ThanksgivingCares Press Release 2011

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 14th ANNUAL THANKSGIVINGCARES INITIATIVE. 650 FAMILIES WERE SERVED IN THE WHEATON, SILVER SPRING AND HYATTSVILLE AREAS.

November 29, 2011 . 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 21st and Tuesday, November 22nd 2011, and then delivered the afternoon of the 22nd. 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 sixth 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 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

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

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

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

MentorCares Alum Hafeeza Hassan-University of Maryland

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

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

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

Talk of the Town Special Events, Rockville MD

Weis Markets Inc. and Staff, Damascus MD

Girl Scout Junior's Troop 6578 from Dufief Elementary School

Potomac Rotary Club, Potomac MD

Hannah and Madeline Carretero-Basic Necessities-Kensington MD

Current and Former Employees of the United States Senate and their Family Members

Mary Pittman and grandchildren Chaz and Chadley-Silver Spring MD

Ray Walls-Eastern Middle School

Robert and Brian Willcoxon-Rockville 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.