St. Francis Hospital - Blue Island, Illinois
Provena St. Mary's Hospital - Kankakee, Illinois
Book promotion press releases
Non-profit press release writing samples
NEWS RELEASE Contact: Tracy Ahrens, 815-936-1095
* 4 optional images included with this press release – Hope when she was found, Hope today and two works of art: Natalie Michalski of Bourbonnais, acrylic on canvas, 16x20 inches; and John Tylk of Frankfort, oil on canvas, 16x20 inches.
Faces of Hope
In October of 2008, a golden-retriever mix hobbled onto a Good Samaritan’s land in rural Manteno. She was severely emaciated, obviously deaf and her fur was thinning.
This person immediately provided basic needs for her and called the Kankakee County Animal Foundation for help. Seeing the love in this senior dog’s eyes, that person wanted to help her have a better life.
KCAF named her Hope, for she truly is the face of hope for pets that are abandoned and abused.
With love and medical care, Hope has blossomed into a loving dog who wishes to live her remaining years with a caring family. Hope is approximately 12 with the spirit of a puppy. Her hair grew back, she manages her arthritis with medical help and she adjusted to deafness.
In honor of Hope, eight artists have created works that depict the new “Faces of Hope.” These works are available for purchase through a silent auction September 1-30 at the Kankakee County Museum, 801 S. Eighth Ave., Kankakee.
See the works again from 10 a.m.-3 p.m., Sunday, Oct. 25 during a Shop and Adopt Fund-raiser sponsored by KCAF at the Civic Auditorium, 803 S Eighth Ave. in Kankakee. There, final bids will take place.
We plan to have Hope present during the Oct. 25 event so visitors can meet her!
Bids begin at $100 for each work and the highest bidder for each work will receive it. That bidder will be contacted by phone.
Simply write down your bid and contact information and leave it at the museum in a designated drop box.
Bids can also be placed online through the KCAF Web site, www.kcafpets.org. All works can be seen on the Web site.
“Faces of Hope” consists of works in acrylic, oil, pastel chalks, photography, graphite and ink. All are 16x20 inches in size and ready to hang.
Artists include:
Wynn Hopkins of Crete
John C. Tylk of Frankfort
Natalie Seaton of Bourbonnais
Pete Wilhelm of Peotone
Judith LeBerteau of Beecher
Tracy Ahrens of Kankakee Peggy Keating-Bolm of Crete
Eugene Ruble of St. Louis
The back of each work of art will contain a commemorative note about Hope and the artist who created the piece.
Viewing hours for “Faces of Hope” at the Kankakee County Museum are 10 a.m.-4 p.m., Tuesday through Friday, and 1-4 p.m., Saturday and Sunday. Call the museum at 815-932-5279.
Hope’s adoption fee is $100. She has not been spayed because her veterinarian didn’t believe it was a good option for her at this age. All of her vaccinations are current. For more information on Hope, contact the KCAF at 815-937-9374.
The KCAF, a 501C3 non-profit organization founded 15 years ago, helps spay and neuter local cats and dogs in an effort to decrease the over-population problems that plague the county. Decreasing pet over-population helps to minimize euthanizing healthy animals and to prevent pet abandonment and abuse.
From 2003 to 2007, KCAF proudly spayed/neutered over 2,000 area dogs and cats. The organization also investigates reports of animal abuse, fosters homeless animals and provides for their veterinary care, hosts pet adoption fairs, promotes responsible pet ownership and offers outreach to underprivileged pet owners.
For more information
Tracy Ahrens 936-1095
Create a lasting memory for your pet, or pay tribute to an animal lover in your life at the Kankakee County Animal Foundation pet memorial.
The KCAF will begin installation of the first area permanent pet memorial in May. The memorial will be placed at Whispering Willows Park, Bourbonnais. The park is located at 1451 N. 4000 E. Rd.; on Skyline Road about 1 and 1/2 miles north of Route 17.
The memorial will be positioned along the south side of the main pond.
The memorial features bricks paving the ground under it with a platform of retaining wall blocks that will hold an aluminum sculpture. The sculpture will feature a dog, cat and bird.
Bricks on the ground will be offered for engraving at the cost of $50 per brick. Bricks are 4-by-8 inches in size.
Three lines of type, maximum, are being offered on each brick. There are 13 characters, maximum, per line (including spaces). Order forms are available to provide a clear means of printing what you desire on the bricks.
Total height of the memorial, including the base and artwork, is around 53 inches. Local businesses and persons have donated items to make this memorial a reality.
The formal unveiling of the memorial will be held in the fall. Order forms for the brick engravings can be obtained by visiting veterinary offices in Bradley, Manteno and Aroma Park. They are also available at Petco in Bradley, Jacksons Pet Store in Bradley, and other Kankakee area pet supply stores and pet grooming facilities.
You can also contact the KCAF at PO Box 304, Bradley, Il. 60915 or call 815-937-9374.
Proceeds from the brick engraving sales will go towards KCAF endeavors, which consist primarily of providing low cost spay/neuter services and rescuing/finding new homes for abandoned pets. The non-profit organization has existed for 13 years.
Tracy Ahrens 936-1095
Create a lasting memory for your pet, or pay tribute to an animal lover in your life at the Kankakee County Animal Foundation pet memorial.
The KCAF will begin installation of the first area permanent pet memorial in May. The memorial will be placed at Whispering Willows Park, Bourbonnais. The park is located at 1451 N. 4000 E. Rd.; on Skyline Road about 1 and 1/2 miles north of Route 17.
The memorial will be positioned along the south side of the main pond.
The memorial features bricks paving the ground under it with a platform of retaining wall blocks that will hold an aluminum sculpture. The sculpture will feature a dog, cat and bird.
Bricks on the ground will be offered for engraving at the cost of $50 per brick. Bricks are 4-by-8 inches in size.
Three lines of type, maximum, are being offered on each brick. There are 13 characters, maximum, per line (including spaces). Order forms are available to provide a clear means of printing what you desire on the bricks.
Total height of the memorial, including the base and artwork, is around 53 inches. Local businesses and persons have donated items to make this memorial a reality.
The formal unveiling of the memorial will be held in the fall. Order forms for the brick engravings can be obtained by visiting veterinary offices in Bradley, Manteno and Aroma Park. They are also available at Petco in Bradley, Jacksons Pet Store in Bradley, and other Kankakee area pet supply stores and pet grooming facilities.
You can also contact the KCAF at PO Box 304, Bradley, Il. 60915 or call 815-937-9374.
Proceeds from the brick engraving sales will go towards KCAF endeavors, which consist primarily of providing low cost spay/neuter services and rescuing/finding new homes for abandoned pets. The non-profit organization has existed for 13 years.
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE January 2008
Contact for more information: tracy @815-936-1095
Pet transport volunteers needed You don’t need a CDL for this volunteer driving job, just a lot of TLC!
The Kankakee County Animal Foundation is in need of Transporters. Transporters volunteer their time to drive dogs and cats to and from low-cost spay and neuter facilities. A KCAF member will teach you all you need to know. If you can offer one day a month to volunteer, that would be greatly appreciated. You use your own vehicle for transport of pets.
PLEASE help us continue our mission of stopping the pet overpopulation. By providing transport to low-cost facilities, KCAF has helped to spay or neuter over 2,000 pets from 2003-2008 alone.
For more information on being a Transporter, contact Bob with KCAF at 815-474-1643.
Attention editors:
We would like to encourage you to consider writing a feature/news story on our organization’s pet Transport program. We have transported, by volunteer donated time, over 1,000 pets to be spayed and neutered at low-cost facilities from 2003-2006 alone. We have 2-3 drivers who have done all of this work. They haul several cats at one time or a few dogs at one time to facilities in Chicago and the suburbs. They pick up animals at a drop off location in the early morning and then return with the animals to that location in the evening – pet owners meet the volunteer at that location for drop off and pick up.
It would make a great photo opportunity and feature story.
Sincerely,
KCAF volunteer, Tracy Ahrens
Contact for more information: tracy @815-936-1095
Pet transport volunteers needed You don’t need a CDL for this volunteer driving job, just a lot of TLC!
The Kankakee County Animal Foundation is in need of Transporters. Transporters volunteer their time to drive dogs and cats to and from low-cost spay and neuter facilities. A KCAF member will teach you all you need to know. If you can offer one day a month to volunteer, that would be greatly appreciated. You use your own vehicle for transport of pets.
PLEASE help us continue our mission of stopping the pet overpopulation. By providing transport to low-cost facilities, KCAF has helped to spay or neuter over 2,000 pets from 2003-2008 alone.
For more information on being a Transporter, contact Bob with KCAF at 815-474-1643.
Attention editors:
We would like to encourage you to consider writing a feature/news story on our organization’s pet Transport program. We have transported, by volunteer donated time, over 1,000 pets to be spayed and neutered at low-cost facilities from 2003-2006 alone. We have 2-3 drivers who have done all of this work. They haul several cats at one time or a few dogs at one time to facilities in Chicago and the suburbs. They pick up animals at a drop off location in the early morning and then return with the animals to that location in the evening – pet owners meet the volunteer at that location for drop off and pick up.
It would make a great photo opportunity and feature story.
Sincerely,
KCAF volunteer, Tracy Ahrens
PRESS RELEASE
Contact: Tracy Ahrens – 815-936-1095
Join us for a history making event
The Kankakee County Animal Foundation will host an unveiling ceremony for the first area pet memorial at Noon, Saturday, June 28 at Whispering Willows Park, Bourbonnais.
The piece includes a paving of engraved bricks and a bronze sculpture.
The public is invited to attend and meet the artist, Vincent Hawkins, of the Fire Arts Center of Chicago.
Persons who have donated to make this memorial come to life have also been invited.
KCAF members will be on hand.
Whispering Willows Park is located at 1451 N. 4000 E. Rd.
Bourbonnais. From Route 50 in Bradley or Bourbonnais, take Armour Road or North Street east of town to 4000 E. Rd. (also known as Skyline Road). Take 4000 E. Rd. south, over the railroad tracks, and Whispering Willows Park is just past the tracks on the east side of the road.
Be prepared to walk on a crushed-stone trail to the memorial – it is located 1/10th of a mile from the parking lot, on the south side of the pond.
Transportation back to the memorial will be available for those in need.
MEDIA – Please consider sending a photographer to cover this event. Contact Tracy Ahrens for further information – 815-936-1095
Contact: Tracy Ahrens – 815-936-1095
Join us for a history making event
The Kankakee County Animal Foundation will host an unveiling ceremony for the first area pet memorial at Noon, Saturday, June 28 at Whispering Willows Park, Bourbonnais.
The piece includes a paving of engraved bricks and a bronze sculpture.
The public is invited to attend and meet the artist, Vincent Hawkins, of the Fire Arts Center of Chicago.
Persons who have donated to make this memorial come to life have also been invited.
KCAF members will be on hand.
Whispering Willows Park is located at 1451 N. 4000 E. Rd.
Bourbonnais. From Route 50 in Bradley or Bourbonnais, take Armour Road or North Street east of town to 4000 E. Rd. (also known as Skyline Road). Take 4000 E. Rd. south, over the railroad tracks, and Whispering Willows Park is just past the tracks on the east side of the road.
Be prepared to walk on a crushed-stone trail to the memorial – it is located 1/10th of a mile from the parking lot, on the south side of the pond.
Transportation back to the memorial will be available for those in need.
MEDIA – Please consider sending a photographer to cover this event. Contact Tracy Ahrens for further information – 815-936-1095
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Christmas Special Section/Community Calendar/Briefs
** Possible feature story **
Contact 936-1095 or 932-5674
Ringing for Paws
Holiday hand bell concert for KCAF
Join us this holiday as Maternity BVM church, Bourbonnais hosts a fundraising event to help the Kankakee County Animal Foundation.
Called Ringing for Paws – the event held at Maternity will showcase hand bell choirs from various area churches, including St. Paul’s Lutheran Church (Kankakee), Asbury United Methodist Church (Kankakee), Maternity BVM Church (Bourbonnais), and St. Marks United Methodist Church (Kankakee). Playing solo hand bell pieces will be semi-professional hand bell ringer and Maternity’s own bell soloist, Marie Monterosso.
All musical selections will be holiday related.
Festive pet-theme poems will be read between group performances, including “The Night Before Dog-mas,” Shel Silverstein’s “Christmas Dog” and a cat’s “Christmas Poem.”
This is the first time an all-hand bell concert
has been offered in our community!
Concert time is 7:30 p.m., Friday, December 16. Admission is $5 per person. All proceeds will go to help the KCAF with their endeavors.
The Kankakee County Animal Foundation (a non-profit organization) began in 1994. They offer pet adoptions for homeless animals and help area residents obtain low-cost spay and neuter services. KCAF offers pet adoption fairs at Petco in Bradley once a month and participates in various local fundraising endeavors throughout the year. Members are volunteers; foster care for homeless pets is also offered out of several member’s homes.
Please join us for this memorable, moving holiday event.
Christmas Special Section/Community Calendar/Briefs
** Possible feature story **
Contact 936-1095 or 932-5674
Ringing for Paws
Holiday hand bell concert for KCAF
Join us this holiday as Maternity BVM church, Bourbonnais hosts a fundraising event to help the Kankakee County Animal Foundation.
Called Ringing for Paws – the event held at Maternity will showcase hand bell choirs from various area churches, including St. Paul’s Lutheran Church (Kankakee), Asbury United Methodist Church (Kankakee), Maternity BVM Church (Bourbonnais), and St. Marks United Methodist Church (Kankakee). Playing solo hand bell pieces will be semi-professional hand bell ringer and Maternity’s own bell soloist, Marie Monterosso.
All musical selections will be holiday related.
Festive pet-theme poems will be read between group performances, including “The Night Before Dog-mas,” Shel Silverstein’s “Christmas Dog” and a cat’s “Christmas Poem.”
This is the first time an all-hand bell concert
has been offered in our community!
Concert time is 7:30 p.m., Friday, December 16. Admission is $5 per person. All proceeds will go to help the KCAF with their endeavors.
The Kankakee County Animal Foundation (a non-profit organization) began in 1994. They offer pet adoptions for homeless animals and help area residents obtain low-cost spay and neuter services. KCAF offers pet adoption fairs at Petco in Bradley once a month and participates in various local fundraising endeavors throughout the year. Members are volunteers; foster care for homeless pets is also offered out of several member’s homes.
Please join us for this memorable, moving holiday event.