Frankenmuth Credit Union will donate $2,000 to each of the four non-profit agencies that receive the most votes in its Great $2 Million Community Challenge. Cast your vote for the CAN Council by December 31st, and ask your friends & families to do the same!
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Media Release: ANNUAL FREELAND LIGHTS SHOW BENEFITS CAN COUNCIL FOR 5TH CONSECUTIVE YEAR
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
CONTACT
Delores Gale, Development Director
1311 N. Michigan Avenue
Saginaw, MI 48602
(989) 752-7226 office
dgale@cancouncil.org
ANNUAL FREELAND LIGHTS SHOW BENEFITS
CAN COUNCIL FOR 5TH CONSECUTIVE YEAR
85,000 Christmas Lights Synchronized to Music On Display
SAGINAW, MI - December 11, 2012: Gary Shepard’s annual display of 85,000 Christmas lights is ready for viewing from 5:30 - 10:00 pm each night until December 31st. Visit 7320 W. Freeland Rd., tune your car’s radio to 93.9 FM, and enjoy the show from the warmth of your car! For the fifth consecutive year, Mr. Shepard will be collecting spectator donations for the CAN Council.
Daily shows start at 5:30 pm, and the last show starts at 10:00 pm. Early evening shows start every quarter hour and last about 12 minutes. Shows beginning at 9:00 pm last about 22 minutes and include additional songs.
While visitors were enjoying last year’s display, Mr. Shepard was busy developing this year’s. It’s a hobby that he’s had since childhood. Mr. Shepard explains: “Decorating with lights started at an early age, at around 7 years old, when Santa delivered 5 strings of GE ‘Merry Midget’ lights.” He began setting the blink of the lights to music in 2005 and collecting donations from visitors in 2008. He’s given them each year to the CAN Council.
From 2008-2011, Mr. Shepard’s Freeland Lights Show has raised $21,482.70 for CAN Council Great Lakes Bay Region.
Suzanne Greenberg, President/CEO of CAN Council says, “What an amazing way to make a difference - bringing families together during the holidays to simply enjoy the sights, the sounds & the company. Mr. Shepard’s generosity to the community is truly remarkable and his holiday gift to CAN makes an impact throughout the year.”
Note: Take a peek at the Freeland Lights Show: visit Gary Shepard’s website or youtube.
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About the CAN Council Great Lakes Bay Region
The CAN Council is a local 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization in the Great Lakes Bay Region dedicated to the prevention of child abuse and neglect through its nationally-accredited and award-winning education, awareness, intervention and advocacy programs. It is the only nonprofit organization in the Great Lakes Bay Region devoted to this cause. Founded in 1979, the CAN Council has consistently grown over the past 32 years to meet the needs of the community’s children and families. For more information, visit CANcouncil.org or call (989) 752-7226.
Media Release: ENCORE PERFORMANCE OF BRUSH STREET HOLIDAY CONCERT BENEFITS CAN COUNCIL & HIDDEN HARVEST
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
CONTACT
Delores Gale, Development Director
1311 N. Michigan Avenue
Saginaw, MI 48602
(989) 752-7226 office
dgale@cancouncil.org
ENCORE PERFORMANCE OF BRUSH STREET HOLIDAY CONCERT
BENEFITS CAN COUNCIL & HIDDEN HARVEST
SAGINAW, MI - December 5, 2012: Pit & Balcony Theatre will host “Brush Street with Brass and Strings - Holiday Concert” on Saturday, December 22nd at 7:30 PM. Concert proceeds will benefit CAN Council Great Lakes Bay Region and Hidden Harvest. Pit & Balcony Theatre, Saginaw Sound & all musicians will donate their services for the evening.
This is an encore performance of the concert first performed at Bay City’s State Theatre on November 17th. The program includes well-known holiday songs newly arranged by Michael Brush as well as his own original holiday music. Advance tickets can be purchased at the Saginaw CAN office, Hidden Harvest and Dawn of a New Day Coffeehouse at 210 S. Washington Ave. for $15/adult and $10/student. Tickets will be available at Pit & Balcony the day of the event. Purchase your ticket early for the limited-seating event.
Suzanne Greenberg, President & CEO of CAN Council Great Lakes Bay Region, says, “Mr. Brush has supported CAN for over a decade, most notably by composing & recording ‘Through Me You Will Live On’ for the Council’s video portraying the plight of abused children. His talent is surpassed solely by his commitment to the children in our region.”
President & CEO of Hidden Harvest, Rich Premo, says, “Mike has been a kind and good friend of Hidden Harvest over the years. A large thanks to all involved for including Hidden Harvest in this Holiday Event.”
The CAN Council Great Lakes Bay Region is at the forefront of addressing the issues surrounding child abuse & neglect through its nationally-accredited and award-winning prevention, intervention and advocacy programs. Hidden Harvest strives to alleviate hunger and end food waste in the Bay, Midland and Saginaw region by providing a safe and coordinated system of rescuing and redistributing surplus food to organizations that feed people in need.
For more information, please contact Delores Gale of the CAN Council at (989) 752-7226 or dgale@cancouncil.org.
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About the CAN Council Great Lakes Bay Region
The CAN Council is a local 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization in the Great Lakes Bay Region dedicated to the prevention of child abuse and neglect through education, awareness, intervention and advocacy. It is the only nonprofit organization in the Great Lakes Bay Region devoted to this cause. Founded in 1979, the CAN Council has consistently grown over the past 32 years to meet the needs of the community’s children and families. For more information, visit CANcouncil.org or call (989) 752-7226.
Get your holiday shopping done! Order your 2013 CAN Calendars today.
Is there any better holiday gift than one that supports programming to protect our children?
Consider purchasing a $15 2013 CAN Calendar for each of the special people on your holiday gift list this year. Featuring local children, the calendars are perfect gifts for customers, employees, family and friends. All calendar-sale proceeds benefit CAN prevention, intervention & advocacy programs.
Call Delores at (989) 752-7226 to order your calendars today. Don’t forget to order one for yourself, too!
Bringing Christmas to Abused Children
Help United Financial Credit Union raise money this holiday season during its 1st Annual CASA Christmas. Stop into any UFCU branch between November 13 and December 14, and purchase a paper stocking for a minimum donation of $1.00. All proceeds benefit CAN’s CASA of Saginaw County program.
UFCU is also collecting Christmas presents for CASA children. Check-out the children’s wish list and see how easily you could make the holiday brighter for a child who has experienced abuse or neglect. Bring your unwrapped gift to any UFCU location:
4710 S. Garfield Rd., Auburn — 124 N. Third St., Chesaning — 7600 Midland Rd., Freeland — 5658 Dixie Hwy., Saginaw — 4685 State St., Saginaw — 2510 Weiss St., Saginaw
Can’t make it to a UFCU branch but feel the Christmas spirit? Make an online donation to the CASA program today!
Warm Clothing Needed for CASA Children
Consider donating new children’s or teen clothes or outerwear to make the holidays special for CASA children. Please bring all donations to the CAN Council office by December 6th. Contact Randy, CASA Program Director, at (989) 752-7226 with any questions.
What does an abused or neglected child “look” like?
Recognizing a child has been abused or neglected isn’t simple. Sometimes you will detect a change in the child’s behavior or you may even notice bruising or welts. For many children, it isn’t so easy to tell that they are living in an abusive or neglectful situation. For these kids, you may just “feel” like something’s not right.
A child who has been abused or neglected may:
– have sudden or extreme mood swings. The child might have rage, fear or anger that doesn’t make sense to you, or may cry excessively.
– have an unusual avoidance of certain people, places, or activities.
– behave like a much younger child.
– have a loss of appetite or interest in activities she used to enjoy.
– “space out” at odd times.
– cut or burn self as a teenager or a pre-teen.
– be dirty or unwashed.
– be afraid to go home.
– have medical problems that aren’t being cared for.
– rarely attend school or sleep during class.
– beg for, steal or hoard food.
– know too much about sex or have an interest in it that seems odd for her age.
– have unusual or aggressive sexual play with toys or other children.
Always believe a child who tells you he’s been abused - sexually or physically.
Always trust your gut. If you think a child has been hurt or is at-risk, call Children’s Protective Services (CPS) at 1-855-444-3911. Let CPS know you think something is wrong, and let them investigate. You can make the call anonymously. And, if you think a child is in danger of being abused right now, call 911. If YOU don’t make the call to get help for a child you think may be abused or neglected, who will?
Get your holiday shopping done! Order your 2013 CAN Calendars today.
Is there any better holiday gift than one that supports programming to protect our children?
Consider purchasing a $15 2013 CAN Council Calendar for each of the special people on your holiday gift list this year. Featuring local children, the calendars are perfect gifts for customers, employees, family and friends. All calendar-sale proceeds benefit CAN prevention, intervention & advocacy programs.
Call Delores at (989) 752-7226 to order your calendars today. Don’t forget to order one for yourself, too!
Help Make the Holidays Special for CASA Children
Consider donating new children’s or teen clothes, outerwear or toys to make the holidays special for CASA children. If you have a Santa costume you’re willing to wear or loan to CAN for the CASA holiday party, contact Randy at (989) 752-7226.
Infant Safe Sleep
Lower the risk of SIDS by placing babies 1 year and younger on their backs to sleep. Check-out the list below to see what else you can do to ensure your baby sleeps safely:
— Dress your baby in lightweight sleep clothing to avoid overheating. Keep the room at a temperature comfortable for an adult.
— Place your baby on a firm sleep surface, such as a crib mattress covered by a fitted sheet.
— Keep your baby’s sleep area close to, but separate from, where you and others sleep.
— Keep loose pillows, blankets, quilts, soft crib bumpers, and toys out of your baby’s sleep area.
— Do not allow smoking around your baby.
— Use a clean, dry pacifier when placing your baby down to sleep.
— Provide “tummy time” when your baby is awake and someone is watching.
Make sure anyone caring for your baby follows these suggestions each time your baby is laid down for a nap or to sleep overnight.
Source: US Department of Health and Human Services, National Institute of Child Health and Human Development