Ivie Cares

What do video games have to do with raising money for charity?

2010-09-09T15:14:00.008-05:00

by Becky P. (Ivie-Flower Mound)

For the third straight year Leala U., one of our Graphic Designers in Flower Mound, is joining 650 other people who will be playing video games for 24 straight hours to raise money for the Children’s Miracle Network. Leala is generally a pretty quiet person. I can tell you from experience that if you engage her in conversation about this cause you will see something very different. It clearly means a lot to her and she was extremely excited when I mentioned we could help with her fundraising efforts.

So what can you do? Read her story below. I can’t begin to explain to you why this cause is SO important to Leala, so I thought I would let her tell you on her own. Then visit her fundraising website and make a donation. It's that simple.

Leala's Story...

There are lots of ways to raise money for great causes, but I can’t think of one more fun than playing video games. For the third year in a row, thousand of gamers from across the world will come together on October 16 for Extra Life, a 24 hour gaming charity marathon. And I will be among them yet again, playing all day and night to raise money for Children’s Miracle Network.

This year though will be extra special for me, as I’ll be playing in honor of a little girl named Emma Bradford. I heard her story a few months ago online as it circulated throughout the community of people who play one of my favorite games, a family game called Wizard 101. She was a Wizard 101 player as well who had passed at the very young age of 7 years old. When it came time for Extra Life again this year I thought of her and wanted to dedicate my portion of the fundraiser to her memory. I tracked down her family online to explain what I wanted to do and get their blessing. Emma’s father Shane has been so gracious and supportive in sharing her story with me. Born with a congenial heart defect, Emma braved several surgeries in her short time that allowed her to live a happy life. A determined, smart and fearless young girl, Emma was an inspiration to her friends and family with her spirit. In an even more touching twist of events, I learned that Children’s Miracle Network had served as a valuable resource to Emma’s family in the difficult times of her surgeries.

The picture below is a special one to her family. It was taken on her last day at church. Though it wasn’t planned or intended, Emma is right in the center and the only light shining down in the photo is highlighting her.

I am so honored to be able to not only share her story but to be able to raise money for an organization that was able to touch her life, by playing one of our favorite games.

You can find more info about the event on their website.

You can also visit my sponsorship page.

Thank you so much for your support.
Leala U. (Ivie-Flower Mound)

Upcoming Events

2010-08-27T17:13:00.003-05:00

by Becky P. in Flower Mound, TX

We have a number of really exciting events coming up over the next couple of months so I thought I would post a quick update.

First, Ivie will be serving as a Corporate Chair for the 2011 Big D Climb, which raises money for the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society. This event isn't your everyday 5k - it's a 52-flight climb to the top of the Fountain Place building in Dallas. We are putting together a committee of associates to help come up with ways to promote this amazing event and ideas for the day of the event as well. Last year we had over 30 associates participate and everyone was incredibly touched by both the comraderie of it as well as the physical demands. The feeling of making it to the top was unlike any other!

Another event we've added at the last minute is to celebrate National Day of Service & Remembrance on September 11th. We will be holding a drive in Flower Mound to collect paper goods for Christian Community Action, a local organization that provides food, shelter and training for families in need. They have a constant shortage of key products like bathroom tissue, facial tissue and paper towels - basic items that most of us take for granted - so we hope to provide a good supply to restock their shelves for a while. We also have a group that will be volunteering at their facility on Saturday 9/11. Anyone interested can send an email to IvieCares@ivieinc.com.

We are also in the process of creating an Ivie Cookbook. Recipes are being submitted by associates all over the country and will be pulled together to create a nicely bound book. We will be selling these books to raise money for the Family Resources Domestic Shelter in Davenport, IA where one of our main offices is located. Look out for more information on how to purchase one of these books. So far we have some great recipes coming in.

We have several more items in the works that we will post about next week so stay tuned.

Making a Difference with Junior Achievement

2010-05-27T15:24:00.003-05:00

Recently, several Associates used volunteer release time from the Ivie Cares program to teach Junior Achievement classes in local schools. Junior Achievement provides professionals the resources to help children learn about important skills necessary to competing in a global economy (you can learn more about their Dallas chapter here: http://www.jadallas.org/). Lesson topics include how to save money, be a good citizen, and how to do well in a job interview. We asked some of the partcipants to share their experiences with us. Their comments are below.

“I’ve had a great time with our class. They really want to know about the working world and they ask a lot of really great questions. Our teacher has been great with chiming in when she has something to say and we’ve had very little behavioral problems even thought they are 9th graders. Great experience overall.”
-Rachel Bradford

“Travis and I are kicking ignorance’s butt with on-topic advice for the 1th graders. Yesterday was our first session, and it went well. Travis got them some treats we put in Ivie cups, and they enjoyed all of the materials (especially when we “rapped” about them).”
-Chris Ray

“I will miss those little guys. They were so sweet. On my last day they all wrote thank you notes and drew pictures, which are so cute! This was a very fun, rewarding experience. The kids are so eager when you show up and they’re grateful for all the little things JA provided for them. I would highly recommend this to anyone who loves kids and is looking for a fun way to volunteer. I look forward to doing this again in the fall!”
-Sabrina Warren

Helping Out With Earth Day

2010-05-27T15:21:00.002-05:00

by Katie Turk

On Saturday, April 17th, Katie Turk and Emily Huston braved a chilly spring morning to participate in the Friends of the Riverfront Earth Day cleanup event. A portion of the Three Rivers Heritage Trail, north of Pittsburgh along the Allegheny River, was beautified by over 400 volunteers. The group pulled weeds and invasive species, cut down and collected dead branches, planted flower bulbs, and spread mulch and gravel. All the volunteers had a great time. Despite the cold, everyone did their part, and the trail looks great!

Racing for the Cure, Rain or Shine

2010-05-26T15:35:00.009-05:00

by Emily S. in Ivie Bentonville

It’s 7 a.m. on a Saturday. Outside, it’s a mishmash of ominous clouds, pouring rain, thunder and lightning. You wake up, thinking the obvious: It’s a great day for a 5K!

Despite the dreadful weather the morning of April 24, several members of the Ivie Bentonville team and their families showed up to run the Susan G. Komen Race for the Cure. Luckily, the rain died down before the race began, so Team Ivie was able to finish the race along with about 5,000 other brave participants. Approximately 16,000 signed up, which made reaching a goal of $1 million in donations possible.

The race is the Komen Foundation’s signature event that helps raise awareness and funds for breast cancer education, screening, treatment and research. We hope to take part again next year (with any luck, in better weather)!

Pictured above:
Front row, from left: Fabian Lagunes, Aaron Schmid, Emily Schmid, Shelby Harrison, Sara Prince and Morgan Prince.
Back row, from left: Sarah Terry, Drew Terry, Carol Baserman, Kurt Baserman and Marquetta Thompson.

My Eye Opening Experience

2010-05-24T17:28:00.028-05:00

by Becky Pearce

I helped to start the Ivie community service program almost 3 years ago now and have had the pleasure of being heavily involved ever since. Lately, I've found myself feeling disconnected from our efforts. Often we are raising money without actively being involved with the organization and the people (or animals) our donations are helping. Although, I fully realize that money is what these organizations often need the most, I also think it's important for people to connect with the organizations they support so they truly understand the needs of others.

Today I had the pleasure of touring a local organization called Christian Community Action (CCA). CCA supports 8 school districts throughout the county our main offices reside in. I've been familiar with CCA since I first moved to Texas 10 years ago. They are the place we ALWAYS take our donations to - much like Goodwill. What I learned today was truly eye opening though. They are so much more than that donation station I drop by a couple of times a year.

First of all, CCA provides not only a re-sale store but also food, shelter, education, training and spiritual guidance for families throughout the area we live in. We live in a nice area. Flower Mound is generally considered a town of mid to high income residents, but what we don't realize is the impact the economy has had on those who live right around us. This has created a tremendous need for the services that CCA provides. A need they are struggling to keep up with.

The woman who gave us the tour today mentioned that it is no longer predominantly the working poor who need their services, but people like us who have been affected by the bad economy over the last couple of years. People with college diplomas and MBAs and solid work experience. People who'd managed to build their lives into what would be considered the "American dream."

Our friends, family and neighbors have lost their jobs and are desperately trying to hang on to their homes despite having lost everything else. CCA helps these people to pay their bills, to feed their families and to receive medical care. Plus, provides education and training to help people become self-sufficient again. They provide supplies for kids to go back to school, toys for their parents to put under the tree at Christmas, and during the summer they even provide lunches for kids who might otherwise not eat.

And they do all of this with only the money from their re-sale stores and donations from people like us, plus the tremendous hours that countless volunteers are putting in.

I try to remind myself often of how lucky I am to have what I do and try not to take it for granted. But walking through that lobby with my designer bag on my shoulder was like a punch in the gut. Especially after hearing that $25 feeds a family of four for a month!

At Ivie, we are busy making plans for how we can help CCA both through donations as well as volunteering. Personally, I'm also looking for an opportunity to take my 8 year old son to volunteer with them as well. Much like me, he does charity fundraisers at school, but ultimately he has no idea what that means or where the money is going. I'm hoping we can remedy that.

What can you do to make a bigger impact on the lives of those in need?

Photo: Courtesy of helgabj, www.flickr.com/photos/helgabj/1074000287/

My Junior Achievement Experience

2010-05-21T08:30:00.000-05:00

by Aaron Conoly
Recently, I decided to participate in Junior Achievement, an organization that seeks to help kids of all grade levels learn the real-world information and skills they need to be competitive in a global marketplace. Class topics range from how to be a good citizen to how to do well in a job interview.

I decided to teach a ninth grade class with a colleague from work. The ninth grade curriculum focuses on preparing students to successfully interview for and perform at their job. Some of the important issues we discussed with the class included

-Effective listening and speaking skills
-How to build rapport
-Teamwork
-Creative problem solving
-Conflict resolution and negotiation
-How to effectively market yourself
-How to write an effective resume
-How to have a successful interview.

We met with our class every Monday for seven weeks. During the class, I was struck by how much I would have benefited from a program like this when I was in high school. Ninth grade is an interesting time for a young adult; you’re just at the cusp of deciding what the rest of your life will look like. It’s such a crucial time, especially because of the pressures young people face. In ninth grade, almost every major decision can be framed as such, “I can do x, which will distract from my studies and chances at a better life, or I can do y, which will establish the building blocks for a better life.” Often the distinction between x and y is difficult and the decision even more so. If someone would have taught Junior Achievement in my ninth grade class, I would have had been better equipped to make better choices, or at a minimum, have had more to think about at that crucial time. Luckily I had a good work ethic, but experiencing a Junior Achievement class certainly would have helped.

At the end of seven weeks of games, critical thinking exercises, and lively discussion, we had our last JA class. The students thanked us for their time, and we left our contact information with them. I believe we made a difference, if only a small one, with some of the kids. Anytime an adult can take time to share experiences and/or mentor a child, they make a huge impression in that child’s life.

I would highly recommend teaching a Junior Achievement course. It’s a great opportunity to make a positive difference in your community.

How to Fight a Penny War

2010-05-17T16:57:00.002-05:00

Every year, several of our offices participate in their local Relay for Life (for more information about this great charity, please go here). We always have a group of ten to fifteen that participate in the actual relay, but we also have several charity events in our office to help raise money. One of those events is called Penny War. It’s an epic department versus department struggle, one that I’ve participated in for the last three years. Now I’ve decided to pull the curtain back and share some of my team’s tried and true strategies for fighting the good fight.

What’s a ‘Penny War’?
Great question. Penny War is based on a point system. Every team, which is usually comprised of two to three departments, has a bucket. Teams can place coins in their own or other team’s buckets. Pennies are worth one point, while silver coins are worth negative points, based on the coin’s value. For example, a nickel is worth -5 points. At the end of the war, the team with the most points wins. It’s a great way to raise money for Relay for Life! Here are three strategies we used to be successful.

Strategy 1: Plan of Attack
Essentially, you can be a kingdom- or king-maker in this war. If you’re looking to fortify your defenses, focus all of your funds on pennies. The penny is the only coin with a positive point value in this war, so if you’re looking to reign supreme, fill up your bucket with as many pennies as possible. Most teams at least in some way attempt to accomplish this goal. Another strategy is to play king-maker. Let’s say your department can raise $100, and you’ve noticed that some other departments’ buckets are brimming with pennies. You could decide to focus on silver coins, which have a negative value. Afterall, you can help swing the balance of power with some strategically placed quarters (-25 value).

Strategy 2: Raise Funds (AKA Shock and Awe)
Fun fact: banks actually have a small supply of coinage. Let’s face it, most people don’t go to their bank drive through and ask for $100 in nickels. It’s just not that common. So plan ahead. Call your local branch at least two days ahead of time to determine if they’ll have the coins you need in stock. Many banks order their coins a week in advance, so the sooner you start to plan, the better. Also, keep in mind that your colleagues are fighting the good fight too, so there’s a good chance they may have already been to the same bank looking for coin. This last challenge, I had to drive over 20 miles to get coins, due to lack of supply in our immediate area.

Strategy 3: Have Fun!
After you have your plan of attack and funds, it’s all about having a good time. This contest is a great way to meet and interact with coworkers you might not have worked with previously. It’s also for a great cause. So remember not to go crazy; simply enjoy the game and raise money.

So that’s how we play the game of Penny War. I really enjoyed this year’s fundraising event and look forward to next years!

Wow! Huge Response for Princess Alexa

2009-11-05T09:33:00.005-06:00

We hit a record for our October Jeans for Charity event. Ivie associates raised $748 and a bin full of costumes for the Princess Alexa Foundation. This is the most we've raised in a month so far.

Congratulations to the Princess Alexa Foundation for their feature story on Good Morning Texas this past Monday. Please check out the video when you have a chance.

Remember ... Costumes are on sale all over the area right now so please feel free to continue to pick up donations and drop them off with Robin Ganslen or Becky Pearce.

For those who are knew to our blog, Jeans for Charity is a monthly event that allows employees to wear jeans on Tuesday for a donation of at least $2. Each month we choose a different charity from a pool of organizations submitted by Ivie associates.

24 Hours of Game Play for TX Children's Cancer Center

2009-10-20T09:56:00.003-05:00

The Extra Life gaming marathon took place this past weekend. My husband and I as well as hundreds of other gamers played for 24 hours to raise money for the Texas Children’s Cancer Center at Texas Children’s Hospital. It was a lot of fun for a great cause. I was able to raise over $400 and my team as a whole raised $1,000. Totals are still coming in for the event as a whole but there has been $141,000 raised as of today.

The Extra Life website is still taking donations until the end of the month and you can find out more at the official site : http://extralife.sarcasticgamer.com/.

- Leala U. (Creative in Flower Mound)

Mission Work in Kenya

2009-10-16T13:33:00.003-05:00

Below is a message from my friend Dr. Bob Mendonsa (formerly a leading orthopedic surgeon here in Flower Mound), and his mission work in Kenya.

Dear All,
There are exciting things happening with Naomi's Village, the orphanage we're building in Maai Mahiu, Kenya. Please check out the news on our website to see the latest news, to see pictures of children who will steal your heart, and to see how you can get involved!
With hope,
Bob, Julie, Emily and Will

Our home group put on a garage sale last weekend to help raise funds for the construction of the orphanage, and we raised $1300 that we will be sending to them. But they need ALL the help they can get. In addition to building an orphanage, the Mendonsas also orchestrate a weekly feeding plan for the Kenyan children. Children walk for miles once a week to get to them so that they can be given basic food staples which they then take back to their families.

In addition to both these efforts, Bob works as an orthopedic surgeon in the CURE INTERNATIONAL Hospital there in Kijabe Kenya, where they are stationed.

Thank you,
Sandra O. x5358

The Wales Community Halloween Party

2009-10-16T13:08:00.004-05:00

A family friend recently brought The Wales Community Group to my attention.

"...many of our 63 residents are older people, with physical or mental
disabilities. Each has been or could easily become homeless. These are people who are
struggling to maintain the dignity and life this home provides them." - Glenda

It’s a community living program in which clients live in apartments or community homes that are for persons not yet ready to live in the community independently. These homes provide a transition for people recently leaving a psychiatric facility or for persons who need intensive structure on a temporary basis. The goal is to promote a self-sufficient and satisfying life.

Glenda is throwing these clients a Halloween Lunch Party on Halloween and I am participating with my family and friends, but there are some needs that I'm hoping Ivie associates can help with.

There are 61 clients now: 31 men & 30 women…here is a list of things Glenda has mentioned she wanted to give to help the clients at the Halloween Party:

Walmart or Target gift cards
4 oz bars of soap
Toothpaste (They have plenty of toothbrushes presently)
Shampoo (full size)
Hair products for black clients’
Feminine hygiene products
Socks for men or women
Umbrellas- (Bus stops are hard to get to in the rain)
Paper towels
Bingo Prizes

If you can contribute please email or call me. I need all donations by Friday, October 30th.

Thank you,

Jennifer Pressly, x5024

jennifer.pressly@ivieinc.com

$756 for the Breast Cancer 3-Day!

2009-09-30T14:35:00.011-05:00

Our Jeans for Charity fundraiser for September raised a total of $756.80 for the Breast Cancer 3Day event benefiting the Susan G. Komen for the Cure. This is the most money we've raised in a month so far. Thank you so much to everyone who donated!

For the next couple of months we are going to change things up a little bit. Rather than just accepting $2 donation to wear jeans, we will also be accepting in-kind donations for our charity each month.

For October, the charity to benefit from these donations will be the Princess Alexa Foundation. This organization was created in memory of Alexa Aigner, a beautiful little 4-year old little girl who fought neuroblastoma, a childhood form of cancer, for most of her short life. Alexa passed away in June 2008. She LOVED playing dressing up so her family and friends started the Foundation to provide other critically ill children the opportunity to celebrate childhood through dress up and play. We will accept $2 donations and/or new costumes and accessories for boys and girls 2 to 10 years old. Please visit the website to learn more about this incredible organization.

Let us know if anyone has any questions.

~Becky P.

Serenity Springs Sanctuary

2009-09-18T12:55:00.006-05:00

I have the Ivie Cares program at Ivie and Associates to thank for getting me involved with the wonderful Serenity Springs Sanctuary here in North Texas. I spend most of my Sundays at the sanctuary helping feed the pigs and work with the horses.

Serenity Springs Sanctuary is truly an animal heaven on earth. There are about 98 pigs, mostly Vietnamese Potbelly Pigs. There are 6 horses, two of them are totally blind. There are 3 miniature horses with two of those that are special needs animals. There are 3 mules, a miniature donkey, 2 cows, 1 goat, peacocks, chickens and 6 dogs and 12 cats. It is a great place to hang out and get some good ol' country peace and quiet.

Serenity Springs Sanctuary has stumbled on some very difficult times. Donations have dwindled and the veterinary bill has shot up due to 3 of the horses needing some critical care recently. The horses are fine now, even though little Cody, one of the miniature horses had to have one of his eyes removed.

If you would like to learn more about Serenity Springs Sanctuary, TV channel 11 just ran a news story about the sanctuary on September 11, 2009. You can view it by going to this link: http://cbs11tv.com/local/Terry.DeGaw.Serenity.2.1179091.html.

You can also go directly to Serenity Springs Sanctuary's web site to see the news clip or look at the photos of the many wonderful animals there. The web site also has a PayPal link if you would like to make a donation or if you are interested in sponsoring one of the animals there at the sanctuary.

If you want to visit the sanctuary and spend a lovely day in the country, just e-mail Terry at serenitysprings@wisewb.com for directions on how to get there. The web site address is: http://www.serenityspringssanctuary.org/.

The photo above is of Sundown, the blind Appaloosa mare, and Cody, the little miniature horse that recently lost one of his eyes.

~Bonnie L. (Prepress in Flower Mound)

Create Footprints Lyme Disease Walk

2009-09-18T11:35:00.003-05:00

This is the first ever Lyme Disease walk in our area! Many people suffer from this horrible disease and go untreated for months and years. Lyme is often misdiagnosed as chronic fatigue syndrome, fibromyalgia, MS, and Lupus.

Turn the Corner Foundation was started in 2003 and it has quickly become one of the country's leading organizations in the fight against Lyme disease. Its mission is to raise donations to support of research, education, awareness and innovative treatments for Lyme disease and other tick-borne diseases in order to find a cure.

Walk Details:
Sep 27, 2009 at 10am
Libertyville, IL
Registration - 10:00 am - Walk begins at 11:00 am
Walk - 2.5K or 5K
Families Welcome - Kids of All Ages
Family Entertainment and Raffles

Can't attend but would still like to help out?
Donate on-line at: http://www.firstgiving.com/marydagostino1
Register at: http://www.firstgiving.com/createfootprintsttc

Thank you.

Mary D. (USSCO office)

Video Games for Charity

2009-09-02T20:55:00.012-05:00

Everyone has their own way in which to support and raise money for good causes. Some people bike, hike, race and climb. For me, I play video games!

This is the second year of Extra Life, a community charity effort 24 hour gaming marathon. This year on Oct. 17, me and thousands of other gamers all over the world will be playing to raise money for Texas Children’s Cancer Center at Texas Children’s Hospital. Last year over $120,000 was raised in one day alone.

I’m really excited and looking forward to the event, but I need some help. You can sponsor me for as much as you want or as little as $1 per hour of gaming or $24. I appreciate every bit and it all goes directly to a great cause. Just click on this link and hit “donate now” to sponsor me.

Thank you!

Check out the official site for more info.

-Leala U.

Jeans for Charity - Update

2009-09-01T09:32:00.002-05:00

In June we started an event called Jeans for Charity in our home office in Flower Mound, TX. Each Tuesday, associates are allowed to wear jeans to work in exchange for a $2 donation to charity. Each month we choose a different organization from a pool of charities submitted by Ivie associates. So far we've raised a total of $1642.92 for local charities.

June - $459.42 to the Denton County Habitat for Humanity
July - $608.75 to the Greyhound Adoption League of Texas
August - $574.75 to the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation

September donations will go to the Breast Cancer 3-Day benefiting Susan G. Komen for the Cure.

If you would like to submit a charity for consideration please send an email to IvieCares@ivieinc.com. The only requirement is that they be a 501c3 charitable organization.

~ Becky P.

Save the Date

2009-08-18T15:13:00.011-05:00

Your fellow associates at Ivie are pulling together teams to participate in both of the following events. If you are interested in either of these events send an email to IvieCares@ivieinc.com and we will add you to the email list for updates.

Susan G. Komen Race for the Cure
Benefitting: Susan G. Komen for the Cure
Event: 5k Race
Saturday, October 17, 2009
Northpark Center, Dallas, TX

Big D. Climb
Benefitting: Leukemia & Lymphoma Society
Event: 52 Flight Climb
Saturday, January 30, 2010
Fountain Place, Dallas, TX

If you have an event coming up that you would like to announce please don't hesitate to let us know. Thank you!

~Becky P. (Ivie-TX)

Crazy Compassionate: the story of an MS 150 participant

2009-06-09T14:20:00.005-05:00

You might have to be a little crazy to hop on a bike for 85 miles one day and get back on the second day for another helping of 60-plus miles the next morning.

After riding the “Multiple Sclerosis 150 – Escape to the Lake (Erie)” last year I did a self check: “Katie, really think about how much pain you were in….how delusional and fatigued you became after riding so far in intense heat…how many cars flew past you at inappropriate speeds…how sore your legs were for the following week…” I can be impulsive and wanted to commit the pain of the event to memory so that I didn’t sign up for another year then dread the commitment.

These thoughts were flowing through my mind at our awards banquet last year. Suddenly the inner dialogue was cut through with a quick sentence from the race organizer. “Next year the midpoint will be in Edinboro.” Edinboro is where I grew up, so I immediately knew I was in!

On June 6th, 2009 at 7:30 a.m. my dad, boyfriend Kyle and I were ready to roll. The weather was a chilly 48 degrees with a serious fog cover. Our start time was delayed in an attempt to let the sun break through until 8 a.m. then we took off. The fog persisted and I experienced a new sensation where your body is cold and covered with goosebumps, yet the air is humid. I call it cold-clammy.

Around 9:30 the sun broke through and we hit our first rest stop. Spirits were high and after quick water bottle fill-ups and downing of PB&J sandwiches we got back onto our bikes.

We saw a lot of beautiful sights on those miles. Many Amish and Mennonites gathered on their porches to watch the spectacle of 1,640 cyclists rolling by. Horses, cows and goats looked up from their fields.

I give a lot of credit to the volunteers. Volunteers fall into three main categories and are about a one-to-one ratio with the riders. There are support vehicle drivers, rest stop helpers, and bike shop employees. My mom drove her car along the course for the second year. She cheered for us whenever she passed and picked up any riders that needed assistance whether they had fallen, needed more fluids, a ride to the next rest stop or were fixing a tire. Rest stop helpers give you much needed food, water and Gatorade. The bike shop employees help fix bike problems and sell things such as extra tubes. My dad was particularly excited to introduce me to his New Amish friend and bike shop owner Steven and his crew who are all Jamis enthusiasts and rode about 25 miles in dress shirts, suspenders, and dress pants to set up and help!

After a particularly cruel sequence of hills Saturday, we were down to the final 2 miles. I knew the area well since our loop ended in Edinboro and was overjoyed to tell Kyle “it’s all downhill from here!”

Sunday morning we woke up and headed down to the starting line once again. This time instead of a loop we headed towards the Ohio border and beyond to end in Conneaut, Ohio on the shore of Lake Erie. In contrast to the year before, the weather was cool and comfortable.

The trade-up I did from a hybrid bike to a true road bike (thank you for letting me borrow your bike Jackie!) was also a huge perk. The miles flew by. We had a much easier course than Saturday with few steep climbs and many pleasant down-hills. I was in a fabulous mood until the occasional shoulder cramp or quad pain brought me back to the reality of what a grueling endeavor distance biking is.

In the afternoon, we zoomed past the finish line to Conneaut Lake Park where they have a DJ blaring uplifting songs (yes, you guessed it – Cool & the Gang “Celebrate Good Times” was in the lineup). Kyle, my dad and I quickly hopped off our bicycles and bee-lined for the free pizza. Next, I suggested that we grab a Dilly Bar and walk to the waters edge. The three of us lazily strolled down the boardwalk and sat on a bench watching the water.

Soon, a woman named El walked by. She has MS and spoke to our Dick's Sporting Goods team last year during “Lunch and Learn” sessions. She helped explain to us what having the disease is like and offered lots of inspiration and appreciation for the riders who raise money and donate their time. She was using a cane and aided by her family. They sat down to the right of us at another bench.

Seeing her walk by with the loving support of her family was a great reminder of why I toughed it out and rode for a second year. I am blessed to have my health and to have a compassionate heart that wants to help others. I am blessed to have a family and friends that support me through my life and I’m proud to be able to help raise well-deserved funds to the Multiple Sclerosis Foundation so that they can keep improving people’s lives with research and aide.

If you would like to get involved you can visit the national site:
http://www.nationalmssociety.org/index.aspx

If you would like to donate to my personal fundraising site please visit:
http://main.nationalmssociety.org/site/TR/Bike/PAXBikeEvents?px=4446912&pg=personal&fr_id=10747

~Katie T. (Ivie-Pittsburgh)

A Successful Fundraiser for the American Cancer Society

2009-06-04T08:28:00.006-05:00

Thanks to all departments for stepping it up this year, and congratulations to ACCOUNT SERVICES for raising the most pennies, and winning the Penny War this year. They will be rewarded with a plaque and pizza plus Prepress will also receive a plaque for their 2008 Penny War win.

$2,633.03 TOTAL was raised for the event!

This was short of the goal, but VERY good considering the limited time everyone had to raise funds, and the current economic climate. Relay for life is VERY grateful for the donations, and IVIE CARES once again thanks EVERYONE at IVIE for making a real difference in the community and the world in which we live.

A SPECIAL THANKS TO THE RELAY TEAM AND SUPPORT STAFF:
**Debi Amon
Anna Dinnyes
Tricia Epping
*Cindy Flenar
Robin & Keith Ganslen
Kelly Hancock
Loan Huynh
Tori Huynh
Bonnie Lacombe
Travis McElroy
**Chris Ray
Michelle Tease
Meagan Vaughn
*Cindy walked the furthest (over 18 miles the night of the event!)
**Team Captain

View pictures at Ivie's Flickr Page and video on Ivie's YouTube Page.

RELAY FOR LIFE - Carrollton, TX

2009-04-28T12:51:00.004-05:00

If you indicated via the survey link that you were interested in participating in the Relay for Life event in Carrollton, TX on May 29th please send an email to IvieCares@ivieinc.com. They're will be a meeting scheduled soon so we want to make sure everyone is included.

Thank you!

150-Mile Bike Ride for Multiple Sclerosis

2009-04-23T14:42:00.005-05:00

Sandra Ogden is the Director of Production at Ivie and her husband Rich is participating in an 150 mile bike ride to raise money for multiple sclerosis.

"I've registered for the Bike MS: SAM'S CLUB Ride to fulfill a personal challenge, and also to help the National MS Society fund research, advocate for change and help people with MS and their families lead powerful lives. I believe in the work they do and want to be part of it."

Please visit Rich's page and make a donation if you can.

Multiple sclerosis is a progressive neurological disorder that affects people in many different ways. It could be paralysis one day, loss of vision the next or impaired memory the day after that. Living with MS means living with uncertainty. When it comes to MS, only two things are certain:Another American is diagnosed every hour of every dayMany people are joining the movement toward a world free of MS including me.

Donation Boxes in Lobby

2009-04-23T14:41:00.002-05:00

We now have donations boxes setup in the lobby for 2 things:
1. Magazine donations, which will be sent to a platoon in Iraq.
2. Toiletry donations, which will go to a local shelter.

Magazine Donations - Bring em on!

2009-04-02T17:20:00.007-05:00

We are relaunching our magazing donation project. Some time in the next week I will get a basket for us to place the magazines in the upstairs lobby. In the meantime feel free to drop them in my office. Below is a note we received from the mother of one of the troops plus you can view a few pictures in the Links to the right:

Hi! My name is Laura and my son LCPL Tim Keele just returned from his second deployment to Iraq. He is currently in Denton visiting for two weeks and one day before he heads back to the Marine Base in Kaneohe Bay, HI. While I'm extremely overjoyed with the return of my Marine the fact that we do live in such a "small world" has hit close to home. LCPL Randon Atkinson who is stationed at 29 Palms, CA is a member of the platoon that replaced Tim's platoon in Iraq, so while I have my son home another mother, a father and two sisters have their son and brother deployed again. Tim and Randon know each other. They both were recruited from the Carrollton, TX recruit office. Randon's sister Rachel and Tim both used to work for me part time while attending college and I remember Rachel bringing her younger brother Randon up to work sometimes.

My desire to send recycled magazine to our troops will continue until all of our soldiers return home. We sometimes take for granted our freedom while our troops go on patrols, eat less than desirable food, (Tim's platoon had ravioli for Thanksgiving last year), request socks in their next care package, wait in long lines to use a computer and even longer lines to use the phone. They are lacking a good night sleep each night and are on call 24/7 for the length of their deployments. Each living quarter has a table for reading material and every box of magazines sent to our troops is added to the table so they have some form of entertainment and a connection to the real world. Our troops just can't get in a car and go out to eat or see a movie while deployed so the magazines are truly appreciated.

Thank you for all you've done and continue to do Ivie & Assoc. employees....
Laura

Best Buddies of Texas

2009-03-09T11:12:00.008-05:00

Best Buddies is the world's largest non-profit organization dedicated to enhancing the lives of people with intellectual disabilities by providing opportunities for one-to-one friendships. People with disabilities are often excluded from society because of their differences. This organization is determined to end social isolation for people with intellectual disabilities by establishing meaningful and lasting friendships with their non-disabled peers. These friendships help increase self-esteem, confidences and the abilities of all involved.

On Saturday, April 25th from 1-4pm Best Buddies will be holding their annual Festival of Friendship to raise awareness and funds for the Texas program. If you are interested in participating in this event please send an email to IvieCares@ivieinc.com.

Best Buddies is rated 4 ouf of 4 stores by Charity Navigator.

Volunteer Release Time

2009-03-01T17:10:00.002-06:00

Are you interested in volunteering but just can't find the time? Don't forget that Ivie offers a Volunteer Release Time program that allows you to take 24 hours (full time associate) or 12 hours (part time associates) of paid time off each year to volunteer.

If you're interested please visit the Ivie Cares website to review program details and complete the form. This form must be approved by your supervisor and the time must also be entered into HRB.

If you have any questions send an email to IvieCares@ivieinc.com.

Raising Money for Victims of Violence & Scholarships

2009-02-12T09:18:00.009-06:00

Women of Flower Mound is holding a fundraiser to raise money for local college scholarships as well as for Denton County Friends of the Family. This year’s Fashion Show is scheduled for February 28th, 2009 from 10am to 2pm. The event will include a brunch, fashion show, silent auction, and door prizes.

WOFM is committed to various activities within the community, such as helping those less fortunate through the Adopt-A-Family program, participating in the annual Holiday Stroll with the Town of Flower Mound, assisting with the Flower Mound Independence Day Children’s Parade, the Easter Sunrise Service on the Mound as well as contributing to local elementary schools and non-profit organizations. Their year long fundraising efforts culminate with an annual Fashion Show.

If you are interested in attending their 7th Annual Fashion Show & Champagne Brunch or getting involved with the organization please contact Cindy Flenar. If you'd like to read more about Denton County Friends of the Family you can find the link under Recommended Links.

The Leukemia and Lymphoma Society

2009-02-12T08:58:00.015-06:00

Ivie Cares recently printed some posters for The Leukemia and Lymphoma Society. The event is the Saint Valentine's Day Luncheon & Fashion Show which is celebrating it's 25th anniversary on February 13th.

The Mission: Cure leukemia, lymphoma, Hodgkin's disease and myeloma, and improve the quality of life of patients and their families. Since its founding in 1949, the Society has invested $600 million in research specifically targeting leukemia, lymphoma and myeloma. Last year alone, the Society made 5.1 million contacts with patients, caregivers and healthcare professionals.

If you are interested in getting involved please contact Loan Huynh. To read more about this event visit you can visit their website.

Humane Society of the Ozarks

2009-02-03T14:36:00.000-06:00

For the past two years, Ivie has been able to secure donated paper and press time for the annual Humane Society of the Ozarks Pet Calendar based out of Fayetteville, Arkansas. Last year’s calendar netted over $40,000! This year’s calendar is estimated to net over $50,000!

Ivie’s generous donations will support the following vital Humane Society programs:

Low-cost spay and neuter assistance program
Free spay/neuter mobile clinics held annually in surrounding towns
Emergency outreach
Shelter rescue outreach
Cruelty prevention and investigation
Adoption awareness
Medical care in animal cruelty cases
Elementary Classroom Educational Programs (KIND NEWS)

If you’d like a copy of this planner for a $25 donation, please contact Erin Lindsey at erin.lindsey@ivieinc.com.

All Travelers: Hotel Toiletries Needed

2009-02-03T08:54:00.004-06:00

If you are someone who travels a lot we could use your help. Many local homeless, children's and women's shelters are in need of toiletries for their residents. Before you leave your hotel, toss all those lotions, shampoos, etc. in your bag and bring them back to the office. Ivie Cares will collect them and get them to local shelters in need.

Here is one organization we have heard about recently:
Cumberland Children's Home
http://www.cpch.org/index.html
Thank you!

Thank You for Magazines

2009-01-26T21:10:00.000-06:00

Hi Kim,
I wanted to let you know again how much I appreciated all the recycled magazines that you brought by my house from you and your co-workers at Ivie and Associates. Every week I was able to ship a care box to my son LCPL Timothy D. Keele, which included the magazines for him to share with his fellow Marines. Instead of throwing them away, you and your co-workers took the time to gather the magazines, bring them to work and then you Kim, made sure I had a slew of them to mail out each week.

I'm very excited to pass on the good news that the 1/3 B Co 1st Platoon will be leaving Iraq soon and be back to their base in Kaneohe Bay, Hawaii in about a month.Thank you again, so much, Ivie and Associates employees for donating to my son and OUR countries soldiers. The reading materials helped to pass away some of their down time. Their reading table was just as popular as waiting in the long line to use the phone to call home !!!
Sincerely,
Laura Keele-Kelson

Handmade Greeting Cards

2009-01-21T10:29:00.001-06:00

I recently joined a nationwide group that makes handmade greeting cards and sends them to our soldiers in Iraq and Afghanistan. They can be of any design on the front (holidays, anniversary, birthday, miss you, love you, etc.) but the inside should be blank so that the soldiers can write their own personal greeting. An envelope for each card is also needed. The cards can be all the same or all different and any number is appreciated. For those who aren’t able to make cards, monetary donations are appreciated to help with shipping costs.

Anyone who would like to participate can contact me if they have questions and cards can be shipped to me at the Iowa Call Center.

Thank you.
Cindy Horvath
563-386-5886 x.3137
cindy.horvath@ivieinc.com

Did you know that over 23 Million Americans have diabetes?

2008-09-24T08:50:00.002-05:00

On October 11th, I will be running a 5k as a fundraiser for Diabetes research for the American Diabetes Association. The mission of the ADA is to prevent and cure diabetes and to improve the lives of all people affected by diabetes. This includes people living with type 1, type 2, gestational, pre-diabetes or anyone who may be at risk.

I will be running with a team of friends, one of whom has a younger sister named Anna with type 1 diabetes. In honor of her, our team name is Anna's Bananas (her sister's nickname).

If you would like to make a donation towards this cause, you can use the following link: http://www.active.com/donate/nwatour/nwatourLCuster.
Thank you for supporting me in this cause.

Lindsay Custer

Keep the Magazines Coming!

2008-09-05T08:37:00.002-05:00

This is a message we received from the woman who is sending the magazines overseas for us ...

PLEASE tell your co-workers thank you again for the mags. Tim's unit started receiving mail over 2 weeks ago and there are 180 men and women Marines in his platoon/unit with about 36 to a tent and those magazines ARE getting passed around.

Backpack Drive Results

2008-08-27T12:03:00.003-05:00

We received a total of 152 backpack donations for the Backpack Drive for GRACE. Plus, $120 in cash donations. PLUS, the Ivie's matched your donations so we had a total of 305 backpacks to donate!

Thanks to everyone's generous donations GRACE did meet their goal of 500 backpacks. They have promised to send some pictures from the day they distributed them to the kids so we will post those as soon as we receive them.

Congratulations and thank you to everyone that participated!

Magazines for U.S. Troops

2008-08-07T10:53:00.003-05:00

Everyone has old magazines at home that either end up in the trash - or hopefully for some in the recycle bin at least. How about putting them to good use? Bring in old magazines - whatever the genre - and Ivie Cares will have them shipped off to troops in Iraq.

Feel free to include any letters of encouragement along with those magazines! Even better - get your kids involved! Have them write letters and draw pictures to include in the package.

Drop off boxes will be in 2 locations in the Flower Mound office:
1st Floor – Cube 102B just inside the entryway in the Client Service area
2nd Floor – On the Ivie Cares’ cart outside of Becky Pearce's office near IT

If you are located in the field and are interested in participating send us a message at IvieCares@ivieinc.com. We will provide you with the details to either have them shipped here to Flower Mound or directly to Iraq.

I Need Your Help: Junior Achievement Bowl-A-Thon

2008-07-30T11:34:00.004-05:00

I am excited to be supporting Junior Achievement's economic education programs as a Bowl-a-thon participant.

It is estimated that about half of our young people leave school without the knowledge or foundation required to find and hold a job. The main reason is that they lack hope. Junior Achievement programs show our youth how they can take advantage of the many opportunities that are available to them through the free enterprise system and how to prosper in it.

If you would like to make a donation please visit my website.
For more information on Junior Achievement follow the link to the right under Recommended Links.
Thank you for your help...if you have any questions, call me!

Alessia Andrae

I Lived In My Backpack!

2008-07-16T09:15:00.008-05:00

Calling all Ivie employees ...
IVIE CARES BACKPACK DRIVE '08!

We all had one; that glorious protector of our stuff from a strange & confusing world, that place where only we could go: our backpack. Old tater tots, the math homework we thought we didn’t do, gym shorts, somebody’s phone number that fate never let us find again. When we thought we might have forgotten something, our backpack picked up the slack (unless we forgot your backpack, but that is another story).

IVIE CARES in cooperation with GRACE is asking all IVIE employees to once again step up and give a kid something that will make their day just a little easier. These children desperately need to have successful educational experiences to make a change in their lives, and carrying books around with papers sticking out, and supplies falling out of their pockets just won’t cut it.

Be a part of the IVIE CARES BACK PACK DRIVE ’08!
Monday, August 4th-Thursday, August 14th.
NEW BACKPACKS are needed for kids Pre-K – 12. Our goal is 500.
We need a variety of colors, but recommend people sticking to solid colors and to stay away from cartoon characters.

For those in Flower Mound, donation bins will be located in the upstairs & downstairs lobbies. For those in the field, please use the reference "IVI 118 Backpack" to ship all donations to arrive in Flower Mound no later than the morning of Friday the 15th. Please keep it to 1 shipment so we can keep our costs down.

Cash/check donations are also welcomed.

IVIE HAS CLASS!! BE COOL, HELP A KID GET BACK TO SCHOOL!

For more information, please contact CINDY FLENAR (XT.5265 cindy.flenar@ivieinc.com) or CHRIS RAY (XT.5377 chris.ray@ivieinc.com).

JC Penney’s, Kohl’s and Walgreens have had recent backpack sales. Please check back here for updates on major dept. store specials.

For more information on GRACE please follow the link to the right under Recommended Links.

Outcome of the Dog Days Event

2008-07-15T16:55:00.004-05:00

Thank you to everyone who donated and helped with the Dog Days fundraiser for Kindred Spirits. In particular, I want to thank Leala Ulrich, Tami Pace, Meagan Vaughn, Linda Miller, Laura Avila and Bonnie Lacombe for their help organizing and planning the week's events.

We raised $664 for Kindren Spirits which is outstanding. If you are interested in more information about Kindred Spirits they can be reached at kindredspiritsresq@sbcglobal.net.

Cutest Pet Contest Winners
Cutest Pet - Oliver
(Owner: Bekah Randolph)

Cutest Cat - Mia
(Owner: Chris Ray)

Cutest Dog - Oscar
(Owner: Meagan Vaughn)

We also want to mention that Oliver, the Cutest Pet Winner above, as well as Dobie (below) were chosen to be in the Sam's Holiday Catalog.

Dobie
(Owner: Bonnie Lacombe)

Raffle Winners
1 month covered parking - Jerry Raign
Mary's Q.'s famous strawberry cake - Kevin White
$35 gift certificate for grooming at Trinity - Leala Ulrich

Dog Days of Summer

2008-06-30T09:34:00.002-05:00

July 7th through the 11th the Flower Mound office will be holding a fundraiser for Kindred Spirits, an organization that provides rescue and rehabilitation for small dogs.

VOLUNTEERS NEEDED: If you are available Monday, Wednesday or Friday 8:30-9:30am or 12:30-1:30pm to help run the bake sale & raffle OR are interested in baking some pet or owner treats please sign up at the Ivie Cares Events page.

Click here for a detailed schedule of the week's events.
Here is a glimpse:
Bake Sale (Pet and Owner Treats)
Cutest Pet Contest
Supply Drive
Raffle for:
- Covered parking spot for 1 month
- Famous Mary Q. cake
- $35 grooming gift card at Trinity Pet Hospital

Ivie Cares For Our Soldiers

2008-06-25T14:31:00.004-05:00

We at Ivie Iowa will be showing our support for our troops by helping a platoon of soldiers in need. We were given the name of a soldier who is on his second tour of duty. He and his platoon are being re-stationed in a remote location with very few supplies and amenities. We will be collecting everyday items for our care package and sending them off to our soldiers to receive in early July.

If you are interested in making a donation please contact Tracy Carbis in the Iowa office at Tracy.Carbis@ivieinc.com.

Flower Mound Blood Drive

2008-06-20T15:12:00.000-05:00

The blood drive in Flower Mound this past Friday went great. We had 38 donors which will help to provide blood for up to 102 patients! Thank you to everyone who took the time. There is a link to a few of the pictures under Ivie Cares Pictures in the column to the right.

American Hiking Society Volunteer Vacation

2008-06-17T12:40:00.002-05:00

I am officially signed up to participate in the AHS's Volunteer Vacation - Buffalo National River, Arkansas Trip Number: 4 October 19th to the 25th. This will be an opportunity to improve a national resource and leave a legacy for future generations. This is important to me because this beautiful river is close to where I grew up in Northwest Arkansas. I've camped, hiked and canoed along the Buffalo many times in my life. This is my chance to give something back to future generations of backpackers, hikers and anyone who appreciates the solitude that can be found on the trail. The American Hiking Society is a 501 (c)(3) organization that is focused on stewardship through volunteerism. This Volunteer Vacation program will work with the National Park Service to help build and maintain trails along the Buffalo National River in Northwest Arkansas. If anyone is interested in participating in this project, please visit the American Hiking Society at http://americanhiking.org or contact me.

Travis McElroy

Update: Ivie Iowa Races For The Cure

2008-06-16T11:22:00.002-05:00

Saturday morning was a beautiful day for the Race. There were over 9,000 registrants total and 37 came from the Ivie Iowa office. As you can see in the pictures, adults as well as children had a great time walking the 1 mile and 5k routes. After the race, everyone enjoyed popsicles and other treats that were available to the race participants. We missed those that were not able to attend due to the flood waters, but we know they were thinking of us and how much they would have rather been walking.

In memory of those that have lost the battle, in celebration of those that are winning, and for the hope of those who are fighting; we must continue to Race For The Cure!

Iowa Office Participating in Race for the Cure

2008-06-10T10:40:00.003-05:00

The Komen Race for the Cure Series raises significant funds and awareness for the fight against breast cancer, celebrates breast cancer survivorship, and honors those who have lost their battle with the disease.

The Ivie Iowa office is walking in the race this year to do just that. We have survivors within our office, and we have loved ones that we have stood by through their fight. On Saturday, June 14th there will be 33 adults and 3 children walking with our group.

If you are interested in making a donation to Susan G. Komen for the Cure please visit their Donation website. Or you can also visit their Promise Shop to purchase gift items. Fifty to 80 percent of the purchase price of all gift items sold funds research and community outreach programs that support our promise to save lives and end breast cancer forever.

Blood Drive Sign Up in Flower Mound

2008-06-09T10:17:00.003-05:00

Carter BloodCare will be visiting the Flower Mound office on Friday, June 13th from 10am to 4pm. If you are interested in donating blood please sign up on the Ivie Cares Events page.

Great Strides Cystic Fibrosis Walk

2008-06-04T13:42:00.004-05:00

Dave McCaskey in our Prepress department in Flower Mound will be participating in the Great Strides Cystic Fibrosis Walk at Six Flags on Sunday, June 8th. His daughter is a nurse in the Cystic Fibrosis department at Cook Children's Hopsital so he will be participating with other staff from the hospital.

If you would like to make a donation to the team please visit their website. For more information about Cystic Fibrosis visit their website at www.cff.org.

In the 1950s, few children with cystic fibrosis lived to attend elementary school. Today, with much thanks to fundraising efforts like Great Strides, advances in research and medical treatments have further enhanced and extended life for children and adults with CF.

Relay for Life Fundraising Results

2008-06-01T13:42:00.008-05:00

Well, once again the people that work here at Ivie have stunned me with their ability to raise money. We have raised a total of $4740.71 for the American Cancer Society.

Here are the results of the PENNY WAR:
1st PLACE
IT & Prepress
34,100 pennies
-1354 silver coins
TOTAL of 32,746 points = $494.85

2nd PLACE
Creative & Production
17,188 pennies
-927 silver coins
TOTAL of 16,261 points = $256.33

3rd PLACE
Accounting, HR, Administrative & Strategy
9,038 pennies
-152 silver coins
TOTAL of 8,886 points = $99.38

4th PLACE
Account Services
1,442 pennies
-72 silver coins
TOTAL of 1,370 points = $22.52

5th PLACE
Corporate Services
868 pennies
-87 silver coins
TOTAL of 781 points = $17.93

6th PLACE
Media, Marketing Strategy & Operations
42 pennies
-49 silver coins
TOTAL of -7 points = $5.72

Relay for Life - Fundraising Plans

2008-05-19T10:19:00.006-05:00

Ivie has about 18 associates plus their family & friends participating in an American Cancer Society Relay for Life event in Carrollton, TX on My 30th.

We will have a couple of things going on over the next couple weeks to raise money and awareness for this cause.

Department Penny Wars
Thursday, May 22nd to Thursday May 29th, All Day, Upstairs Lobby
There will be water jugs set up in the upstairs lobby for each department to drop their pennies into. The department with the most points wins, BUT there’s a catch. Pennies are worth positive points, but each silver coin is worth negative points so you can spoil other department’s efforts by dropping silver coins into their jugs.

Celebrate & Remember Banners
Week of May 27th, All Day, Upstairs Lobby
There will be 2 banners posted in the lobby. One banner will be to celebrate those who have survived cancer and the other will be to remember those that have been lost to the disease. This is an opportunity for us to honor our loved ones that have been affected by this disease, so please take a few minutes to add the name of anyone you know. We will hang these banners at our campsite when we get to the event next Friday.

A Pat On The Back
Tuesday, May 27th and Thursday, May 29th, 11:30 to 1pm, Blue Room
During lunch we will have a table setup in the blue room where you can purchase a “Pat On The Back” for fellow Ivie associates. You will have the opportunity to write a personal note if you’d like, which will be attached to small gift for the person you are recognizing. We should have more information on this fundraiser late this week.

Here is a link to the team website to see who is participating: Ivie Cares Relay for Life team. If you are interested in joining the team please sign up on the Ivie Cares Events page.

The Significance of Overnight

2008-05-14T11:10:00.000-05:00

Relay For Life starts at dusk and ends the next morning.

The light and darkness of the day and night parallel the experiences of the cancer patient undergoing treatment.

The Relay begins at sunset, which symbolizes the time a person is diagnosed with cancer. As the evening progresses, it gets colder and darker – this represents the patients’ struggle as they endure the emotions of being a cancer patient.

The time between 1 to 2 a.m. represents when the cancer patient starts treatment. They become exhausted, some sick, not wanting to go on, possibly wanting to give up. As a participant in the Relay, you have been walking and feel much the same way. Like the cancer patient, you cannot stop or give up.

The time around 4 to 5 a.m. symbolizes the completion of treatment for the cancer patient. Once again, they are tired, but they know they will make it.

The sun rising represents the end of treatment for the cancer patient. They see the light that life will go on.

The morning light brings on a new day, full of life and excitement for new beginnings. As a participant, you will feel the brightness of the morning and know that the end of the Relay is close at hand.

When you leave the Relay, think of the cancer patient leaving their last treatment. Just as you are exhausted and weak, so is that person, but there is hope in the new day! The money raised at Relay will support patient services, lifesaving research, education, and advocacy efforts … and that is why we Relay!

Remember: There is no finish line until we find a cure!

Relay for Life Sign Up - Due by May 16th

2008-05-09T13:10:00.006-05:00

We had about 30 people express interest in participating in the American Cancer Society Relay for Life event. It will take place in Carrollton on Friday, May 30th from 7pm to 7am. Please visit the Ivie Cares Events page and enter YOUR NAME and T-SHIRT SIZE no later than Friday, May 16th. I will get everyone signed up.

When you sign up I will send you more information about our team goals, team website, event details, etc. As we get closer to the event date we will also have a quick meeting to get everyone signed up for a particular time slot.

New Ivie Cares Events

2008-05-09T13:07:00.002-05:00

We have posted several new events to the Ivie Cares Events page.
http://www.iviecares.org/events.php

Ivie Cares Committee Mtg in Flower Mound

2008-05-08T09:16:00.001-05:00

We will have an Ivie Cares committee meeting in Flower Mound on Tuesday, May 13th at 1pm. Please feel free to join us in the blue room if you are interested in participating.

Old Computer Equipment

2008-04-18T10:31:00.004-05:00

To Prepare A Place is a ministry in Denton, TX that provides various levels of assistance to single mothers in the area - anything from shelter & food to assistance with education & training. They are building a program to provide academic and job training for women and are in need of computer equipment to do so. They need 10 computers total and have only 5 right now. If you are in the market for a new computer and would be willing to donate your old system please send an email to IvieCares@ivieinc.com.

Thank you!

Riding towards health and a world free of MS

2008-03-28T15:36:00.002-05:00

Hello! I'm Katie Turk - Account Coordinator on site at Dick's Sporting Goods in Pittsburgh, PA. Briana and I are participating in a 150 mile bike ride for 2 days in June. My dad is an avid cyclist which encourages me to think via genetics maybe I will be a great rider too. As seen in the picture above, I'm not too buff, but I know that I'm blessed with a healthy body that will carry me through to the finish line. I'll have the support and encouragement of fellow riders Bri, my boyfriend, dad and brother as well as my mom on the sidelines volunteering and all my buddies at Dick's.

Through "Lunch and Learn" sessions here we've learned more about how devastating it feels for someone with MS to have things we take for granted like walking become painful and challenging. The MS Society is a worthy place to donate to because of their very low overhead costs and dedication to helping people.

I also volunteer for an organization in Pittsburgh that provides health services to women. The great thing about volunteering is that you better yourself while helping others. You feel good once you have done something nice for someone else. When you learn about different people's challenges and circumstances it helps you to reflect on the blessings in your life.

In the case of this bike ride, we will be physically bettering ourselves in addition to emotionally growing. Heck, maybe we'll even cut down on a few carbon emissions (in keeping with Ivie's GREEN initiative) when we're zipping around on our bikes instead of starting up the car for quick trips to the grocery store.

2008-03-28T12:53:00.001-05:00

Hello,

My name is Briana Clear and I am an Account Coordinator on the Dick’s Sporting Goods Account. Each year the employees of Dick’s Sporting Goods put together a bike team to ride 150 mile for multiple sclerosis. This year I decided to join the team and help Dick’s with their efforts to be the #1 fundraising team. Somehow I convinced my dad to ride along with me, mostly by telling him he probably could not keep up with me anymore! On June 7th & 8th we will be riding from Cranberry, PA to Lake Erie. It is going to be a very challenging, but rewarding ride. I have spoke to several people who have participated before and all of them say it is a weekend you will remember for the rest of your life. I am looking forward to riding this event with my father, my fellow Ivie employee Katie Turk, my coworkers at DSG, but most importantly I look forward to riding this ride for all of the individuals in this world who are diagnosed with MS!

150-Mile Bike Road in PA

2008-03-26T10:11:00.005-05:00

Two of our employees in Pittsburgh are joining the Dick's Sporting Goods team in a 150-mile bike ride for Multiple Sclerosis on June 7th and 8th. Please cheer them on by visiting their websites and making a small donation. They are each trying to raise $200 so every little donation will help.

Briana's Website
Katie's Website

A Visit from Jonathan's Place

2008-03-24T10:26:00.003-05:00

This past Friday we had a fun event in Flower Mound for the kids from Jonathan's Place, which is an emergency shelter for children here in the Dallas area. We had 8 kids from Jonathan's Place as well as some of our own employee's children join us for the day. We had a couple of Wii games setup, board games, and bean bag toss. We also had a craft project - mostly for the girls - to design their own tiles with paints, stickers, etc. It was even a nice enough day for the boys to go outside and play a little catch with a football. It seemed like everyone enjoyed themselves and the kids from Jonathan's Place were very appreciative of all of the fun and, of course, the great prizes they got to take back to the shelter with them.

Jonathan's Place is located in Garland, TX. If anyone is interested in additional opportunities they have for volunteering please take a look at their website at http://www.jpkids.org/.

1st Meeting of the Year in FM

2008-01-07T08:40:00.000-06:00

The Community Service committee in Flower Mound will hold there 1st meeting of the year on Thursday the 10th from 1 to 2pm in the blue room. Anyone is more than welcome to join us. We will begin the process of planning for 2008.

If anyone from any of Ivie's other locations is interested in local community service please let me know and we will help in any way we can.

Posted by Becky P. (Ivie-TX)

Pictures of the GRACE Christmas Cottage

2007-12-20T15:45:00.001-06:00

I would like to thank everyone for the wonderful donations for the GRACE Christmas Cottage. Because of the donations they have received they will be able to serve 475 families with 1300 children.

Joan W. (Ivie-TX, Proofreader) and I had the honor of spending a couple of hours yesterday helping GRACE clients pick out their gifts and get everything loaded into their cars. Being there to help really gives you a glimpse into how generous the GRACE program really is. It not only allows the families to choose their own gifts but allows for anywhere from 3-5 gifts per child. Plus, every family gets a board game, books, stocking stuffers, stuffed animals and a family gift. So each client was leaving with several large bags full of gifts for their family.

Not only was the program generous, but also very well organized and very well supported by volunteers. There were about 10 people helping to bag the gifts each client chose, plus, since yesterday was a Hispanic day, there were another 5 people there to translate. So every family who came through the door had 2 people helping them through the process. The warehouse was completely decorated by local teenagers from schools and churches so it was very festive and welcoming. Attached are some pictures to give you an idea of what it is like.

Posted by Becky P. (Ivie-TX)

Thanksgiving Basket Fundraiser @ Ivie IA

2007-12-19T09:13:00.001-06:00

The Thanksgiving Basket fundraiser was a huge success.

We started with a list of items that we thought should be a part of a Thanksgiving feast. We purchased a clothes basket, foil pans for baking, plates, utensils, napkins and cups.

For each item on our list we created a feather, and decorated a paper turkey. The first day the turkey was hung about 3/4 of his feathers were plucked. By the middle of the week, we had a clean turkey. The food and donations started coming in almost immediately.

All of the non-perishable items were purchased to be placed in the basket. The perishable items were covered by monies donated for a gift card. We even had some homemade stocking caps brought in for the 3 children from our family. A nice touch to our basket were the recipes that we included from some of our own holiday favorite dishes.

As you can see from the pictures attached, we could not fit everything in to the basket. It was overflowing, with the items we asked for and other items that people picked out on their own. Throughout the week, people would come in to check out all of the things that had been brought in. A lot of caring and pride went in to this basket. We have a great group of people here, and they are ready and waiting for our Angel Tree to get on it's way.

Jeri C. (Ivie-IA)