1000 Word News Release

                                                                                    The Make-A-Wish Foundation

                                                                                    Contact: Christina Collinge

                                                                                    Address: 1234 Walk Avenue

                                                                                                     Atlanta, GA 30305

                                                                                    Phone: (404) 555-7677

                                                                                    Fax: (404) 555-7678

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE                                      Email: christina@makeawish.org

Walk for Wishes Atlanta 2011

Atlanta, Ga. (April 4, 2011)—The Georgia and Alabama Chapter of The Make-A -Wish Foundation introduces Walk for Wishes: A day walk that celebrates the success of individuals and teams that raised funds that in return grants wishes to children with life-threatening medical conditions.

     The Walk for Wishes is a special event to spend time with your friends, family and team members while sharing in the hope, strength and joy you've helped bring to Georgia and Alabama children waiting for their wishes to come to life.

     Walk for Wishes was developed by the Georgia and Alabama Chapter of The Make-A-Wish Foundation in 2011. Kari Love, senior events development officer, proposed the idea of a celebratory walk for raising funds for the chapter. Love is a dedicated team member of the Georgia and Alabama chapter and always enjoys planning events for our supporters and organization.

     “Walk for Wishes is going to be an absolute blast this spring. “ Love said. “Our supporters have already raised over $71,000 and I couldn’t be happier to work for such an amazing organization. This walk is going to be so successful and I can’t wait to get out there and walk with everyone. I couldn’t do my job without our awesome supporters and volunteers, so I think it is very important that our staff participates

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in this walk as well.”

     We are proud to announce that Walk for Wishes will be held in Atlanta at Atlantic Station on Saturday, April 16, 2011. Atlantic Station is a welcoming community located in the heart of Atlanta that includes indoor and outdoor attractions. The development consists of up-scale housing with world-class restaurants, theaters, retailers, community events and extraordinary exhibits such as Bodies and Dialogue In The Dark. Atlantic Station provides homes for 10,000 people and offers 30,000 job opportunities.

     Jenna Thomas, media relations with Cohne & Wolfe for Atlantic Station, is pleased to be a part the awesome events that Atlantic Station hosts each month. “I am really excited to be helping out with Walk for Wishes this April. The Make-A-Wish Foundation is a great organization, and Atlantic Station is very honored to be a part of this walk to help out the children with illnesses in our own community.”

     The registration cost to participate in the walk is $10.00 and our wonderful supporters that raise $100 or more will receive a Walk for Wishes t-shirt. Registration will begin at 8:30 a.m. and the walk program will start at 10:30 a.m. Walk for Wishes will end promptly at 11:30 a.m. Walkers and guest are invited to enjoy all the attractions offered at Atlantic Station and around Atlanta after the Walk for Wishes festivities are completed.

     Frank Shankwitz, Linda Bergendahl-Pauling, and Scott Stahl founded the Make-A-Wish Foundation in November 1980. A little boy named Christian James Greicius who was suffering from leukemia, dreamed of becoming a police officer. The three

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founders saw how happy Christian was after receiving his one wish, and wondered how they could do the same for other children suffering from life threatening medical conditions.

     By March 1981, The Make-A-Wish Foundation, now a (c)(3) non-profit organization, raised over $2,000 and was able to grant its first official wish. The first Make-A-Wish kid was a 7-year-old boy named Frank Salazar who was diagnosed with leukemia. His dream was to become a fire fighter. In Arizona, the Phoenix Fire Department provided Frank with a full uniform including turnouts, a badge and a helmet. Franks day was made when the fire department let him blast the horn and use the 75-pound hose on the fire truck.  From there, media coverage of Frank made others want to help the cause too.

     Many corporations, such as Disneyland, wanted to help the foundation. Corporate sponsor Disneyland, created a special day only for The Make-A-Wish Foundation wish recipients. This day is filled with rides, fun and games, food, gifts and more. To this day, the foundation and Disneyland both have an enchanting relationship.

     From the first wish granted in 1981 to the present, The Make-A-Wish Foundation has granted over 200,000 wishes and has over 75,000 volunteers. The first donation was $15 from a grocery store manager who pulled it right out of his back pocket. Thanks to all the generous donations, a wish that cost an average of $7,000 is granted every 40 minutes.

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     All kids suffering from serious medical conditions ages two and a half to 18 and meet the medical criteria established by the foundation are eligible to have their wish granted. The first step in getting a wish granted is to refer a child online.

Children’s requests usually begin with, I wish to be, I wish to go, I wish to have and I wish to meet. None of the children are denied due to lack of funds and local chapters grant the children’s wishes.

     The Make-A-Wish Foundation of Georgia and Alabama was founded in 1995 and is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization. The chapter has 21 full and part-employees, two main offices in Georgia and Alabama and more than 10 corporate sponsors. Over 4,000 wishes have been granted by this chapter and hoping to grant 350 wishes in 2011.

     Walk for Wishes Atlanta 2011 is going to be a great fundraiser for this chapter. We look forward to seeing all of our supporters and having a successful and safe walk on April 16, at Atlantic Station.

     The Make-A-Wish Foundation was founded in 1980 and gives hope, strength and joy to children with life-threatening medical conditions. As a national, non-profit organization, The Make-A-Wish Foundation is honored to grant a new wish to a deserving child every 40 minutes.

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COM 3330 News Release

                                                                                            Girl Talk, Inc.

                                                                                            Contact: Christina Collinge

                                                                                            Address: 123 Walk Lane

                                                                                                            Atlanta, GA 30105

                                                                                            Phone: (404) 555-2323

                                                                                            Fax: (404) 555-3232

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE                                         Email: ccollinge@gmail.com

Girl Talk Inc. introduces Project Inside Out

Atlanta, Ga. (March 15, 2011)—Girl Talk Inc. introduces Project Inside Out: a weeklong summer camp that can be inspiring through our impact sessions, community service projects, high school girl mentors and key messages from community leaders.

     Middle school is tough for young girls, and we think they should grow from one another and have fun while learning and being encouraged throughout a week of non-stop inspiration at Project Inside Out.

     Project Inside Out was developed by Haley Kilpatrick, founder and Executive Director of Girl Talk Inc. Kilpatrick first introduced the idea of Project Inside Out when she thought about her summers sitting at home when she was a middle school girl. The idea of a safe place to attend and wonderful messages to learn and grow from for a whole week is Kilpatrick’s goal with Project Inside Out.

     “Girl Talk is looking forward to this summer and it’s amazing possibilities with Project Inside Out.” Kilpatrick said.  “I look forward to seeing all the wonderful faces of our girls, and I truly hope they have a wonderful time and leave inspired.” 

     Project Inside Out will be held in three sessions in Atlanta at Holy Innocents Episcopal School, All Saints Episcopal School and Peachtree Presbyterian Church. Each camp session will have 75 slots for rising 6^th, 7^th and 8^th grade girls and will cost $295 as it serves as Girl Talk Inc.’s largest fundraiser.

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     Girl Talk Inc. is looking forward to meeting all of you campers, counselors, and volunteers.

     Girl Talk Inc. was founded in 2002 to provide middle school girls with high school mentors. Reaching 43 states, Girl Talk Inc. is inspiring girls to build self-esteem, develop leadership skills and encourage community service.

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COM 3330 News Story Final Draft

Christina Collinge

COM 3330/04

February 23, 2011

Assignment #3 Final Draft TV News Story

Pig Roaming Cobb County Finally Caught

Studio: The runaway pot-bellied pig that had been wandering around Kennesaw in Cobb County since Thursday afternoon…was finally caught today.

Studio: Fox 5’s Bob Smith is on the scene. Bob…can you tell us how this three-day adventure ended?

Field: Well…humane traps have been set up since Thursday night. Animal control officials chased the pig for days in the woods here on the Chastain Road on-ramp to Interstate 75 in Kennesaw. Finally…the pig was attracted to the traps where the public officials found it wandering this morning. The pig was caught and taken to the Cobb County Animal Control Shelter police say. It will be held there until it is claimed.

This is Bob Smith…Fox 5 News.

Studio: Thanks Bob.

COM 3330 News Story Rough Draft

Christina Collinge

COM 3330/04

February 21, 2011

Assignment #3 Rough Draft TV News Story

Pig Roaming Cobb County Finally Caught

Studio: The runaway pot-bellied pig that was wondering around Cobb County in Kennesaw since Thursday afternoon was finally caught today.

Studio: Fox 5’s Bob Smith is on the scene. Bob, can you tell us how this three-day adventure ended?

Field: Well, humane traps have been set up since Thursday night. Animal control officials chased the pig for three days in the woods here on the Chastain Road on ramp to Interstate 75 in Kennesaw. Finally, the pig was attracted to the traps where the public officials found the pig wondering this morning. The pig was then caught and brought to the Cobb County Animal Control Shelter until it is claimed. This is Bob Smith, Fox 5 News.

Studio: Thanks Bob.

Interview Feature Story~Final Draft

Christina Collinge

COM 3330/04

February 14, 2011

Final Draft-Assignment #2 Interview Feature Story

   

     In 2002, Haley Kilpatrick started an organization that would change the lives of middle school girls.

     Born in 1986, Kilpatrick was an extremely bright kid who got great grades in school and loved interacting with people. However, starting in middle school, Kilpatrick had a hard time with the hormonal changes in her body, pressures and anxieties a young girl goes through. In addition, Kilpatrick had a hard time finding friends and being self-confident while developing into a young woman.

     At the age of 15, she started a non-profit organization that created positive weekly student-to-student mentoring programs, led by high school girls, for middle school girls. Her idea was to create a free program that could be used by middle school girls all around the world. This organization is called Girl Talk.

     Once the program got going, she knew it was what she was supposed to do with her life. Kilpatrick graduated from high school and attended Kennesaw State University in Kennesaw, Ga., when she graduated in 2007 with a degree in communication and concentration in public relations.

     In 2008, Erin Patterson, a KSU student majoring in communication was Kilpatrick’s intern at Girl Talk. When Patterson graduated in 2009, Kilpatrick hired her as Girl Talk’s first full-time employee in the position of chapter and programs coordinator.

     I got a chance to sit down with Patterson and talk with her about Girl Talk’s mission, chapters and the importance of Project Inside Out summer camps.

Collinge: What is Girl Talk’s mission and what does it mean to you as your job and how does it affect your everyday life?

Patterson: Girl talk’s mission is to help teenage girls with building self-esteem, develop leadership skills and recognize the value and importance of community service. My job means the world to me. I always wanted to work somewhere that I truly believed in, and now I come to work every day knowing that I am a part of changing girl’s lives. It’s awesome. And does it affect me as a person? Yeah, it does. I change lives while I’m at work, so I really try to continue to do the same thing while I’m away from work.  

Collinge: What are the Girl Talk chapters and what do they entail?

Patterson: Each chapter is what Girl Talk is all about. In other words, it’s where the magic happens. Haley started the first chapter at her school, Deerfield Windsor in Albany, Ga. Every chapter meets weekly and the high school girls teach the middle school girls the Girl Talk curriculum which deals with community service, how to talk to your parents, being the best you, etc. The chapters can meet anywhere, and a school in Florida actually has a classroom for Girl Talk where all the middle school girls are required to take part in it. It’s amazing how fast Girl Talk is growing.

Collinge: Can you tell me about your middle school experience? Would you have liked to be a part of Girl Talk when you were in middle school?

Patterson: My middle school experience over all was pretty good. I was a part of the dance team, danced at Atlanta Ballet and had a great group of friends. All in all, I think that if I could have been a part of an organization like Girl Talk, I would have had much better self-esteem and less anxiety about my transition through my teen years. So yes! I would have really enjoyed Girl Talk.

Collinge: Do you want to tell me a little more about the summer camps?

Patterson: Of course. Project Inside Out is a weeklong camp in the summer and it is all about inspiration: getting inspiration through our guest speakers, the older girls, volunteers and the impact sessions. The camps were designed to help middle school girl’s blossom as much as they possibly can in a week’s time. Some girls even come to more than one camp because they just don’t want to leave. The camps really are a great way for the girls to open up and overcome the obstacles they struggle with.

Collinge: What is the importance of having high school girl mentors, especially at the Girl Talk summer camps?

Patterson: All middle school girls look up to the older high school girls. These mentors truly change the young girl’s lives and it is so amazing to watch the middle school girls blossom into young women during one week at Project Inside Out.

Collinge: Where are the camps offered? What do the camps involve?

Patterson: All three camp sessions are in Atlanta but we are hoping to hold summer camps in other states in the near future. Each session includes impact sessions, community service projects, high school girl mentors and key messages from community leaders.

Collinge: What is the most fabulous thing you have seen at a camp session?

Patterson: I’m so glad you asked this. Her name was Amanda. The first day of camp she was so shy, didn’t know anyone and she held her head down at all times. It was so sad. But I tell you what. The last day of camp, she was on the stage giving her testimony about how much she loved Girl Talk and how confident she was about herself. It was so inspirational to see that. Camp is a great place where the girls can all learn and be inspired from one another.

Collinge: What is your future goal for Girl Talk?

Patterson: My goal for Girl Talk is to get more support so that we can have chapters worldwide. We can do so much more with Girl Talk if we had more support, and I know it will happen soon enough.

Collinge: Do you feel like you have a rewarding career?

Patterson: I definitely do.

     Girl Talk, with the joint efforts of Kilpatrick, Patterson and the insane amount of volunteers and interns, has now reached 46 states and more than 32,000 girls. It is also the fastest-growing nonprofit organization in the nation. Kilpatrick’s goal is to make sure that all 50 states have a Girl Talk chapter by the end of the 2011 school year.  

Assignment #2-Interview Feature Story-Rough Draft

Christina Collinge

COM 3330/04

February 9, 2011

Rough Draft-Assignment #2 Interview Feature Story

   

     In 2002, Haley Kilpatrick started an organization that would forever change the lives of middle school girls. Born in 1986, Kilpatrick was always an extremely bright kid who got great grades and loved interacting with people. However, starting in middle school, Kilpatrick had a hard time with the hormonal, pressures and the anxieties one young girl goes through. In addition to her hormonal struggle, Kilpatrick found it hard to find friends and to be self-confident while developing into a young woman. At the age of 15, she decided to start a non-profit organization that would help a middle school girl’s transition from a child into a young lady as smooth and productive as possible. This profound organization is called Girl Talk.

     Kilpatrick started Girl Talk at Deerfield Windsor School in Albany, Ga. Her idea was to create an absolutely free program that would pair middle school girls with high school girl mentors. Once the program got going, she knew it was what she was supposed to do with her life. Kilpatrick graduated from high school and proceeded to attend Kennesaw State University in Kennesaw, Ga. where she majored in communication with a concentration in public relations. While attending the university, Kilpatrick continued to pursue Girl Talk all around the state of Georgia. Kilpatrick graduated from KSU in 2007 and really got the company rolling in the right direction.

     In 2008, Erin Patterson, a KSU student majoring in communications with a concentration in public relations, was honored to be Kilpatrick’s intern at Girl Talk. When Patterson graduated from KSU in 2009, Kilpatrick was pleased to hire her as Girl Talk’s first full-time employee. Patterson started immediately and began her title as the Chapter and Programs Coordinator.

     Girl Talk functions mainly through its chapters, which is sustained by Patterson. Each chapter contains a group of middle and high school girls, an adult volunteer, and an advisor whom is usually a counselor or social worker. All chapters are completely free, and the Girl Talk curriculum is offered online, or a hard copy of the curriculum can be ordered online. Some of the lesson plans administered by the high school girls are being nice, how to be a good friend and community service.

    The second main function of Girl Talk is through its Project Inside Out summer camps that are all located in Atlanta, Ga. Each camp session is a weeklong day camp that inspires middle school girls through impact sessions, community service projects, high school girl mentors and key messages from community leaders. Camp is a great place where the girls can all learn and be inspired from one another.

     “All middle school girls look up to the older high school girls. These mentors truly change the young girl’s lives and it is so amazing to watch the middle school girls blossom into young women during one week at Project Inside Out!” Patterson said.

     I got a chance to sit down with Patterson and talk with her more about Girl Talk’s mission and the importance of Project Inside Out summer camps.

Collinge: What is Girl Talk’s mission and what does it mean to you as your job and how does it affect your everyday life?

Patterson: Girl talk’s mission is to help teenage girls with building self-esteem, develop leadership skills, and recognize the value and importance of community service. My job means the world to me. I always wanted to work somewhere that I truly believed in, and now I come to work every day knowing that I am a part of changing girl’s lives. It’s awesome! And does it affect me as a person? Yeah, it does. I change lives while I’m at work, so I really try to continue to do the same thing while I’m away from work.  

Collinge: That’s great! Can you tell me about your middle school experience? Would you have liked to be a part of Girl Talk when you were in middle school?

Patterson: My middle school experience over all was pretty good. I was a part of the dance team, danced at Atlanta Ballet, and had a great group of friends. All in all though, I think that if I could have been a part of an organization like Girl Talk, I would have had much better self-esteem and less anxiety about my transition through my teen years. So yes! I would have really enjoyed Girl Talk.

Collinge: It sounds like an awesome program. Do you want to tell me a little more about the summer camps?

Patterson: Of course. Project Inside Out is a weeklong camp in the summer and it is all about inspiration: getting inspiration through our guest speakers, the older girls, volunteers and the impact sessions! The camps were designed to help middle school girl’s blossom as much as they possibly can in a week’s time. Some girls even come to more than one camp because they just don’t want to leave! The camps really are a great way for the girls to open up and overcome the obstacles they struggle with.

Collinge: How cool! What is the most fabulous thing you have seen at a camp session?

Patterson: I’m so glad you asked this. Her name was Amanda. The first day of camp she was so shy, didn’t know anyone, and she held her head down at all times. It was so sad. But I tell you what! The last day of camp, she was on the stage giving her testimony about how much she loved Girl Talk and how confident she was about herself. It was so inspirational to see that.

Collinge: Wow. It sounds like you have one of the best jobs ever.

Patterson: I definitely do.

     Girl Talk, with the joint efforts of Kilpatrick, Patterson and the insane amount of volunteers, has now reached 46 states and more than 32,000 girls. It is also the fastest growing nonprofit organization in the nation. Kilpatrick’s goal is to make sure that all 50 states have a Girl Talk chapter by the end of the 2011 school year.  

Basic News Story~Final Draft

Christina Collinge

COM 3330/ 04

February 8, 2011

Writing Assignment #1-Basic News Story- Final Draft

Pig Roaming Cobb County Finally Caught

The black runaway pot-bellied pig that was wandering around Cobb County off Chastain Road in Kennesaw on Thursday afternoon was finally caught on Sunday morning police said.

The small pig was itinerant around the dumpsters in the back of Kayson’s restaurant on Chastain Road when an employee, Candice Estes, noticed the hairy, uninvited visitor. Kayson’s employees, only considered for the pig’s safety, called animal control.

Animal control officers said that after tending to the dumpster, the pot-bellied pig ran along Interstate 75. Many people continued to call local news stations to help officials locate the pig. Pot-bellied pigs can grow to be about 125 pounds, and from the extensive chase the pig has given the officials, eyewitness Larry Sanders said the pig had to be a baby because it looked no more than 30 pounds. Kennesaw State University police sent out an alert to all students and faculty members saying where the pig was sited, and assured the faculty and staff that the pig was not dangerous.

Animal control and police officers, concerned that the pig might run into oncoming traffic on I-75 and cause an accident, attempted to catch the nomadic pig. The attempt was a failure. The pig had run into the woods at sundown. Officer Joe Hernandez, a spokesman with Cobb County Police Department, said that Cobb County and animal control officers would continue their search early Friday morning.

Authorities’ attempts to capture the pig failed. The pig was spotted again on Friday morning when search efforts continued. Hernandez said that animal control officers C. Awtrey and N. Walker set up traps for the pig and then later R.Tate and N. Walker continued to chase the pig with nets. Around 11 a.m., the pig went back into the woods where authorities could not locate it police said.  Around 4:30 p.m. it was spotted again when a caller called a local news station in Atlanta regarding the location of the pig. Efforts to catch the wayward pig Saturday were again unsuccessful, but by Saturday night, the pot-bellied animal was finally lured close by one of the humane traps. Hernandez said that on Sunday morning, three days after the initial sighting of the pig, animal control officials gathered around the I-75 on ramp to Chastain Road to find the pig near the traps that they had set up on Thursday evening. Animal control officials were then able to use the necessary tools to capture the runaway pig around 10:00 a.m. Hernandez said.

No one has yet to claim the pig. The animal was not harmed during the rescue and was sent to the Cobb County Animal Shelter, Hernandez said. If no one claims the pig soon, it will be sent to an organization that rescues and takes care of pigs.