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2008 Project List
Volunteer Info
Donation Information
Last Year's Day
Registration Form
Photo Album2003
Photo Album 2000
Chairperson-
Barbara
Pearson- Rac
Members:
Annie
Harnick
Nancy Lewis
Marissa Mangone
Barbara
Murray
Rae
Ortega
Amy
Riggio
Craig
Skinner
Nellie
Stagg
Courtney
Thomas
Paul Van
Zanten
Ex-Officio
Pat
Scully - Selectman's Office
Susan
Santangelo
| | October
19-26, 2008
EVERYONE CAN MAKE A
DIFFERENCE!
VOLUNTEER
ANY AMOUNT OF TIME YOU CAN
SPARE WOULD BE APPRECIATED!!!!
SPECIAL PROJECTS
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JOIN US AT OUR HEADQUARTER
SITE -YMCA OR THE CENTER FOR SENIOR ACTIVITIES ON SATURDAY, OCTOBER 25, 9AM -
11:30 AM
Create hygiene bags
for the Norwalk Community Shelter clients
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JOIN US AT THE SENIOR
CENTER ON OCTOBER 27 AT 10:00 AM-NOON : |
Create comfort bags for battered and
abused women for the Domestic Violence Crisis Center
Please join us for the
"Celebrate Life" Breast
Cancer Concert and Candle Lighting Ceremony honoring those diagnosed with Breast Cancer
Featuring
Jodie Keogan
Culver Casson
Paris Cheffer
Light A Candle for someone you
care about
October 20, Check in at 6 pm,
Concert at 7pm
Town Hall Auditorium
Admission: Free
What is
"Make A Difference Day?"
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National Day of service
on the fourth Saturday of each October.
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Encourages individuals
and organization
to help others in need and make a
in their lives.
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Offers the
opportunity--through organized projects--to lend a helping hand to an
individual, a family, a cause
and particularly a neighbor. Many ways of
service are possible.
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Since
this is a national "Day," who organizes and promotes it on a national
level?
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The "day" is
sponsored nationally by USA Weekend in partnership with the Points of Light
Foundation. Monetary grants for charitable causes are awarded to the
best projects. In 1999,
two million people participated. In 1996 and 1997, Westport was
given a Regional Award in recognition of our efforts as a community!
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| In 1999 Westport was
a regional honoree and received a $2000 award from the Wal-Mart Foundation.
We were one of 158 awards given out nationwide. In 1996, 1997, 1999
2000 2001and 2004 we were recognized with a local hero award. 2005
Westport received the prestigious National Award and $10,000 from Paul
Newman.
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Who
organizes the "Day" in Westport?
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The "Make A
Difference Day" organizing committee, appointed by the First Selectman,
coordinates
the projects and volunteers.
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Here the "Day"
is extended to one week, beginning on Oct.
21
and ending Oct. 28.
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TOWN OF WESTPORT HONORED
WITH NATIONAL AWARD
FOR 2005 MAKE A DIFFERENCE DAY!
Town builds 10-year tradition
Westport, Conn.
Bryan Wrapp, far left, and Barbara Pearson-Rac were
two of the thousands of people from one town giving a
boost to others, including, from front to back, Mikell
Washington, Matthew Elliott and Andrew Washington.
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Each October, Greg and Emilie Wrapp's basement in Westport,
Conn., is deluged with sports equipment -- thousands of shoes,
balls, bats, lacrosse sticks and pads -- gathered by sons Paul
and Bryan to give to needy kids. "We live in a town that is so
privileged, and we drive by places that aren't," says Bryan, a
high school senior. "When we bring this stuff to those towns,
the kids are so grateful."
He's just one of 3,500 Westport residents who gear up each year
for Make A Difference Day. For the past 10 years, the town has
declared the last week of October "Make A Difference Week," and
much of southwestern Connecticut has benefited.
Projects this year included a computer collection for poor
children in Bridgeport, a sewing project in which 35 Girl Scout
troops made 370 fleece pillows for ill children (see photo
below), a coat drive by Coleytown Middle School students and a
canned-goods collection to fill area food pantries.
"It's just the right thing to do," says organizer Barbara
Pearson-Rac of their efforts. "We really want to foster a sense
of giving in our community."
They certainly succeeded. |
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E-mail us with project
suggestions, comments and questions!
Makadif@aol.com
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