On Thanksgiving Eve, the Zick family packed meals at Feed My Starving Children in Chanhassen, Minnesota. Our hearts are full of gratitude for the abundant blessings in our lives: faith, family and friends! May we never take for granted the richness we enjoy every day with ample food and clean water. God bless the kids and families who will be nourished through these meals, packed with love.

Here are additional photos of Zick family members taking part in packing meals for children:
[Photo below: Owen and Evie, ages 10 and 13]

[Photo below Ryan Zick]

[Photo below of Bennett, age 7]

[By Jennifer Zick]

On November 10th, CVI, San Rafael Elks Lodge and two private donors provided funds to award 10 bicycles to Laurel Dell Elementary School 4th graders at their All-School morning assembly.

Representatives from Corporate Visions – Geoff Kinnaird, Francisco Ramirez, Lynn Zambrano, and Charlotte Kobayashi and San Rafael Elks’ representatives Monica McMillan, Jennifer O’Mara, Chuck Clemons, and Melann Mushet were present to help with the award ceremony. Mary Christiansen represented individual donor, Bob Gordon and Lynn Zambrano represented Gloria Fan; and Francisco Ramirez represented Joe Terry and CVI.

[Photo below: Appreciation to all the donors: Corporate Visions, inc., San Rafael Elks Lodge 1108, private donors- Bob Gordon and Gloria Fan]

Ten students were selected on the basis of their letters stating why they deserved to receive a bicycle, what they plan to do to give back to their community, their attendance, good attitude and leadership activities at the school. The students and parents were stunned, surprised, and pleased at the same time to receive bicycles, helmets and locks.

Principal, Pepe Gonzalez and his staff helped to make this Award Assembly special, joyful, and easy. We hope to continue to work with this school to fund-raise and bring ukuleles to add to their existing all-school hula dancing in the spring of 2017.

[By Charlotte Kobayashi]

Elijah [9], Shiloh [3] and Jeremiah [5] are the first to make their gift offering for 2016 Angel Tree Gift Giving in Reno, Nevada. Adorable!
How about you?
Let’s make it happen everywhere to help make at least one child in your neighborhood happy!
{By Charlotte Kobayashi]

[Group photo of CVI and PG&E team in blue outfit]

On November 3rd, Corporate Visions had the largest team of volunteers packing bags of nutritious meals for Kids Against Hunger.
Twenty CVI volunteers, Matt Jones, Craig Bougas, Christopher Starenko, Jeff Murch, Savannah Kimball, Elena Aranda, Anthony Reta, >Dean Ellingsen, , Eric Esquer, , Christian Stephen, Randi Newbould, Meghan Peddicord, Gloria Fan, Dominic Marquis, Kelly Wong, Terri Yurkovich, Kevin Young, Justin Barry, Mary Rhoades, and Charlotte Kobayashi, volunteered for 2 hours at the Pleasanton Kids Against Hunger facility.

This was 4th team of volunteers for 2016 – this team of 20 packed 6480 bags of meals for a total of 20,000 meals packed in 2016!
Congratulations everyone who took part in 2016! We reached our goal of 20,000 bags of me.

Here are a few photos of CVI volunteers, having a great time making it happen and Leaving a Mark!

[Below left to right: Gloria Fan, Savannah Kimball, Charlotte Kobayashi and Craig Bougas]

[Below- having a super time, to the left is Eric Esquer and right is Anthony Reta]

[Below- Mary Rhoades, Randi Newbould, Eric Esquer, Anthony Reta, Elena Aranda, and Dean Ellingsen]

[Below – left to right Craig Bougas and Jeff Murch]

For more information on Kids Against Hunger: www.KAHBayArea.org

[By Charlotte Kobayashi]

On October 24, 2016, Roxanna Yuen volunteered, once again, at Fu Hong Society, an organization serving people with intellectual disabilities, psychiatric disabilities or those with autism organized a food waste recycling tour. This tour was to raise the awareness of food waste by the public and introduce the application of recycled food waste. We also visited Hong Kong Science and Technology Park to enjoy the view of the sea and to have lunch nearby.

Roxanna was assigned one student who was unable to communicate, but understood simple conversation. After taking care of her for few hours, the relationship between them blossomed. The young gal began to hold Roxanna’s hands- she began to trust Roxanna.

Roxanna was delighted to discover that two students she took care of previously remembered her. One of them came to hug her when she arrived at their center. The instructor told her that this student seldom has this type of reaction; it was because Roxanna took care of her during the previous event — she remembered her. The other student kept mentioning a kind of food and said she wanted to eat again. At first, she wasn’t quite sure what that meant. One of the instructors reminded Roxanna that she had given her that particular kind of food during the previous event. Roxanna was very surprised to know how much they remembered. One will realize how amazing they are if we take time to communicate with them.
[By Roxanna Yuen]

[Photo above- back row left to right: Steve Sorah, Leo Hanna, and John Orsborne. Front row left to right: Helen Atkinson, Zoe Corbett, and Emma McCarthy]

Lavender Pond is a nature reserve in a heavily built up area of South East London. In the local community it provides the opportunity for school children to have the chance to experience nature, learn about habitats and all the animals and creatures that live there, and this is a rare occurrence in an area with such little green space.

Our job as volunteers was to begin building boardwalks to create a safe access route for visitors and create habitats for mini beast (ants, spiders, dragonfly’s etc.).

This is what the boardwalk looked like when we arrived:

We began laying down the sleepers and beams to make it level and secure, which involved pounding down the clay and lots of precise measuring! Then we got to work with securing the boards in place; here it is beginning to take shape:

As we were very hard at work with the boardwalks we didn’t get a chance to begin on the mini beast’s habitat, but we were all very pleased with the results at the end of the day, and very glad that the British weather stayed dry for us!

And,here are the beautiful, hard working ladies of UK!

[By Emma McCarthy]

Physical Education and Wellness Parent Organization is a non-profit started by Sarah McMahan, who is also the current President. The purpose of this organization is to raise funds to support the Physical Education and Wellness programs at Incline public schools as they are no longer receiving district funding. If funds are not raised to employ the PE teacher, Sarah’s boys, who are at the elementary school, would not have a PE program!

Scientific research supports the connection between physical activity and improved brain function and performance. Our goal is create a culture of fitness within our school. We want our students to be healthy and productive participants in their education. A student who is active and fit will be more alert and engaged in the process of learning. This is accomplished though our comprehensive PE program.

On September 30th, the parent organization held a main Jog-a-thon fundraiser and raised $40,000 toward our cause! Sarah was one of the many volunteers who helped make this event a huge success. Kids were challenged to run as many laps as they could in 30 minutes, with prizes awarded to the top female and male runners in each grade.

Attached are a few pictures from the Jog-a-thon:

[Photo of Noah McMahan jogging to raise funds]

[Photo of Josiah McMahan with the girls]

Here is a link where anyone can donate online to support physical education and wellness in Incline Village public schools! Please support to help continue the Incline Elementary School PE and Wellness program. https://squareup.com/store/PE-Wellness-Incline

[By Sarah McMahan]

Brian Whalen, on October 8th, sponsored a 5K run in Florida to support the Bolivia orphanage.

Here is what Brian had to say: “The cool thing about the 5k is that everyone around the world commits to doing it at the same time every year no matter where they are. So, my lovely wife, Leigh Ann and I headed out from our home, stepping over the fallen branches from Hurricane Matthew the night before. We thought and talked about & prayed for all the Bolivian orphans who are being cared for and will be cared for.”

What motivated Brian to do this?
Three years ago, Brian took a 26 hour trip to Bolivia with his wife -Leigh Ann, high school son, & a group of students from their church.

They spent time at the Bolivia Life Center (BLC) that is home for over 40 young orphan boys who had been abused & abandoned. The BLC provides a safe place for the boys, feeds them, & gives them an education & vocational skills to help them become a productive part of the community.

[Photo below- from left to right- Brian Whalen and the boys]

Brian, his family and team, spent 5 days working, cleaning & painting, but mostly just loving on those boys who really need it. Every year there is a 5k walk to raise money for this wonderful cause. It is their goal to raise more money & get more participants each year to help impact these lives.

Lastly, he would love to open this up to our colleagues to donate all year long, and not just during the 5k.

Brian thanks everyone for their help in matching our donation and others from CVI for this 5k prayer run/walk held on October 8th.
[By Brian Whalen]

For part of Amy Merrill’s Project Manager of the Year award, the CVI employees and Amy are fostering Kiko, an orphaned giraffe at the David Sheldrick Wildlife Trust in Kenya. Though Amy fosters two orphaned baby elephants, Ndotto and Mwashoti, she decided as a group to foster Kiko.
The goal of the David Sheldrick Wildlife Trust is to save lives and eventually, after years of rehabilitation and guidance, for these elephants and other wildlife to live free in one of the protected parks in Kenya. Some elephant graduates come back to visit their keepers, even bringing back their new baby with them. This is a far cry from the humans they saw kill their mother and families in front of them for their ivory.

Kiko was found alone on Sept 19, 2015 estimated to be just one week old, and had been rescued by KWS rangers on the Meru National Park boundary. His mother was not found nor were there other giraffes seen in the area. This area is known for human wildlife conflict.
Quick Facts about KIKO

Gender Male Date of Birth Sunday, September 13, 2015
Location Found Meru National Park boundary
Age on Arrival One-week old
Comments on Place Found Found all alone without his mother or other giraffes nearby
Reason for being Orphaned Reason Unknown

________________________________________

He was flown to the Nairobi Nursery by Sky Vet, sparing him what would have been a grueling and very hot seven to eight-hour journey by road. This was the first time The DSWT Keepers had been involved in the rescue of an orphaned giraffe; they were fully briefed about the necessity to ensure the giraffe’s head remained upright at all times throughout the flight. On this occasion the usual elephant-rescue tarpaulin had to be modified into a make-shift cradle and throughout the entire procedure the little giraffe was seemingly totally resigned to whatever lay in store for him.

Sitting quietly with his neck sticking out, he calmly surveyed the scene, making no attempt whatsoever to break free as he was carried and loaded onto the plane. Airlifting him to Nairobi involved a one-hour flight, thus sparing him the grueling journey. Upon arrival at the Nairobi Nursery, he was still amazingly trusting and even affectionate, happy to fraternize with the men who had rescued him – the veterinary team, the pilot, the Keepers, or whoever else happened to be passing by.

He has been named Kiko, a name from Meru National Park where he was found, and he is now very much in the Nursery fold, not only with the company of his Keepers whom he loves but also some feathered friends in the form of Pea and Pod (orphaned ostriches) and the two latest little elephant arrivals. Both Weiwei and Loboito love to spend time under his belly resting their trunks on his side and neck, which he happily tolerates. Kiko is extremely playful these days with limbs splaying in all directions he hurtles around the car park and in the open forested glades letting off steam.

Kiko today

For more information and/or to become a foster parent, please visit this website, you will be glad you did! http://www.sheldrickwildlifetrust.org/asp/fostering.asp

Amy Merrill

[Photo above left to right: Joe Kozub, Conrad Smith, Fabiana LaBauve, Erik Peterson, Mike Finley, and Nicci Hammerel]

Corporate Visions has sponsored an extreme relay event since 2011. In 2016, Team Filthy Soles, rose to up the challenge of the Pacific Northwest Passage to raise money for twelve charities. Each of 12 runners runs three legs of varying lengths over the course of the run.

CREATE MEMORIES LIKE YOU CAN’T IMAGINE

TO HAVE A TON OF FUN

Thanks to our many donors
WE RAISED A BOATLOAD OF MONEY
($32,920 – top fun and fund raising team)

Our donations supported: St. Baldrick’ Foundation, Golden Rainbow of Nevada, FamilyWorks, Now I Lay Me Down to Sleep, Children’s Home of Reading, Bridges to Prosperity, Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta, World’s Window, Oregon Humae Society, The AARK Wildlife Rehab & Research Center, Northern Nevada Children’s Cancer Foundation, and Back on My Feet.

Many thanks to our runners: Mike Finley, Nicci Hammerel, Conrad Smith, Joe Kozub, Sean Leahy, Erik Peterson, Fabiana LaBauve, Mary Pacell, Jeannie
Each Ragnar Relay is approximately 200 miles (320 kilometers) in distance, with races lasting two days and one night. The Pacific Northwest Passage starts at the “Peace Arch” at the US/Canadian border and winds south 196 miles along the Puget Sound, ending on Whidbey Island. and Jeff Clidence, Dustin Ring, Devon and Christian Smith.
Many thanks to our volunteers: Lauren Upton, Bill Patterson, and Tatsuo (a.k.a. “Tat Tat”) Yazaki
Thanks for the Graphic Support: Justin Barry

START PLANNING FOR 2017
June 2-3 Pennsylvania RAGNAR
[By Conrad Smith]

See a few photos of the team having so much fun!

[Photo left to right: Mary Pacell, Sean Leahy, and Erik Peterson]

[Photo left to right: Tatsuo Yazaki, Conrad Smith, Jeannie Clidence]

[Photo left to right: Christian and Devon Smith]

[Photo left to right: Erik P, Jeannie C, Mike F, and Conrad]

[Photo left to right: Fabiana, Lauren Upton, Erik, Tatsuo, Conrad, Jeannie and Devon]

[Photo: Dustin Ring!]

[Photo: Jeff C, Devon, and Conrad]

[Photo: Awesome CVI Team! Front row- left to right: Jeff and Jeannie Clidence, Nicci, Dustin, Joe K, and Fabiana. Back row: left to right-Devon Smith, Mary, Conrad, Mike F, Christian Smith, Sean and Erik]
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