Leadership Cares Foundation | Developing caring leaders

ThanksgivingCares Press Release 2008

The LeadershipCares Foundation
10181 Nightingale Street
Gaithersburg, MD 20882

Ron Yudd (301) 540-5791
www.leadershipcares.org

STUDENT LEADERS FROM MENTORCARES PROVIDED THANKSGIVING BASKETS TO FAMILIES THROUGHOUT THE D.C. AREA AS PART OF THEIR 11th ANNUAL THANKSGIVINGCARES INITIATIVE. 650 FAMILIES WERE SERVED IN THE ROCKVILLE, ASPEN HILL, WHEATON, SILVER SPRING, TAKOMA PARK AND HYATTSVILLE AREAS.

December 3rd, 2008. LeadershipCares™, an organization that teaches leadership and life skills to teenagers and young adults, assembled and delivered baskets of ingredients to prepare a traditional Thanksgiving meal for families in need as part of their annual ThanksgivingCares™ initiative. The baskets were assembled by groups of enthusiastic volunteers on Monday, November 24th and Tuesday, November 25th 2008, and then delivered the afternoon of the 25th. Teens from the MentorCares™ program, and caring adults living in the Metropolitan area volunteered their time organizing, assembling and delivering baskets to families in need.

Three large banquet rooms at the Hilton Washington DC/Rockville Hotel and Executive Meeting Center in Rockville MD. were converted into the assembly and distribution center for this year’s program. A contingent of very enthusiastic MentorCares™ students, along with adults from Lexis Nexis, the Montgomery County Rotary Club and other local volunteer groups helped to stage the boxes and begin the assembly process.

MentorCares™ Students from Northwestern High School in Prince Georges County who participated in the event also worked very hard to raise money to support the effort.

Culinary students from Thomas Edison High School in Montgomery County contributed assorted bags of freshly baked cookies that were a “little extra” for the baskets.

For the 11th year in a row, Basic Necessities, a non-profit run by twin sisters Madeline and Hannah Carretero provided shampoos, soaps and lotions for the baskets. These young local leaders have had a major impact on families in need throughout the Metropolitan area by collecting and distributing sample size soaps, shampoos and lotions.

Deliveries were coordinated with various agencies throughout the area. The organizations that received baskets included World Wide Hope, Linkages to Learning, and the Muslim Community in Montgomery County. 150 baskets were also distributed in the Northwestern High School community in Hyattsville, MD. In addition, 50 families in the Rosa Parks Elementary School community received baskets. Students from the MentorCares program at Northwestern High School were instrumental in unloading the baskets and then assisted families in loading the baskets into cars.

Mr. Michael Zimmerman, the Director of Catering at the Hilton Washington DC/Rockville Hotel and Executive Meeting Center donated banquet space for this year’s event and provided refreshments for all the volunteers. His fantastic staff jumped in to help throughout the two-day event.

Mr. Steve Rothenberg, President of Talk of the Town, a Rockville based special events company, donated the use of company trucks. Paul McGreen, Operations Manager, and other Talk of the Town associates made deliveries in Montgomery County.

The following groups and individuals supported this year’s hunger relief efforts:

MentorCares™ Students-Northwestern High School-Prince Georges County, MD

Master Chief Tommy Brady-NJROTC Students-Kennedy HS, Silver Spring MD

The Literacy Council of Prince Georges County-Hyattsville MD

Rita Skolnik-Lexis Nexis Volunteers-“The Famous Box Brigade” Rockville MD

Michael Zimmerman Director of Catering, and staff-Hilton Hotel, Rockville MD

Chef Teresa Smith and the Incredible Culinary Students at Thomas Edison HS

Steve Rothenberg and Talk of the Town Special Events, Rockville MD

Pat Grant and the National Council of Negro Women, Montgomery County MD

Todd Kilby and Staff-Weis Markets Inc., Damascus MD

Hannah and Madeline Carretero-Basic Necessities-Kensington MD

Matt Mumma, Debby Hurley and Staff-Weis Markets Inc., Damascus MD

Potomac Rotary Club and Montgomery College Staff, Rockville MD

Darlene Bruton and Tracy Walls-High School Consortium-Largo MD

Tesfaye Abate, Director of Sales, Renaissance Harbor Place Hotel-Baltimore MD

Mary Pittman and grandchildren Chaz and Chadley-Silver Spring MD

Robert and Brian Willcoxon-Rockville MD

Brian T. Yudd, BT Studios Photography, Annapolis MD

“Our mission has been to increase awareness about hunger in our area and to give our young people an opportunity to actually do something about it in a “hands on” way. Every year they amaze us.”—Lula J. Davis, Executive Director, Leadership Cares.

LeadershipCares provides an opportunity for those living in the area to volunteer as “hands-on” participants to help make a difference for those in need. Teenagers and young adults learn and practice leadership skills through their participation. For more information about the ThanksgivingCares initiative, LeadershipCares and how to get directly involved call (301) 540-5791 or visit our web site at www.leadershipcares.org.