulty home heating system. He was there working late last night and then called early this morning to make sure the system was working well. And, it's not the first time Bryan has worked at Williams house and he always does a great job.

Cindy says she called Westover Church in Greensboro last week to inquire about a Bible Study. The woman she called, Beth, was working from home because of icy road conditions. Even though it was a snow day, Beth called around to make sure there was still room left in the class and then called Cindy back, letting her know that she could sign up.

Terry is a Hostess at Texas Land and Cattle. Terry's mom was so proud of her daughter when she was recently given a tip by a customer, which doesn't usually happen to a hostess at a family style restaurant. Terry checked with her manager to make sure that she was allowed to accept tips. Once she had his approval, she thought it over and then left the tip on the customer's table for the waitress who served them.

J. emailed this story about a teacher whose caring made a difference in her child's life...

It brought to mind Beth Scott - when my (now 11th grader) was in 2nd grade at High Point Christian academy, he was intensely frustrated with school. We know he had ADHD and some learning challenges, but at that time there was no resource available there. Beth had made herself available to the school, as she felt God calling her to this school to work, even though there was no such position yet. Mr Hardee did in fact hire her in the late winter/early spring. She was proctoring in my son's Stanford Achievement testing and recognized many signs of a very frustrated little boy. With Mr Hardee's permission, she called me at work, and in fact came to the hospital where I worked in order to discuss my son, and his educational needs. We prayed, cried and planned for his next year at the academy, and oh, what a difference she made in my child. By placing him with a teacher who not only understood his needs, but could also make the necessary accomodations for his learning style, he blossomed into a happy, loving student, who has gone on to overcome his learning differences, is an AB honor roll student and is in the Beta Club at the academy. He will graduate next year and plans to major in psychology - he is an Eagle Scout, and is truly a wonderful kid. I was despairing of ever being able to reach him educationally and did not see what God had in store for him back then. Beth has moved on to many other things, and I have lost touch with her - but I will never forget the teacher who followed God's leading in her life, came to my son's school as a teacher, and made all the difference in his world - I thank God for such teachers every day - thanks for asking this morning about special teachers in our childrens' lives - they truly are my heroes!

Do you have a story, too? Leave a comment about this blog and I'll add it!

Chef's Ball 2008--Mmmmmmmm!!!!

Here's a tasty event for the weekend...

ANNUAL CHEF’S BALL TO BENEFIT AREA NONPROFITS

WHAT:
The American Culinary Foundation –Triad Chapter, will hold its Annual Chef’s Ball next Sunday, Jan. 27 in Greensboro. Funds raised benefit three nonprofit efforts - Triad Community Kitchen, a program of Second Harvest Food Bank of Northwest NC, The Chef and the Child program – a nonprofit branch of the ACF that fights childhood hunger through education, grants and crisis intervention programs; and to culinary scholarships at Guilford Technical Community College. The ACF Triad Chapter’s Presidents Ball has raised over $120,000 toward this goal since it’s inception in the early 1990’s.

Events this year:

Culinary extravaganza prepared by the Triad’s Top Chefs
Awarding of 2007 Triad “Chef of the Year”
Other local culinary awards
Live entertainment by the Wally West Quartet
Ice Sculptures by Fire and Ice as well as top ice carvers from around the Triad.


WHEN:
Sunday, Jan. 27, at 6:30 p.m.

WHERE:
Embassy Suites, Greensboro

Admission:

Tickets are $60 per person, $100 per couple, or $400 for a table of ten. Call 399-6774.

Chefs Ball 2008 Menu

January 27th 6:30 PM – Embassy Suites – Greensboro

Passed Hors d’oeurves

Bruleed Bananas and Foie Gras in Dark Rum and Cane Sugar

Sesame Seared Ahi Tuna with Wasabi and Pickled Ginger on
Won-Ton Crisp

Main Features
Bayonne Ham Wrapped Wild Boar Rack Chops, Hot Oven Roasted, Served with a Morello Cherry and Blood Orange Cumberland Sauce

Warm Crepinet of Rabbit on a Warm Red Skin Potato Salad With a Dried Cherry Vinaigrette. Micro Greens and a Chive Cracker.

Mesclun Greens with Toasted Almonds, Orange Segments, Scallions in Herb Vinaigrette

Mini Osso Bucco Braised in a Rich Tomato Sauce, Served on a Bed of Wild Mushroom Risotto and a Parmesan Crisp.

Lamb Wellington, Boneless Lamb Loin with a Porcini Force, and French Foie Gras

Teres Major Stuffed with Roasted Root Vegetables and Wrapped with Pancetta

Curried Chicken Terrine with Pistachios, Dried Tomatoes and Roasted Garlic (Display)

Spinach Salad With Candied Pecans, Red Onion Confit, Crumbled Gorgonzola, Red and Yellow Teardrop Tomatoes and Dried Cranberries in a Honey-Sherry Vinaigrette

Pancetta Crusted Pork Tenderloin with Sweet Potato Foie Gras Hash and Charred Marshmallow

Bowtie Pasta Salad with Lemon Caper Vinaigrette with Smoked Salmon

House Cured Ham and Salmon

Butter Poached Lobster with Ginger-Apricot Couscous Salad and Vanilla Scented Baby Vegetables.

Shrimp & Chive Beignets with a Honey & Smoked Chili Dipping Sauce

Fried Green Tomato w/ White Cheddar Grit Cake

Desserts

Orange Cardamom Chocolate Truffles

Lemon Crème Daisies

Raspberry Chocolate Mousse Triangles and Hazlenut Carmelized Apple Filo

Baskets by Ganache Bakery and the Area’s Top Chefs