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ALISSA GEVING-CHICKO-MOTORSPORTS PRESS RELEASE
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE, FEBRUARY 22 , 2009
TEAM CONTACT: [email protected]
WEBSITE INFORMATION: www.chick-o-motorsports.com
Lady Racer Geving and fellow students cap community service project trip to New Orleans a true “success”
PENNGROVE, CA (2-22- 09) – Northern California Sprint Car Champion Alissa Geving, 17, of Penngrove has returned home with her fellow students following a community service project in New Orleans that was capped off as a true “success” and described as “life changing” by those who participated.
In the days that Geving and her colleagues from Ursuline and CardinalNewmanHigh School spent donating their time in the city that was devastated by Hurricane Katrina, the group donated their time, assisting with the ongoing rebuilding effort that continues in the region. Not only did the group spend plenty of time trading their pencils in for paint brushes and various tools of construction, they also took time to visit with many children. Children who’s lives have been changed forever after losing everything, including friends and loved ones.
Hurricane Katrina is known as the costliest and one of the five deadliest hurricanes in the history of the United States. It caused severe destruction along the Gulf coast from central Florida to Texas The most severe loss of life and property damage occurred in New Orleans.The storm is estimated to have been responsible for $81.2 billion dollars in damage, making it the costliest tropical cyclone in U.S. history. Efforts to rebuild the region continue today and it is the efforts of many charitable organizations and volunteer groups that are making progress in assisting residents in getting back to a normal way of life.
Titling their project, “Gold Coast to the Gulf Coast” Geving and her fellow student spent the last several months collecting donations and holding fundraisers to make the trip, a community based Senior Service Project that included Cardinal Newman students Pugs Brown, Jacob Gowan and Justin Gleason along with Ursuline High School’s Alyssa Ramazotti and Geving.
“This trip has been phenomenal, and it couldn't have happened without such a wonderful group of leaders to guide me and everyone who contributed to getting us to New Orleans. This trip is life changing without a doubt,” said Geving, who was touched particularly by a young girl whom she met in the late stages of her trip.”
While visiting the CathedralAcademy in the French Quarter, the service group donated goodie bags they had created the night before to some 38 children in the class. It was during this segment of the trip that Geving realized first hand how many lives in New Orleans were changed forever and witnessed true courage and compassion from youngsters who lost everything, some of them even lost loved ones.
“I met a lot of great children but one really bonded with me,” said Geving. “She and I persisted through her homework in an empty room while every other child was playing outside with the rest of the group. She told me her story, and right then and there was when I could finally put everything into perspective. I realized that these children suffered extremely and you never would have guessed that by looking at them.”
During her 17 years, Geving has experienced what most of us have had in life. She has a mother and father at home who fully support her dreams and endeavors, a 4.0 grade average at a well known school and lives in community that is considered safe and desirable where she is surrounded by great relatives and friends. During his recent community service trip all of the students witnessed true devastation. They saw piles of rubble that were once homes that housed children, families and seniors. They met individuals that endured the pain and suffering of the devastating storm and others that were true heroes at the time of need, such as fireman and public safety representatives. In the end the group learned how great life can be for many of us and at the same time, how others lack many of the life luxuries we possess, yet can still don a smile and show compassion for the one thing maintain – life.
“I want to thank each and every person and business that donated to this effort,” said Geving. “All of us are very grateful for the contributions that made this project possible and made it a true success. Like I said, this was a life changing event for all of us and we will never forget this experience. At the same time, I know the little time we spent there we made a difference in the lives of others and we can surely appreciate the lives we live day to day. Thank you to everyone helped us accomplish this goal.”
Now that she has returned from her charitable trip to New Orleans, Geving will focus on completing her senior year at UrsulineHigh School and begin her third full season of sprint car racing with appearances at Petaluma Speedway, the Civil War Sprint Car Series and the Golden State Challenge Sprint Car Series. Geving is expected to return to the weekly All Pro Series at her home track while visiting select events in the Civil War Series and the Golden State Challenge while juggling hr busy schedule as she sets her sights on college in the later months of the season. To learn more about Alissa Geving visit www.chick-o-motorsports.com. To view a blog of Geving’s trip to New Orleans and read the daily comments from all of the students visit the Santa Rosa Press Democrat Newspaper blog at www.pressdemocrat.com.
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