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]
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]
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!
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]
Corporate Visions, Inc. sponsors team for a 7 mile Peak Hike for Breast Cancer Fund on Sunday, September 25th, up Mt. Tam in Marin County, California, with Meghan Peddicord, Director of Contracts/Legal Affairs, as Team Captain, and Gloria Fan, CFO as lead trekker and top fundraiser.
Others joining the team from CVI were Kevin Guthrie, Executive Vice President in Sales and his entire family- wife, Molly and their four lovely daughters, Ellie, Chloe, Quinn, Grace, and Francisco Ramirez, representing CVI/IT Department.
[See photo below three Guthrie children- Ellie, Quinn and Chloe with CVI Peak Hike tee shirts]
Tara Kott of UCSF, oncology nurse and breast cancer survivor, and Laurel Botsford, of San Rafael Elks Lodge #1108, were invited to join the team as well. Each of them represented their respective organizations.
Together, the three organizations [CVI, Elks and UCSF] raised $4845 in less than a month.
Volunteers for this event included Candace Emmer and Saul Macias of SharedHR. Candace helped with guiding where trash should be deposited and Saul helped direct parking of cars for easy accessibility.
[Photo below of Candace overseeing trash]
Breast Cancer Funds’ Mission statement is:
“Help us expose and eliminate the environmental causes of Breast Cancer. Together we can stop the disease before it starts.”
Here are comments from a few of the hikers:
Meghan: “This is the third annual breast cancer hike by CVI out of the Northern California offices. Every year, we raise more money than the year before and we always have a blast together on the hike! This has become a wonderful tradition. I look forward to next years’ hike!”
Francisco: “They had awards and announced our company name twice and thanked Corporate Visions for not just fundraising but for participating in the hike as well.
We stayed to listen to some of the great inspiring stories of breast cancer survivors and how the fundraising has helped shape awareness in the chemicals put into products we use daily. How we can use products that are safer for our loved ones and how they hope that companies will continue to voluntarily label the products to help consumers reduce certain chemicals.
It was great to see the passion they had and how they are trying to reach out to help as many people as they can.”
Tara: Many thanks for inviting me to hike with the CVI Team. I enjoyed meeting everyone and being part of such a great group of people!
The Peak Hike was a winner: Easy parking, friendly volunteer staff and sponsors, scenic, well-marked course, excellent catering by Whole Foods after the hike, and a really good presentation re: BCF’s mission after the hike. And, I love my 2 new t-shirts ! Please count me in for next year’s team!
Gloria, thanks for being my hiking partner! Really fun chatting with you. It made the uphill parts so much easier.
Laurel: “Wow, what a day! Setting off from Santos Meadow, the group started the walk all together and we thinned out along the way, until we walked in twos or in small groups, all…the…way…to…the…top… of the ridge. Puff, puff, puff I went, while the others all seemed to float effortlessly up the grade, including Francisco who, however, stayed with me all the way! Redwoods and eucalyptus, beautiful vistas as the forest cleared and wonderful views of both bay and ocean at the half way point. Coming down is always effortless for me and we joined the Corporate Visions group at the finish line where bells greeted each walker who finished. Fantastic Day! Now let’s see how the body feels tomorrow. Look forward to next year!”
For more information on Breast Cancer Fund, a national organization, go to: www.breastcancerfund.org
Stay tuned for next year’s Peak Hike date and consider joining us!
[By Charlotte Kobayashi]
On Sunday, September 25th, three CVI employees from the Larkspur Office volunteered at the 6th Annual Pikohana Ukulele Competition held in San Rafael, California at San Rafael Elks Lodge’s Terrace.
Children and adults are encouraged to compete by singing, playing songs of all genre, with monetary prizes offered to the top 3 performers in both categories.
Lynn Zambrano, her adorable daughter, Sophie, and Teresa Kwan helped Chef Joe Tato in the kitchen to prepare Hawaiian food- shredded pork with cabbage, ginger-teriyaki chicken with rice, macaroni salad plus a green salad. A typical Hawaiian plate lunch one could purchase from a truck stand by Kailua or Sunset Beach on Oahu. Lynn helped chop vegetables and Teresa helped to serve 50-60 plate lunches sold for $10.00!
[See photo of Lynn, Teresa, and Chef Joe Tato below]
Here are comments from Lynn and Teresa about their volunteer experiences:
Lynn: “I enjoyed working with Chef Joe Tato, to learn how to prepare authentic Hawaiian food! He showed me how to prepare Kalua pig & cabbage, and Hawaiian macaroni & potato salad which he explained he learned growing up in Hawaii. I also enjoyed seeing the young ukulele players and Hula dancers! It was an amazing event and I hope they were able to raise enough money for the two schools they are looking to support.”
Teresa: “It was a fun experience serving the food that I learned what was the best way to put the food in the plate and still had room for the salad on the side.”
For more information on Ukulele Friends Ohana and additional photos, go to www.ufohana.org. New postings found every Friday.
[By Charlotte Kobayashi]