Indiana Governor Mitch Daniels Issues Executive Order on Behalf of R.E.A.C.H. a Child! Indiana

A United States Senator wrote a letter of support. The Speaker of Indiana’s House of Representative issued a resolution. Three mayors across the state wrote proclamations. And, today, the Governor of Indiana, Mitch Daniels, issued an executive order on behalf of R.E.A.C.H. a Child! proclaiming July 2009 “Make a Difference to Children Month.”

My thanks to Governor Daniels for helping us to raise awareness of R.E.A.C.H. a Child! Indiana.

Indiana’s R.E.A.C.H. a Child! - The First 90 Days

R.E.A.C.H. a Child! was founded in Wisconsin by Paul and Chris Gilbertson in late 2007 with the mission of using books to put a smile on the face of a child in a time of need. In less than two years, the non-profit has expanded into California, Nebraska, Missouri, Iowa, Minnesota, Illinois, Michigan, Tennessee, Ohio, Texas, New York and Indiana, launching here on March 1, 2009. So, as we enter our fourth month on Monday, I thought I’d take a moment to review what R.E.A.C.H. a Child! Indiana has accomplished in its first 90 days:

• The South Bend Silver Hawks donated 10 tickets for their 2009 season, as well as tickets to the opening game of their 2010 season. These tickets were auctioned to raise both funding for and awareness of our non-profit

• Elkhart Mayor Dick Moore proclaimed June 14, 2009 “With Wings & a Halo - R.E.A.C.H. a Child! Awareness Day”

• Mishawaka Mayor Jeff Rea proclaimed October 2009 “R.E.A.C.H. a Child! Month”

• United States Senator Evan Bayh provided a letter of support, calling the work that we’re doing on behalf of Hoosier children “truly inspiring”

• Elkhart’s Waldenbooks (Borders) sponsored a book drive on our behalf in March and April that collected 344 new children’s books

• Indianapolis illustrator, Sheri Garvin, provided 10 copies of a children’s book she illustrated called “Little Rhymes for Quiet Times”

• R.E.A.C.H. a Child! Indiana provided the South Bend Police Department’s Crime Prevention Unit with 100 backpacks (approximately 1,100 books)

• We supplied the Warren Township Fire Department with 8 backpacks

• WSBT (CBS), WNDU (NBC) and WSJV (FOX) each broadcast segments on our organization, as well as featured us on their Web sites

• We were also featured in the South Bend Tribune

• I was invited to speak at the Rotary Club of Mishawaka

• We supplied the La Porte Police Department with 40 backpacks (over 400 new children’s books)

• Evansville Mayor Jonathan Weinzapfel proclaimed the week of May 11th “R.E.A.C.H. a Child! Week”

• We started both a blog and a Squidoo lens, and each not only ranks on the first page of Google for “reach a child,” but also ahead of the national office’s Web site. Also, the blog you're reading now ranks higher in search results than any other state’s R.E.A.C.H. a Child! Web site or blog

• B. Patrick Bauer, Speaker of Indiana's House of Representatives, issued a resolution, recognizing our non-profit for "its dedicated and outstanding service to the children of the state of Indiana"

This is what we’ve accomplished in just our first 90 days. Imagine what we might accomplish together by this time next year. Now, let’s make it happen.

Federal, State and Local Politicians Continue to Lend Their Support to Help Raise Awareness for R.E.A.C.H. a Child! Indiana

First, the Mayors of Elkhart, Evansville and Mishawaka issued proclamations (the 3 Mayors representing over 220,000 Hoosiers). Then, U.S. Senator Evan Bayh issued a letter of support. Today, the Speaker of Indiana's House of Representatives, B. Patrick Bauer, issued a resolution...

"Thus, as a member of the One Hundred and Sixteenth Indiana General Assembly, I hereby honor With Wings and a Halo R.E.A.C.H. a Child by presenting to Mike Roe, Indiana Executive Director, this resolution in formal recognition of its dedicated and outstanding service to the children of the state of Indiana."

My thanks to both Speaker Bauer and his Executive Assistant, Dolly Starnes.

R.E.A.C.H. a Child! Indiana & the Rotary Club of Mishawaka

Yesterday, it was a pancake breakfast, compliments of the Warren Township Fire Department. Today, it was lunch, compliments of the Rotary Club of Mishawaka. I could get used to this! BTW, I'm sorry that the picture here isn't the best. Still, I'm happy to say that everyone at the Rotary Club of Mishawaka was.

While the lunch was great, I was there to work. Specifically, I had been invited to present Indiana's With Wings & a Halo - R.E.A.C.H a Child! to the Rotarians. I can say with complete honesty that it didn't feel like work at all. And, I even reconnected with a friend from middle and high school! Great seeing you again, Scott!

Anyway, this blog is about the efforts of R.E.A.C.H. a Child! Indiana's efforts to use books to put a smile on the face of a Hoosier child in a time of crisis. Still, I'd like to use this post to talk about the Rotary Club's "Four-Way Test of the Things We Think, Say and Do."

Decades ago, Rotarian Herbert Taylor was asked to take control of a company that was on the verge of bankruptcy. In 1932, Mr. Taylor created the following questions for employees to ask themselves in all of their personal and professional dealings:

Of the things we think, say or do...

* Is it the truth?
* Is it fair to all concerned?
* Will it build goodwill and better friendships?
* Will it be beneficial to all concerned?

Wouldn't the world be a better place to live and work if we asked ourselves these same questions today? Members of Rotary Clubs around the world do.

Once again, my sincere thanks to Jim, Margaret and all of the members of the Rotary Club of Mishawaka for everything that the club does in practicing "Service Above Self."

Book Drive At Waldenbooks In Elkhart Ends. But, At R.E.A.C.H. a Child! Indiana, It's Just the Beginning For the 300+ Books.

On April 20, I wrote a post here about how Hoosiers in Elkhart were helping Hoosiers across the state by donating books to Indiana's R.E.A.C.H. a Child! Over 140 books were donated. That was really great, but it gets even better. That's because, this past Tuesday, Olivia Jobe - the Store Manager at Elkhart's Waldenbooks - delivered another 214 books!

Because of the generosity of Olivia, her team, and the people of Elkhart, 344 children in Northern Indiana experiencing a traumatic situation will receive a new book from a police officer or firefighter. On behalf of those kids, as well as everyone at With Wings & a Halo - R.E.A.C.H. a Child!, thank you Elkhart, Olivia and the entire team at Waldenbooks.

What's Squidoo?

Squidoo is a site that was created by Seth Godin that allows you to quickly and easily create what's known as a "lens." What's a lens? Well, here's the Squidoo lens for R.E.A.C.H. a Child! Indiana.

There are a lot of great reasons for creating a lens, but one of the best is that you can earn money with one. Even better, you can donate any royalties you receive to a Squidoo-supported non-profit of your choosing, such as Indiana's R.E.A.C.H. a Child!

S.B.P.D. & R.E.A.C.H. a Child! Indiana Announce Joint Press Conference

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:

CONTACTS:
Sergeant Lee Ross
South Bend Police Department - Crime Prevention Unit
701 W. Sample Street
South Bend, IN 46601
574-235-7526
LRoss@southbendin.gov
www.southbendpolice.com/community/cp.htm

Mike Roe
Executive Director
With Wings & a Halo - R.E.A.C.H. a Child! Indiana
622 Donmoyer Avenue
South Bend, IN 46614
574-707-2727
michael@reachachild.org
www.withwingsandahalo.org/indiana.html
www.reachachildindiana.blogspot.com [blog]
www.squidoo.com/reachachildindiana [lens]

FASTEST GROWING CRIME PREVENTION PROGRAM IN THE MIDWEST
COMES TO SOUTH BEND, INDIANA

Endorsed by Senator Evan Bayh, as well as Mishawaka and Elkhart Mayors Rea and Moore, With Wings & a Halo - R.E.A.C.H. a Child! Indiana partners with the South Bend Police Department to distribute new children’s books to area children experiencing a crisis situation.

South Bend, IN -- April 22, 2009 -- At 10:00 AM on Tuesday, April 28, the South Bend Police Department’s Crime Prevention Unit and With Wings and a Halo - R.E.A.C.H. a Child! Indiana will conduct a joint press conference to announce their partnership in distributing backpacks with new children’s books to South Bend children experiencing a crisis situation. 100 backpacks, each containing 10 - 12 new children’s books will be provided free-of-charge to the department and, ultimately, distributed by various uniformed police cars, the detective bureau and other specialty units within the South Bend Police Department. The press conference will be held at the South Bend Police Department at 701 W. Sample Street in South Bend, Indiana.

The mission of R.E.A.C.H. a Child! Indiana (Reading Enjoyment Affects Childhood Happiness) is to put a smile on the face of a Hoosier child in a time of need. Thanks to the efforts of South Bend Mayor Luecke’s office, specifically those of his Director of Communications, Mikki Dobski, as well as to those of Sergeant Lee Ross of the South Bend Police Department, R.E.A.C.H., the partnership is the first step in fulfilling the 501(c)(3) non-profit's mission in every city across each of Indiana’s 92 counties.

Founded in Waunakee, Wisconsin in late 2007 by Paul and Chris Gilbertson, With Wings and a Halo - R.E.A.C.H. a Child! has since expanded throughout Wisconsin and into California, Nebraska, Missouri, Iowa, Minnesota, Illinois, Michigan, Tennessee, Ohio, New York and Indiana. R.E.A.C.H. a Child! Indiana provides law enforcement and other first responders (fire/EMS), as well as social workers, with a backpack containing 10-12 new children's books that they can then distribute to children at the scene of a crisis or emergency such as an auto accident, house fire, domestic dispute or natural disaster. Referred to as the B.A.C.K. Packets program (Become a Cheerful Kid), the program does not cost departments a single penny, and does not require any paperwork as to when, why or to whom the books are distributed.

R.E.A.C.H. a Child! Indiana is supported by Hoosiers through the private donation of time, new children’s books and money; booksellers throughout Indiana, such as Olivia Jobe, the Store Manager at Elkhart's Waldenbooks/Borders, that conduct book drives on R.E.A.C.H.’s behalf; corporate donations; and, grants.

For more information about Sergeant Ross and the South Bend Police Department’s Crime Prevention Unit or Mike Roe and R.E.A.C.H. a Child! Indiana, please visit www.southbendpolice.com/community/cp.htm or www.withwingsandahalo.org/indiana.html.

# # #

About Sergeant Lee Ross:
Sergeant Lee Ross is with the Crime Prevention Unit of the South Bend Police Department. The S.B.P.D.’s Crime Prevention Unit is tasked with providing citizens in the community with the information, tools and resources to not only keep themselves from becoming a victim of a crime, but also to make South Bend a safer place to live and to do business. A security expert and crime prevention specialist, Sergeant Ross has been interviewed on blogtalkradio.com and has appeared on radio shows such as Let’s Talk Home Security. In 2005, the American Crime Prevention Institute certified Sgt. Ross a Crime Prevention Specialist.

About Mike Roe:
Mike Roe is the Executive Director of With Wings & a Halo - R.E.A.C.H. a Child! Indiana. Born in South Bend, Indiana and a graduate of the University of Notre Dame, Mike lived in Los Angeles and San Luis Obispo, California for almost 15 years, where he worked in advertising and marketing as a copywriter. During that time, he concepted campaigns and wrote copy for the motion picture industry, toy companies, interactive gaming publishers, plastic surgeons and Vegas casinos. In 2009, he returned to his home state to head-up the efforts of R.E.A.C.H. a Child! Indiana.

Hoosiers In Elkhart Helping Hoosiers Across the State

We’ve all heard the news about how bad Elkhart’s economy is. Well, here’s some good news. When it comes to lending a helping hand, Hoosier’s there are still willing to lend a helping hand, in the form of donating a book, to help a child in a time of need.

It started when Oliva Jobe, the Store Manager of Elkhart’s Waldenbooks, agreed to hold a book drive during the month of April for R.E.A.C.H. a Child! Indiana. During that time, she and her team collected over 140 books, including:

* Scholastic’s “I Spy Letters & Numbers”
* LIFE’s “Can You Spot the Differences? Original Picture Puzzle”
* “Believe. The Words and Inspiration of Desmond Tutu”
* “Ptolemy’s Gate,” Book Three of Jonathan Stroud’s "Bartimaeus Trilogy"
* Baby Einstein’s “Animal Homes”
* Cranium’s “Data Head Book of Outrageous Fun!” (Illustrations by Baseman)
* Sesame Street’s “Follow Elmo”
* “Incredible 3D Stereograms - Eye Tricks”
* Eric Carle’s “10 Little Rubber Ducks” (Winner of 2003’s Laura Ingall Wilder Award)
* Disney’s “5-Minute Stories of Friendship”
* Ed Emberley’s “Big Purple Drawing Book”
* “The Icky, Sticky and GROSS Fascinating Fact Book”

That’s how it started–Olivia saying “yes." Then, hundreds of other Hoosiers said the same thing. And, that’s truly great. But, it gets even better, because it’s not over. Oliva extended the book drive through the first week of May! So, if you’re looking for a good book to read and you happen to live in or around the area, please visit the Waldenbooks in Elkhart. When you do, be sure to thank Olivia and her team. And, of course, please consider donating a book to R.E.A.C.H. a Child! Indiana.

Thank you, Olivia, and thank you to all of the Elkhart men, women and children who, in donating a new book, helped to make a difference in the lives of over 140 Hoosier children.

There's More Than One Way to Get Children's Books Into Police Cars (This Might Be the Worst)

So, I had just left the Mayor of Mishawaka's office; Mayor Rea had graciously proclaimed October 2009 as "R.E.A.C.H. a Child Month In the City of Mishawaka." Anyway, I'm driving down Grape Road, when I realized that I was traveling a little too fast. Unfortunately, I came to that realization just seconds after a Mishawaka Police Officer had come to the same conclusion. My first thought, of course, was "Should I tell the Officer that I had just left the Mayor's office, and show him the proclamation?" I decided, no.

The Officer informed me that he had clocked me going 42 in a 30. Following standard procedure, he asked to see my driver's license, as well as proof of insurance. I complied. We then talked a bit about my car - 1979 MGB - as well as, its top speed (120). He was very professional and, ultimately, kind, as I was let off with just a warning.

Now, I've spent the last week or so trying to present With Wings and a Halo - R.E.A.C.H. a Child! Indiana to the Mishawaka Police Department. So...

"Mind if I step out of the car to talk to you about something, Officer?"

He didn't. So, I did it. I presented R.E.A.C.H. a Child! to him right there on the shoulder of the busy road. Of course, he loved it! We traded business cards, and he requested that I email him, so he can get me in touch with the right people in the department.

Is it better to be good or lucky? Best to be both. Today, though, I'm just thankful for the chance encounter... and for not being issued a ticket.

R.E.A.C.H. a Child! on Club TNT (Today, Not Tomorrow)

With Wings and a Halo - R.E.A.C.H. a Child! is making a difference in Wisconsin. If they can do it there, we can certainly do it here in Indiana!

At With Wings and a Halo - R.E.A.C.H. a Child! (Reading Enjoyment Affects Childhood Happiness), our mission is to put a smile on the face of a child in a time of need. Additionally, our goals are to: (1) provide an escape to children in a traumatic situation (2) promote literacy, while instilling a love of reading in children (3) prevent crime by improving relationships between police and the public, and (4) keep perfectly good – and new – books out of landfills.

Named the largest and fastest growing crime prevention program in the Midwest, With Wings and a Halo – R.E.A.C.H. a Child! Indiana provides law enforcement and other first responders, as well as social workers, with a backpack containing 10-12 new children’s books they can then distribute to children at the scene of a crisis or emergency such as an auto accident, house fire, domestic dispute or natural disaster.

Thanks to donations from people just like you, today, With Wings and a Halo – R.E.A.C.H. a Child! has expanded across the country, and is helping children in California, Nebraska, Missouri, Iowa, Minnesota, Illinois, Michigan, Tennessee, Ohio, New York and, of course, right here in Indiana.

Learn how you can help put a smile on the face of a Hoosier child in a time of need by contacting me now at either michael@reachachild.org or reachachildindiana@gmail.com.

The Story of With Wings and a Halo - R.E.A.C.H. a Child! Indiana

At With Wings and a Halo - R.E.A.C.H. a Child! (Reading Enjoyment Affects Childhood Happiness), our mission is to put a smile on the face of a child in a time of need. Additionally, our goals are to: (1) provide an escape to children in a traumatic situation (2) promote literacy, while instilling a love of reading in children (3) prevent crime by improving relationships between police and the public, and (4) keep perfectly good – and new – books out of landfills.

Named the largest and fastest growing crime prevention program in the Midwest, With Wings and a Halo – R.E.A.C.H. a Child! Indiana provides law enforcement and other first responders, as well as social workers, with a backpack containing 10-12 new children’s books they can then distribute to children at the scene of a crisis or emergency such as an auto accident, house fire, domestic dispute or natural disaster.

Founded in Waunakee, WI in late 2007 by Paul and Chris Gilbertson, With Wings and a Halo – R.E.A.C.H a Child! was almost immediately adopted by various Wisconsin state, county and city services. In fact, for many police units in Wisconsin, when an officer graduates from the police academy, he or she is issued four items – a badge, handcuffs, a gun and one of our backpacks containing the new books.

Thanks to generous donations from people just like you, With Wings and a Halo – R.E.A.C.H. a Child! has expanded across the country, and is helping children in California, Nebraska, Missouri, Iowa, Minnesota, Illinois, Michigan, Tennessee, Ohio, New York and, of course, right here in Indiana.

Thanks so much for considering lending your support to With Wings and a Halo – R.E.A.C.H. a Child! Indiana.