The Season for Giving

Thanksgiving
For each new morning with its light,

For rest and shelter of the night,

For health and food,

For love and friends,

For everything Thy goodness sends.

Ralph Waldo Emerson (1803-1882)

Giving Thanks

I think Emerson had it right, even back then. This time of year is a time of reflection, of stepping back and looking at where we are, what we've accomplished, and where we go next. This year has been particularly tough for many people. So many people have struggled without jobs, resources, health care, and so on.

Thanksgiving is my favorite holiday because it gives us a chance to be thankful for all the good things we have in our lives and the energy, skills, and experiences that we have been given to tackle our challenges.

I find myself thinking about one of the best things we do have: each other. Together we can learn from each other, and together we can make a difference.

Habitat for Humanity

I recently had the honor of helping to build a home with the local chapter of Habitat for Humanity. The build at 1600 E. Boone in north Spokane will produce a five-plex and two duplexes. As many of you know, eligible Habitat families invest 500 hours of their own labor in building their homes and others. Once finished, the homes are sold to partner families at cost, with a 0% mortgage held by Habitat-Spokane.

I'm pleased to say that 70 of our wonderful employees committed their time and energy to help the Habitat families construct the new homes. It was nothing short of impressive. It was the first time I had the opportunity to participate in one of these projects, and I am honored and humbled to have helped! I'm thankful to have met these amazing families and to work side by side with them.

Community Service

Community service is an important component of our programs, and I'm happy to be able to make a difference at home in Spokane as well as elsewhere. In fact, just last month we announced our plans to surpass the 140,000 community service hours programs logged for the 2010 travel year, and we've strengthened the community service portion of our programs to extend opportunities to give back to communities both domestically and internationally. I truly believe that when we gain exposure to other people, places, and life experiences, we begin to understand each other better, as well as ourselves.

We will work with Habitat for Humanity on a large build program in New Orleans for the 2010 summer program "Leadership Summit: Remembering Hurricane Katrina" to commemorate the fifth anniversary of the devastation and to help rebuild the city. This exciting new program features talks from Indianapolis Colts quarterback Peyton Manning and his brother, New York Giants quarterback Eli Manning - both New Orleans natives. Additional speakers include former Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice and award-winning film director Spike Lee, who directed the Katrina documentary When the Levees Broke: A Requiem in Four Acts.

We all want the best for our young people, and with today's competitive, globalized world, the greatest gift we can give our children is the gift of learning and experience. Let's help them see the world and become a more active member of it.

Wishing you happy travels,

Jeff Thomas

CEO, People to People Ambassador Programs

Doing Good: Remembering Hurricane Katrina

What Happens after All the Help Goes Home?
One of the things I often think about after a disaster is what happens when all the help goes home? What happens when most of the volunteer workers go on with their own lives and back to their families? In general, Americans are known for our kindness of spirit and our ability to step in and help each other in times of trouble, and we can all be very proud of that. But sometimes, we need to return to stricken areas after a disaster has passed to see what else needs to be done or where else we can assist. With Hurricane Katrina, for example, volunteers are still helping impact positive changes in the lives of those affected by the disaster and continuing to make a difference in New Orleans. Along with the message of "you have not been forgotten," this can go a long way towards a strong recovery and a sense of accomplishment for the citizens of New Orleans and its affected townships.

A Program of Service to the People of New Orleans
So in the spirit of leadership, of service and assistance, I'm thrilled to tell you about a new program. People to People Ambassador Programs is commemorating the upcoming fifth anniversary of Hurricane Katrina with a summer 2010 program called "Leadership Summit: Remembering Hurricane Katrina." The program, which runs June 28 through July 6, 2010, is part of People to People Leadership Programs, which teach students in grades 5 through 12 important leadership and teamwork skills with workshops, community service projects, and discussions with well-respected authorities on service and leadership.

On this program, you will hear from famous folks from the Big Easy, like Indianapolis Colts quarterback Peyton Manning and his brother; New York Giants quarterback Eli Manning. They will share their own intensely personal side to the Katrina story. Former Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice and award-winning film director Spike Lee, who created the Katrina documentary When the Levees Broke: A Requiem in Four Acts, will also talk about their experiences. Other speakers will be there to talk about Hurricane Katrina, highlighting the lessons they learned and providing an update on the rebuilding efforts in New Orleans.

Making a Difference Where Hope is Needed Most
The week-long program includes two major, large-scale community service projects, and I'm happy that students will be able to really get into the communities to help. One project is rebuilding a home with Habitat for Humanity. The other project is assisting with a number of school rebuilding and repair projects throughout the city with HandsOn New Orleans, an independent local affiliate of the Points of Light Institute that focuses on serving the needs of the local community. All students will receive 60 service-learning hours for their hard work.

A New Orleans Love Story
But I think that to know, love, and connect with the city, you need to see more of it! This program is designed to help students learn more about Hurricane Katrina through exploring New Orleans and by hearing firsthand accounts by guest speakers like Lt. Gen. Russel Honoré, US Army 3-star general who led Task Force Katrina in the aftermath of the devastating hurricane, Tom Piazza, nationally acclaimed author of Why New Orleans Matters, and Jim Reed, world-renowned weather photographer and self proclaimed "storm chaser." There will also be a walking tour of the French Quarter, a bus tour of the city with visits to neighborhood districts, and a firsthand view of the levee that breached, causing the devastating floods. There will also be a swamp tour and a plantation tour. You can see for yourself the unique culture and architecture of a city like no other, and learn why so many people affected by the hurricane have stayed to rebuild and continue to live their lives and to create their stories in this historic city.

I am personally so excited about this program! Come see it all for yourself and help make a difference with a life changing experience. You'll hear more about this program as we get closer, or you can take a look at our "Leadership Summit: Remembering Hurricane Katrina" website. We anticipate a big response with this wonderful program, so join us!

Wishing you successes in fulfilling your own dreams,

Peg Thomas
President, People to People Ambassador Programs