“Local Self Funded, Non-Profit Company Begins Another Year of Fundraising Initiatives at Soldier Field and Through Other Sources”

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Crystal Lake, Illinois, United States of America (Free-Press-Release.com) June 16, 2011 -- CRYSTAL LAKE – Sunday, June 12, 2011 marked the beginning of what is hoped to be NASA Education Corporation’s biggest fund-raising year yet. Five volunteers headed out to Soldier Field on Sunday, June 12th to run a concession stand at its new location, Section 153, for the CONCACAF Gold Cup soccer double header, Cuba vs. El Salvador and Mexico vs. Costa Rica where Mexico was victorious over Costa Rica, 4-1.

NASA Education Corporation ended up ranked number one in total commissions of all non-profit companies who volunteered for concession sales at Soldier Field for the 2010 season, and with high hopes NASA Education is looking forward to repeating its triumphant season for the 2011 season. Volunteers come out for NASA Education, coming as far as Indiana and Michigan and were also trained by Sports Services, provided concession services and sales at Soldier Field to all twenty events; the only non-profit to participate in every event through the regular and post season of 2010. The proceeds from the concession sales will generate enough funding to assist the participants with travel needs and supply participants of Project Fresh Start a safe place to lay their heads; where for most individuals who are homeless, just finding a warm grate on the sidewalk or a corner down an alley would be a welcomed area for comfort and survival. Even though the season was long, NASA Education will once again be at Soldier Field throughout the 2011 season, trying to retain its top spot for non-profit organizations. If you feel you want to come out and join us, please feel free to contact Program Director, Amy Johnson at the number listed below. We would welcome the new faces and appreciate the generosity of those wanting help. Plus we just have a great time. The first few events planned for early summer are two soccer games in June and the U2 concert in July. With anticipated hopes of having a football season, there will be events approximately twice a month until the end of the year.

Executive Director, John Blanchard is very appreciative for all of the volunteers who take their time to come out to help NASA Education. It is the practice and belief of Mr. Blanchard and NASA Education to do whatever is necessary to remain self-supportive in its initiatives. Any financial support or grants received are used strictly as seed money to get programs started. NASA Education prides itself in being self-sustained, as opposed to being government-sustained. Mr. Blanchard has proven successfully that a non-profit organization can become sufficiently self-funded using the right seed money to start towards a goal and then through utilizing the right resources to achieve its initial goals, causes literally an explosion of accomplishments. When asked how he is able to stay self-supportive, he stated, “Last year we had a blast all season earning nearly $20,000 for our program, which is exclusively self funded. We are very proud to not have to rely on tax dollars to run this program and rather are able to teach the participants to be responsible for them selves, instead of using the government systems, which could be stopped at anytime”. Those that have a sole dependency of grants and government money are functioning at the discretion of the government and would most likely have to close their doors if funding was no longer available. NASA Education doesn’t have to be concerned with those worries due to its self-supportive methodology.

Besides Soldier Field, we also have the CVille Thrift and Resale store, which is located in Meadowdale Shopping Center in Carpentersville, IL and assists in the funding of NASA Education’s programs and is always looking for volunteer workers. The PRISM Center of Crystal Lake is an alcohol and drug prevention and counseling center, that is open to the public and offers court appointed DUI school and prevention classes. Those that attend and complete their court ordered treatment also would qualify for a free BAID installation. These are just some of the initiatives that allows Mr. Blanchard to assist those less fortunate veterans get a new lease on life and a fresh start; a hand up, not a hand out. Vet-Teks, Inc leases trucks from NASA Education trucking initiative and CDL Program. NASA Ed has been very successful at turning participants into licensed, CDL drivers who have gone from homelessness to bringing in $50,000 a year plus, therefore obtaining a new career in a short amount of time. NASA Education’s manufacturing initiative and welding program are other areas where we have seen participants excel in job placement and retention.

Privately funded, NASA Education is a Crystal Lake-based, 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization who’s main program, Project Fresh Start, offers a community and workforce reintegration program that includes housing, transportation, and training for U.S. veterans who are newly returned, displaced, disabled, and homeless. Visit www.nasaed.org.

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