The streamlined relationship means RisingLine can provide comprehensive Web development and content services, yet keep costs low for clients. Monelle Smith, writer at Gemstone Media said, “as far as cost goes, we function as a coherent group of freelancers. Clients get the benefit of our experience producing great content, along with RisingLine’s strong history of successful Web 2.0 development, without paying for the overhead of a traditional advertising agency.”

Case emphasized the advantages of the affiliation. “We’re excited about the potential for synergy, since Gemstone Media’s work complements and supports what we do with Web design.”

Interested parties are invited to visit RisingLine.com or GemstoneMedia.net for further information.

Todd Agnew

CCM artist Todd Agnew will make his first Boise area appearance Friday evening, Feb. 20th, at First Church of the Nazarene in Nampa. Ticket proceeds benefit Adopt A New Beginning Adoption Agency. Todd was adopted as an infant and will tell his story during the concert.

Doors open at six and the concert begins at seven. Tickets are $15 in advance and $20 at the door. They are available online at adoptanewbeginning.org.

The Special Olympics are one of the world’s largest sporting events, drawing more athletes than the Olympics. Athletes from more than 100 nations gather to celebrate sport and showcase the abilities of people with intellectual disabilities. This prominent world stage brings attention to the Special Olympics movement and helps create positive, sometimes life-saving policy change for people with intellectual disabilities in countries around the world.

Help make change happen in Idaho February 7-13th. Donate or volunteer, and help support athletes in their World Games adventure.

• 2009 World Winter Games Website
• Idaho Family Ambassador Program

We want to help get the word out about the Hope for Orphans 5k Run/Walk taking place Saturday, June 7th. It’s Boise’s 2nd year to participate and the goal is to host 12 children from Philippine orphanages

Thanks to the generous donations of many Boise area businesses and individuals, Boise’s first summer of Hope was a great success. For my family, it was much more—we ended up adopting the boy who stayed with us. After a lot of paperwork, I had the privilege of flying to the Philippines a few months ago and bringing James back for good.

After having firsthand exposure to the devastating poverty that these children come from, I can’t help but become more of an advocate for the program. While my family is not hosting a child this year, we would like to ask that you consider supporting the 12 children planning to come.

The funds raised are just to bring the children and Filipino escorts here for the summer, the cost per child is approximately $3,500. For all the children who come it’s a once-in-a-lifetime experience, and historically 80% of these older orphans who participate end up being adopted. Without participation in this program, almost none of these older orphans would be adopted. More information about the program is available at http://summerofhope.org

Here’s how you can help:

1. Donate to RisingLine’s Run/Walk team online. Any amount helps. All Donations are made directly to Sacred Portion Children’s outreach a 501(c)3 charity are tax deductible.
2. Become a corporate sponsor
3. Participate as a runner or walker
4. Form your own team for Hope for Orphans Run/Walk ‘08. Contact Beth McDonald at (208) 672-8560

Thank you!

Doug Case
Managing Director—RisingLine New Media Marketing

PS. If you know other individuals or businesses who might be interested in participating as runners or sponsors please consider forwarding this info to them!

An estimated 80% of refugees are women and children. They often carry the heaviest burden of survival for themselves and their families. Women and adolescent girls in refugee settings are especially vulnerable to exploitation, rape, abuse and other forms of gender-based violence. Children and youth constitute approximately 50 percent of all refugees worldwide. They are the deliberate targets of abuse, and easy prey to military recruitment and abduction. They typically miss out on years of education. ^[source]

Refugees being resettled in the Boise area come here not knowing anyone nor having experienced a western lifestyle. No doubt that makes their resettlement sometimes daunting and challenging.

With only a staff of seven, the International Rescue Committee in Boise is not able to comprehensively explain each and every detail of life in the United States. That’s why refugees to the Boise community depend on volunteers to mentor them.

The IRC in Boise volunteer program needs you to join its dedicated volunteer team to help these resilient individuals acculturate. Please contact Boise’s Community Outreach Specialist Keziah Sullivan at to schedule a volunteer orientation session and learn how you can get involved assisting refugees. For more information on the IRC and involvement opportunities please visit the Boise IRC Website.

While possibly best known for the breath-taking ice sculptures and Idaho State Snow Sculpture Championships, the carnival has grown to include a weeks worth of entertainment and fun.

For a complete overview of the events and schedules, visit the McCall Winter Carnival's web site at: http://mccallwintercarnival.com

The Carnival also offers a great opportunity for businesses to contribute to the Idaho community while gaining great exposure from the more than 50,000 people who participate in the event.

For information on becoming a corporate sponsor or volunteer contact Jesse Murphy, the Carnival's marketing Co-Chairman, at 208-866-6085 or by email.

We want to let you know about an innovative non-profit organization: Kiva.org.

Kiva.org allows individuals to make $25 loans to low-income entrepreneurs in the developing world (microfinance). By doing so, almost anyone can provide affordable working capital for the poor (money to buy a sewing machine, livestock, etc.), empowering them to earn their way out of poverty.

It's a new, direct and sustainable way to fight global poverty and provides a higher return on $25 than the interest from most checking accounts. If you have a minute, please check out the site: http://kiva.org. Kiva has received great press in publications ranging from The Wall Street Journal to NPR to BusinessWeek.

Please take a few moments to learn more about Kiva.org at their Website and consider what a big difference a small investment on your part can make.

We’re looking for volunteers to try out OrganicBoise.org—a free web site allowing users to contribute their own information and feedback about organic products and stores in the Treasure Valley. We’ve developed this dynamic site, and tested it ourselves, but we need real world feedback to insure it will meet the needs of users.

To volunteer as a test user we just ask that you be willing to let us know that good, bad and ugly of your experience so we can make improvements. That’s all there is to it it’s fun, free, and most importantly it’s a service to our community. Any product information/reviews that you enter as a tester will be retained for long term public access.

OrganicBoise.com will always be free for public use and will not accept advertising or financial support from organic food producers or marketers (although they will be able to contribute information to the forum). OrganicBoise is presently underwritten by RisingLine New Media Marketing as a community service. Additional non-food industry corporate sponsorship opportunities may be available in the future.

To become a test user, please register here: http://organicboise.org/become-a-contributor.htm

We will contact you to confirm your registration and to provide the simple instructions for posting information on the site.

If you have any questions, please feel free to contact us online or at 208.475.3192.

Also, if you know of another individual or organization who might be interested in contributing, please consider forwarding this information to them. Thank you!

10400 Overland Rd, #298, Boise, ID 83709 / 7104 Bristol Lane Bozeman, MT 59715

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:

Date: May 22, 2007

Contact: Gena Case, 208.869.1913

Business sponsorships needed to cover travel expenses for orphans coming from the Philippines for the 2007 Summer of Hope program in Boise, Idaho.

July 2007—The Summer of Hope is a unique charity event that both projects a positive image to the international community and meets the pressing needs of children. The program brings older orphans from the Philippines for a 4 week visit to the U.S. where they can meet American families who often end up adopting, mentoring or staying connected with them for life.

In the last four years 57 of these children have found permanent families through this same program in Bozeman, MT and more than 2,000 have found hope through similar national programs.

Without intervention, the older orphans in the Philippines have little hope of a normal adult life. Statistically most end up in a life of poverty and crime. Research has shown that a connected, caring relationship with an adult is the most important factor in preventing a child from leading a life of violence, and helping that child become a productive member of society.

Corporate Sponsorship Opportunities

Businesses of any size are invited to help support this program. In addition to expressing goodwill from the United States and helping save children’s lives, business supporters will benefit from publicity and exposure of the summerofhope.org web site and other media channels. Summer of Hope’s current corporate supporters range from small to large businesses and include: Costco, Arbonne International, RisingLine.com, Postal Annex, Roaring Springs, Primerica, High Desert Shirt Co., Wayne Cass Photography, and M.J.’s Backhoe.

How to participate

More information about sponsorship options and benefits are available online at http://summerofhope.org, by calling Gena Case at 208.869.1913 or by calling Doug Case at 208.949.0720.

Organizations may donate and register for corporation sponsorship online at: http://summerofhope.org/corporate-registration.php

The Boise Summer of Hope 2007 is an outreach of The Sacred Portion Children’s Outreach, a 501(c)3 charity based in Bozeman, Montana.