Newsletter Volume 1 No. 8 - March 2003
We have many exciting items to report to you with regard to the progress of the Todd Thomas Foundation.
Past Events
Gauthier Class Car Rally
Scottsdale Arizona October, 2002
Scott and Naomi Gauthier held their outstanding second annual world class Gauthier Class Car Rally in Scottsdale, Arizona in October of 2002 and once again named the Todd Thomas Foundation as a recipient of the funds raised. We are forever grateful for their amazing generosity and support. The event, as always, was a huge success and the $85,000 we received was immediately distributed as follows:
- Life Development Institute - They have programs for individuals with learning disabilities and related disorders. The purpose of the organization is to provide an environment and program that enables its students to complete requirements leading to graduation from the LDI's high school, college and technical school program linkages, begin careers through employment compatible with capabilities, obtain independent living status, and financial self sufficiency. Their mission is to inspire students to experience success while optimizing their potential, leading to an enhanced quality of life by providing a challenging, supportive learning and living environment.
- Not My Kid - They are dedicated to facilitating improved understanding about youth behavioral health issues including suicide, drug abuse, depression and anxiety. Its mandate is to promote healthy families by empowering parents to make educated decisions by providing increased understanding about youth behavioral health issues. They do this by organizing and participating in Parent Education and Action for Kids (PEAK) forums, providing online access to a free, confidential questionnaire that generates individualized reports and parent recommendations, and maintaining a comprehensive database of parent help literature and resources.
- Teen Life Line - Their mission is to impact the devastating problem of teen suicide through a free, confidential, peer supported hotline and life skills development that empowers Arizona youth to reach their full potential. Started in 1986 because there was no phone line specifically for teens. Available 24/7. They now take over 4,000 calls per year. A person always supervises the teens with a master's degree in counseling and social work that can deal with a crisis situation. They can also trace a call and send out a mobile team.
Upcoming Events
Celebrity Sports Event
Victoria, B.C. July, 2003
Details to follow
AbsoluteSpa Black Tie Gala Fashion Show
Vancouver, B.C. October 4, 2003
Wendy Lisogar-Cocchia is having a black tie gala fashion show at the Vancouver International Airport on Saturday, October 4, 2003 in Vancouver, B.C. She has very generously committed to donate a large portion of the funds raised to the Todd Thomas Foundation. We are extremely excited about this event as we have not directly participated in Vancouver fundraising for quite some time.
Molina Fine Jewelers Annual Black Tie Holiday Gala
Scottsdale, Arizona December 5, 2003
Molina Fine Jewelers will hold their annual Black Tie Holiday Gala on Friday, December 5, 2003 at the Arizona Biltmore in Phoenix, Arizona. Al and Lisa Molina have been great supporters of the Todd Thomas Foundation and have agreed to name us as a recipient of funds raised at this event. All expenses for this party are completely underwritten by the Molina's so checks written to our charity go directly to our Foundation. How fantastic is that!!!
All of the funds we receive from the upcoming events being held in Canada will be donated to the Royal Jubilee Hospital in Victoria, to assist them in creating a new Crisis Response Unit to be named after Todd. The budget for this facility is $1,350,000 and will provide the most appropriate, timely and dignified care for individuals living with mental illness and psychiatric disorders. It will also include a very comprehensive research department. We have already made a substantial donation to the Hospital and continue to raise funds for the completion of this facility.
In Arizona, we are committed to raise funds to assist other organizations related to mental health in the Arizona area. We will make our decisions based on extensive research, by visiting facilities, reading financials, meeting staff, patients and many dedicated people who spend countless hours donating their time and resources to their individual causes. We will continue to research the complexities of mental health to determine where our monies are best spent.
LifePilot
Since our last Newsletter we have much to report on the progress of LifePilot. We have continued to push ahead with its development. Ken Koo and his fabulous staff at Grapheme/Koo, a subsidiary of the international firm of Cossette Advertising Agency, has assisted us in finalizing the LifePilot name, creating a logo, designing a stationery package, creating a website and most importantly completing our LifePilot binder for use in our LifePilot seminars. Much of their services were donated which we are very thankful for. The very talented, Tracey Gurto, was recruited to assist with all aspects of creating our LifePilot binder and website, including writing, formatting and bringing this project to completion. We are now well on our way to building an international company. Please check out our website at www.lifepilot.org. to update yourself on all the new developments at LifePilot.
Since the completion of our LifePilot binder, Peter has conducted three LifePilot seminars; one in Dallas, Texas and two in Scottsdale, Arizona. We were very fortunate to have Mohamed Fathelbad, who has been very involved with Young Entrepreneurs' Organization, Young Presidents' Organization, and many other prestigious organizations, assist Peter with these seminars. We thank our champions, Michelle Lemmons and Al Molina, for helping us put together these classes. If the Student Evaluations are any indication of the success of these events, we are doing extremely well and feel very encouraged to continue to pursue this very worthwhile project.
Cary Tuelick of True Story Films and his amazing staff donated their time and services to videotape our last LifePilot session in their studio in Phoenix. What an incredible team of people Cary has managed to gather around him. We intend to use this footage to help train other proposed LifePilot Navigators for future seminars.
World Presidents' Organization has invited Peter to conduct a seminar at their upcoming San Francisco University in September of this year. We are very excited about this presentation as it will give us invaluable exposure to many very successful international business people. Fabulous! Thanks so much to Paul Robshaw and Joel Tranmer for their support and encouragement.
We have just signed our first Sales Agreement with Michele Cubas who lives in Scottsdale, Arizona. Michele is an expert enterprise coach, business author and national public speaker who delivers advanced knowledge with expert adult teaching skills. She is a regular contributor to business publications, has conducted and facilitated hundreds of programs, seminars and keynote presentations and has touched thousands of participants with her sincere, mentoring style.
As you can see, we have had a very busy year and continue to develop our Foundation with passion. It is a constant work in progress. We are forever amazed and grateful for the generosity of our family and friends who enthusiastically offer their services and ideas. We are blessed to have each of you in our lives. Your encouragement is our motivation. Thank you for being there for us.
Rita ThomasExecutive Director Back to Top
