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A tribute to Bill Simon, EVP,
COO Walmart!

THIS Day Campaign Launched!
Steve Wolf (Abbott Nutrition) & Adelaide Schaeffer
(CFK Founder/Executive Director)

Rick Schaeffer & UA Athletic
Director, Jeff Long.

2010/2011 Global Corps Fellows

Bill Simon gives Daniel Red
Champion Jacket.
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THIS Day Campaign launched April 16,
2010
The Wheaties
Celebration of Champions lunch took place on April 16, 2010,
one week
prior to RazorFest! This lunch was not only a tribute to the
Abbott Nutrition RazorFest Chair, Bill Simon (Walmart) but to all the
Champions in our community that are helping kids finish strong!
The THIS Day campaign was launched!
___________________________________________________________
Friday, April 16th
2010, we launched into a new era, accelerating our work
to improve the lives of children in America and beyond! For
all of our Global Corps members
not able to share this milestone with us, following is a
recap of THIS Day!
Friday began with a snapshot of "Daniel's story"...
Two weeks before Christmas, snow was falling, schools were
closing, and on a morning drive to work, I received a phone call
asking to help a young boy who didn't have a home. Daniel lived
in an abandoned home. His mother died of cancer. His father was
homeless. A team of teachers worked to provide food, clothing
and support for Daniel. School was closing for Christmas and
Daniel needed a home.
My husband and I drove to school that afternoon. When we walked
in, Daniel rose to meet us. "Hello Mr. and Mrs. Schaeffer. My
name is Daniel."
Daniel represents the face of children in America who need
someone who cares. While we are familiar with the issues of
obesity, poverty, education, hunger and graduation rates, there
is a crisis that few are talking about and that is the looming
crisis in our country. We call this crisis: Home alone.
From our five brief years of working with organizations in
Arkansas, listening to social workers, opening our doors to
youth in need of care and support, reading research studies,
THIS Day, launches a long-term effort to bring attention,
visibility and expansion of community support for children who
are without positive adult influence and supervision.
The Shadows is the place of darkness, loneliness, isolation,
fear and uncertainty. The Phantom of Fear lives in The Shadows,
threatening children's security, stealing their joy and
silencing their laughter. When youth are in The Shadows, they
are often hidden. They are not seen. They are not heard. In The
Shadows, children cry out, "Is anybody home?" The Phantom of
Fear renders silence.
The most important contribution we can make is to increase the
numbers of people who care and can bring light to The
Shadows. We intend to leverage the MASSIVE power of people to
ensure a Hand on Every Shoulder in three, specific ways:
1. Global Corps
On THIS Day, over 250 Global Corps leaders gathered. Each
brought food to help provide nourishment and support for
children in Arkansas. According to the USDA, Arkansas ranks
third in the nation for children who are food insecure every
day. On THIS Day, TYSON Foods announced a 6:1 match to your
food contributions which means, On THIS Day, Global Corps
members provided over 16 tons of food to provide food for
children and families in Northwest Arkansas.
2. Global Fellows
We work to leverage the MASSIVE power of people by working with
some of America's most promising leaders to expand successful
and innovative programs to another level of impact.
THIS Day, we launched the first, inaugural group of the Global
Corps Fellows Programs welcoming five of the incoming eight
Global Corps Fellows.
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Talia Rivera, Village Without Walls, Dorchester,
Massachusetts - Village Without Walls is a Violence
prevention program that serves one of Boston's most
established and violent gang communities in Dorchester. This
successful program is moving teens from a life of violence
to serving as community volunteers.
What IF this program becomes a
model program for communities nationwide?
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Marty and Vicki Burlsworth, The Burlsworth Foundation,
Harrison, Arkansas-Eye Care for Low Income Youth. Already
providing eye care to approximately 800 youth in Arkansas
annually, The Burlsworth Foundation, in partnership with
Walmart/Sam's Optical Department is exploring ways to expand
eye and vision care services to every public school nurse in
Arkansas. What IF this
happens?
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Angela Henry, Safe Base, Iola Kansas-Located in one
of the poorest counties in Kansas (approximately 72%
children do not have the resources to pay for
medical/dental/vision care), serving more than 1,000
students each year, SAFE BASE provides children with mental
health counseling, dental screenings and treatment, vision
assistance, clothing, food, basic food supplies and summer
programming to youth who need these resources and
activities. What IF this
successful program is replicated state-wide?
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Julie Iglet, CYCLE Kids, Cambridge
Massachusetts -CYCLE Kids works toward a national program
that will significantly impact the daily health of children,
lessen their vulnerability to Type II Diabetes and increase
their life expectancy. CYCLE Kids is expanding their program
on the northeast coast with programs now in Harlem, New
York, Somerville, Mass. and Boston. Shortly before Julie was
introduced as a
Global Corps Fellow, during lunch she received a phone call
from Senator John Kerry's office requesting to visit her
office in Cambridge this Tuesday!
What IF CYCLE Kids expands,
coast to coast?
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Peggy McCall, Miracle League of Arkansas, Little
Rock. After constructing a softball field and implementing a
successful program for special needs children in Little
Rock, Arkansas, Miracle League has broken ground on a second
playing field in Northwest Arkansas to ensure children with
special needs are not alone but have a place to compete,
play and be a part of a team and family.
What IF Miracle League Fields
are built across the state and becomes a successful model
for communities in cities nationwide?
3.
Henkel Global
Leadership Conference
The third way we can leverage the MASSIVE power of people is by
training, supporting and sending forth over 5,000 leaders to
empower people in their communities nationwide—and beyond.
Friday we launched this endeavor. The Henkel Global Leadership
Conference: Helping Kids Finish Strong, October 26 & 27 in
Northwest Arkansas will inspire and support leaders in
developing state and local community efforts to create a more
healthy future for children in America and beyond. Our goal over
the next ten years is to send forth 5,000 leaders to return to
their communities with the skills and tools to serve as powerful
advocates and Champions for Kids. Imagine the force for good
when over 5,000 education, nonprofit, corporate, faith-based,
youth, and government leaders return to their communities of
influence prepared to push their levers of influence
forward—full throttle?
Daniel Leads the Way...
A special guest gave us the inspiration to accelerate our work.
Moving quickly to the podium, speaking in strong, halting
sentences, our guest spoke:
"Hi. My name is Daniel!
I graduated from Fayetteville High School in 2005. I work at
Sonic. Others have helped me. I want to help others! I have my
bags of food to give to kids today! I have four nieces
and nephews. I want to help others because others have helped
me. Thank you!”
As Daniel stepped from the podium, Bill Simon took his Red
Jacket and placed the distinctive Red Jacket on Daniel's
shoulders, "Daniel, you are our Red Jacket
Champion. You represent the next generation carrying the
torch." Daniel received a standing ovation from the Global
Corps.
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