ComedySportz hosts Homelessness Bites benefit

It was a hilariously good time Thursday night in downtown Indy as the ComedySportz team, with special guest Mel McMahon, helped us raise money and awareness for Homelessness Bites. Lights, stage, sound effects and fast-paced improvisational comedy made for a fabulous evening laughing ourselves silly for a good cause. Who knew that comedy was a sport? For those who have never been to a ComedySportz show, it goes like this: two teams made up of “actletes” compete for laughs and points as they make up scenes and songs on the spot. The audience makes all the suggestions and votes for the winners, and the referee calls the fouls. If you love “Whose Line Is It Anyway?,” then you’ll love ComedySportz! There are family friendly shows as well as those designed specifically for kids 12 and under.  For more information about upcoming shows and classes, visit indycomedysportz.com. 

Mel McMahon is the spokesperson for Homelessness Bites, The Salvation Army’s campaign in the fight against homelessness.  After participating in the games, Mel shared with the audience about the plight of Indy’s homeless women and children and how the Army needs help to make a difference in those lives. To find out how YOU can be a part changing lives, visit homelessnessbites.org. from SalvationArmyIndiana.org by Deborah Simon 

Colts’ Zupancic, 93 WIBC/ESPN 1070′s Staysniak to co-chair 16th annual WIBC Radiothon

Each December, WIBC 93 fm hosts a three-day live fundraising event to benefit The Salvation Army. The 16th Annual Radiothon has a blue hue this year and will feature our co-chairs, Indianapolis Colts’ Tom Zupancic and WIBC/ESPN 1070′s Joe Staysniak. The ‘marathon of giving’ begins at 6 am on Friday, December 3 and ends just before the Colts kick it off with the Dalls Cowboys on Sunday, December 5, 2010.

Radiothon weekend is a lot of fun with Colts-themed prizes and touching stories of the men, women and children whose lives have been changed. But, it’s also a crucial part of funding the programs that provide financial and grocery assistance to struggling families, shelter for the homeless, refuge for women and children fleeing domestic violence, after-school and summer opportunities for metro Indy children, and support for Hoosiers after natural disasters.

 So, what about those co-chairs? Read more

Roy Adams Seminar draws more than 160, locally

 Today, The Salvation Army held it’s 18th Annual Estate and Charitable Gift Planning Institute in Minneapolis, MN.  The national event was broadcast via a web to locations all of the country including Indianapolis, Evansville, Terre Haute, Lafayette, Fort Wayne, Anderson, and Bloomington in Indiana.

 

In Indianapolis, more than 160 CPAs, finance officers, financial planners, trust officers, insurance agents, and attorneys attended the event which was held at the University Place Auditorium on the campus of IUPUI.  The seminar was offered free of charge and in some cases, continuing education credits were offered to those attending.

The featured guest were Ann Burns (pictured above during yesterday’s seminar), Chair of the Trust, Estate & Charitable Planning group at Gray Plant Mooty, and Christopher Hoyt, Professor of Law at the University of Missouri School of Law.  Professor Hoyt is currently the Co-Chair of the American Bar Association’s Committee on Charitable Organizations.

In Indiana, the annual seminar is put on by The Salvation Army’s Planned Giving Department.  If you would like to find out more about estate and charitable gift planning, visit MyPlan2Give.org.

Dallas Cowboys President Of Charities To Serve As First Female NAB Chairperson

ALEXANDRIA, VA (September 21, 2010) – The Salvation Army’s National Commander Israel L. Gaither announced that Mrs. Charlotte Jones Anderson, Executive Vice President Brand Management/ President of Charities for the Dallas Cowboys, will serve as National Advisory Board (NAB) Chairperson for The Salvation Army. Mrs. Anderson, the first woman to serve in this capacity, was elected to the position unanimously at a full meeting of the Army’s national advisory board in Portland, OR, Friday.  Beginning in January 2011, she will serve a three-year term leading the efforts of the board for the nation’s largest faith-based social service charity.

“I am proud to be affiliated with The Salvation Army and I am excited to take on this new role furthering the Mission to serve all those in need across America,” said Mrs. Anderson. “I have been privileged to work with this organization for a long time and have seen first-hand the difference that they make in people’s lives. I am looking forward to the next chapter of my involvement with such a great charity.”

Mrs. Anderson has been a long-time supporter of The Salvation Army, and has been actively involved in many charitable events with the organization throughout her professional career. For the last thirteen years, she has organized a nationally televised half-time show at the Dallas Cowboys traditional Thanksgiving Day game. The event draws more than 20 million viewers each year and helps kickoff The Salvation Army’s iconic Red Kettle campaign which has raised more than $1.3 billion during that time. She has frequently participated in events and activities at the Army’s Gene and Jerry Jones Family Center for Children which opened in Irving, TX, in 1998, and offers affordable childcare for low-income families. Mrs. Anderson is also active with the Army on a national basis, serving on the National Advisory Board since 2005.

“Charlotte has been a tremendous supporter of The Salvation Army’s Mission over the years in Dallas and across the country,” said Commissioner Israel L. Gaither, National Commander for The Salvation Army. “We’re thrilled she has agreed to bring that same commitment and enthusiasm to her new role as National Advisory Board Chairperson.”

In recognition of her alliance with The Salvation Army, Mrs. Anderson was the recipient of the Exceptional Service Award at the Army’s 2007 National Advisory Organizations Conference, which is held every four years and brings together thousands of local advisory board volunteers from 5,000 communities across the country.

“It’s an honor for me personally to pass the mantle of National Advisory Board leadership to Charlotte,” said outgoing National Advisory Board Chairman Rob Pace. “Having worked closely with her for a number of years on the NAB, I can say with confidence that she is the ideal person to fill this role.”

As one of the National Football League’s most innovative and versatile front office executives, Mrs. Anderson’s 21 years of NFL experience with the Dallas Cowboys have enabled her to assume a position of leadership among women in American professional sports.

Her vision and direction guides the Cowboys in the areas of stadium design, entertainment, merchandising, licensed apparel, uniform design, memorabilia, community service and philanthropy. She also supervises the fortunes and travels of the Dallas Cowboys Cheerleaders – considered to be the most recognized and accomplished organization of its kind in the world.

Recently, Mrs. Anderson has played a prominent role in shaping the design, décor, sponsor integration and overall presentation of Cowboys Stadium, the state-of-the-art venue that opened in Arlington, Texas in 2009. Under her guidance, the venue will play host to some of highest profile sports and entertainment events in the world – among those are the Super Bowl, the NBA All Star Game, the NCAA Final Four and the annual AT&T Cotton Bowl.

A native of Little Rock, Arkansas, Mrs. Anderson is a 1988 graduate of Stanford University where she earned a B.S. degree in human biology. She is married to Shy Anderson. The Andersons live in Dallas with their three children: daughter Haley and sons Shy and Paxton.

Halvorson and Burns Join Salvation Army Board

Eric Halvorson (WISH-TV8) and Karen Burns (Indianapolis Zoological Society) were both installed as Advisory Board members this week.

An Indiana native, Eric joined WISH-TV in January of 1983. He became the lead anchor of the number one rated noon show in 1986. He also anchored 24-Hour News 8′s 5 o’clock newscast. In December 2004, Eric joined Debby Knox at the anchor desk for WISH-TV’S 24-Hour News 8 at 6 p.m. and 11 p.m.

Promoted to Senior Vice President in 2007, Karen is directly responsible for $10.7 million in annual operating revenue.  She leads the external relations division with responsibilites for Creative Services, Marketing, Institutional Advancement, Membership, and Communications.

Each member of The Salvation Army’s Advisory Board brings a unique set of talents, experiences, and connections to the community which are valuable to The Salvation Army as it strives to serve the central Indiana community in an effective and efficient manner.

The Salvation Army established the local “Advisory Board System” in 1920. It was designed to enlist local professionals, business and civic leaders to provide support to the local unit of The Salvation Army. The Advisory Board is charged with the responsibility of advising and assisting The Salvation Army in all its activities in the Indianapolis community.

Next Page »