Always Dream Foundation, founded by ice skating legend Kristi Yamaguchi in 1996, was established with one purpose in mind: to support organizations that have a positive influence on children. The foundation strives to find innovative ways to provide funding for a diverse range of programs designed to inspire and embrace the hopes and dreams of children and adolescents.
The motto “Always Dream” has served as Kristi’s personal inspiration for many years. It is her constant reminder to dream big, never lose sight of her goals, and strive to become a better person.
Kristi Yamaguchi’s Always Dream Foundation
1212 Preservation Parkway
Oakland, CA 94612
[email protected]
www.alwaysdream.org
Through recreational, educational and developmental programs, the Life Rolls On Foundation raises money to fund research for the treatment and cure of paralysis caused by spinal cord injuries (SCI).
The foundation supports the Christopher Reeve Paralysis Foundation, as well as other charities. Its mission is to spread the word and to instill in the lives of our nation’s injured that life with SCI does indeed “Roll On.”
Life Rolls On Foundation
Attention: Josh Billauer
7770 Regents Road, Suite 113-199
San Diego, CA 92122
[email protected]
www.liferollson.org
The United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF), with more than 7,000 people working in 158 countries, is helping to build a world where the rights of every child are realized. UNICEF works worldwide to overcome poverty, violence, disease and discrimination.
The main goals of UNICEF are to give infants a good start in life, promote girls’ education and to see that all children are immunized against common childhood diseases and are well nourished.
UNICEF also strives to prevent the spread of HIV/AIDS among young people and to relieve suffering during natural disasters or war. UNICEF believes that no child should be exposed to violence, abuse or exploitation. They also encourage young people to speak out and participate in the decisions that affect their lives.
UNICEF House
3 United Nations Plaza
New York, New York 10017
www.unicef.org
Who Is Jack Canfield?
Jack Canfield is one of America’s leading experts in the development of human potential and personal effectiveness. He is both a dynamic, entertaining speaker and a highly sought-after trainer. Jack has a wonderful ability to inform and inspire audiences toward increased levels of self-esteem and peak performance.
He is the author and narrator of several bestselling audio- and videocassette programs, including Self-Esteem and Peak Performance, How to Build High Self-Esteem, Self-Esteem in the Classroom and Chicken Soup for the Soul—Live. He is regularly seen on television shows such as Good Morning America, 20/20 and NBC Nightly News. Jack has coauthored numerous books, including the Chicken Soup for the Soul series, Dare to Win and The Aladdin Factor (all with Mark Victor Hansen), 100 Ways to Build Self-Concept in the Classroom (with Harold C. Wells), Heart at Work (with Jacqueline Miller) and The Power of Focus (with Les Hewitt and Mark Victor Hansen).
Jack is a regularly featured speaker for professional associations, school districts, government agencies, churches, hospitals, sales organizations and corporations. His clients have included the American Dental Association, the American Management Association, AT&T, Campbell’s Soup, Clairol, Domino’s Pizza, GE, ITT, Hartford Insurance, Johnson & Johnson, the Million Dollar Roundtable, NCR, New England Telephone, Re/Max, Scott Paper, TRW and Virgin Records. Jack has taught on the faculty of Income Builders International, a school for entrepreneurs.
Jack conducts an annual seven-day Training of Trainers program in the areas of self-esteem and peak performance. It attracts entrepreneurs, educators, counselors, parenting trainers, corporate trainers, professional speakers, ministers and others interested in developing their speaking and seminar-leading skills.
For further information about Jack’s books, tapes and training programs, or to schedule him for a presentation, please contact:
Self-Esteem Seminars
P.O. Box 30880
Santa Barbara, CA 93130
phone: 805-563-2935 • fax: 805-563-2945
Website: www.jackcanfield.com
Who Is Mark Victor Hansen?
In the area of human potential, no one is better known and more respected than Mark Victor Hansen. For more than thirty years, Mark has focused solely on helping people from all walks of life reshape their personal vision of what’s possible. His powerful messages of possibility, opportunity and action have helped create startling and powerful change in thousands of organizations and millions of individuals worldwide.
He is a sought-after keynote speaker, bestselling author and marketing maven. Mark’s credentials include a lifetime of entrepreneurial success, in addition to an extensive academic background. He is a prolific writer with many bestselling books such as The One Minute Millionaire, The Power of Focus, The Aladdin Factor and Dare to Win, in addition to the Chicken Soup for the Soul series. Mark has also made a profound influence through his extensive library of audio programs, video programs and enriching articles in the areas of big thinking, sales achievement, wealth building, publishing success, and personal and professional development.
Mark is the founder of MEGA Book Marketing University and Building Your MEGA Speaking Empire. Both are annual conferences where Mark coaches and teaches new and aspiring authors, speakers and experts on building lucrative publishing and speaking careers.
His energy and exuberance travel still further through mediums such as television (Oprah, CNN and The Today Show), print (Time, U.S. News & World Report, USA Today, New York Times and Entrepreneur) and countless radio and newspaper interviews as he assures our planet’s people that “You can easily create the life you deserve.”
As a passionate philanthropist and humanitarian, he’s been the recipient of numerous awards that honor his entrepreneurial spirit, philanthropic heart and business acumen, including the prestigious Horatio Alger Award for his extraordinary life achievements, which stand as a powerful example that the free enterprise system still offers opportunity to all.
Mark Victor Hansen is an enthusiastic crusader of what’s possible and is driven to make the world a better place.
Mark Victor Hansen & Associates, Inc.
P.O. Box 7665 • Newport Beach, CA 92658
phone: 949-764-2640 • fax: 949-722-6912
FREE resources online at: www.markvictorhansen.com
Who Is Patty Hansen?
Patty Hansen, with her partner Irene, authored Chicken Soup for the Kid’s Soul, Chicken Soup for the Preteen Soul and Chicken Soup for the Soul Christmas Treasury for Kids, books that kids ages nine through thirteen love to read and use as guides for everyday life. Patty is also the contributor of some of the most loved stories in the Chicken Soup for the Soul series; coauthor of Condensed Chicken Soup for the Soul from Health Communications, Inc.; and Out of the Blue: Delight Comes into Our Lives from HarperCollins.
Because of her love for preteens, Patty created a Website, www.Preteenplanet.com, to give preteens a fun and safe cyberspace experience where they can also become empowered to make their world a better place.
Prior to her career as an author, Patty worked for United Airlines as a flight attendant for thirteen years. During that time, she received two commendations for bravery. She received the first one when (as the only flight attendant on board) she prepared forty-four passengers for a successful planned emergency landing. The second was for single-handedly extinguishing a fire onboard a mid-Pacific flight, thus averting an emergency situation and saving hundreds of lives.
After “hanging up her wings,” Patty became the chief financial officer for M.V. Hansen and Associates, Inc., in Newport Beach, California. Currently, as President of Legal and Licensing for Chicken Soup for the Soul Enterprises, Inc., she ha
s helped to create an entire line of Chicken Soup for the Soul products and licenses.
In 1998, Mom’s House, Inc., a nonprofit organization that provides free childcare for school-age mothers, nominated Patty as Celebrity Mother of the Year. Each year since, the Patty Hansen Scholarship is funded by a $10,000 grant and is awarded by Mom’s House to deserving single mothers who wish to attend college.
Patty shares her home with her two daughters Elisabeth and Melanie; her mother, Shirley; housekeeper and friend, Eva; three rabbits, one peahen, one guinea hen, three horses, four dogs, eight cats, five birds, thirty-four fish, nine pigeons, twenty-seven chickens (yes, they all have names), a haven for hummingbirds and a butterfly farm.
If you would like to contact Patty:
Patty Hansen
P.O. Box 10879
Costa Mesa, CA 92627
phone: 949-645-5240 • fax: 949-645-3203
e-mail: [email protected] • www.Preteenplanet.com
Who Is Irene Dunlap?
Irene Dunlap, coauthor of Chicken Soup for the Kid’s Soul, Chicken Soup for the Preteen Soul and Chicken Soup for the Soul Christmas Treasury for Kids, began her writing career in elementary school. It was then that she first discovered her love for creating poetry, a passion she believes to have inherited from her paternal grandmother. She expressed her love for words through writing fictional short stories, lyrics, as a participant in speech competitions and eventually as a vocalist.
During her college years, Irene traveled around the world as a student of the Semester at Sea program, aboard a ship that served as a classroom, as well as home base, for over five hundred college students. After earning a bachelor of arts degree in communications, she became the media director of Irvine Meadows Amphitheatre in Irvine, California. She went on to co-own an advertising and public relations agency that specialized in entertainment and health-care clients.
Irene released her first book in a series titled, TRUE—Real Stories About God Showing Up in the Lives of Teens, in February 2004, in order to encourage teens and young adults in their faith. While creating difference-making books, which she sees as a blessing, Irene continues to support her two teens with their interests in music, theatre and sports activities. She also carries on a successful singing career, performing various styles ranging from jump swing and jazz to contemporary Christian in clubs, at church and at special events.
Irene lives in Newport Beach, California, with her husband, Kent; daughter, Marleigh; son, Weston; and Australian shepherd, Gracie. In her spare time, Irene enjoys horseback riding, painting, gardening and cooking. If you are wondering how she does it all, she will refer you to her favorite Bible passage for her answer—Ephesians 3:20.
If you would like to contact Irene, write to her at:
Irene Dunlap
P.O. Box 10879
Costa Mesa, CA 92627
phone: 949-645-5240
fax: 949-645-3203
e-mail: [email protected]
www.LifeWriters.com
Contributors
Andrea Adair is a mom to three girls, a children’s librarian assistant and a freelance writer. She has been published in Horizons, The Toastmaster and Signatures and is currently writing a mystery.
Catherine Adams received a bachelor of science in medical technology from Texas Christian University and works as a clinical laboratory scientist. She’s recently been published in multiple genres and enjoys reading, writing and spending time with her family. Send e-mails to [email protected].
Max Alexander is now fourteen. Even though they passed away four years ago, at times it is still hard for Max to deal with the death of his grandparents; but he enjoys remembering the good times.
Scott Allen was twelve when he wrote “The Big Slip.” He is currently attending classes at the University of Michigan working toward an engineering degree. He enjoys golfing, running, playing piano and spending time with friends. Please e-mail him at [email protected].
Bill Amend started drawing cartoons for fun when he was nine years old, including frogs and dinosaurs, which may partly explain the iguana in his strip. He earned a Bachelor degree in physics from Amherst College and apart from taking a basic drawing class his senior year, never really studied art. His syndicated Foxtrot comic began running in newspapers in 1988. He lives with his wife and his two young children.
Laura Andrade has over ten years experience as a teacher and administrator. With a doctorate in educational leadership and B.S. in biology, it’s clear that she is passionate about education. Laura shares her California home with her husband, two cats, two dogs and two horses. Contact her at [email protected].
Antonio Angelo Jr. lives with his family and attends high school in northern California. He also holds jobs in an office and in construction. He is interested in pursuing a career in the military service.
Tom Armstrong was the staff cartoonist of the campus newspaper at his university. After getting his degree in fine arts, Armstrong worked as a freelance illustrator and did work for several magazines and advertising agencies. In 1979, he teamed up with fellow artist Tom Batiuk to create talk show host John Darling. Armstrong left the comic in 1985 to concentrate on the highly successful Marvin, a comic he created in 1982.
Miriam Bard is a first-year student at Sarah Lawrence College where she majors in English literature. She volunteers teaching English as a second language at a local public school and enjoys traveling, art history, creative writing and camping. She plans to be a travel journalist. E-mail her at [email protected].
Robert Berardi was born in New York and educated at University of the Arts, Philadelphia. Robert writes and draws No Rodeo, a comic strip about a Latina preteen named Desiree. No Rodeo can be seen on www.PreteenPlanet.com, and will soon be syndicated to daily and Sunday newspapers.
Katie Beauchamp is an eighth-grader who serves as a Beta Club officer, chief editor of her school’s literary magazine, is captain of the Affirmative Team in Debate Club; and is in her fifth year of studying the viola. She has won awards with the Young Authors Competition and Future Problem Solving program at state and national levels.
Jesse Billauer was born in Pacific Palisades, California. At the age of nine, he found his true passion in life—surfing. He began traveling the world surfing in competitions when he was twelve years old and was named one of the top 100 up-and-coming surfers in the world by Surfer Magazine. After suffering a spinal cord injury from surfing, Jesse was left quadriplegic, but continues to surf and travel, and has become a motivational speaker. He has helped raise money and awareness to find a cure for paralysis through his nonprofit foundation, Life Rolls On. Jesse continues to inspire people with his message to “live life to the fullest and never give up on your hopes and dreams.”
Jim Borgman, a Pulitzer Prize winner, is among the most respected cartoonists in America. On the basis of his tenure as staff artist and editorial cartoonist for the Kenyon Collegian at Kenyon College in Gambier, Ohio, The Cincinnati Enquirer hired him in 1976 to begin work immediately following his graduation. He created Zits, his first comic strip, in collaboration with cartoonist Jerry Scott. It debuted in July 1997 in more than 200 newspapers. King Features now distributes Zits to 900 newspapers.
Heather Bradley lives with her mother and two sisters in Southern California where she is currently in seventh grade. Heather enjoys writing, reading, horseback riding, camping and just hanging out with her friends.
Kirk Brandt, Eagle Scout and youngest of six, acquired passionate drive from his dad and compassion for service from his mom. He was raised with a lot of love and wants to share it. He is also a vegan raw foodist. Kirk’s message to his father is, “Dad, I love and miss you.”
Leah Browning is a freelance writer whose published work includes stories, essays, articles and poetry. She is currently writing her second novel. When not working, Leah enjoys reading, spending time with her family, or practicing piano. (She is a late beginner.) A native of New Mexico, Leah lives in Minnesota.
Nicole Buckner is twelve years old and attends middle school. She enjoys reading, writing stories, poetry and horseback riding. Her story “Dapples” tells about the loss of her beloved horse. This tragic event, and her love for horses, has inspired her to become a veterinarian one day.
Chiara Cabiglio has always had a passion for writing. At thirteen, she has already written over forty songs and hopes to become a famous singer and songwriter. She loves to snowboard, sing, shop, play basketball, and travel (especially to Italy since she’s of Italian descent).
Stephanie Caffall, age thirteen, was inspired to write “Friends at First Sight” because of her friendship with Jesse, whom she still considers a true friend. She’d like to thank Jesse for being able to count on him. Thanks, Jesse! Love, Steffie. By the way, Jesse, now fourteen, would still rather escort a spider outside than kill it. He is currently working on his Eagle rank in Boy Scouts.
Danny Cannizzaro is a nineteen-year-old currently attending Brown University and studying illustration at Rhode Island School for Design. He plans to major in visual art, while also studying biology and chemistry in hopes of going to medical school upon graduation. He would like to thank his preteen little sister and brother, Diana and Joey, for their inspiration in designing the cover to this book.
Hector D. Cantú created his first newspaper cartoon at the young age of twelve and went on to study journalism at the University of Texas at Austin. His writing has appeared in The Los Angeles Times Magazine and The Hollywood Reporter. Today Hector is an assistant features editor at The Dallas Morning News. He also writes a nationally distributed business column for Knight Ridder/Tribune News Service. Hector lives in Dallas with his wife, Linda, and three kids: Maya, Sofia and Max.
Stories About Facing Challenges, Realizing Dreams and Making a Difference Page 28