I've been trying for the past several months to come up with a good way to provide up-to-date information on the goings-on and upcoming events of all our region's YP organizations. I tried using an online calendar - didn't work out because the categories weren't conducive to YP stuff. I tried an online newsletter - didn't work out because too many e-mail addresses on my list were blocking the e-mail from getting through. Below is a link to my latest attempt, a printable PDF e-newsletter. Technologically, it's pretty basic, but I figured it might be easier for YPs to be able to save it/print it/forward it/read it in the john/whatever. Let me know your thoughts!

YP Loop: February, 2008

On Monday, I spent a few hours helping the Akron Jaycees with their annual Project Back-to-School, a community service project that provides much-needed school supplies for Greater Akron region families.

Thanks to grant funding from Northern Ohio Golf Charities, the Jaycees purchased school supplies for 70 area students. Over the past few weeks, Jaycee Megan Kleidon, the project's chairperson, spent countless hours shopping for the supplies at area stores and hauling them to the Jaycees office. (KUDOS to Megan for her great bargain shopping and for organizing this project!)

Monday afternoon, Megan, myself, and several other Jaycee volunteers met at the Jaycee's office to transform the conference room into a school supply "store." (more…)

The Bridgestone Invitational tournament rolls into town this week! The best players in the world will be in our own backyard. The field includes defending Champion Tiger Woods, Phil Mickelson, Fred Couples, Ohio's own Ben Curtis, the oh-so-cute Sergio Garcia (be still my beating heart!), and many, many more. I'd be lying if I said I know much about golf, but I do know that this tournament brings lots of publicity and many much-needed tourism dollars to our region, which is always a good thing.

In addition to the publicity and tourism dollars, the Bridgestone Invitational also helps to raise money for area non-profit organizations through the Northern Ohio Golf Charities. Over the past several months, non-profit organizations and volunteers have been participating in the Birdies for Charity program - soliciting pledges, donations, and guesses (my guess is 785) on the number of birdies that will be shot this weekend. Money raised through the Birdies for Charity program benefits 36 local non-profit organizations including the Akron Jaycees Foundation, the American Red Cross, Stewart's Caring Place, First Tee Akron, and more.

The Bridgestone Invitational could not happen without the efforts of over 1,000 dedicated volunteers, and our YPs are out in force! (more…)