FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

For more information, contact:
Jenna Oltersdorf, Snackbox
jenna@snackbox.us | 773.715.0879 | @jennasnacks

 

Former Football Star Johnnie Johnson Tackles Tough Challenges for Moving Families

“Moving Family Initiative” Targets Emotionally Stressed Children

January 23, 2013 (Austin, Texas) – For 10 years Johnnie Johnson excelled in the National Football League as an All-Pro safety for the Rams. Today, the National Football Foundation and College Football Hall of Famer serves as President and CEO of World Class Coaches.  Johnson has launched a national program designed to help children and their families deal with the difficulties of moving. The program, called Moving Families Initiative, connects moving families with REALTORS® to take a proactive approach on the physical and emotional strain kids face when changing neighborhoods and schools.

“Millions of children move with their families every year, but the emotional and physical strain of changing schools, neighborhoods and friends is rarely addressed,“ said Johnson.  “The Moving Families Initiative aims to alleviate the stress that inevitably comes with moving.  It’s important that kids develop the behavioral skills to thrive socially and emotionally in a new climate.”

According to the U.S. Census Mobility Report, more than eight million children between the ages of one to 14 move or are relocated by their family on an annual basis in the United States.

By partnering with the The Trevor Romain Company and State Associations of REALTORS® around the country, the Moving Families Initiative hopes to reach a large percentage of that population.

As part of the Initiative, realtors across the country will be trained by World Class Coaches and will be provided with resource tools to meet the needs of moving families.  A short animated children’s DVD, The Great Moving Adventure, starring award-winning children’s author and TV personality Trevor Romain, will be part of this toolkit.  World Class Coaches has extended a partnership invitation to all 50 State Associations of REALTORS® in support of the Initiative and thus far, 10 have joined.  States currently on board include: Texas, Iowa, Georgia, Louisiana, New York, Nebraska, Colorado, Nevada, Vermont and Connecticut with additional states expected to join in the coming months. Families moving with young kids should contact their local realtor for information on the Initiative’s tools and resources.

About World Class Coaches
An international personal and professional coaching company, World Class Coaches practices and teaches basic fundamentals as part of its coaching delivery process. For more information, visit www.worldclasscoaches.com.

About The Trevor Romain Company
An award-winning producer of DVD’s and author of books which help children deal with the challenging issues they face on a daily basis. For more information, visit www.trevorromain.com.

 

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Friends, from now through September 30, you can vote for your favorite video submissions for the Make a Batter Blaster Commercial contest. The top three videos selected by voters receive great prizes like cash and iPads. Make your choice known! Vote here: http://batterblaster.com/videocontest/

Disclosure: In case you didn’t know, Batter Blaster is a Snackbox client. Even if they weren’t paying us, we’d still tell you to try Batter Blaster organic pancake and waffle batter in a can. So warm. So fluffy. So yummy. So easy.

Alarm company donates $6,000 surveillance system to local non-profit

By Daniel Gelinas – 12.02.2009 

AUSTIN, Texas—Cothron’s Security Solutions, a family-owned and operated security company based here since its founding 60 years ago, on Nov. 24 announced it had decided to lend a hand to a local non-profit animal shelter that had been faced with a wave of vandalism. The security company donated video surveillance system equipment and services valued at $6,000 to Animal Trustees of Austin, an animal welfare organization founded in 1993 to help implement a sterilization program to fight overpopulation and to help lost, abused and abandoned animals.

According to ATA executive director Missy McCullough, the Cothron’s donation was a good example of private business and non-profits working together to improve the community. “Because of this wonderfully generous gift, everyone can view the parking lots before they leave the building and we all feel so much safer,” McCullough said in an email interview. “Cothron’s is a long-time, family-owned Austin business and their concern and support for our non-profit animal welfare organization is a perfect example of how private business can work with non-profits to benefit all in our community. We are very grateful.”

Cothron’s donated a Honeywell system comprising eight cameras and a DVR to help the center fight a recent hash of vandalism ranging from broken windows and doors to theft of equipment, destruction of vaccines, and cutting electrical power through destruction of external wall-mounted meters. McCullough said no animals were hurt or stolen, but that the destruction was costly and worrisome. “This is exactly what we needed for us all to feel safe,” McCullough said via email. “We have been in this building for 13 years and never been fearful until this [vandalism] started in September.”

Cothron’s service manager Joe Grier said the decision to help was really a no-brainer. “We’ve done work for them in the past. And they couldn’t afford to have a camera system like that put in on their own. They’re a non-profit, and we had some Honeywell products we could donate,” Grier said. “They’re everything you hear about a shelter being good: A lot of volunteers who are just really happy to be there.”

Cothron’s president Steve Cothron said the donation was an attempt to give back to the community. “This is our business. They’re a non-profit and we felt like it was important for us to step in and see if we could help curtail the break-ins,” Cothron said.

The police have since arrested a man they believe to be the one responsible for $15,000 worth of damage at the ATA, and Grier believes it was not a moment too soon. “This guy was more than just a crook—it wasn’t just thievery, it was like it was targeted,” Grier said.

McCullough agreed. “They have a person in jail and are now building a strong case against him. They have fingerprints and testimony from an accomplice that he broke into at least five other businesses in this area at least once,” McCullough said via email. “For some reason he took great pleasure in harassing us … the police are very happy to have him in jail and hope to be able to put him away for a long time.”

 

 

Feline Pine Encourages Healthy Cat, Healthy Home

West Palm Beach, Fla. — As warmer weather envelopes the nation and we begin celebrating spring, Feline Pine asks families with cats to be cautious regarding those fragrant springtime flowers, some of which can be deadly. Feline Pine, makers of America’s best-selling, all-natural cat litter and advocates for cat health, offer springtime safety tips from veterinarian and feline specialist Dr. Michelle Gaspar.

“Any type of lily is extremely poisonous to cats if eaten, or if the pollen is ingested,” said Dr. Michelle Gaspar, DVM, DABVP, veterinarian and feline specialist. “The first signs of poisoning can occur within 30 minutes to two hours of ingestion and include vomiting, loss of appetite, blindness, paralysis, kidney (renal) failure. If you suspect your cat has come into any sort of contact with a lily, you should seek medical care immediately.”

Vomiting typically subsides a few hours after exposure, but this does not mean your cat is recovering. Acute renal failure typically occurs one to three days post-ingestion. Death follows within three to seven days of exposure if left untreated.

When sending flowers this spring season, leave lilies out of bouquets headed to homes with cats. Instead, considering using tulips, orchids, daisies or violets.

Examples of common Lily varieties to avoid include:
– Tiger Lily
– Stargazer Lily
– Easter Lily
– Day Lily (not all species)

All parts of lily plants are poisonous and only a tiny amount – less than one leaf – ingested can cause poisoning. Other plants that are poisonous to cats include spider plants, ivy, azalea and philodendron.

Lily poisoning diagnosis includes:
– Blood samples
– Urine tests
– Ultrasound

Lily poisoning treatment involves intravenous fluid therapy, anti-vomiting drugs and various stomach and intestinal protectants.

Should your cat accidentally come into contact with potentially fatal flowers or plants, contact your veterinarian or call the National Animal Poison Control Center at 888-426-4435.

About Feline Pine
Feline Pine has been America’s best-selling brand of all-natural cat litter for the past decade. Our mission is simple: We love cats and are devoted to improving their health and everyday lives. We make chemical-free products that are safer and healthier as well as provide information and support on issues impacting feline health. To learn more about Feline Pine products, find valuable feline health information or participate in our vet chat with Dr. Michelle Gaspar, visit www.felinepine.com.