Go Red for Women

Friday, May 2nd , 2008 was the 3rd Annual Go Red for Women Empowerment Luncheon at The Savannah Center.

Go Red For Women is the American Heart Association's nationwide movement that celebrates the energy, passion and power we have as women to band together and fight heart disease, the No. 1 killer of American women.

A study released in the Journal of the American Medical Association tells us that small amounts of dark chocolate (one piece of a 16 piece bar, or around 30 calories a day) when taken daily for about 18 weeks can lower blood pressure, which in turn can help reduce the risk of stroke or death from coronary artery disease.

CARSON wrappedhersheys.com donated 500 Hershey's Special Dark chocolate bars for the attendees at the luncheon.

 

Joe Nuxhall Remembered

Monday, March 31, 2008 was Opening Day for the Cincinnati Reds and an appropriate time to remember beloved Reds broadcaster and former pitcher, Joe Nuxhall.

Joseph Henry Nuxhall (July 30, 1928 – November 15, 2007) was a left-handed pitcher born and raised in Hamilton, Ohio, who played most of his career for the Cincinnati Reds. He held the team's record for career games pitched (484) from 1965 to 1975, and is remembered for having been the youngest player ever to appear in a major league game in the modern era, pitching 2/3 of an inning for the Reds on June 10, 1944 at the age of 15 years.  Nuxhall retired from the Reds in April 1967 and immediately began his second career as a Reds broadcaster.  Nuxhall died in 2007 after a long bout with cancer.

In the days following Nuxhall's death, several radio stations in the Cincinnati area devoted shows to him, and fans left cards, flowers and banners at the statue of Nuxhall at Great American Ball Park. A public visitation ceremony was attended by thousands of fans and several local and national sports and broadcasting personalities.

In December, CARSON was honored to create personalized wrappers from the Nuxhall family to employees of the cities of Hamilton and Fairfield, and staff and students of Hamilton and Fairfield City Schools.

We received the following note from Kim Nuxhall, Joe’s son, in appreciation for
our contribution:

	"I took the bars to the Freshman school and my own school (Central Elementary) yesterday and both the principals were very touched and appreciative of the gesture.  Can't tell you how much the "people" have enjoyed receiving the candy bars.  Lots of comments and hugs as a result.  Well done and again......... can't thank you enough." -Take care, Kim

The Joe Nuxhall Character Education was established in 2003 to underwrite character development programs and projects for children.  Carson was pleased to create bars for an event sponsored by the Fairfield Chamber of Commerce in support of The Joe Nuxhall Hope Project and for the upcoming Hope Project Celebration,
Thursday, April 3, 2008.

	"Be a friend of as many people as you can.  If the person you’re dealing with doesn’t want that, go on down the road and make another friend." - Joe Nuxhall

Rascal Flatts in Cincinnati

On December 11, 2007, a kick off event to remember was held at Music Hall in Cincinnati, to announce a new concept in community service. UGIVE is a non-profit organization with a mission to catalyze, excite and empower the next generation of volunteers. The focus is to help connect community service organizations and high school students together by interaction via web to match students looking for service opportunities with those groups needing the students' help.  Students can also seek funding via grants for their own service projects as well.  The organization is supported by many  people in the Cincinnati area, but has really gotten its beginning with help from two former Cincinnati Bengals, Cris Collinsworth and Hall of Famer, Anthony Munoz.

This night was not your ordinary kickoff event but was headlined by the #1 country group in the nation, Rascal Flatts. If you have read this blog before, you know that Rascal Flatts is one of my daughter's favorite groups and we have enjoyed seeing them at different venues. To have them play for a small audience of roughly 3000 people as part of this event was almost too hard to believe.

Because giving back to the community is a part of our company mission, Carson was happy to offer custom candy bar favors to give to everyone in attendance, and help promote the organization's website.

We were fortunate to get enough tickets so that any of our team members who were able to attend could do so, and we had a great turn out for the event. It was an absolutely great night in support of a valuable cause, and we are proud of our opportunity to support something so worthwhile.

               

Golfing For A Good Cause

Working at my desk recently (very diligently as usual) Scott spoke these words to me…”Hey Matt, I want you to play in the company sponsored Go Red golf tournament coming up”…instantly, I was mentally cleaning my clubs.

The said event was held at the Shaker Run Golf Club on October 2nd and for me, it was the highest quality golf course I have ever had the privilege to play the world’s best game on…even the golf carts had GPS. I did hear rumors from one of my comrades during our round that the talented ‘Michelle Wie’ had graced the course with her presence in times gone by, meaning the course had to be in tip top shape. (Tip top is English for awesome, just in case you were wondering)

The charity event was for Go Red,  which is a foundation for the fight against heart disease, specifically in women. With the newly found antioxidant health benefits in dark chocolate and the chance to support the local community, we showed up ready to hit the hallowed fairways, our Hershey Special Dark bars wrapped with the Go Red labels already in place for the after event dinner.  Our team consisted of 4 avid and exceptionally talented golfers which were none other than:  Scott Frederick, Matt Riley (yours truly), Tom Lutz & Steve Lutz. We didn’t win the scramble through the majestic scenery of Lebanon Ohio, but we did play some exquisite shots from time to time. Scott's putter rescued us on many occasion draining 20+ footers with nonchalant aplomb. I am hard pressed to forget my 5 iron which I shaped around the trees blind and stuck 10 feet from the pin. Tom and Steve Lutz made a formidable dad & lad acquisition to our foursome, and I learned a lot from two people who spend more time than I can dream of on the fairways and hit the ball much straighter more often than I can.

The Go Red golf classic was played by 92 men & women and raised $38,000 on the day to aid in the fight against heart disease in women. There were many ladies dressed in Go Red gear zooming around the course on the carts that day, which for no other reason than historical curiosity made me wonder why the founders of the game in ‘‘Bonnie Old Scotland’’ named the sport G.O.L.F; which actually stands for ‘Gentleman Only Ladies Forbidden!’ Thankfully the rules and regulations have mellowed over the centuries and this type of mentality has waned. The ladies pro golf tour, the LPGA,  is actually increasing in size and following and the women on the tour can certainly give the guys a game.

A great time was had by all and for a good cause to boot. I mean seriously, there are very few things better than raising money for charity, eating dark chocolate and of course playing the game of all games with good company and sunshine……did I hear an Amen?

October Night Lights by P. Bottles

On the night of October 4, 2007 an event was held at the Cincinnati Bengal’s Paul Brown Stadium for 450 women to learn more about football.  This event was Football 101 and was proudly sponsored by Carson .  Coach Marvin Lewis, the Bengals coaching staff and even a few players were there to instruct on the rules of football, including Shayne Graham, Rudi Johnson & Chad Johnson. There were everything from VIP tours of the locker room, weight room, and playing field to video presentations, power points on Bengals play and hands-on demonstrations.

From Carson, Michelle Beal, Kim Chamberlain, Sharon Frederick, Kim Fritsch and I were lucky enough to attend Football 101.  When we first got there we were given a VIP tour of the locker room, weight room, press box, Marvin’s office to anything else you could possibly think of in a football stadium.  Once we headed to the field, that’s when we were finally able to run some of the plays the Bengals practice week to week.  They taught us how to properly throw a football, tackle and even punt.  Let’s just say, Kim Chamberlain is a mighty fine kicker and I’m surprised the Bengals didn’t sign her right then and there.  They also had us race who could put the uniform on the quickest.  You had to put it all on, including the socks, pants, jock strap, shoulder pads, jersey and helmet.  I’m proud to say that I came in third place out of 450 women.  I think we all had an amazing time and learned some valuable lessons about football!  Now there are a great deal more Cincinnati Bengal’s fans!!

Go Red Luncheon a Success!

On Friday, May 4, Sharon, Michelle and Kim attended the 2nd Annual Go Red for Women Empowerment Luncheon. Carson donated 5oz Special Dark chocolate bars wrapped with a Go Red for Women wrapper.  Sharon, Michelle and Kim worked from 9 to 2 selling the chocolate bars.  In total, we sold 345 bars, raising over  $1700 for the Cincinnati Go Red chapter!  Inside 18 of the bars, were golden tickets awarding the lucky holder a prize from other company donations.   

Cheryl Ladd was the keynote speaker and an autographed our Go Red bar which we now proudly display in our office.

Carson Goes Red

Carson Wrapped Hershey's Chocolates has been INSPIRED to join the Go Red movement organized by the American Heart Association.  We have partnered with the local Chapter in Cincinnati to sponsor the upcoming May Go Red For Women Luncheon.  The luncheon is an empowering and enlightening corporate event to create awareness, provide education and raise funds in the battle against women’s #1 killer: Heart Disease.

We have donated custom 5oz Dark Chocolate Hershey’s bar created for the May luncheon to sell as a Golden Ticket Fundraiser during the event.

To learn how you can help visit: www.goredforwomen.org and get involved today!
To read about the benefits of dark chocolate click here.

Carson & the Marvin Lewis Community Fund

Carson Wrapped Hershey's Chocolates is a proud partner in sponsorship of the Marvin Lewis Community Fund, headed by Cincinnati Bengals Head Coach Marvin Lewis. The MLCF helps empower, educate and inspire individuals in the Greater Cincinnati region through its efforts. We have teamed up with Cincinnati Bengals football team head coach Marvin Lewis and his Marvin Lewis Community Fund to support its efforts in the Greater Cincinnati region. www.marvinlewis.org.

In October of 2006, we sponsored the Football 101 event, which was an NFL initiative held at Paul Brown Stadium. This fundraiser was held for 450 women, who learned the technicalities of football in a relaxed and entertaining atmosphere, with Coach Marvin Lewis and his Cincinnati Bengals coaching staff.

To read more about Carson Wrapped Hershey's partnership with the Marvin Lewis Foundation click here.

To learn more about Coach Marvin Lewis’s Community Fund, visit: www.marvinlewis.org