Press Releases

RETIRED GENERAL COLIN POWELL AND FLORIDA GOVERNOR BUSH TO DELIVER KEYNOTE AT BOCA PROMISE RALLY

Contact: Mark Hopkinson 561/ 750-9800 x14
Email: mhopkinson@TransMediagroup.com

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
BOCA RATON, FL., MARCH 29, 2000 ---- More than 2000 students from across the Florida School system will gather on Friday March 31, at Florida Atlantic University to rally in support of the contributions made by the local chapter of America's Promise - The Alliance for Youth, the organization led by retired General Colin Powell.

"The Reach For the Stars Rally" will be addressed by General Powell and Florida's Governor, Jeb Bush.

The event is the culmination of eight months of planning and hard work by Boca Raton's Promise to bring together teenagers under the common umbrella of the five Promises: to provide (1) an ongoing relationship with a caring adult, (2) safe places with structured activities, (3) healthy bodies and healthy minds, (4) effective education through marketable skills and (5) opportunities to give back through community service.

In response to General Colin Powell's wish to hear from the youth directly, 18 teenagers will address the rally on how the Five Promises are of importance to them. A highlight of the six-hour event will be the presentation of a song written for the occasion by a local husband and wife team, M.G. and R. G. Dolandis, and arranged by B. Castle. Castle, the chorus director at Boca Raton Community High School will lead the chorus in the first public performance of "Reach For The Stars."

Jason Dorsey, a young author of the popular book, "How to Graduate to Your Perfect Job," will also address the rally and copies of his book will be provided to the youth courtesy of event sponsor, Boca Raton Community Hospital. Other sponsors include E.M. Lynn Foundation, City of Boca Raton and IBM Corporation.

Fleets of buses will begin arriving at the FAU campus from 1 pm to deliver young people from as far away as Miami, Belle Glade and St. Petersburg. Tri Rail is providing passes to more than one hundred members of Big Brothers and Big Sisters of Miami. The opening ceremony will get underway at 2 pm and feature an introduction written by students and developed by staff WPBF-TV who will film the day's activities for a one-hour primetime feature to be broadcast next week.

"I am thrilled with the momentum this event is creating for our local chapter and especially our young people. We are privileged to have General Powell and our Governor coming to meet the 2200 youth who will gather for this rally on Friday," said Rita Thrasher, Executive Director of Boca Raton's Promise.

Special recognition will be given to two 1998 graduates of Palm Beach County Schools. David Olvera, West Point Academy, a member of the initial planning team when Boca Raton's Promise was certified in 1997, helped shape the goals for the local chapter. Anastasia Stogiannis, George Washington University created a successful after school program in her community of Lake Park. "Both continue to oversee their projects, a lasting reflection on their hours of dedicated service to their communities. They demonstrate that youth can and do make a difference," added Thrasher.

Boca Raton's Promise- The Alliance For Youth became a certified community of Promise in March 1998. The initial planners engaged more than 200 persons in assessing the needs of young people and established 23 specific goals to provide for those needs in Boca Raton. Alliance members and the growing volunteer base are providing the time, talent and treasure to guarantee that young people have the resources to lead healthy productive lives.