COWBOY NEWS
MSNBC FEATURED THE HUDSON VALLEY COWBOYS REBUILDING PROJECT- HEROES AT HOME.
BELOW IS THE VIDEO FOOTAGE OF THAT DAY.
On September 26, 2007 The Hudson Valley Cowboys was Chosen to be the Host Venue Of CNN Head Line NEWS Report.
Click Below to see the Report:
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Sunday, November 11, 2007 Group honors service with rebuilding project
By Alice Hunt
Poughkeepsie Journal
BEACON - While people across the nation are honoring their local veterans this weekend, one Beacon World War II veteran received a lot more than a "thank you."
Volunteers from Rebuilding Together Dutchess County, an organization that repairs and revitalizes homes for people in need, made renovations to veteran Joseph Ventresca's home as part of the Heroes at Home program, a partnership with Sears Holding Company that provides the materials necessary to make home modifications to improve the lives and homes of veterans and current servicemen and women.
"There have been only a handful of homes being done as part of the program," said Rebuilding Together Dutchess County board member Harold Ramsey.
About 31 projects have been approved for the fall nationwide, including the Beacon site.
At the Ventresca home, a group of about 35 volunteers - many of whom were from the Hudson Valley Cowboys semi-professional football team - replaced the roof, installed a new set of stairs to the attic and remodeled the upstairs bathroom. The workers also replaced several windows, insulated the attic for better energy use, painted several rooms and added some safety features like railings, which totals about $10,000 worth of work.
"It feels great," said Ventresca. "I appreciate it very much. They came just in time."
Ventresca had served in the Navy during World War II, and fought in the Pacific theater.
"It's so overwhelming and wonderful at the same time," said Marian "Vikki" Ventresca, Joseph's wife of 36 years.
Earlier, the couple had expressed interest in being a Rebuilding Together project, but weren't sure the house would make it through the winter. And then they heard about the Heroes at Home program, which revitalizes veterans' homes, and they applied.
"When they called up and said it's going to happen, I was speechless," Vikki Ventresca said. "I couldn't ask for a better pre-Christmas present," she said.
The Ventresca home is the third house Hudson Valley Cowboys offensive tackle Junior Luna has worked on.
"I like volunteering," Luna said. "I wouldn't be doing anything on a Saturday morning anyway."
Dan Jenkins, general manager of the Sears on Route 9 in Poughkeepsie, was also lending a helping hand.
"It has a special place in my heart," he said of the Heroes at Home program. Jenkins' father was a World War II veteran.
Rebuilding Together Dutchess County also had a team working on a home of a Town of Poughkeepsie World War II veteran, a project that was sponsored by Home Depot. While not directly a part of the Heroes at Home program, the mission on both homes is similar, Ramsey said.
He hopes expand the work for veterans done in in the Dutchess County area.
"This is just the beginning," he said.
Rebuilding Together Dutchess County, Sears, Kmart Stores and the Hudson Valley Cowboys Partner to Improve Lives of Military Families at Home Local Military Family Benefits from the Heroes at Home Program
Poughkeepsie, NY November 2007 On Saturday November 10 more than 40 volunteers from the area will be renovating the home of Joseph Ventresca, in Beacon. Mr. Ventresca is a local WW2 veteran. The volunteer Team includes members of the Hudson Valley Cowboys, who for several years have participated in Rebuilding Together Dutchess County (RTDC) Projects and employees of local Sears and Kmart stores. The project is part of the national Heroes at Home program developed by Rebuilding Together and Sears Holding Corporation. The Heroes at Home program strives to improve the lives of military families in need across America by making necessary repairs, improvements or modifications to their homes. The Beacon Chapter of the Veterans of Foreign Wars will be providing lunch for the volunteers.
The Hudson Valley Cowboys, Sears and Kmart volunteers will be performing a heavy work project at the Ventresca home. The work scope requires both skilled and unskilled volunteers and includes replacing the roof, making repairs to the bath, installing some security grab bars, replacing windows as well as a clean up of the attic and yard areas. Joe Chips Manfredi, (Defensive tackle for the H.V.C.) is the House Captain for the project, he expects to complete the work scope in one day. Dave Dobson, executive Director of RTDC stated, our organization is enthusiastic about this new Corporate relationship between Sears Holdings and Rebuilding Together that will give back to our veterans for their many sacrifices. We hope it continues for many years to come.
Sears Holdings raised $1.3 million for the Heroes at Home program earlier this year through a nationwide in store campaign. The in-store fundraising effort will begin again on Veterans Day and continuing through the holiday season. Customers and associates will have the chance to donate and support Americas military and their families Through the Heroes at Home Program.
We are extremely excited and proud to team with Sears and Kmart to assist military families within our community, stated Harold Ramsey RTDC Board member and himself a veteran.
The Heroes at Home program will assist 31 families nationwide this fall and at least 100 families in the next 12 months.
Rebuilding Together Dutchess County was established in 1992 and since then has provided free home repairs and modifications to over 280 Dutchess County Homeowners. The program gives priority to the low-income elderly, handicapped, veterans and single parents. To find out more about Rebuilding Together Dutchess County, their programs or how you can help please visit www.rebuildingtogetherdutchess.org or call 845-454-7310.
About Rebuilding Together:
Rebuilding Together is the nations largest nonprofit organization working to preserve homeownership and neighborhoods by providing rehabilitation services free of charge to those in need. Through the support of corporate sponsors, local businesses, and the hands-on work of a quarter-million volunteers, Rebuilding Together rehabs and repairs more than 9000 homes each year. The market value of this work is in excess of $100 million annually. In addition to its core home repair work, Rebuilding Together rehabs community centers and conducts home modification and repair programs that focus on elder home safety, energy efficiency, veterans housing, and disaster recovery and reconstruction. Rebuilding Together has grown to 225 affiliates nationwide since its founding in 1988, and is now preserving safe and healthy homes in 1800 communities nationwide. Rebuilding Together celebrated the rehabilitation of its 100,000th home in 2006. For details, see www.rebuildingtogether.org or call 1-800-REHAB-9.
About Sears Holdings Corporation:
Sears Holdings Corporation (NASDAQ: SHLD) is the nation's third largest broadline retailer, with approximately $55 billion in annual revenues, and with approximately 3,800 full-line and specialty retail stores in the United States and Canada. Sears Holdings is the leading home appliance retailer as well as a leader in tools, lawn and garden, home electronics and automotive repair and maintenance. Key proprietary brands include Kenmore, Craftsman and DieHard, and a broad apparel offering, including such well-known labels as Lands' End, Jaclyn Smith and Joe Boxer, as well as the Apostrophe and Covington brands. It also has Martha Stewart Everyday products, which are offered exclusively in the U.S. by Kmart and in Canada by Sears Canada. The company is the nation's largest provider of home services, with more than 13 million service calls made annually. For more information, visit Sears Holdings website at www.searsholdings.com.
About The Hudson Valley Cowboys:
The Hudson Valley Cowboys is a Semi-Pro non-profit football organization, based out of East Fishkill New York .
Their mission is to bring back and provide quality football coaching to the Dutchess County area.
Create, develop, and maintain a high quality Semi- Pro Football program that will
also foster a high level of integrity, sportsmanship, respect, and community involvement.
The men that participate in our program will be held to a High level of social and personal development. These men are expected to illustrate productive attitudes and healthy regiments as well as exude Pride, Determination, Respect, and Quality in everything on or off the field.
For more information visit The Hudson Valley Cowboys website www.hudsonvalleycowboys.com
The Hudson Valley Cowboys and RAFL celebrated Cinco de Mayo together as the Cowboys committed to the league for at least the next two seasons.
The Cowboys were 2006 NAFL Metro North Champions last season and will be looking to bring that hard nosed play to the RAFL. "It was a tuff decision but in the end as we sat back and watched how the RAFL ran its day to day operations it became clear to us what we had to do. I wish the NAFL Great success. They have a sound product. We parted on Cordial terms." said Cowboys team president and coach John Shishkowsky. "Though it's a first year league. I know Charles McGill is a Great man and makes things happen. with him in the Captains chair, they will Succeed! We can't wait to work with the league admins, share idea's and help make this league become one of the best in the country." added coach JP. President Charles McGill was ecstatic over the move and feels this is just the beginning. President McGill also is also pleased because J.P. is his close Friend. "When I started this league I had J.P. on my list of Teams I wanted to start the League with. I am happy J.P. came home. As teams start doing more research they'll start realizing our league is here to stay. The Cowboys will quickly become one of the staples of the RAFL" Said McGill.
Commissioner Turkel immediately re-worked some of the schedule to fit the Cowboys in this season. "When a quality team like the Cowboys decides to join your league, you have to make things work! The Cowboys are a great addition to the RAFL!" said Turkel.
Have a great Cinco de Mayo! The RAFL and the Cowboys have already started the party!
COWBOYS VOLUNTEER FOR REBUILDING TOGETHER WITH CHRISTMAS IN APRIL.
In East Fishkill, New York- April 28, 2007 is Christmas in April, that's right on the last Saturday of April every year to needy homeowners around the county, that is exactly how is feels.
The Hudson Valley Cowboys Teamed with Rebuilding Together to make repairs to a home of an 84 year old woman in Stormville, NY. That house being dubbed, "Cowboy House".
So what is Rebuilding Together? It's a program where Rebuilding Together with Christmas in April, Dutchess County chooses a home from a number of low-income community applicants and organizes a group of 20-30 volunteers to complete any repairs that the home may need. The homes are owned by elderly couples, single moms, or handicapped adults who are unable to afford the cost of repairs or unable to do the work themselves. The repairs are not just cosmetic. The repairs being done are for example: replacing a staircase because an elderly lady has not been upstairs for years because they were just too dangerous, or fixing the plumbing to the laundry area so that laundry does not have to be done in a rusty basin, or even replacing missing glass in windows that are covered with duct tape to keep out the cold. When resources are insufficient to do all the necessary work, the group focuses first on making the home safe and warm.
Rebuilding Together, a nationwide organization that has been in existence since 1973 when it was known simply as Christmas in April. Today, there are more than 270 affiliated programs in the 50 states, involving nearly 300,000 volunteers annually with an annual market value of work in excess of $86 million. The Dutchess County unit will repair 19 homes this year with a market value of work estimated at $250,000.
What's even more impressive than the work accomplished is the fact that the homeowners pay nothing for the service. All the materials and services that are needed for these projects are paid for through grant monies and donations of cash or gifts-in-kind. Clearly, though, it is the generosity of the volunteers that makes the program successful. If the group needed to hire paid contractors to do the work it would mean that only a quarter of the homes would get done. Each house has a captain (one of the volunteers) to inspect the approved repairs, order materials, and organize the workday.
Joe Manfredie who plays Defensive End for the Cowboys is the Cowboys House Captain for 2007.
An assistant captain (Mrs. Green) works with the homeowner and the volunteers, does necessary paperwork, arranges the meals for the day and generally takes care of all the non repair-related issues that come up throughout the day.
Volunteers from all over are assigned to a home where everyone pitches in. The Hudson Valley Cowboys anticipate a large turnout of volunteers from their players and so were given a home to work on as a team, again properly dubbed "Cowboy House". "Barbara Green the Vice President of the Cowboys is the Spear Head in this annual Project. Without her this would be an uphill task. She makes it so easy for us." said John Shishkowsky, President of the HV Cowboys. "This is a heart warming project and we know we will make an everlasting difference in someone's life."
This year the Cowboys were treated to a Special Treat. The ladies from the local parish Cooked Lunch for the Team. There is nothing like a good ol' home cooked meal!
For other Organizations, Volunteers are hard to come by, but not for the Hudson Valley Cowboys. The Players jump at volunteering for this annual project. It is a Great day full of Heart felt Giving and Memorable Comedic moments through out the day.
How did the Cowboys get involved in this project? "It came from staff member of the team and Barbara Green's own daughter, Coree. She is the team medic and got me involved in this project 4 years ago" said Green. "Each year we see again how one person can make a difference in helping someone else. The reason I thought this would be a great project for the team is Volunteers are absolutely essential for this type of project to go forward. We "Assistant Captains" are working behind the scenes to make sure our "crew" has everything organized for that day. The feedback I am receiving from the players is so positive, they are really excited about helping," said Green. "Another reason why this is a perfect project for us is that groups of volunteers are hard to come by, especially those with physical strength and life experience doing home repairs."
It costs nothing to participate, unless you want to sponsor a house. The Cowboys team full of players, staff, and coaches started on April 28, 2007 and work from 8:00am to 5:00pm. There was a little painting that was completed the next day on Sunday April 29.....
But for a Very Special Lady in Stormville- CHRISTMAS DID COME IN APRIL!
For more information on the Rebuilding Together project, please visit the National website is www.rebuildingtogether.org, or Dutchess County's at rebuildingtogetherdutchess.org
ATTENTION ALL PLAYERS!
TO ALL THOSE PLAYERS THAT CALL THEMSELVES BALLERS AND TALK THE HYPE.
NOW IT IS TIME TO SEE IF YOU CAN WALK THE WALK!
COME TO THE R.A.F.L.
