Three women honored for charity work

A partnership between Mondial Assistance and WWBT-12 spotlighted three local women in a "World of Good" television campaign.

Mondial Assistance, an international travel insurance and assistance provider with U.S. operations based in Henrico County, purchased air time on WWBT-12 and produced spots featuring the women whose efforts improve the lives of others.

The campaign began in October on air and online at http://www.nbc12.com and http://www.mondialUSA.com. The last profile will air until Wednesday.

Mondial Assistance selected the subjects based on nominations from the community.

Toni McDavid of Richmond was featured for her work with Which Dollar Inc., a nonprofit created to aid cancer patients and their families with financial assistance during treatment and recovery. Which Dollar provides qualified applicants with cash for bills and other expenses. A cancer survivor herself, McDavid co-founded Which Dollar in 2005 after her husband, Frank, was diagnosed with colon cancer. To date, the nonprofit has raised more than $48,000 and served nearly 100 patients.

Martha Slay, founder and president of FightSMA, was selected for helping to raise funds to support research and treatment for Spinal Muscular Atrophy (SMA), the leading genetic killer of children under 2. Slay, of Richmond, has helped raise more than $6.5 million.

Founded as a nonprofit organization in 1991 after Slay's oldest son, Andrew, was diagnosed with SMA at 14 months of age, FightSMA has 19 chapters in the U.S. and Canada. It supports SMA research projects at more than 40 universities and institutions in the U.S., Canada, United Kingdom, France and Italy. Most recently, Slay helped to create the "Fighter Mom" program that helps mothers deal with a variety of childhood health disorders.

Judy Wade of Henrico is the co-founder and member of The Purple Ladies Society. She was recognized for supporting patients struggling with cancer treatment. After losing her niece, Coleen, to breast cancer, Wade and her sister, Barbara, started the Purple Ladies Society.

They selected The Hawthorne, The Cancer Resource Centeras their primary beneficiary. The group gathers monthly to make gift baskets for Hawthorne patients. They wrap books, lotion and candy in purple paper, Coleen's favorite color.

"It's been a privilege to be invited into the lives of our winners, who literally let us bring cameras into their homes and offices," said Mark Cipolletti, vice president for marketing and communications at Mondial Assistance.

"We hope their stories deliver a message that will resonate during the holiday season and remind us of the generosity of spirit that infuses the Richmond region."

For details on the World of Good campaign go to http://www.mondialusa.com/WorldOfGood/

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Anthem Blue Cross and Blue Shield in Virginia associates have pledged more than $2.3 million to support more than 670 not-for-profit organizations in Virginia in 2009 as part of the company's annual Associate Giving Campaign.

The Anthem Blue Cross and Blue Shield Foundation will match 50 percent of associate pledges, increasing the total to more than $3.5 million.

"Every day our associates work to bring value to the health care system and our members," said Burke King, president, Anthem Blue Cross and Blue Shield in Virginia.

"The generosity shown during this year's associate giving campaign is truly remarkable. In these challenging economic times, our associates continued to exceed all expectations and far surpassed our goal."

For 2008, Anthem and its foundation provided more than $3.2 million in charitable donations and sponsorships.

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Ukrop's Share a Holiday Meal Program raised more than $72,000 to relieve hunger this year. That amount is up 30 percent compared to last year.

"We are excited to see an increase in donations during such a tough economic time," says Bobby Ukrop, CEO of Ukrop's Super Markets, Inc.

"This program helps thousands of families throughout Richmond, Fredericksburg, Williamsburg and Roanoke enjoy a special meal. Thanks to our shoppers for helping those in need."

Last month, Ukrop's shoppers were invited to add a $5, $10, or $20 donation to Share a Holiday Meal to their grocery bill. Customers donated $51,314, nearly 10 percent more than in 2007.

First Market Bank also donated $10,000, made up of nickel contributions for every time a customer paid with a Market Share Check Card. Ukrop's partnered with Uppy's convenience stores to invite customers to add the same donation amounts to their purchases at Richmond-area gas stations and On the Runmarkets. Uppy's customers donated $6,522, and the company donated another $5,000.

Donations are divided between Christmas Mother organizations and The Salvation Army and remain in the locality where they were made. For example, donations made in Richmond were given to the Salvation Army, Richmond Area Command.

The total donation was distributed as follows:

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A two-week company-wide food drive at Personal Care Preferred Group generated more than 1,000 food items.

Food donations will be distributed to the social services departments in the communities served by the home health care company, which has seven locations.

Those communities are the counties of Isle of Wight, Prince George, Sussex, Southampton, Surry, Brunswick, Greensville, Chesterfield and Dinwiddie, and the cities of Emporia, Petersburg, Colonial Heights, Hopewell and Franklin.

"We had heard that due to many recent economic factors, donations at our local food banks have plummeted, while demand has seen a sharp increase," said John Thurman, chief executive officer of the company.

"We take community involvement seriously at Personal Care and wanted to find a way we could help, especially during the holiday season."

The Personal Care Preferred Group consists of three individual companies, Personal Touch Home Care, Moore Home Care and Southern Touch Health Care.

Offices are located in Stony Creek, Colonial Heights, Waverly, Emporia, Petersburg, Lawrenceville, and a new location in Franklin.
Contact Robin Farmer at (804) 649-6312 or .