GreaterFindlayInc. E-News, December 17, 2008

Member Press Releases

MATCH DAY FUNDS DEPLETED IN TWO HOURS
More than $300,000 was received at The Community Foundation office by 10:00 a.m. this morning, fully utilizing the $300,000 in Match Day funds in only two hours. Donations to local nonprofit agencies were matched dollar for dollar on a first-come first-served basis.

As of 12 noon today, $333,049 had been raised for Immediate Need Funds and $72,959 for Agency Endowment Funds - for a total of $406,008. Adding in the Foundation Match of $300,000 brings the total raised so far to $706,008.

Open Arms Domestic Violence and Rape Crisis Services was first in line at 4 p.m. yesterday (Tuesday 12/16). They were followed shortly by representatives from Women's Resource Center, Cancer Patient Services and Hancock Christian Clearing House - all in line the day before Match Day.

Checks are still being delivered to Foundation office today - even though the matching funds have been spoken for. The Foundation office will remain open today Wednesday, December 17 from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. to receive additional donations. The Foundation will accept these additional donations, passing them on to the agencies without a match. All donations are important and will be used to benefit local agencies as they work to improve the lives of Hancock County residents.

For more information, visit www.community-foundation.com or call 419-425-1100.

RECYCLE CHRISTMAS PAPER & CARDBOARD WITH H & O SERVICES-DEC. 26 THRU JAN. 2
GO Green this Christmas! Recycle your wrapping paper and boxes with H & O Services, LLC. From December 26-January 2, H & O Services will be collecting cardboard and paper for recycling. Look for dumpsters in front of their building located at 4500 Fostoria Ave., Findlay. For more information contact H & O Services at (419) 422-5688.

U.S. CENSUS BUREAU BRINGS 100 JOBS TO GREATER FINDLAY REGION-APPLY TODAY
The U.S. Census Bureau will be hiring up to 100 individuals in the Greater Findlay region to collect data for the 2010 census. Qualified applicants for the entry level position will start at $11 an hour and be paid weekly. The temporary position offers generous flexibility allowing employees to work within their own community and schedule their own hours. Employees may work a maximum of 40 hours per week for up to 18 months.

Hiring begins now with employment beginning in Jan. 2009. To qualify, applicants must complete a 30 minute basic skills test. A practice test may be taken here.

For more information or to apply, contact 419-324-7650 or visit http://www.census.gov/2010censusjobs/index.php.

BGSU ATHLETICS OFFERS GFI MEMBERS SPECIAL TICKET PRICING
Receive 50% off of original pricing!
BGSU Athletics is offering all GFI members special pricing for the following Falcon Club 'Above The Rim' men's basketball and BGSU Ice Arena hockey games.

For just $9 per ticket, sports fans will gain admittance to both the BGSU Falcons v. Lake Superior men's hockey match Saturday, January 24 at 7 p.m. and the BGSU Men's Basketball v. Eastern MI on Sunday, February 15 at 7 p.m.

Group Ticket Pricing is as follows:
Advanced            $ 9 each
20+ tickets          $ 7 each
50+ tickets          $ 6 each

Save 50% off game day walk-up prices by ordering your tickets through Cheryl Henke at 419-372-4349 or at cherylh@bgsu.edu.

2009 COMMUNITYREAD BOOK ANNOUNCED-MARCH 2009
The HancockREADS committee has announced that the 2009 CommunityREAD feature book will be the #1 national best-seller Marley & Me: Life and Love with the World's Worst Dog written by John Grogan. Grogan will visit Findlay to participate in several community events April 16-17, 2009. Children's book illustrator and Ohio native, Richard Cowdrey, will attend the CommunityREAD Kick Off on March 1, 2009 at the Mazza Museum Funday Sunday and also join John Grogan on April 17, 2009 at the feature event.

Marley & Me recounts the hilarious and heartfelt moments of Grogan's 13 years with a loopy Labrador retriever. A touchstone for people worldwide, the book grew into a runaway #1 New York Times bestseller with more than three million copies in print in 30 languages.

The focus of this year's CommunityREAD event is to generate family and community discussion on the concepts of commitment, selflessness, unflagging optimism and how to lead a happier, more fulfilling life as well as highlighting the HancockREADS mission of helping to "STAMP OUT ILLITERACY" in Hancock County.

Activities for CommunityREAD month (March 2009) including a special event featuring author John Grogan on Friday evening, April 17, at 7 p.m. at Central Auditorium. Tickets for the event are $5 and will be available at The Arts Partnership Box Office and The Findlay-Hancock County Community Foundation office.

The committee has also organized a "Red Envelope" promotion which allows community members to purchase a $10 "Red Envelope" from local bookstores. Each "Red Envelope" includes a ticket to the feature event and a raffle ticket to win lunch for two with John Grogan and Richard Cowdrey, illustrator of Bad Dog. Marley!, the selected children's book. You may purchase CommunityREAD books and Red Envelopes at the following participating bookstores: George House Coffee and Tea Company, Doranne's, Main Street News, Mazza Gallery, Moreys, Mother Hubbard's Learning Cupboard, Readmore's Hallmark, Springs of Life and Stately Raven.

For more information on CommunityREAD contact Marty Rothey at The Findlay-Hancock County Community Foundation at 419-425-1100.

FINDLAY HANCOCK COUNTY HABITAT FOR HUMANITY TO BEGIN CONSTRUCTION IN MAY
The alliance between Habitat for Humanity International and Thrivent Financial for Lutherans continues to build hope for low-income families amidst economic difficulties as the mortgage crisis unfolds nationwide. Since 2005, it has given more than 1,000 families an opportunity to achieve the American dream of homeownership. In 2009, Thrivent Builds with Habitat for Humanity will contribute more than $24 million to help build another 314 affordable homes in 37 states and the District of Columbia. Hundreds of local Habitat affiliates will build these homes alongside members of Thrivent Financial and other community volunteers.

Locally, Findlay/Hancock County Habitat for Humanity affiliate has been awarded $55,770, or 65 percent of the funds necessary, to build one home in 2009 through the alliance. Construction will begin in May in Findlay's West Park community for Kelley Weyer and her family. The Weyers will invest at least 400 hours of "sweat equity" helping to build their home. In addition, this home will be built by area volunteers, of whom at least one-half will be Lutheran and one-fourth will be Thrivent Financial members. This is one of four homes planned to be built by the Findlay/Hancock County Habitat for Humanity affiliate in 2009.

Since the inception of the Thrivent Builds alliance, the Findlay/Hancock County Habitat for Humanity built one of the more than 1,000 Thrivent Builds homes constructed across the nation in 2008. In 2009, they join 225 other Habitat affiliates to build the 314 homes funded.

Thrivent Builds with Habitat for Humanity supports Habitat home-building in the United States and abroad through its Thrivent Builds Homes and Thrivent Builds Worldwide programs. To learn more, visit www.thriventbuilds.com, www.habitatfindlay.org or contact the Findlay Habitat for Humanity office at 419-429-1400.

For more information on CommunityREAD Contact Marty Rothey at The Findlay-Hancock County Community Foundation at 419-425-1100.

HANCOCK COUNTY SUPPORT / ADVOCACY SERVICES SCHEDULE-DECEMBER 2008
National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI)-Every Monday, 4-5:30p.m. at Century Health Annex (1908 N. Main St.) Hancock County's "NAMI Connections" peer support group. Open to any individual diagnosed w/ a mental illness. Call Gina Lewis (419-429-1423) w/ questions.

Dual Recovery Anonymous (DRA)-Every Monday, 3-4 p.m. at The Family Center (1800 N. Blanchard Street), ROOM 111. A 12 step group for individuals and their loved ones living with both a mental health and substance abuse issue. Call Don Illif (425-5050) or Deb T.(422-3711) w/ questions.

Eating Disorder Support Group-1st and 3rd Thursdays, 7-8:30 p.m. at First Presbyterian Church (2330 S. Main St). Call or email Joy Anderson, LSW with any questions or concerns (419-425-8709) or findlayanad@yahoo.com. (Affil. w/ ANAD - www.anad.org)

Develop your Advanced Directive for Mental Health Treatment-2nd and 4th Tuesdays, 1-2 p.m. at Focus On Friends (509 Trenton Ave.). With Wanda Baughman and Jim Martin, trained facilitators. Call Wanda at Focus On Friends (419-423-5071) w/ questions. / to sign up.

Celebrate Recovery worship & open share-2nd and 4th Weds, 7-9 p.m. at Good Shepherd United Methodist Church; Benton Ridge. A biblically based 12 step support group aimed at helping people on their recovery journey w/ their hurts, habits, & hang-ups. Call 419-859-2000 w/ questions.

Reformers Unanimous-Every Friday, 7-9 p.m. at Cornerstone Baptist Church (8630 CR 140). A faith-based addictions program for people living with any addiction / habit. Open to the public. Call Mike Kissell (419-427-1400) w/ questions.

Christmas Party-Wednesday, Dec. 17, 12-2 p.m. (doors open @ 11:45) at Focus On Friends (509 Trenton Ave. Findlay). FREE dinner - open to the public. Come celebrate Christmas w/ us and see all that Focus On Friends has to offer. Call Jenny at 419-423-5071 w/ questions.

Persons Affected by a Loved one's Suicide (PALS) support group-Thursday, Dec. 18, 7p.m. at Blanchard Valley Hospital - 2nd floor Ruse Bldg. - above the emergency room. This support group is free and open to anyone dealing with grief following a suicide. Members of the group are also available for outreach to persons not yet ready to attend group. For more information, call Nancy Stephani at Century Health, 419-422-3711.

DBSA Support Group & Christmas party-Tuesday, Dec. 23, 7 p.m. at First Presbyterian Church (ROOM 209. Appetizers furnished; bring a dish if you wish. Open to those diagnosed with Depression or Bipolar Disorder, their friends, family members, or supportive others. No pre-registration required. Call Becky (419-422-9381) w/ questions.

Alzheimer's Association Caregiver Group-Friday, Dec. 26, 11 a.m. at Birchaven Retirement Village (Wenner Conference Room), Findlay. Contact facilitators Jane Sherrick (419-425-3259) or Mike Thompson (419-425-3233) with questions. Also, contact Marty Williman (419-425-5409) for information about support groups in surrounding areas.

*Visit www.ohio.networkofcare.org - for more info about support groups*

**Look for daily schedule of 12 - Step meetings (AA, NA, Al-Anon) in The Courier. Meetings designated as "open" are open to the public. Also, check out http://www.groups.yahoo.com/group/findlayohioaa/ or call the AA hotline for Hancock & Wyandot counties: AA District 17: 888-683-9768.

**VISIT Focus On Friends Drop In Center (509 Trenton Ave.) - providing a unique mix of education, leisure, friendship and support for people living with a mental illness - we invite you to "Just Be Yourself". Call Jenny at 419-423-5071 with questions & full activities calendar.

- Questions about the above or other Support and Advocacy Services, call Gary Bright, Director of Support and Advocacy Services at Century Health (419-425-5050 off. Or 419-889-8367 cell). Email Gary at gbright@centuryhealth.net to be added to this email list and get the schedule electronically each month.