Media Contact:
Nora
Firestone, founder/president
(757) 705-7174; nfirestone@verizon.net
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE April 27, 2012
Call for high school and college seniors
to express their "Grad"itude to the teachers, coaches, scholarship funds and
others who've had a lasting, positive impact on their development through
education . . .
VIRGINIA BEACH, VA-The call to "make a difference" rings louder than ever these days, as advertisers have discovered the depth, breadth and motivating power of this universal human need.
Recognition of the profound implications of filling this need, four years ago, inspired the creation of ThankingOfYou.com, the free, Web-based public forum for posting and receiving stories of gratitude (messages of thanks) for the people who've made a difference in the lives of others.
This month ThankingOfYou.com launches its inaugural Graditude Rally, challenging America's high school and college seniors to take up the virtual bull horn and tell those influencers (and the world) that yes, they have made a difference, and exactly when, how and to whom, and why it mattered.
Students may participate individually or as part of a class effort by logging on to www.ThankingOfYou.com and posting their stories of gratitude in written or video form for the people and organizations who've had a positive effect on their educational/developmental experiences during their formative years. These may include teachers, coaches, counselors and other school faculty; scholarship fund donors; members of arts, athletic and other supportive programs; tutors; parents; classmates; and more.
"While people worldwide may log on to ThankingOfYou.com any day and thank anyone, the Graditude Rally is designed specifically to encourage graduating students to reflect upon some of the most meaningful gifts they've received from those who've contributed in some way to their development through education, and to take the time to ‘re-gift' as they transition from one phase of their lives to the next," explained Nora Firestone, founder. Firestone, a news reporter until February, established ThankingOfYou.com in 2008 following her longtime desire and unsuccessful search to thank two elementary school teachers from Plainedge, L.I. who'd each done something decades ago that had a lasting, positive impact on her as she grew.
"People come and go in a lifetime, often never knowing the lasting, positive impact they've had on another," Firestone continued. "But no matter how much time has passed, nor where they are today, the people who've made a difference in our lives deserve to discover when and how, and why it all mattered. Expressing gratitude for their contributions with a heartfelt, detailed account of how they've ‘mattered' in the life of another can be an extraordinarily life-affirming gift in return-one which no paycheck could ever have produced; one which only could have come from the people whose lives they've touched in ways they'd otherwise never know. These true-life testimonials are profound insights to their legacies, which they (and their loved ones) should discover, and which may also inspire others to act generously on behalf of the people in their own lives."
Folks who've posted and received stories of gratitude at ThankingOfYou.com have reported measurably positive effects, ranging from thankers who've benefited from focusing on their good fortune as they wrote their messages, to recipients whose lives have been changed for the better by the discovery of how they've bettered the life of another, Firestone said. Some have actually reconnected via these stories.
Graditude Rally entries must be posted by 11:59 p.m. EST June 1, 2012 to be eligible to win one of several prize packages to be awarded to the authors and recipients of at least three chosen "Thank You"s. Details can be found at www.ThankingOfYou.com/graditude-rally.cfm. Businesses and individuals interested in sponsoring this event with donations are welcome to inquire by calling (757) 705-7174.
Media opportunity: ThankingOfYou.com will be on the campus of Virginia Beach Friends School, 1537 Laskin Road, Virginia Beach, Va., from 12:25 until 1:45 p.m. May 11 and 14, 2012, taking written and video-taped stories of gratitude from students in the soon-to-graduate senior class. Please contact Nora Firestone if you're interested in covering this event.
Founded in early 2008 and launched in '09, Virginia Beach-based ThankingOfYou.com is the free, Web-based forum for posting and discovering messages of thanks to recognize, affirm and honor the people who've made a difference in our lives. The site was inspired by founder Nora Firestone's longtime desire and unsuccessful search to thank two elementary school teachers from Plainedge, L.I. for the "little" things they'd each done decades ago that had a lasting, positive impact on her as she grew. Unable to contact Mrs. Shore and Mr. Sybil to send a handwritten card, she created the way for people worldwide to finally send those important messages of gratitude to the people who've made a difference in their lives and for those who've made a difference to discover when, how, to whom, and why it mattered. Nora Firestone is available for interviews and she welcomes correspondence from people who'd like to get involved in the movement. Firestone can be reached at (757) 705-7174 or nfirestone@verizon.net
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