<<THE ibdcure.org FOUNDATION INTERNATIONAL>> [RELEASE REF. ID: BN00203]

LATE-BREAKING NEWS: Prudential Awards, CNN Airing [Memorial Day]

SOURCE: // PRUDENTIAL FINANCIAL / PRNEWSWIRE / YAHOO! FINANCE / CNN /
ibdcure.org E-NEWS//

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: Sunday, May 25, 2003: 10:00 PM EST

Dear ibdcure.org Foundation Supporters:

We have some exciting late-breaking news to report.

This past February, we sent out a press release explaining that Gideon J.
Sofer, the Founder and President of the ibdcure.org Foundation
International, was selected as New Jersey's top high school volunteer via
the Prudential Spirit of Community of Awards.

Earlier this month, Gideon traveled to Washington to meet and interact with
the top-youth volunteers from around the nation. At the event, Prudential
and the National Association of Secondary School Principals [NASSP] named
ten out of the 104 national honorees "America's Youth Volunteers," and
Gideon was one of them.

Shortly after Gideon's trip to Washington, he was committed to taking some
personal time off for his health. After battling unremitting intestinal
symptoms since last summer, he underwent major abdominal surgery last week
to remove a completely dysfunctional segment of his gut. Fortunately, the
operation was a sucess and he is now recovering at home.

It was a daunting decision for Gideon to make his current health obstacles
public information via this press release. He feels that when going through
these challenges, it merely becomes very personal. However, due to the
unanticipated turn of events (particularly with the Foundation and in
Washington), there was very little room to keep the "good news" quiet.

Two weeks ago, Gideon received an invitation to go to New York City to
appear on CNN's national American Morning program to talk about his project
with two of the other national youth volunteers, Sasha Bowers (of Columbus,
OH), and Jacob Komar (of Burlington, CT). At the time, Gideon declined the
offer, anticipating that he'd be recovering and completely immobile. It
turns out that this is not the case.

At about 8:30 AM (EST) on Memorial Day, a live segment will air on CNN
talking about the honorees and their projects. Gideon, despite just arriving
home from the hospital less than 24 hours ago, will do his best to talk
about his mission to conquer Crohn's. We hope you'll tune in.

Have a healthy and safe Memorial Day,

The ibdcure.org e-news Team

Reply to: enews.mail@...
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E-NEWS RESOURCES:

Below are additional resources pertaining to this press release, such as a
synopsis of Sasha & Jacob's community service projects, and links to the
Prudential Awards main page, CNN American Morning website, CNN Transcripts
page, and a complete Yahoo! Biz release covering the events from Washington.
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VOLUNTER BIOS: (Courtesy: Prudential)

Sasha Bowers, 14, of Columbus, Ohio, an eighth-grader at Norton Middle
School, drew upon her experience living in a homeless shelter to develop a
summer-long program of weekly activities for more than 250 other homeless
children in the Columbus area. As a shelter resident, Sasha had enjoyed
field trips to a local park, but thought they could be made more fun and
educational. When she learned that volunteers were being recruited to work
with homeless children, she figured there was no reason why she couldn't
help. "I realized that even if I was homeless, I could still help other
people, too," she said. She organized a planning committee with other kids
at her shelter, developed ideas for a summer program, and sought donations
from a variety of organizations. Sasha also promoted the program through
media interviews, recruited and managed other volunteers, and arranged for
supplies and transportation. Then, every Monday last summer, Sasha and her
helpers hosted a "learning day" at the park for homeless kids, featuring
gardening, fishing, educational tours, environmental readings and wildlife
lectures. At summer's end, the program culminated with a big party for the
kids, complete with entertainment, crafts, games and gifts. "No matter what
situation you are in, you can always help make things better for others,"
said Sasha.

Jacob Komar, 10, of Burlington, Conn., a sixth-grader at Talcott Mountain
Academy in Avon, initiated a program called "Computers for Communities" that
has restored and upgraded more than 60 outdated personal computers and
installed them in the homes of families that couldn't afford to buy one.
Jacob, a self-described "computer fanatic," was shocked when he learned of a
garage at his sister's school filled with old computers that were going to
be thrown out. He realized he could revamp the computers and give them to
people who could not afford their own. "I thought that by doing this, I
would help a lot of kids get a head start," said Jacob. First, he secured
the school district's approval to take the old computers, and then went to
work on the machines - analyzing, trouble-shooting and rebuilding. He had to
call numerous software companies to transfer licenses, and installed new
software and hardware where appropriate. In order to identify those in his
community most in need of computers, Jacob worked with the Department of
Social Services. When the computers were ready, Jacob installed them in
their new homes and taught 140 family members how to use them. As word of
his project has spread, Jacob has received more computer donations, and he
has recruited other students at his school to help. He also has received
requests from organizations that want to start similar programs, and he
hopes to eventually see the project expand to other communities across the
country.
____________________________________________________________________________
THE PRUDENTIAL SPIRIT OF COMMUNITY OF AWARDS (MAIN PAGE):

http://www.prudential.com/spirit
____________________________________________________________________________
CNN AMERICAN MORNING website:

http://www.cnn.com/CNN/Programs/american.morning/

CNN AMERICAN MORNING TRANSCRIPTS: http://www.cnn.com/TRANSCRIPTS/ltm.html
____________________________________________________________________________
YAHOO FINANCE PRESS RELEASE

Source: Prudential Financial

New Jersey's Gideon Sofer Of Highland Park Named One Of America's Top Ten
Youth Volunteers

Monday May 5, 10:01 am ET

State's Janna Zuckerman Of Edison Also Honored During 4-Day Celebration With
Tributes From Rudy Giuliani And '7th Heaven' Star David Gallagher

WASHINGTON, May 5 /PRNewswire/ -- Gideon Sofer, 18, of Highland Park, N.J.
was named one of America's top ten youth volunteers for 2003 in a ceremony
today at the International Trade Center, receiving a national Prudential
Spirit of Community Award for his outstanding volunteer community service.
Selected from a field of 24,000 applicants across the country, he received
$5,000, an engraved gold medallion and a crystal trophy for his school,
Highland Park High School in Highland Park. In addition, he will have
$25,000 in toys, clothing and other juvenile products donated in his name to
needy children in his area by Kids in Distressed Situations, Inc., the
national charity of the children's apparel and products industry.

--
FOR COMPLETE ARTICLE:

http://biz.yahoo.com/prnews/030505/nym036_1.html

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Defying all realities:

:: THE ibdcure.org FOUNDATION INT'L ::

Always on, http://www.ibdcure.org
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