Bikes for Angels 2013 Campaign

The Automotive Technology Department at Mansfield ISD’s Ben Barber Career Tech Academy is kicking off their school fundraiser for the 2013 Bikes for Angels Fund.

From Rick Curlee, Auto Tech Teacher at Ben Barber Career Tech Academy:

We dedicate our Bikes for Angels fundraiser to Mr. Jerry Bellows. We lost Mr. Bellows in January 2013 to ALS (Lou Gehrig’s disease). Mr. Bellows was very instrumental in our Bikes for Angels Program. Since starting in 2007, our students have raised over $102,000 to purchase 2,416 bicycles for Angel tree children at our Intermediate and Elementary schools in Mansfield and surrounding areas. We have also donated bikes to other community organizations such as the Common Ground Network in Mansfield and Bethlehem Baptist Church as well as the Family Crisis Center and Operation Blessing.

It means so much for the instructors and students who put time, energy, heart and soul into this program to see the Counselors, Principals, Teachers and some of the recipients with tears of joy in their eyes.

We are starting this new school year with the main goal of trying to buy at least 700 bicycles this year for needy children who would otherwise not get bikes for Christmas. We have had students bringing in everything from plastic bags full of change to one student who actually turned over his weekly paycheck to help these children in the past. We've also had many students who had been on Angel Trees when they were younger themselves so thankful for the opportunity to give back to their community.

We ask that you consider helping us again this year to meet our goal by making a donation of any kind. Some examples are listed below:

• Cars, running or not, and in any shape (Cars must have title)
• Scrap metal
• Checks, cash, even your spare change is accepted 
• It all adds up to bicycles!

Students will visit classrooms, businesses, and their immediate communities trying to raise funds. We also welcome sponsorship for our cause.

If you'd like to donate by check, please make it out to: Bikes for Angels.
Contact Mr. Rick Curlee at MISD Ben Barber Career Tech Academy for receipt of donation or other additional information.
Email: rickcurlee@misdmail.org
Phone: 817-299-1939
Note: All monies raised will go to bicycles. There are no administrative costs. 

Check out some photos from the 2013 Bike for Angels Campaign!

Impact Award - Coach Coordinates Breakfast for Heroes

Travel back in your mind to the end of summertime… Volcanic temperatures, long sunny days, and for campus faculty and staff – summer planning retreats! The staff from Asa Low Intermediate held their fourth annual retreat on August 8, 2012.

During the retreat, the team split into groups to tackle various objectives and plans for the upcoming school year. At that time their ideas were just notes on paper, but four months later, plans have sprung into action and expectations have been exceeded.

Coach David Rinearson led a Community Outreach planning group. Upon his recommendation, the team prepared plans for a “Breakfast for Heroes,” event that would benefit the Wounded Warrior Project.

The Wounded Warrior Project is a military-based program that provides programs and services to severely injured service members during the time between active duty and transition to civilian life.

“The goal is to help them get their life back,” said Rinearson. “Sometimes it’s through counseling, sometimes it’s through helping them purchase prosthesis.”

Rinearson worked with the local Applebee’s to coordinate a community pancake breakfast to raise money for the project. He also enlisted Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW) Post 6111 in Arlington to help publicize the event. 

The students of Asa Low were also instrumental in the success of the event. After gathering donations from family and community members, they raised a grand total of $1,400! Principal Jason Short was impressed with the way the students responded to the event.

“We wanted not just to involve the kids, but to teach them,” Short said. “We teach a lot about character around here, so we wanted them to tie those messages together, and this activity did that.”

On November 11, a group of veterans from Post 6111 came to the campus to accept the check, which was presented by school namesake Asa Low. As a token of their appreciation the veterans presented Rinearson with a special VFW coin. The coin is presented to those who do something beyond the normal scope of duty, and is considered a great honor.

On behalf of the MISD Administration, congratulations to Coach David Rinearson for making a positive impact in his school and community and for being named our latest Impact Award recipient. Job well done!

Watch the Impact Award video on YouTube:

HOSA Students Prove the Value of a Vial

The Health Occupations Students of America (HOSA) of Ben Barber Career Tech Academy (BBCTA) have launched a service project that will allow them to give back to the community while offering a potentially life-saving resource.

The Vial of L.I.F.E. (Lifesaving Information for Emergencies) is a container that stores important medical information, which can be accessed by emergency personnel in the event of a crisis in a person’s home.

Gary Welborn, the Health Science Instructor at BBCTA heard about this project from multiple sources and saw a great opportunity to reach out to the citizens of the Mansfield ISD community.

“If a paramedic needs instant access to a patient’s medical history, the vial is easy to get to,” said Welborn. “It’s also very useful in the event that a patient is unconscious or unable to quickly remember all of the prescriptions they are taking.”

With the help of donations from the Meadows Foundation and Ray’s Pharmacy, the materials for the project were obtained at no cost. A $500 donation from the Meadows Foundation covered printing expenses and Ray’s Pharmacy provided the plastic vials. Students assisted with the graphic design aspects of the project as well as the assembly of the materials.

So, what exactly is inside these vials?

The outside of each plastic vial is marked with a red and white label which reads, “Vial of Life: Look Inside Refrigerator for Complete Medical Information.” There are two additional labels inside the vial; one to be placed on the door of the individual’s home and the other (which is adhered to a magnet) to be mounted on the refrigerator. Most importantly, a medical history sheet is folded inside the vial. Keeping the vial in the fridge allows paramedics to locate it quickly.

The HOSA students will assist with the distribution of the vials, offering them to their parents, grandparents and neighbors. Their goal is to get these vials into the hands of as many people that need them as possible.

“I plan to go around my neighborhood to offer the vials to people and tell them about the program,” said HOSA student Angela Tetteh. “It can really help save a life, so I believe it’s very important.”

How can I get a Vial of L.I.F.E. for myself?

The vials can be picked up from Mrs. Mullins in the front office of BBCTA (1120 W. Debbie Lane). For additional requests, contact Gary Welborn (garywelborn@misdmail.org or 817.299.1916).

Supplies are limited, so don’t wait!

How can I return the kindness of these students?

While the HOSA students are proud to present this resource to community members at no cost, they hope people will “pay it forward” and keep the chain of kindness going by offering a donation to the American Cancer Society’s “Relay for Life.” You can donate online or drop off your contribution to the BBCTA bookkeeper.

A donation of any amount would be greatly appreciated. Donations will be accepted through June 10, 2011.

Saving Lives Is Everybody's Business: Every 15 Minutes Program

The following is from an email sent from the local community sponsor of an event that will serve as a fundraiser for the 'Every 15 Minutes' program:

Community Comes Together For Our High School Students
by Daryle Perez, Alternative Funeral Services
March 10, 2011

As funeral professionals in our community, we have had to experience the difficult process of making funeral arrangements for a student that has died due to an alcohol related collision.

We as a community feel the loss and come together to greive in our own way and at times thinking that it could have happened to my family.

Life's lessons are best learned though experience. Unfortunately, when the target audience is teens and the topic is drinking and texting while driving, experience is not the teacher of choice.

So what can we do? Educate.

Every 15 Minutes Program
The Every 15 Minutes Program offers real-life experience without the real-life risks. This emotionally charged program, entitled Every 15 Minutes, is an event designed to dramatically instill teenagers with the potentially dangerous consequences of drinking alcohol and texting while driving. This powerful program will challenge students to think about drinking, texting while driving, personal safety, and the responsibility of making mature decisions when lives are involved.

Historically, only two high schools in the Mansfield ISD participated. The decision was made to share the experience with all four MISD high schools. Funding is provided by the Mansfield Police Department's "Every 15 Minutes" program and the addition of two more schools created the need for additional funding from the individual schools.

We believe that this program greatly impacts our high school students and that it is the responsibility of our business community to ensure that these types of programs continue in the future.

Benefit Art Show
We would like to invite your to an evening of art and music as we help to raise monies for the "Every 15 Minutes" program.

Saving Lives: Benefit Art Show
3/26/11  5:00 PM - 10:00 PM

Alternative Funeral Services

1556 W. Heritage Parkway at HWY 287

Admission is Free - Donations will be accepted

Donated artwork will be auctioned and all proceeds will be given to the Mansfield Police Department's "Every 15 Minutes" fund.

Get directions and information about AFS Gallery Night Benefit Art Show.
Donations can be made payable to: AFS-1556 Heritage Parkway, Mansfield, TX 76063

Mary Orr Student Council Helps Old Bikes Find New Homes

In these tough economic times, there are endless opportunities to lend a helping hand to someone in need. Although we may be facing financial challenges of our own, there are still many ways we can make a positive impact in the lives’ of others.

The Student Council members of Mary Orr Intermediate demonstrated that vision of goodwill by hosting the “Wheelie Big Bike Drive,” benefitting a local nonprofit organization called Pedal Power.

Pedal Power, whose motto is, “help us put the 'cycle' in recycle,” is based in North Texas and was founded by mountain bike enthusiasts. The volunteer organization is dedicated to collecting, refurbishing and distributing second-hand bicycles to those in need locally and abroad.

The Student Council members of Mary Orr put the pedal to the metal to plan, promote and execute the bike drive. Blake Lindsey, the Student Council sponsor played a key role in the process.

“It was a pleasure for the Student Council to carry out its mission of serving our community and world by working with Pedal Power,” said Student Council sponsor Blake Lindsey. “Their organization is dedicated to helping others both locally and abroad.”

Weeks of hard work culminated on the chilly afternoon of March 5. Despite the brisk breeze, many warm-hearted Mansfield residents came out to support the Student Council students in this worthy cause.

Among the supporters was Principal Alma Martinez, who braved the weather to facilitate the event.

At the close of the event, the students were proud to present a collection of 40 bicycles as well as $100. Congratulations to these students, whose hard work amounted to a “wheelie” generous gesture!