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Jamie Clark of Macaroni Kid Roanoke shares the following news release:

Cookies for Kids’ Cancer is a not-for-profit organization committed to raising funds to support research for new and improved therapies for pediatric cancers. Through local bake sales, Cookies for Kids’ Cancer provides the inspiration and support for individuals, communities and businesses to help fight pediatric cancer.

Macaroni Kid Roanoke is hosting a bake sale on June 23 from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. outside of Glazed Bisque-It in Promenade Park, located at 3534 Electric Road in Roanoke. Many local families and businesses will be donating their time and kitchens to bake cookies for this sale.  Cookies will be available by donation only with 100 percent of the proceeds going directly to Cookies for Kid’s Cancer.

Together we can raise the funds and awareness necessary to change the face of pediatric cancer research and to provide more families and children with the hope they deserve. Cookies for Kids’ Cancer is committed to raising the funds to support research for new and improved therapies for pediatric cancer. Make the future of pediatric cancers something more than a scary statistic. Join the fight because every child deserves a chance to live their dreams.

Macaroni Kid Roanoke hopes to see many families come out to Glazed Bisque-It on Saturday, June 23, to purchase some delicious cookies knowing that 100 percent of those donations will be going directly to Cookies for Kids’ Cancer.  If your family or business would like to get involved, please contact Jamie Clark at jamiec@macaronikid.com and visit www.roanoke.macaronikid.com for details about this bake sale.

And, please visit www.cookiesforkidscancer.org to find out more about Cookies for Kids’ Cancer.

Read on for more information about Cookies for Kids’ Cancer. Read more »

Submitted by Lora Trout.

Lane Coles Martin / Photo courtesy of Lois Martin

Lane Coles Martin was the number one salesman in the 2011 Annual Popcorn Sales in the Boy Scouts of America, Blue Ridge Mountains Council Big Lick District. His sales totaled $2,505. He is with Bent Mountain Pack 929. He is the son of Steve and Lois Martin, of Roanoke County. He is nine years old, in third grade at Green Valley Elementary School.

Submitted by Lois Martin.

The 23rd Annual World Hunger Bike Ride is Saturday, June 2.

Help raise money for Heifer International, the Church of the Brethren Global Food Crisis Fund,
RAM and Heavenly Manna Food Bank in Rocky Mount. The ride begins at Antioch Church of the Brethren, located at 2996 Callaway Road in Rocky Mount. The ride has courses of five, 10, 25 or 50 miles along with rest stops.

The ride begins at 8 a.m. at Antioch Church of the Brethren. There is a $15 registration fee–and riders can get sponsors for extra donations to the cause. The registration form and more info can be found online at www.worldhungerauction.org (look under event calendar), or call 540-389-1381 or 540-483-4173.

Submitted by Luci Wright.

On Saturday, May 26, The Salvation Army will be in the southwest portion of the Tanglewood Mall parking lot near Firestone to accept donations for The Salvation Army Thrift Store. Drop off donations between 10 a.m. and 6 p.m. Your donations of gently used items will help support The Salvation Army Turning Point, Roanoke’s only secure shelter for victims of domestic violence.

For more information, call 563-5585 or 537-0458.

– Submitted by Tricia Musslewhite, Salvation Army

May 22 event in memory of David Swain

Junior Achievement of Southwest Virginia’s 19th annual Par for the Kids golf tournament will be held May 22 at Roanoke Country Club.

This year’s event is in memory of David Swain, a banker who served as a board member of Junior Achievement of Southwest Virginia and volunteered in classrooms to teach children about economics and personal finance.

This year’s goal is 25 teams. Lunch for golfers begins at 11:30 a.m. with a shotgun start at 1 p.m. This year’s format is captain’s choice, and the contests on the course are longest drive, closest to the pin and hole in one. The prize for the hole in one is a car from Brambleton Imports.

Team registration is $800 with hole sign sponsorships available for $200.   Proceeds from the tournament provide classroom kits that will empower young people in grades K-12 to own their economic success.

Over the past 16 years the JA golf tournament has been held all over the Roanoke Valley and on Smith Mountain Lake. One constant was Swain, who died in November 2011 at the age of 49.   Swain always put his family first and his service to the community was heartfelt.

“From the first time he signed on to be a JA classroom volunteer in 1994 until he taught his last JA class at Andrew Lewis in October 2011, David found the middle school students bright and attentive to the JA curriculum,” said Katherin Elam, president of JA of Southwest Virginia. “He enjoyed the dialogue about careers and budgets and how these were the base for creating realistic goals post high school.”

One of Swain’s other passions was serving on the golf tournament committee.

“David’s energies were always apparent even on the day of the tournament as he greeted players,” Elam said. “His great smile and easy demeanor will be missed at this year’s event.  With his family’s blessings JA wants to memorialize our great friend and hope his spirit of teaching young people how business works will encourage others.”

To register or donate auction items, please call 540-989-6392 or e-mail Betsy@ja.roacoxmail.com.

Submitted by Thomas Becher, the becher agency.

In honor of Memorial Day (which is observed on the last Monday of May to commemorate the men and women who died while in the military service) the American Legion Post 248 will conduct their Memorial Day Poppy Drive.

The Poppy Drive will take place on Tuesday, May 22, and Saturday, May 26, 2012, at the Kroger on Brambleton Avenue and at the Kroger at Cave Spring Corners.

All funds collected will be used locally at the Salem VA Medical Center, the Virginia Veterans Care Center and for veterans in need.

For more information, contact Robert Delano, American Legion Post 248, by calling 540-389-9520.

Submitted by Wendy Delano.

Miss Virginia Organization is launching its first-ever Outstanding Women of Achievement Award, which will be sponsored by GEICO and presented during the 2012 Miss Virginia Pageant on June 28-30 in Roanoke, Va.

The organization is seeking non-pageant women, ages 25 and up, who reside and volunteer in the state of Virginia. Nominees must demonstrate a strong commitment to volunteering and community service that affects others in a positive way.

“One of the four points of the Miss Virginia and Miss America crowns represents community service,” said Harlen Gudger, executive director of the Miss Virginia Organization. “We feel it’s important to reach out and honor a lady outside our group who exemplifies this important aspect of the Miss America Organization.”

The winner will receive complimentary tickets and hotel accommodations to the GEICO-sponsored Miss Virginia pageant at the Roanoke Civic Center. She will also be recognized during the pageant’s telecast on June 30. Nominations will be accepted until June 15.

“The Miss America Organization had given a national award, similar to the Women of Achievement Award, for many years,” said Mark Schreier, director of marketing and production for the Miss Virginia pageant. “Past national winners included former first ladies, Barbara Bush and Hillary Clinton, as well as well-known actress Sharon Stone. This award is one of the many ways we show our support and respect for volunteerism taking place outside of the pageant area.”

To download and fill out the application for submission, visit the pageant’s website at missva.com / Pageant 2012.

– Submitted by Mark Schreier, Miss Virginia Scholarship Program

Roanoke-based Bookbag Santa announced today that it has been selected as one of 500 nonprofit finalists in Toyota’s 100 Cars for Good program, a major philanthropic initiative in which the automaker is giving 100 cars to 100 vehicles over the course of 100 days. Bookbag Santa was selected as a finalist from more than 4,000 applications nationwide.

Each day, beginning May 14, 2012, 100 Cars for Good will profile five finalists at www.100carsforgood.com. Individual members of the public will be able to vote for whichever nonprofit they think can do the most good with a new vehicle. The nonprofit with the most votes at the end of each day will win one of six Toyota models. Runners-up will each receive a $1,000 cash grant from Toyota.

Bookbag Santa will be up for consideration on Aug. 6.

“Everyone at Bookbag Santa is thrilled to have been selected as a finalist for the 2012 100 Cars for Good program,” said Gary Hunt, president and founder of the nonprofit corporation. “We’re grateful for this incredible opportunity to showcase the good that we’re doing, and hopefully win a car to help us increase our impact in Roanoke, the U.S. and overseas. We hope everyone will help us spread the word now and, of course, will make time to visit www.100carsforgood.com on August 6 to vote for us. A new vehicle would really be a game changer for our ability to pick up & deliver school supplies to poor kids.”

“At Toyota, we appreciate what a significant impact a new car can have for nonprofits nationwide,” noted Michael Rouse, vice president of philanthropy for Toyota Motor Sales, U.S.A. “Toyota has donated more than half a billion dollars to nonprofits across the U.S. over the past 20 years, and 100 Cars for Good allows us to expand that commitment to local communities in important new ways. The 500 finalists are an extraordinary group, and we look forward to the public learning more about them.”

100 Cars for Good is the first initiative to directly engage the public to determine how Toyota’s philanthropic donations are awarded.

For more information on Bookbag Santa and its efforts to win one of Toyota’s 100 Cars for Good, please visit their website at www.bookbagsanta.com. You can also follow us on YouTube at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0h8ncgid_YI&feature=g-upl.

For complete information on 100 Cars for Good and profiles of all 500 finalists, please visit www.100carsforgood.com.

Local residents are encouraged to support Bookbag Santa and their quest for a new Toyota. If they receive the most votes and are awarded the vehicle, it will be used to pick up and deliver school supplies, and display and exhibit materials during the year.

A six-year, 100,000-mile powertrain warranty will also be provided for each vehicle, compliments of Toyota Financial Services.

– Submitted by Gary Hunt, Bookbag Santa, Inc.

The Roanoke County Professional Fire Fighters (IAFF) Local #3194 will be at Wal-Mart on Route 220 South on Saturday, May 19, for their Fill-the-Boot fundraising campaign in support of the Muscular Dystrophy Association (MDA). Hours will be 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.

Committed to the eradication of neuromuscular diseases, the IAFF has been a friend and supporter of MDA through the Fill-the-Boot campaign since 1954. The Roanoke Valley Fire Fighters have supported MDA locally for many years.  Their 2011 events raised a total of $28,780!

Funds raised by Local #3194 support local MDA services  by providing flu shots, clinic services, support groups, research, assistance with the repair of durable medical equipment and providing a week-long session of Summer Camp for children ages 6 to 17.

Nationwide, the IAFF has raised over $460 million to help client families since 1954.  All funds remain in the local area in which they were raised to help local families.

Submitted by Leslie Bauguss, MDA Fundraising Coordinator.