Contact:      Christopher Lower

Minneapolis, MN - Sterling Cross Communications announced today that they have been selected by White Bear Yacht Club for Public Relations Projects to announce their newly remodeled Clubhouse, new deck-dining facility, new five lane lap pool and a zero-entry splash pool with an adjoining cabana area opening in early summer 2013.

White Bear Yacht Club offers members and their guests a highly-ranked, impeccably maintained Donald Ross golf course, fine and casual dining in two state-of-the art clubhouses, clay tennis courts and an award-winning children’s program.

Mary Lower, Founder & Co-owner of Sterling Cross spoke about the new client; “we’re honored to have been selected by such a legendary Minnesota brand, and look forward to assisting them to usher in a new era for the club.”

The White Bear Yacht Club was formed one hundred years ago, first with a yacht club in 1889, followed by tennis in the 1890s and a golf facility in 1912.

 

White Bear Yacht Club located on the shores of White Bear Lake features a legendary Donald Ross golf course, Marina, Clubhouse & Pool. The White Bear Yacht Club is distinguished as a “Five Star Platinum Club of America.” For more info, please visit: www.wbyc.com

Sterling Cross Communications is an award winning Public Relations, Marketing, Social Media, Web & Mobile Firm that specializes in the hospitality, resort, hotel, and luxury bands and is celebrating their 10 year Anniversary. For more information, Please visit www.sterlingcrossgroup.com.

St. Paul, MN – The Daily Diner Frogtown will open in St. Paul’s Frogtown neighborhood on Monday, April 15^th, 2013. It is an urban American Diner located at 615 University Avenue (cross street Dale) and is open seven days a week: Monday – Saturday 7am to 9pm and Sunday 10am to 3pm. The Daily Diner serves traditional American favorites incorporating local ingredients with ethnic flavors. The Diner serves a dual purpose – providing a comfortable neighborhood meeting location serving quality food and coffee while meeting the goal of the Union Gospel Mission – changing lives and providing self-sufficiency for those in need.

Ken Peterson, Executive Director of the Union Gospel Mission, is overjoyed to see this restaurant open commenting, “Our Mission is changing lives. To fully address the needs of homeless and struggling people in our community, we must overcome the obstacles that prevent people from being hired and keeping a job. The key to permanency in a changed live is self-sufficiency. The extensive professional career training offered for Mission graduates at the Daily Diner provides that career bedrock.”

 

The Daily Diner is the result of a strategic collaboration by the Union Gospel Mission with area hospitality industry experts. The Diner offers practical, on-the-job training in the restaurant field (one of the few growing sectors in the economy) to those on the road to recovery. The students learn time management, customer service, multitasking, and kitchen skills and practice these skills in a full-service restaurant setting, working side by side with professional hospitality staff.

 

Operating in conjunction with Daily Diner’s full-service restaurant, the Union Gospel Mission’s training program produces qualified employees prepared for outside work in the hospitality industry. Upon graduation, each trainee (initial goals are to produce 25-30 graduates per year) has gained the skills necessary to both find and sustain job in the industry.  In the training process, they gain the added benefits of dignity and courage to lead a life of self-reliance.

 

The restaurant will be managed by David Lindahl, an industry veteran with over 35 years of management experience, including 15 years with the Timber Lodge Restaurants. Executive Chef Jason Koehn brings 20 years of experience with the Champp’s Americana Chain of Restaurants to the kitchen and menu. Both are excited to be part of such a unique restaurant opportunity. Lindahl explained, “We are honored to have such a positive impact and give something back in an industry that has given so much to us.”

 

The Daily Diner is an eclectic urban eatery serving classic diner favorites while incorporating local ingredients and ethnic flavors. The menu is inspired by the diversity of the neighborhood and the heritage of their location, along University Avenue in the commercial district of Saint Paul’s historic Frogtown. For more information, please visit: www.dailydinerfrogtown.com or on Facebook: www.facebook.com/DailyDinerFrogtown.

Founded in 1902, the Union Gospel Mission is a Christian ministry dedicated to serving the homeless, poor, and addicted in their community. Providing safe shelter, nutritious food, dental and medical care, and a broad variety of life-changing programs, the Mission helps people rebuild their lives - physically, emotionally, spiritually and educationally. For more information, please visit: www.ugmtc.org or on Facebook: www.facebook.com/ugmtwincities.

 

 

Twenty-five women have been selected to be included in the inaugural induction.  Five of whom will be celebrated in memoriam.  To be considered for inclusion (women could not be nominated), women must have had their accomplishments publically recognized by winning a major award by outside business resources such as the US Small Business Administration, NAWBO, Committee of 200, MN Business Hall of Fame, or the Junior Achievement of the Upper Midwest Hall of Fame.  Inductees must have also have:

·        Made enduring contributions to Minnesota’s entrepreneurial community

·        Made an impact on women’s entrepreneurial development in Minnesota

·        A meaningful connection to Minnesota (such as place of birth, education, and/or business location) and

·        Demonstrated leadership qualities or a spirit of entrepreneurial innovation that can serve as an inspiration to future generations of Minnesota entrepreneurs

 

Jill Johnson, Hall of Fame organizer said, “We will be covering nearly 125 years of Minnesota business history with the women being inducted into this Hall of Fame. I believe we need to share the stories of these women pioneers – their challenges, their fears, and their amazing business accomplishments.  For NAWBO-MN it is an opportunity to reconnect our community to the dynamic impact that women business owners have had on the state’s economy.  This Hall will provide a face and story to hold up as role models for the next generation of women leaders.”

 

The event will take place at Cargill World Headquarters from 5:30-9:00 PM, April 25^th.  Media personality and business owner Roshini Rajkumar is the master of ceremony.  A limited amount of tickets is available at www.nawbo-mn.org.  NAWBO member cost to the event is $75.  Ticket price for the public is $125.  See list below for full list of inductees into the Women Business Owners Hall of Fame.

 

The National Association of Women Business Owners – Minnesota Chapter (NAWBO-MN) since 1977 provides a local avenue for women entrepreneurs to connect with their peers. Women business owners, large and small, join for regular networking, educational programs, mentorship and support. Nationally, NAWBO was founded in 1975 to open doors for women entrepreneurs by transforming public policy and leveling the playing field. 

   

 

FMSC maintains its consistent four-star rating for efficiency and integrity while growing at an annual rate of 66% per year for the past eight years—a rare accomplishment for non-profits in the current economic environment. This top rating comes on the heels of renewed approval by the Charities Review Council.

 

“Only 2% of the charities we rate have received at least 8 consecutive 4-star evaluations,” Ken Burger, President of Charity Navigator, told FMSC in a letter. “This ‘exceptional’ designation…differentiates FMSC from its peers and demonstrates to the public it is worthy of their trust.” See Charity Navigator’s full web page on FMSC here.

 

Besides a high annual rating, Charity Navigator recognizes FMSC in another way: Every month they post “Top Ten Lists”. For more than a year, FMSC has consistently been named one of 10 “Highly Rated Charities that Rely Solely on Private Contributions.” http://www.charitynavigator.org/index.cfm?bay=topten.detail&listid=17

 

The Top Ten post says about FMSC: “These 10 excellent charities draw revenue solely from public support. They report no government funding or membership fees…As a result, more than 95% of their total revenue comes from private contributions, which makes the efficiency of their fundraising operation all the more impressive.”

 

A Christian non-profit founded in 1987, Feed My Starving Children (FMSC) tackles world hunger by sending volunteer-packed, nutritious meals to 50 countries, where they're used to operate orphanages, schools, clinics and other building blocks of healthy communities. In its current fiscal year, FMSC expects to produce 160 million meals and spend 92% of total donations* directly on feeding the hungry. To find out more about FMSC, including their seven packing sites and nationwide MobilePack program, go to www.fmsc.org .

 

 

*At the recommendation of our auditors, this ratio includes the value of volunteer labor.

 

Minneapolis, MN - When Mary Lower first proposed the idea to her husband Christopher, that they should put out their own shingle and launch their own Public Relations and Marketing Firm, Sterling Cross Communications, in 2003, they knew they really wanted to put their own stamp on what it meant to be a firm or agency in the Twin Cities. They really wanted to be a firm that stood out from a very crowded creative field in the market. One of those unique differences was the creation of their Cross Community Project program.

There are many great stories that needed to be told to the public, but a lot of charitable, non-profit, volunteer based, and faith-based organizations did not have the budgets, know-how, or manpower to get the word out there to the media. The Lowers decided that no matter how their business would perform, it would always have the Cross Community Program offered.

 

Four times a year (once each quarter) Sterling Cross takes on a project from one of these groups that fills out a request on their website for help (http://sterlingcrossgroup.com/contact), and selects and provides a pro-bono PR or Marketing project. It started with just the Lower’s choosing projects, but as their firm grew and they added employees, contractors, vendor partners, and clients, the project grew to include recommendations and selections from the entire group.

 

Mary Lower reflected on the 10 year milestone and said; “We may always be a smaller (size) agency, but we want to have a huge impact on our community.” She continued; “Some of these events reaped tremendous benefits from our effort, helping to make these events or news stories the best they could be and share great stories provided great joy and we felt that was payment enough.” Christopher Lower agreed; “Great stories need to be shared, and as that is a passion of ours, it has truly meant we were honored to be a small part of and to share the stories of people doing great things to impact their communities.  Both Lowers hope to still be performing these projects and continuing the Cross Community Projects for many years to come.

 

For a partial list to some of the parties and organizations they have helped over the years, please click here:  http://sterlingcrossgroup.com/industries (listed under the Cross Community Clients). To find out more or to submit your projects for consideration please visit their website here: http://sterlingcrossgroup.com/industries/cross-community-charity-and-non-profit-clients.

 

 

January 8, 2013, Coon Rapids, Minn.— Rival men’s hockey teams from Notre Dame and the University of Minnesota will face off in another competition the day after their Tuesday evening match-up at Mariucci Arena. Media are invited to cover the competition between the #1-ranked Gophers and the #2-ranked Notre Dame teams when they meet from 4-5:30 p.m. on Wednesday, January 9, at the Coon Rapids, Minn. site of Feed My Starving Children (FMSC), to see which team can pack the most meals for starving children around the world.

The Notre Dame coaching staff contacted Feed My Starving Children and booked the team for the service project after the game against the Minnesota Gophers and before travelling to Michigan State for their Friday game.  Feed My Starving Children is becoming well known nationally through MobilePack events, which have recently traveled to 35 states, including the East Coast. FMSC staff member Ann Hill spoke to the Notre Dame coaching staff, and asked for permission to invite his U of M rivals to a joint meal-packing session. Gophers coach Don Lucia agreed, and the hunger face-off was set for a time when both teams could be present.   

 

Gopher and Notre Dame alumni will join the teams to pack meals for starving children and witness the rivalry in action. The volunteers will work in teams to assemble dehydrated meals of rice, soy, vegetables and a micro-nutrient powder.

 

            The Coon Rapids site of Feed My Starving Children is located at 401 93^rd Ave. NW in Coon Rapids.

 

Minneapolis, Minn.—Members of the media are invited to a private screening of a new public TV documentary, Nourish Hope: Progress Starts with Food, on January 29, at tpt studios in St. Paul. The program’s experts in economics and nutrition will be available for interviews by appointment at 5 p.m., prior to the screening. The one-hour documentary, produced with Feed My Starving Children, will premiere on tpt’s statewide Minnesota Channel (tpt MN) on February 10 and 17, 2013, and on tpt’s metro-area channel (tpt LIFE) on February 17.

 

Nourish Hope: Progress Starts with Food is based in part on findings by 65 global economists (the 2012 Copenhagen Consensus) that every $1 invested in reversing malnutrition early in childhood yields $30 worth of benefits in a developing nation. The documentary features Peter Orazem, Ph.D., an Iowa State University economist whose research drove the Consensus recommendation that “fighting malnutrition should be the top priority for policy-makers and philanthropists.”  (www.copenhagenconsensus.com )

 

The host of Nourish Hope is former Dateline NBC journalist Dr. Bob Arnot, who traveled with Feed My Starving Children to Kikuyu, Kenya, to see how MannaPack™ Rice sustains resource-strapped orphanages and schools. Through video exchanges, Dr. Arnot also brings to life a strong connection between Minnesota teens who have funded and packed MannaPack meals, and children in Kenya who receive them. Additional footage from Haiti shows FMSC’s new MannaPack™ Potato-D saving lives in a cholera camp; and its Potato-W formula working in a malnutrition treatment center for infants.

 

The documentary also features two food scientists: Richard Fulmer, Ph.D., retired vice president of the Central Research Lab at Cargill, who developed FMSC’s original MannaPack™ Rice formula; and Cade Fields Gardner, MS, RD, who developed FMSC’s potato-based formulas.

 

“We’ve long known our meals not only save lives, but actually create futures for children and communities,” says FMSC’s Executive Director/CEO, Mark Crea. “This documentary grounds our experience in economic research, while bringing to life the extraordinary connection between our volunteer meal-packers and the children they serve.”

 

Nourish Hope: Progress Starts with Food has been funded, in part, by the General Mills Foundation and by Modus Advisors.

 

About tpt
The mission of tpt is to “enrich lives and strengthen our community through the power of media.”

As one of the nation’s leading public media organizations, tpt uses television, interactive media, and community engagement to advance education, culture and citizenship. Over its 50 plus year history, tpt has been recognized for its innovation and creativity with numerous awards, including Peabody awards and national and regional Emmys. Based in St. Paul, MN, tpt is one of the highest rated PBS affiliates in the nation, reaching over 1.3 million people each month through multiple broadcast and online channels.  The organization's particular areas of focus include: the educational readiness of children; serving the needs and unleashing the potential of America's aging population; engaging a new generation in the power of public media; and being the preferred media partner for organizations that align with our mission to enrich lives and strengthen community. For more information about tpt, please visit our website at www.tpt.org or join us on Facebook and Twitter.

A Christian non-profit founded in 1987, Feed My Starving Children tackles world hunger by sending volunteer-packed, nutritionally complete meals to nearly 70 countries, where the food is used by mission and humanitarian organizations to operate orphanages, schools, clinics, feeding programs, and other building blocks of healthy communities. Last year FMSC produced 133 million meals, maintained its seventh consecutive four-star rating from Charity Navigator, and spent 92% of total donations directly on feeding the hungry. Feed My Starving Children has been recognized as one of the fastest-growing charities in the United States.

 

Mary Lower

President/Chief Storyteller

Sterling Cross Communications

763.496.1499 o.

612.636.6544 c.

 

 

Coon Rapids, Minn., Dec. 20, 2013 — Effective January 2, 2013, the Chanhassen, Minn. meal-packing site of Feed My Starving Children (FMSC) will move to a larger leased space, expanding the number of meals it can produce by hosting a greater number of volunteers to work two additional production lines.

 

The site, currently located at 18738 Lake Drive East in Chanhassen, will move to 18732 Lake Drive East, a larger space next door in the same office park. (Volunteers will continue to use the same parking lot.) The larger site will increase capacity from 60 volunteers at each packing session to 114 volunteers, and increase annual production capacity from 20 to 31 million meals. The new space will also have three loading docks instead of one, and require three additional part-time Team Leaders on staff to lead volunteer packing sessions.

           

“Feed My Starving Children is continually looking for ways to produce more meals for the world’s desperately hungry, while being a good steward of the funds God has entrusted to us,” says Mark Crea, Executive Director/CEO of FMSC. “This move will increase meal capacity at Chanhassen by more than 10 million a year for a very small increase in production costs.”

           

FMSC opened its Chanhassen site at the current location in 2006. The site will move in late December and begin operating in the new space on January 2, while remaining open for all scheduled packing sessions in the meantime. The site’s phone number will remain the same: 952.937.2329. Volunteers still need to pre-register online at www.fmsc.org/volunteer.

 

A Christian non-profit founded in 1987, Feed My Starving Children tackles world hunger by sending volunteer-packed, nutritious meals to nearly 70 countries, where they're used to operate orphanages, schools, clinics and other building blocks of healthy communities. This year FMSC will produce 160 million meals at seven sites and through a nationwide MobilePack program. The Minnesota-based charity has earned the highest four-star rating from Charity Navigator for seven consecutive years.

# # #

 

 

Mary Lower

President/Chief Storyteller

Sterling Cross Communications

763.496.1499 o.

612.636.6544 c.

 

 

Coon Rapids, Minn.– As fall colors bring thoughts of holiday shopping, Feed My Starving Children (FMSC) announces a new line of useful gifts that also fund meals for children. Ranging in price from $10 to $320, these “Gifts That Grow” are sold online at FMSCMarketPlace.org and in retail MarketPlace shops at the charity’s meal-packing sites in Minnesota, Illinois, and Arizona. Feed My Starving Children sends nutritious, hand-packed meals to children worldwide.

There are six Gifts that Grow to choose from, including a $10 cross necklace that funds 45 meals; a $50 handmade chili bowl or ornament that funds a box of food (216 meals); and on the high end, a framed photo for $320 that feeds a family in the developing world for an entire year. Each sale counts as a tax-deductible donation, minus the fair market value of the item.

“Some charities give you a coupon to represent your financial gift,” says Mark Crea, CEO of Feed My Starving Children. “But with Gifts that Grow, you actually get a useful item—like a soup bowl or ornament—a visible reminder of the kids you’re feeding. It’s a win-win when we can help people give unique and meaningful gifts that work hard to change our world.”

Besides Gifts that Grow, the FMSCMarketPlace.org offers a large inventory of household items and jewelry made by artisans in the developing world. Each purchase of a basket, shoulder bag, or necklace provides a fair wage to a struggling artisan, while profits help Feed My Starving Children produce more meals. 

 

“I’m thrilled that after 25 years, we’re still innovating ways to grow and feed more of those in need,” says Crea. “By supporting the artisans who receive our food, we help them earn a fair wage and become self-reliant.”

 

A Christian non-profit founded in 1987, Feed My Starving Children (FMSC) tackles world hunger by sending volunteer-packed, nutritious meals to nearly 70 countries, where they're used to operate orphanages, schools, clinics and other building blocks of healthy communities. Last year FMSC produced 133 million meals, maintained its seventh consecutive four-star rating from Charity Navigator and spent 92% of total donations directly on feeding the hungry. To find out more about FMSC, including the location of their seven packing sites, go to fmsc.org .

###

$10 Small Cross Necklace

Provides 45 meals

No fair Market Value

 

$50 box of food ornament

Provides 216 meals

No fair Market Value

 

$50 handmade chili bowl

Provides 216 meals

Fair market value $20

Tax deductible donation $30

 

$80 Handmade Metal Cross

Feeds a child for one year

Fair Market Value $10

Tax deductable donation $70

$80 Glass Ball Ornament

Feeds a child for one year

Fair Market Value $10

Tax deductible donation $70

 

 

$320 Framed Photograph

Feeds a family for one year

Fair Market Value $30

Tax deductible donation $290

 

 

Bloomington, MN – Axel’s Bonfire Restaurants today announces the launch of their new winter menu featuring the best in big, bold robust flavors uniquely prepared in wood fired ovens.   

 

Who:                Axle’s Bonfire Restaurants www.axelsbonfire.com Minnesota locations in Blaine, Eagan, St. Paul, Savage, Woodbury, Roseville, Chanhassen, Mendota Heights and opening soon, Mankato

 

What:               NEW Food:

                        Grilled Chicken Ciabatta w/ Fire-Roasted Fuji Apples, Brie & Bacon

                        Guajillo Grilled Pot Roast with Fire Roasted Vegetables

                        Pizza “Chips and Dip”

                        Old School Nachos

                        Guajillo Pot Roast Sandwich

                        Tacos 3 new ways: Blackened Shrimp, Carnitas, El Pastor

                        Fire-Roasted Fuji Apples, Brie Pizza with Garlic Parmesan Cream Sauce

                        Wild Mushrooms Linguini, Bacon & Peas

                        Pit Burger - ½ pound fresh ground Angus beef topped with spicy pulled pork, aged cheddar cheese

                        Panzanella Salad

                        Thai Peanut Salad

                        Surf & Turf (medallion & 3 coconut shrimp)

                        Cheddar and Parmesan Au Gratin Potatoes

                        Fire Roasted Apple Galette

                       

                        NEW Drink:

                        S’More Martini              

 

Why:                “We’ve been working hard for months on this menu evolution,” said Culinary Director Chef Mo Moore.  “Axel’s Bonfire menu truly incorporates our commitment to wood fired cooking, fresh seasonal ingredients and incorporating the ‘fun factor’ – fusion of trendy and true menu items.”

           

Chef Mo continued, “It’s taken us four months to develop, test and finalize our new menu but we know our guests will deliciously benefit from the work we put into this new menu.  The wood fired cooking technique we use in our food preparation not only accentuates the flavor profiles of the comfort food we prepare, but is a much healthier way to prepare food so our guest’s palates and waist line equally benefit from our new offerings.”

 

                       

Axel’s Bonfire Restaurants are located in the Twin Cities Metro and opening soon in Mankato. For more information visit www.axelsbonfire.com or www.facebook.com/AxelsBonfire

 

Mary Lower

President/Chief Storyteller

Sterling Cross Communications

763.496.1499 o.

612.636.6544 c.