Persevere Supporting NECHAMA

Persevere's Online Photo Gallery nears 50,000 views

Persevere's online photo site hosted by WebShots.com is fasting approaching 50,000 views. Although Persevere is not currently deployed to any disasters at this time past volunteers and friends of Persevere continue to visit the webpage and view the great photos from our completed relief projects.

Persevere appears on local television news in MS

Persevere appeared on WLOX's 6/18/07 10 o'clock news broadcast. To view the video click this link which will bring you to the WLOX website. Then follow the illustration below to find the video link.

Driscoll Joins Hands On Disaster Response

Bill Driscoll Jr., executive director of Persevere’s Katrina Relief Project, has joined the team at Hands On Disaster Response (HODR). Following the conclusion of Persevere’s Katrina Relief Project Driscoll will focus all of his attention towards HODR’s domestic disaster response operations.

In a post on Persevere’s Volunteer Reflections Blog Driscoll wrote, “It is great to be back working with Hands On Disaster Response. HODR has always been a great supporter of Persevere and our Katrina Relief Project. HODR’s business model and style served as the main inspiration for Persevere’s formation following HODR’s exit from the Gulf Coast in January 2006.

I’m excited to be working with the tremendous team at HODR and helping them expand and build an even stronger organization. HODR’s ability to both coordinate and apply volunteers and resources to a relief effort is unparalleled and I’m looking forward to continuing their incredibly effective and important work.”

See below for HODR’s official press release:

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:

CONTACT:

Tom Taylor

Hands On Disaster Response

info@hodr.org

www.hodr.org

Hands On Disaster Response Announces Bill Driscoll Jr. as Operations Director

Carlisle, MA, 6/5/07 – Hands On Disaster Response (HODR) is proud to welcome aboard Bill Driscoll Jr. to its Operations Staff, to focus on domestic responses. As founder of Persevere Disaster Relief, Inc., Driscoll brings with him two years of experience in disaster relief management.

Driscoll first partnered with HODR during the organization’s Hurricane Katrina response in Biloxi, Mississippi. As a full-time volunteer, Driscoll was a critical member of the operation, leading groups of volunteers and providing media support. In January 2006, First Lady Laura Bush presented Driscoll with the Presidential Call to Service Award for his work with HODR.

At the conclusion of HODR’s Katrina Relief Project, Driscoll founded Persevere Disaster Relief, Inc. As Executive Director of Persevere, Driscoll coordinated recovery work on the Mississippi Gulf Coast for another year and a half.

Both Driscoll and HODR are excited to be working together once again. David Campbell, Executive Director of HODR, said “We’re impressed with Bill’s leadership and effectiveness over the past year and we’re thrilled to have him on the team.”

Driscoll, a native of Milton, MA, graduated from Boston College in 2005 and brings with him an impressive background in film production and communications.

For additional information on HODR’s addition of Bill Driscoll Jr. as Operations Director please contact Tom Taylor or visit www.hodr.org.

ABOUT: Hands On Disaster Response is a US-based, volunteer-staffed, nonprofit organization with 501(c)3 tax-exempt status, dedicated to timely disaster response and relief. HODR has responded to recent natural disasters in Thailand, Mississippi, Indonesia and the Philippines.

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Katrina Relief Project Winding Down

Persevere’s Katrina Relief Project will conclude on June 30, 2007. Persevere has been assisting survivors of Hurricane Katrina for over a year from our operations center in Pass Christian, Mississippi. Nearly 400 volunteers came from 30 states and Canada to help those in need.

We are grateful to all of those who gave their time and money to help make Persevere’s Katrina Relief Project a success. Persevere’s volunteers and donors brought the survivors of Katrina concrete progress and hope for the future as they continue to rebuild.

In an effort to finish any outstanding work in Mississippi Persevere has stopped accepting new work orders as of June 12, 2007.

Our final report with all of the facts and figures involving our Katrina Relief Project will be published in the coming weeks and available online. Stay tuned.

Persevere Disaster Relief was created in response to Hurricane Katrina in February, 2006. Following the conclusion of Persevere’s Katrina Relief Project on June 30, 2007 the organization will essentially be “moth balled.” Persevere will lay dormant and should great need ever arise after a future disaster we will evaluate the situation.

Greensburg, Kansas Tornado Response

Persevere's volunteers in Mississippi recently teamed up with local 3^rd grade students from the Coast Episcopal School in Pass Christian. Persevere and our new found friends made temporary street signs for the Greensburg community. The enthusiastic students from Miss Weber's class helped create durable signs that will fill a vital need in the Greensburg recovery effort. The signs ensure that emergency personnel and volunteers from out of the area can easily find their destinations.

This is Persevere’s fourth street sign project. We blanketed the cities of Pass Christian, Bay St. Louis and Waveland Mississippi following Hurricane Katrina. Nearly two years later most of our street sign are still up and guiding the way in Coastal Mississippi.

Persevere Tree Team and Johnny Appleseed Project Update

The Persevere tree team continues to make steady progress against the dead standing tree problem. Dead standing trees have been a major issue since Katrina struck in August 2005. The hazardous trees pose the biggest threat to existing structures and homes being rebuilt. Persevere volunteers successfully felled and removed 85 hazardous trees in February and 53 during the month of March while leading volunteer groups on other projects. Our tree removal service continues to provide vital support to Katrina Survivors rebuilding. Persevere volunteers often take care of the first step in the rebuilding process by either clearing land or removing trees that threaten to fall on a new structure. So far in April Persevere volunteers have removed 42 hazardous trees.

During the month of March Persevere volunteers planted 225 new trees. 200 were planted at a Park in Waveland, MS as Persevere teamed up with Americorps members from St Rose in Bay St. Louis. Volunteers also planted at several homes in Pass Christian and Waveland. To date Persevere volunteers have given over 1200 young pines, live oak and magnolia trees back to the Gulf Coast.

Persevere is now a registered cause on iGive.com. By becoming a free member of iGive.com you can shop online at over 685 well-known stores including Expedia, Amazon, eBay, Banana Republic and more! A portion of each of your online purchases through iGive.com is donated directly to Persevere. The more you shop at iGive.com the more you donate to Persevere!