Villadom Times Weekly Newpaper Online-August 19, 2009 Issue

Page 12 THE VILLADOM TIMES I, II, III & IV • August 19, 2009 �� (ARA) Throughout the year, people face many fundraising requests from their children’s schools, coworkers, and friends. One fundraiser that won’t add on the pounds or get stuck in the closet is School Walk for Diabetes, an educational school fundraising program that promotes healthy �� living, school spirit, and community involvement. The money raised �� through School Walk for Diabetes helps to fund diabetes research, education and advocacy �� efforts in support of the American Diabetes Association’s mission. While raising money for the American Diabetes Association, students learn about diabetes and the importance �� of making healthy choices including eating nutritious foods and exercising every day. It is never too early to start getting kids educated about this deadly disease, as nearly 24 million American children and adults in the U.S. have diabetes. Jason Wall and Anton Pratt are two teachers who participate in School Walk for Diabetes, making it a friendly competition between their Arizona middle schools. As physical education and health instructors in Phoenix’s Litchfield School District, Wall and Pratt compete to raise the most money in the nation for School Walk for Diabetes. Wall, who has type 1 diabetes, teaches at Verrado Middle School, while Pratt teaches at Western Sky Middle School. “Schools are always bombarded with fundraising requests from many worthwhile causes,” Pratt said. “After seeing Jason constantly testing and injecting himself with Schools use ﬁtness to educate about diabetes insulin throughout the day and research showing an 800 percent increase in diagnosed cases within our very own district, I thought, ‘How awesome would it be to be part of the cure?’” Wall created some fun incentives: Any student who raised $100 can ask a teacher to be his or her waiter at lunch for a day. Another incentive was students can wear their own clothes to gym class instead of the school-issued physical education uniform. For every $50 raised, students receive a chance to win an Xbox or Wii donated by Wall. Their creative ideas and clever antics have helped the two teachers generate more than $71,000 since beginning their respective School Walks. This is an extremely generous amount of funding and also a huge way to raise awareness in their school district. Each year, about 15,000 youth ages 20 and under are diagnosed with type 1 diabetes in the U.S. With Wall’s personal story, he gives a face to the disease with his students, while showing the kids firsthand FALL • • Semester One September 21, 2009 to January 29, 2010 • Enrichment in Your School ool A r t e s so n s r Sch Parties • Private L e Aft thday ges u t Ba d B i r y / G i r l S c o A r t L e s so n s ic B o r a p eu t Th e Development CLASSES Sign up now! PORTFOLIO Teens headed for Art Colleges need a portfolio. Create one in our Evening & Saturday Portfolio Classes. (NAPSI) Here are tips to help families stay within their budget and still send the kids off to school in style: • Focus your shopping on selected stores to save time. • Do your homework early. Check newspapers for sale information and ask about any special deals. Track sales and cut coupons for needed school supplies and plan shopping trips accordingly. The better you plan, the more you will save. • Make a list before you head to the store. Stay focused on the items on your list. • When it comes to fashion, every year there is a new trend that teens “must” have. Let them indulge in a trendy item or two. Focus the rest of your money on the basics they will use all year, such as jeans, sneakers, Tshirts, and hooded sweatshirts. • If your teen is college bound, work with him or her to draw up a list of must-haves for the dorm. Ask your student to contact his or her future roommate via Back to school style for teens doesn’t need to break the budget how they can touch the lives of people with diabetes. Pratt is always trying to one up Wall. In his “Twenty Together” campaign, for every student who raised $20, he would “drop and give them 20 push-ups.” Pratt did 4,680 push-ups in three days while raising $17,000. The top six fundraisers in each grade at Pratt’s school are treated to time off school and a limo ride to the movies, courtesy of local business partners. “We compete in absolutely everything to the very last breath, the very last whistle and the very last dollar,” Pratt says. “But the greatest victory for both of us will be the one where our students have a day when they no longer have to worry about their diabetes. We’d be very happy to share that win.” To find out more information or to register your school for School Walk for Diabetes, call the American Diabetes Association at (888) DIABETES or visit: www.diabetes. org/schoolwalk. e-mail or phone to discuss who will bring what to the dorm room. Save a few purchases such as trash cans, lighting, and furniture until you visit the dorm and can assess what the school provides. Then purchase what is missing. • Stay focused on the basics. A “bed in a bag” in a chic print can provide your college student with all the bedding needed for the school year. Consider an extra set of sheets for laundry days. Other basics include lighting, such as a great task lamp for homework and reading, a laundry bag, a shower caddy, and at least two sets of towels. Add decorative accessories such as wall art and picture frames to make the dorm room a home away from home. Remember extra storage containers for the closet or under the bed. As you shop, look for bedding and furniture that are multifunctional and do double duty, such as a reversible bedspread or a storage ottoman. • Before you leave, stock up on commodities such as paper towels, laundry detergent, and trash bags. • drawingroomllc.com 27 Central Ave • 2nd Floor • Midland Park 201•447•7272 Pinnacle Learning Center At the Ramapo Reformed Church 109 West Ramapo Ave., Mahwah Conveniently located just off Route 17 7 AM - 6:30 PM M-F Yr. Round Flexible Hrs. Half and Full Day Pre-School - 2½ - 6 Years Crafts, Music, Spanish, Computers, Science AM & PM Academics. Owner/Director/Teacher Maria Cancelosi NJ State License CPR Trained Affordable - Sibling Discount �� Register for September 2009 201-512-3313 ��