24th Annual Coats For Kids Rises Above Expectations for 2010

After a week of setting up in the Exposition Hall at the Indiana State Fairgrounds, the 24th annual WTHR/Bob Gregory’s Coats for Kids was in full swing Saturday morning. Crowds were lined up around the building when the doors opened at 8am. Despite concerns about the lacking number of donations early on and the struggling economy, this year’s distribution was blessed with a record total of 9,326 coats.

“What a perfect trick or treat on Halloween weekend. The treat was 9,000 coats given. No trick involved there at all. We also had a lot of citizens donate. I think we had $7,000 to spend in purchasing new coats” said the man who started this campaign 24 years ago, Bob Gregory.

Approximately 300 volunteers gave up their Saturday and worked in shifts to escort families during their shopping experience at Coats for Kids. Some also worked as runners to replenish  racks of coats when the selections ran low. If you’ve ever wondered who our volunteers are, this year’s force was made up of several church groups, WTHR staff, and other individuals without whom The Salvation Army could not pull off such an event. Volunteer Coordinator Elizabeth Wilhelm said, “It was a great day and everything went so well!”

Once again, Tuchman Cleaners played an important role as the official drop off point, cleaner of coats and delivering the coats to the fairgrounds during the week of the event. On hand to greet the children were the Colts cheerleaders, Butler mascot “Blue” and Salvation Army officers.

“Our warmth goes out to those kids and families that for this year  have a new, nice warm coat. Thanks for the treat!” Bob Gregory, retired weather forecaster for WTHR.

Colts fans donate to Coats for Kids

It’s hard to think of carrying a warm winter coat with you when the weather is sunny and 85 degrees, but that’s exactly what hundreds of Colts fans did on Sunday as they brought their donations to the Coats for Kids collection outside Lucas Oil Stadium.

More than 1,300 coats were donated to the annual campaign along with cash donations which will be used to buy coats.  This will be the 24th year for Bob Gregory’s Coats for Kids, a partnership between WTHR, Tuchman Cleaners, and The Salvation Army which provides warm winter coats to thousands of area children.  The 1,300 coats collected at Lucas Oil brings the total coat count to about 3,500.  Last year, over 10,000 coats were donated or purchased with financial donations for Coats for Kids.

“We’ve still got a long way to go, but we’ve got a couple weeks to get there,” said Bob Gregory, retired WTHR Weatherman who’s been a part of Coat’s for Kids since it’s creation (listen to Bob talk about Coats for Kids).  This year’s Coats for Kids distribution day will be held on October 30, at the Toyota Expo Hall on the Indiana State Fairgrounds.  Doors open at 8 am and anyone needing a coat is welcome.  Parents need only to bring their children with them to get coats.

Gently used or new coats can be donated at any of the 25 area Tuchman Cleaners.  Simply drop off your coat and Tuchman will clean it and get it ready for a child in need.  You can also shop for a coat online by visiting our Coat Shop.   This year’s need is expected to be greater than ever.  Please make a donation and give child in  need a warm coat for the winter!

from SalvationArmyIndiana.org, by Mike Rowland

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 

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.

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