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Break the Barriers 10th Annual Fundraising Dinner
Raises $110,000
Organization honors Larry and Dot Powell, receives
mayoral proclamation and announces additional $1.2 million
in grant awards
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FRESNO, Calif., Oct. 24, 2007 - Break the Barriers,
Inc., the nation's premier sports-arts center uniting
people of all abilities, today announced that its 10th
annual fundraising dinner, "The Fruit of our Efforts,"
held at the Fresno Convention Center's Valdez Hall,
on Saturday, Oct. 13, 2007, netted $110,000. It also
announced the award of $1.2 million in federal grants
spanning the next three years. The organization honored
Fresno County Office of Education Superintendent Larry
Powell, and his wife Dot Powell, executive director
of SALT Fresno, and director of Read Fresno for their
tireless dedication to the children of the greater Fresno
area.
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| In addition, on behalf of Alan Autry, mayor
of Fresno, Break the Barriers board member Sid Cox presented
Co-founders Deby and Steve Hergenrader with a proclamation
declaring Oct.13 "Break the Barriers Day" in
the City of Fresno. |
| "The evening was filled with joy and
beautiful smiling faces," said fundraising dinner
chair Marty Flaming. "With each year, the dinner
grows, in step with the tremendous progress of Break the
Barriers. We are so grateful to everyone who contributes
in so many ways to help us keep this wonderful dream alive." |
| The harvest-themed evening featured bountiful
fresh fruit centerpieces donated by Fowler Packing, dinner
by Pardini's Catering, and dessert donated by Wawona Foods.
Guests enjoyed music, presentations, silent and live auctions
and an awards ceremony - all punctuated at intervals with
exuberant performances by the world renowned "Barrier
Breakers." |
| Adding to the excitement of the night, the
award of two grants totaling $1.2 million over the next
three years was announced. |
| Mentoring Children of Prisoners - A grant
of $200,000 per year for three years has been awarded
to Break the Barriers by the U.S. Department of Health
and Human Services. This grant will allow Break the Barriers
to serve 200 children during the first year; 400 children
the second year and 600 children in the third year. |
| School-Based Mentoring - A grant was awarded
by the U.S. Department of Education for $200,000 per year
for three years for the development and implementation
of school-based mentoring programs. |
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"The support we are experiencing by the community
and the government is a testament to enduring joyful
spirit of the children," said Deby Hergenrader.
"And the good news just keeps on coming! Following
the successful completion of our first year, we are
now entering the second year of our $1.5 million Carol
M. White Physical Education Program (PEP). We are thrilled
to report that our PEP Model Training Sites will expand
this year to five sites in Golden Valley USD; two sites
in Clovis USD; two sites in Fowler USD; and multiple
sites in Fresno USD. There are 12 model training sites
for the second year. All sites are fully inclusive training
programs for individuals of all abilities."
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| 2-2-2 Break the Barriers
10th Annual Fundraising Dinner Raises $110,000 |
| Break the Barriers will also expand its
buddy program to "Buddy Up" mentors. New partners
include Family Home Builders Foster Care, Inc., which
boasts a 100 percent success rate at helping high risk
foster care students graduate through mentoring and tutoring;
and Hope Now for Youth, averaging an 85 percent success
rate in turning gang members into contributing citizens
through mentoring and job skills training and placement. |
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| Editors Quick Notes: |
| WHO: |
Break the Barriers |
| WHAT: |
10th Annual Fundraising Dinner, "The
Fruit of Our Efforts" |
| WHEN: |
Saturday, October 13, 2007, 6:00 p.m |
| WHERE: |
Fresno Convention Center's Valdez Hall |
| WHY: |
To continue to provide sports, arts, aquatics,
health and fitness programs for the able bodied and the
disabled |
| TICKETS: |
Individual tickets $75; and tables for
10 guests, $1,000 |
| MAJOR ANNOUNCEMENTS: |
• Dinner netted $110,000
• Honorees were Superintendent of Fresno County Schools
Larry Powell; Dot Powell, executive director of SALT Fresno
and director of READ Fresno
• Break the Barriers was awarded a mayoral proclamation
designating Oct. 13 as Break the Barriers Day in the City
of Fresno.
• Break the Barriers announced two government grants
totaling $1.2 million
• Break the Barriers announced the planned expansion
for the second year of the $1.5 million Carol M. White
Physical Education Program (PEP) |
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About Break the Barriers
Fresno-based Break the Barriers is a non-profit 501
(c) (3) organization established in 1985. Through sports,
arts, aquatics, health and fitness programs for the
able bodied and the disabled, Break the Barriers is
recognized as a "National Role Model for Inclusion"
by the U.S. Department of Special Education, acknowledged
throughout California, the United States, and abroad
for its equity advocacy. For more information, please
visit www.breakthebarriers.org.
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