The Rowan-Salisbury Community Bookfair offers an opportunity to boost two causes at the same time.
For the price of a book, purchased online or over the phone, a contributor supports his or her local school and Rowan Helping Ministries at the same time.
Media specialists from the local schools have entered their wish lists online at www.ReadUsborneBooks.com, having chosen the books they need for their library shelves.
When a person reaches the Web site, click on “Rowan-Salisbury Community Bookfair,” choose the school and purchase a book (or books) for that library.
Also, choose the “free shipping” option.
At the end of the book fair May 15, total purchases for the entire community will be tallied, and 20 percent of the total will be donated to Rowan Helping Ministries as a cash donation, to help fund its programs.
If you don’t have access to the Internet, or want a more personal shopping experience, you may contact Tracy Aitken, senior executive supervisor for Usborne Books and More at 704-797-0777.
Full paper catalogs are available upon request.
Personal shopping is also encouraged because those proceeds will be included in the tally that determines the amount of money contributed to Rowan Helping Ministries.
Food Lion Store Builders Open
Food Lion hosted its ninth annual Food Lion Store Builders Open to benefit Children’s Miracle Network, a nonprofit organization that raises funds for more than 170 children’s hospitals.
The event, which brought in more than $71,000, was held April 21 and 22.
Funds were raised through a dinner and auction at Food Lion’s corporate office in Salisbury and a golf tournament at the Tanglewood Championship Course in Clemmons. All proceeds from the Food Lion auction and golf tournament will help children being treated at Levine Children’s Hospital, a Children’s Miracle Network hospital in Charlotte.
“Food Lion is proud to sponsor the golf tournament to support the Children’s Miracle Network,” said Shawn Beichler, vice president of real estate for Food Lion LLC.
“We had an outstanding group of participants in this year’s tournament. We are extremely pleased with the financial performance of the tournament and look forward to making a substantial donation to the Levine Children’s Hospital.”
Food Lion has been a national corporate sponsor of Children’s Miracle Network since 1991 and has raised more than $30 million for children’s hospitals. In the last eight years, the Food Lion Store Builders Open has raised more than $517,000 for Children’s Miracle Network.
The funds may be used to pay for life-saving equipment, charity care and break-through research.
“Food Lion plays a vital role in raising funds for Children’s Miracle Network,” said Brian Hazelgren, chief development officer, Children’s Miracle Network. “The Food Lion Store Builders Open helps further our mission of raising funds and awareness for children’s hospitals.”
Food Lion’s annual fundraising campaign for Children’s Miracle Network begins June 3 and will run through June 23. Food Lion customers may purchase paper Miracle Balloons at the register and all proceeds will benefit their local Children’s Miracle Network hospital.
Goodwill wins award
WINSTON-SALEM ó Goodwill Industries of Northwest North Carolina has won the “Goodwill is Good for Families Award” for 2009.
Since 2001, Goodwill Industries International and the Annie E. Casey Foundation have partnered to reward Goodwill organizations for their demonstrated commitment to family strengthening.
This award recognizes outstanding integration of family strengthening through leadership commitment, financial commitment, human resource policies and practices, youth development and financial education activities.
Goodwill Industries has implemented a number of programs, including the transition from a structure of vacation and sick time to a personal time-off system offering greater flexibility for its employees.
It also has created the Dr. Bob H. Greene Scholarship, which provides tuition assistance for children of employees attending institutions of higher learning, and established the Employee Emergency Assistance Fund to help those who experience devastating personal events.
“Getting involved in the Family Strengthening Award process was very empowering,” said Reni Geiger, Goodwill director of Grants and Career Connections. “Although I have known for years that we provided a lot of services that help strengthen our employees’ and clients’ ability to improve their financial standing, it wasn’t until I put the pieces together that I realized just how dedicated our Goodwill leadership is to our success.”
Applebee’s in N.C. raises $118,000 for cancer research
RALEIGH ó The Apple Gold Group, franchisee of Applebee’s restaurants in North Carolina, Oklahoma and Arkansas, announced that its third annual March fundraising program in its North Carolina restaurants successfully raised more than $118,000 for The V Foundation for Cancer Research.
Apple Gold’s guests donated 55 percent more than last year.
There are 51 Applebee’s restaurants in North Carolina that raised money between March 1 and the Final Four college basketball championships.
Applebee’s guests were invited to donate $1 to the cause, and in exchange were able to write a personal message on a paper basketball representing their school of choice.
A special pink basketball design was also an option, created in honor of the late Kay Yow.
In addition to selling the $1 paper basketballs, management teams also rallied employees to organize activities to supplement guest donations such as bake sales, tricycle races, dunking booths, yard sales and family festivals.
One restaurant had employees staying on its roof until a specified amount was donated. Top fundraising restaurants included Jacksonville, Leland, Morehead City, Garner and Mooresville, each raising between $5,000 and $8,000.
“We are grateful for the support and effort of the Apple Gold team,” said Nick Valvano of The V Foundation for Cancer Research. “It is remarkable to see what a difference people can make when they come together, and we are proud to have the support of employees and patrons of Applebee’s.”
R3 Center offers May career workshops
KANNAPOLIS ó The R3 Center is offering numerous career development workshops and resume clinics in May for adults in Cabarrus and Rowan counties. All of the programs are provided free of charge.
Located at 164 Dale Earnhardt Blvd., the R3 Center is a career development center established by Rowan-Cabarrus Community College to assist workers who are unemployed or under-employed.
The center’s mission is built on three Rs ó a refocus on individual skills and interests, retraining and further education, and partnering with other workforce development agencies to secure career-oriented re-employment.
Due to the popularity of its free workshops, the R3 Center encourages clients to call the center in advance at 704-216-7201 and reserve a seat. Call also for specific workshop locations.
The center’s May schedule of workshops includes the following sessions:
– New Client Launch ó 9-10 a.m., Mondays and Wednesdays; 6-7 p.m., Mondays; and 2-3 p.m. Thursdays. New Client Launch is an orientation program for persons who have never attended an R3 Center workshop or taken advantage of its other services.
– Looking for Work at 50-plus ó 10 a.m.-noon and 6-8 p.m. May 6.
– Identifying Your Career Options ó 10 a.m.-noon, May, 7, 13 and 26; and 10 a.m.-noon and 6-8 p.m. May 20.
– Online Job Hunting ó 2-4 p.m. May 11.
– N.C. Research Campus Careers 101 ó 6-8 p.m. May 12, and 10 a.m.-noon May 27.
– Interview Techniques ó 10 a.m.-noon, and 2-4 p.m. May 13.
– It’s Not Who You Know, It’s Who You Meet ó 2-4 p.m. May 18.
– Stand Out from the Competition ó 6-8 p.m. May 19.
– Looking for Work with a Criminal Record ó 2-4 p.m. May 21.
The R3 Center will offer a number of free resume clinics to help job searchers improve their current resume or create a new one from scratch. Please call to reserve a seat. Clinics are scheduled for 9 a.m. May 5, 14 and 19 and 2 p.m. May 27.
The center’s office hours are 8 a.m.-8 p.m. Monday through Thursday, and 8 a.m.-5 p.m. Friday.
The R3 Center partners with other workforce development agencies, including the Centralina Workforce Development Board, JobLink Career Centers of Cabarrus and Rowan counties, N.C. Employment Security Commission and other area community colleges.
For more information about the R3 Center and its services and programs, call 704-216-7201, or visit the center’s Web site at www.rowancabarrus.edu/r3center/.
The R3 Center will be closed May 1 and 25.
RCCC offers career readiness certificate
Some job seekers can improve their chances of landing the position they want by gaining career readiness certification through Rowan-Cabarrus Community College.
Career readiness certification is a national program that helps job applicants show proof of their basic skills to employers. The certificate is a portable credential, allowing job searchers to use it anywhere in the United States to demonstrate their competence in key foundational skills.
“The National Career Readiness Certificate works like standardized tests for college admissions,” said Jeanie Moore, RCCC vice president of continuing education.
“Colleges use test scores to determine if a student is ready for college-level coursework. Employers use the CRC to help determine if a job applicant is ready for a specific job or training program.”
To secure the National Career Readiness Certificate, participants must complete the Work Keys job skills assessment and instruction program. The Work Keys program ensures job seekers possess basic workplace skills needed in applied mathematics, reading for information and locating information.
“Job applicants can use the CRC to complement their diplomas, degrees and resumes and gain an advantage in the interview process,” Moore said. “The certificate helps employers quickly identify skilled candidates in their applicant groups.”
To start the CRC process, people first must complete a two-hour career advisement lab. RCCC offers lab sessions at its Cloverleaf Extension Center in Kannapolis (942 Cloverleaf Plaza), and Career Connections in Salisbury (1923 S. Main St.).
Day, evening and some Saturday sessions are available.
Some people, based on employment status and income, are able to complete the CRC program free of charge. The career advisement labs are free to everyone.
For more information about the career readiness certification program and a schedule of career advisement labs, call RCCC at 704-216-3545.
Krispy Kreme debuts mini doughnut
WINSTON-SALEM ó Krispy Kreme Doughnuts has introduced the mini doughnut and launched a new sweepstakes that offers customers the opportunity to drive away in a 2009 Mini Cooper.
Beginning April 27 through May 31, customers can enter to win by receiving an entry code with any mini doughnut purchase at participating Krispy Kreme stores.
Krispy Kreme fans can also go online at www.KrispyKreme.com to enter the sweepstakes with no purchase necessary. The grand prize winner will be selected on or about June 15.
Krispy Kreme’s new mini doughnuts are about half the size of traditional doughnuts and are available in three varieties: Signature Original Glazed, Chocolate Iced rings and Chocolate Iced rings with sprinkles.
For more information about Krispy Kreme’s minis sweepstakes, to get official contest rules and find participating store locations, visit www.KrispyKreme.com, or call 1-800-4KRISPY.