Press Release
For Immediate Release: October 13, 2006
Contact: Ronald M. Maenza, MD, President, The Giving Circle, Inc. Saratoga Springs Mayor Joins in Volunteer Effort
The Giving Circle Revisits Waveland Mississippi, October 5-11
October 7th Declared Saratoga Springs Day in Waveland, MS.
(Saratoga Springs, N.Y.). Saratoga Springs Mayor Valerie Keehn, her husband David and son Daniel, joined a team of volunteers organized by The Giving Circle, Inc. to help in the rebuilding of Waveland, Mississippi (the recently adopted Sister City of Saratoga Springs). This once beautiful seashore community, roughly the size of Ballston Spa, was completely destroyed by Hurricane Katrina over a year ago. Upon arriving in Waveland and seeing the destruction that still exists, Mayor Keehn was clearly moved and stated, "I'm speechlessŠ I think it's important to reach out and help whenever and however we can."
The Giving Circle launched it's first volunteer trip to the city in March and again now in October. In those seven months, some, but by far not all, of the debris has been removed. However, rebuilding continues to be one of the most pressing needs. The Giving Circle has been raising funds to help in the rebuilding, one house at a time. In May, Mayor Keehn issued a Proclamation declaring Saratoga Springs, N.Y. and Waveland, MS. Sister Cities in an effort to raise awareness of the problems in this Gulf Coast community. In this spirit of community helping community and through the efforts of The Giving Circle, funds were raised to provide for site preparation for a home for Barbara and Richard, an elderly Waveland couple (see below for web link to pictures of Richard and Barbara and for their story). A check for $4,000 and a gift of Saratoga Springs memorabilia was presented to them by Mayor Keehn and Waveland Mayor Tommy Longo from The Giving Circle. As a strong statement of gratitude and interactive community support, Mayor Longo presented Mayor Keehn with a proclamation declaring October 7, 2006 as "Saratoga Springs, New York Day in Waveland, Mississippi".
The volunteer work involving the delegation from The Giving Circle represented a Coast To Coast To Coast cooperation: volunteers from New York, California, and Waveland itself joined in the week-long effort of salvaging, cleaning up, moving needed material into storage areas, and rebuilding. Members of the Giving Circle Board and other volunteers working with the non-profit organization were joined on several assignments by Mayor Keehn's family members who helped build roofs and clean up debris. Quality of life issues were also addressed when the group participated in the town-wide Wavefest celebration, co-hosting the children's activity area. David and Dan Keehn were one of the "attractions" at the very popular Dunking Booth! Delegates from The Giving Circle, Inc. and Mayor Longo were interviewed on WQRZ, a local non-profit amateur radio station noted for being the only local station to remain on the air during Hurricane Katrina relaying vital emergency information. This feat was accomplished through the extraordinary efforts of the station's operator, Brice Phillips, for which he received a Presidential Volunteer Award. During the interview, Mayor Keehn joined the discussion on a phone link from New York. Later that week, she joined the group in person and was interviewed by the local ABC network affiliate WLOX.
Members of The Giving Circle, Inc. could not help but make the analogy of Waveland's Coleman Avenue to Saratoga Springs' Broadway and said how "empty" and "lonely" the Waveland main street was because of the destruction. Fully 95% of homes, businesses, and municipal structures were destroyed or made uninhabitable by the storm. City Hall, a two story steel reinforced brick building, was virtually washed away in the 35 foot storm surge, with only the "steps to nowhere" remaining. Temporary buildings house most of the city's officials and residents. The rebuilding will take place over many years.
The Giving Circle's current home rebuilding fundraiser, "Pave The Wave", will culminate in the installation of a personalized brick walk outside the soon to be constructed Waveland City Hall. Visit the website http://www.thegivingcircle.org to learn how you, your friend, your business can become a part of the Waveland rebuilding process.
The Giving Circle, Inc. PO Box 3162 Saratoga Springs, NY 12866 518.226.0104 |