4,300 mile trek to raise funds for MS

In June 2006, Carlo Magno, the Director of The Spirit of Hope, will travel from Seattle to New York in an electric wheel chair to raise awareness of handicap accessibility and raise money for Multiple Sclerosis. Magno will be accompanied by his three-legged dog Katie.

Magno has received support from Gov. Christine Gregoire of Washington, the National Multiple Sclerosis Society, and the Multiple Sclerosis Association of America.

The Spirit of Hope Foundation www.thespiritofhope.org

Art With Heart Aids Youth Victims of Katrina

"Working with the Arts Council of Central Louisiana, Art with Heart has created a special fund which will help professional mental health counselors use expressive arts to meet the special emotional needs of the youth traumatized by the aftermath of the disaster. This will help bridge the gap between the overwhelming number of youth affected and the limited number of therapists available."

Press Release

FareStart: Giving Disadvantaged People a New Start

The saying, “Give a man a fish and you feed him for a day. Teach a man to fish and you feed him for a lifetime” mirrors the intent and vision of FareStart, a Seattle nonprofit dedicated to transforming the lives of homeless and disadvantaged men, women and families.

FareStart works by empowering the homeless and disadvantaged to achieve self-sufficiency through life skills, job training, and employment in the food service industry. Since 1992 this nonprofit has become a leader in Seattle's social-service scene, a place for the down-on-their-luck to reinvent themselves, under the culinary guidance of celebrity guest chefs.

Participants come from homeless shelters, drug-rehab centers and prisons. (FareStart doesn't take violent offenders or people with chronic mental illnesses, and alcoholics and drug addicts must first complete a rehab program.) Each 16 week course has 45-55 students who are provided shelter and clothing. Then, under the supervision of a full time culinary staff, the students make 2,500 meals daily for shelters and local Head Start progams, for FareStart cafes, and for a catering service and restaurant. “Guest Chef” is a highlight of the program. Every Thursday, a top chef teaches students how to make elaborate, three course meals that are served to the public for just $19.95/plate. Reservations often fill up months in advance, as the meal is renowned for its gourmet delights. For youth FareStart offers a barista training program, a unique opportunity for at-risk youth.

Not only do the FareStart programs provide top notch instruction for work in food service industry, they also emphasizes life skills, such as conflict management, responsibility, and employment goal setting. Nearly 80 percent of Fare Start graduates are employed immediately upon graduation, and after three months, 80% of graduates are still employed. Fare Start has helped over 1500 people turn around their lives in the last 15 years. The FareStart restaurant, located at 1902 Second Avenue, is open to the public daily for lunch. For more information go to www.farestart.org . Now how about some fennel and garlic with that saumon au citron?

Y. U. in the news

YMCA of Greater Seattle was in the news yesterday. KOMO has been covering it, and there was a story in the Seattle PI.

"Y U Learn" is making strides toward helping kids pass the WASL and raising their enthusiasm about school.

Seattle PI coverage