Leadership Cares Foundation | Developing caring leaders

ThanksgivingCares Press Release 2009

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 12th ANNUAL THANKSGIVINGCARES INITIATIVE. 651 FAMILIES WERE SERVED IN THE ROCKVILLE, ASPEN HILL, WHEATON, SILVER SPRING, TAKOMA PARK AND HYATTSVILLE AREAS.

December 1st, 2009. 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 23rd and Tuesday, November 24h 2008, and then delivered the afternoon of the 24th. 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.

For the fourth year in a row large banquet rooms at the Hilton Washington DC/Rockville Hotel and Executive Meeting Center in Rockville Maryland were converted into the assembly and distribution center for this year’s program. A contingent of very enthusiastic MentorCares™ students, along with adults from LexisNexis, Potomac Rotary Montgomery College 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.

Ms. Roman Abate, an adult mentor in the MentorCares program and her fellow employees from WSSC generously donated grocery gift cards that were included in the baskets of food.

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 12th 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. Even while away at college these young leaders made sure that families would have the little extras as part of the basket.

Deliveries were coordinated with various agencies throughout the area. The agencies and organizations that received baskets included Mid-County Government Services in Wheaton Maryland, Linkages to Learning Elementary Schools and the Muslim Community Center 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 a company truck. Talk of the Town manager Mr. Joe Finkelstein helped make deliveries.

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

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

MentorCares Alums Hafeeza Hassan and Mikeisha Williams-University of Maryland

Tommy Brady-Len Greig and the ROTC Students-Kennedy HS, Silver Spring 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

Roman Abate and WSSC Employees

Members of the DC Graduate Chapter of Swing Phi Swing Social Fellowship

Talk of the Town Special Events, Rockville MD

Hannah and Madeline Carretero-Basic Necessities-Kensington MD

Weis Markets Inc. and Staff, Damascus MD

Potomac Rotary Club and Montgomery College Staff, Rockville MD

Tesfaye Abate, Marriott Wardman Park Hotel-Washington D.C.

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.