A portion of the revenues for each purchased license plate will benefit Stream Energy’s community partner, Captain Hope’s Kids, which provides critical needs to homeless children in the Dallas area. For each Ignite plate purchased, $5.50 to $29.50 will be sent to the non-profit, depending on the plate term selected.

(No revenue will be paid to Stream Energy or Ignite.) “We believe deeply in the cause of Captain Hope’s Kids,” said Stream Energy Chairman Rob Snyder. “This organization helps families when they are most in need, when they find themselves at a deep crossroads. We are very pleased to arrange this innovative program.” The announcement of the license plate program follows a $15,000 donation made from Stream Energy March 5th, at the conclusion of Ignition, Stream Energy’s annual national convention.

Captain Hope’s Kids touches the lives of more than 30,000 children from homeless families every year. Chairman Rob Snyder added, “Families with children make up 47 percent of the homeless population in the Dallas metropolitan area. Captain Hope’s Kids provides needed goods and services — and Stream Energy is committed to helping this organization.” Captain Hope’s Kids works with 40 service providers to provide critically needed items to homeless children.

Dallas-based Stream Energy is the longest-tenured direct seller of deregulated energy in America. Moreover, Stream Energy’s business model, evoked by the catch phrase “It’s OK to switch. Really(R),” is helping promote the successful deregulation of retail energy services within Texas, Pennsylvania, Georgia and Maryland.

Excerp from press release.  Thank you Stream Energy!

where's my home...

The following is an e-mail I received from a teacher after the students did a diaper drive for us and had a baby shower to boot!  ”On behalf of Della Icenhower Intermediate Character Club, I want to thank you for all that you do.  Ms. Reyer, it was so good to see you last Wednesday.  Your attendance really means a lot to us.  The students truly enjoy having you here.  The game and the things you said really brings why we host a Diaper Drive into reality for them.  The parents that attended the shower had wonderful things to say as well.  They truly enjoyed seeing their children give back.  Many told us about how their kids came home really wanting to make a difference in the lives of homeless children.  One of our club member’s parents told us that it especially meant a lot to them because she and her two daughters spent a few months in a domestic violence shelter.  She said she really loved that her daughter’s school and club does something to help the shelters because they know far too well how much the shelters could use the help.  I can’t tell you enough how much we appreciate your organization.  Last year was our first year and we did okay.  This year was our second year and we did better.  Who knows, maybe each year we will continue to get bigger and better.  We look forward to continuing our annual Drive/Shower…  Again, we could never thank you enough for all that you do.  Your work means so much to so many.  We are proud supporters.  The kids asked how much our school was about to get donated.  I told them I wasn’t sure but was certain that we did better than last year.  They said “but we need to know, Mrs. Fields so we can be even better next year”.  I didn’t think you would probably know but if you could give us a rough estimate, it would be appreciated.    Again, thank you, thank you for all that you do!  May God bless you and your mission. 

Sincerely,

Lisa Fields

Della Icenhower Intermediate

Counselor

Character Club Sponsor

WOW, and I’m getting thanked.  Well I’m here to tell you this is one great group of kids, teachers, parents…  meeting the critical needs of homeless children.

Image by swanksalot via Flickr

Stream Energy is having there Ignite Convention yesterday, today and tomorrow.  

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Image via Wikipedia

Come out to Mardi Gras Run Saturday, March 5th for a great experience.  We will have live music, costumes, beer, ice cream, rice and beans and a whole lot more. 

Over 1000 runners are already registered with more to follow when registration opens at 7 a.m. at the Galatyn Park Plaza.  Come, enjoy and help Captain Hope’s Kids meet the critical needs of homeless children…  

Bring hope to homeless children:  www.captainhope.org

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And the Trophy goes to...

Join a parade of costumed runners Saturday, March 5, to help celebrate the fourteenth annual Mardi Gras Run, one of the largest Mardi Gras related events in the Metroplex.  The event will be held at Galatyn Park, Richardson, Texas to help Captain Hope’s Kids (www.mardigrasrun.org), a not-for-profit organization dedicated to meeting the critical needs of North Texas homeless children.   

Organizers anticipate over 1,500 runners, walkers and spectators, many dressed in festive costumes, masks and beads.  The main event includes a four-mile race, followed by a Mardi Gras award ceremony. Custom made awards will be presented to the 1st Overall and Masters male/female age group finishers starting with 14 and under, then in 5 year groups up to 75+.

This event is for the entire family to enjoy.  Listen to live music by The Zach Scott Pohl Band, snack on red beans and rice from Pierre’s Mardi Gras Cafe, beer from Gordon Biersch or coffee from Community Coffee, surprise treats from Blue Bell Creamery, fruit from Jason’s deli and water from the Soroptimist to name a few of the snacks that abound!

Participants are asked to bring a donation of diapers, wipes or formula to the event.  Monetary donations will also be accepted to help purchase items necessary to meet the critical needs of North Texas homeless children. Visit the Captain Hope’s Table for some great restaurant coupons.

Each night, as many as 1,100 children are without a home in the Dallas/Fort Worth area. Through this event, we aim to raise community awareness about this serious problem and to help give the Metroplex shelters with the supplies they need to care for their homeless children.

Race information and on-line registration is available at www.mardigrasrun.com.

 About Captain Hope’s Kids:

For the past 21 years, Captain Hope’s Kids (a 501-c-3 organization) has been dedicated to meeting the critical needs of homeless children with your donations of time, money, and gently used items.  In recent years there has been a sharp increase in the number of homeless families with children. Families with children now constitute about 40 percent of people who become homeless as reported by the Urban Institute. Research also demonstrates that women and children make up 47 percent of Metro Dallas’ homeless population. (DASH – Dallas Assoc. of Service to Homeless January 28, 2010).  This is a decrease from earlier years due in part to the increase in the number of homeless using transitional housing.  The Dallas County homeless population has shown a 138% increase in homeless households who live in Transitional Housing compared with numbers from 2005.

 In 2009, Captain Hope’s Kids touched the lives of over 32,000 children in need at shelters in North Texas. The Mardi Gras Run aims to help Captain Hope’s Kids continue its legacy of giving.  For more information about Captain Hope’s Kids please visit www.captainhope.org.

One of Santa's Helpers at Stream Energy collecting Toys

This New Years Eve was exciting for us at Captain Hope’s Kids.  Captain Hope’s Kids has not been in the spotlight, certainly has never had the funds to produce commercials and yet there we were in the middle of New Year’s Eve Big D NYE sponsored by Stream Energy.   What an evening and to think Captain Hope’s Kids had a major presence throughout the festivities. 

I use the word hope a lot especially when I talk of Stream Energy and the hope they have brought to homeless children.  Please watch the commercial Rob Snyder, President and Founder of Stream Energy produced for Captain Hope’s Kids and you decide yourself. 

In my book Rob and all the gang at Stream Energy make up a great company of caring people who are interested in what is happening in the community.  This is a company that from the top down cares and wants to help homeless kids.  They have given hope to homeless children through major toy drives, diaper drives and all the commercials they produced for Captain Hope’s Kids, while sponsoring the fireworks for New Year’s Eve Big D NYE.  Both commercials are about Captain Hope’s Kids.  They are hoping that people will respond with a donation or volunteer and so do I, we need both.  

Help bring hope to a homeless child…

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To all our partner agencies who take care of homeless children, thank you:

A special thanks to our Board of Directors:  

David Torok,  KC Kronbach,  Glen J. Katlein, B2B CFO, Charles (Chuck), L. Quenette, Reginald Hardwick,  Paul Minton, Greg Crouse, Kimberly Carter Carey McMann, Mark Steele, Salma Gottfried,Andrea Anderson, and Eric McIntyre.

The initiative will extend the company’s spring 2010’s record-setting diaper drive.  This particular event was the largest diaper drive Captain Hope’s Kids has ever had.  They raised 46,000 diapers, enough to diaper babies and tots for over a month.  We initiated “Beat the Champ” campaign to find corporations who would take the challenge of beating Stream Energy’s diaper drive.  As of this writing no one has been able to come close.  

Rob Snyder, Stream Energy Chairman wanted more people to know about Captain Hope’s Kids and what better way they said “then to put us in the commercial they were shooting as the sponsor of this years New Year’s Eve Fireworks at Victory Park”.  One featured segment and one commercial sponsored by Stream Energy highlighting the work of Captain Hope’s Kids which meets the critical needs of homeless children will air on WFAA, Channel 8 during the New Year’s Eve program. 

Stream Energies 3rd Toy Drive for Captain Hope’s Kids was incredible,  their were a mountain of toys and yes again they broke records and collected 2,400 toys.    This means a lot to a homeless child especially around the holidays.  Homeless children are already feeling different then other children, some depressed, most not joyfull in anticipation of the holidays.  This toy drive will allow many homeless children to have a wonderful holiday and not have to feel different yet again.  They will know that others care.

Please look for the Stream Energy commercial and you will see the mountain of toys!  To give greater visibility of the work of Captain Hope’s Kids, the organization’s Executive Director Jeanne Reyer will join Stream Energy Chairman Rob Snyder in helping to launch the Stream Energy-sponsored spectacular fireworks display climaxing the New Year’s Eve  Big D NYE.  The celebration at Victory Park in Dallas will air live on WFAA, Channel 8 December 31^st.