1. Freedom

Category Archives: Freedom

DaVita Receives Freedom Award, U.S. Government’s Highest Military-Friendly Honor for Employers

Posted on by

DENVER--(BUSINESS WIRE)--

DaVita, a division of DaVita HealthCare Partners Inc. (DVA) and a leading provider of kidney care services, learned today that it has received the prestigious Secretary of Defense Employer Support Freedom Award.

Presented annually by the Employer Support of the Guard and Reserve (ESGR) arm of the Department of Defense, the Freedom Award recognizes employers for outstanding support of employees who serve in the Guard and Reserve. It is the highest military-friendly award presented by the U.S. government.

We are privileged to have more than 1,700 reservists, members of the Guard, military veterans and military spouses as part of the DaVita community, said Kent Thiry, chairman and CEO of DaVita HealthCare PartnersSM. They make our company and our country stronger and better. Its an honor to support them in every way we can.

The path to the Freedom Award begins with a nomination by either a member of the Guard or a Reservist employed by the nominee, or by a family member acting on the Guard or Reservists behalf. According to the ESGR, Freedom Award recipients demonstrate exceptional support for military employees, including offering flexible schedules, time off prior to and after deployment and leaves of absence if needed.

In addition to those benefits, DaVita supports mobilized military teammates with continued health care coverage, up to $5,000 in financial assistance each year, and options for paid military leave.

Ive never been asked to choose between serving my country through the Air National Guard and serving DaVita, its teammates and patients, said Major Michael Freimann, assistant general counsel at DaVita and judge advocate general (JAG) for the Colorado Air National Guard. I cant imagine working for a more thoughtful, patriotic company.

Nearly 3,000 employers were nominated for a Freedom Award this year. An awards committee composed of senior Department of Defense officials, business leaders and prior honorees selected just 15 companies to receive a 2013 award. DaVita is one of only two Colorado employers to receive the Freedom Award this year.

Since 1996, only 175 employers have received the Freedom Award. Companies can win the Freedom Award only once and must first earn the ESGR Patriot award to be eligible for consideration. DaVita has received six ESGR awards, including two Patriot Awards, two Above and Beyond Awards and a Pro Patria Award.

DaVita also received the 2013 award for Best Military Recruiting Program from ERE Media and was recognized this year with Top 100 Military Friendly Employer and 2013 Top 100 Military Friendly Spouse Employer awards from G.I. Jobs, a Most Valuable Employers award from CivilianJobs.com and a Best for Vets award from Military Times EDGE. To learn more about DaVitas awards and recognition in this area, visit DaVita.com/About/Awards. To learn more about how DaVita supports military members and veterans, visit Careers.DaVita.com/Careers/Military.

Link:

DaVita Receives Freedom Award, U.S. Government’s Highest Military-Friendly Honor for Employers

Safeway Receives Department of Defense Freedom Award

Posted on by

PLEASANTON, Calif., June 25, 2013 /PRNewswire/ -- Safeway Inc. (SWY) has been selected to receive the 2013 Secretary of Defense Employer Support Freedom Award, the nation's highest honor given to employers for exceptional support of National Guard and Reserve employees. Employer Support of the Guard and Reserve (ESGR), an office of the Department of Defense, announced the award recipients today.

(Logo: http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20130625/SF38175LOGO)

Safeway is one of six large companies to be honored with the prestigious Freedom Award. Nine other award recipients are small- to mid-sized businesses or public-sector employers. The recipients, who were chosen from a pool of nearly 3,000 nominated private and public sector employers, were selected for their demonstrated programs, policies and achievements in support and hiring members of the National Guard and Reserve.

"I commend and thank the 15 recipients of the 2013 Secretary of Defense Employer Support Freedom Award for providing exceptional support to our Citizen Warriors," said Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel. "So many of our Nation's employers are finding ways to contribute to our Nation's security, but these employers stand out for their commitment to our Guardsmen and Reservists. They have the gratitude and thanks of the entire Department of Defense."

"Providing employment opportunities and training to our men and women in uniform and veterans are among the most important public services we perform," said Safeway's President and Chief Executive Officer, Robert Edwards. "We are honored to be among a select group of private and public sector organizations who can now call themselves Freedom Award recipients."

Safeway has a long history of commitment to men and women in the military. The company was among the first employers to commit (more than 10 years ago) to cover the pay differential and extend full benefits to employees in the Reserve and National Guard called to active duty. Safeway continues to provide this benefit. The company has aggressively responded to the need for employment with returning veterans through its Junior Military Officer and Non-Commissioned Officer (JMO/NCO) Program. In 2012, Safeway hired nearly 1,500 veterans with over 1,300 of them hired into the company's retail stores. Safeway has also committed to hiring at least another 1,500 veterans by the end of 2013. While the majority of Safeway's Store Managers and Assistant Managers are promoted from its internal ranks, the company's Human Resources team recognized the untapped talent pool in the military.

"We saw an opportunity to recruit new kinds of leaders who will become an important and critical part of our future," said Larree Renda, Safeway Executive Vice President. "Our JMO and NCO recruiting program officially launched in 2010. We accept applicants who have been officers or non-commissioned officers in the military and place them in an accelerated leadership program."

Graduates qualify for Store Manager and Assistant Manager jobs and a range of other manager-level positions in the distribution and backstage departments at Safeway. The 41-week intensive training program includes a combination of on-the-job training, mentoring, classroom seminars, job shadowing and independent study, as well as participating in numerous department and key leadership strategy sessions. At the end of the program, participants are qualified to hold a number of leadership positions, including Store Manager and Warehouse Superintendent.

In addition to Safeway's JMO/NCO program, Safeway's Retail Military Recruiting efforts were launched in 2012 to increase efforts in hiring veterans of all backgrounds into our retail store environment.

In 2011, the company launched an annual Veterans Day weekend fundraiser. To date, Safeway has collected and donated more than $2 million to benefit the Wounded Warrior Project and other organizations that help veterans recover from service-related injuries and/or return to the civilian workforce. Our various divisions also participate in local fundraisers and community service initiatives to support our country's heroes. These programs are in addition to ongoing commitments to continue full benefits for Safeway employees who are called to active duty, and to ship care packages more than 2,000 to date to soldiers overseas.

Visit link:

Safeway Receives Department of Defense Freedom Award

Freedom stays hot, wins 7on7U event

Posted on by

Sun. June 23, 2013 |

If 7-on-7 football translates at all to the real stuff, Freedom coach Todd Donohoe is going to like this upcoming football season.

The Patriots, who were one of the top teams in the county spring league, kept their non-padded roll going by capturing first place at the 7on7U tournament at the Otis Andrews Complex in Plant City Saturday.

Donohoe said the Patriots won $500 and free entry into the 7on7U National Championships in Washington D.C. in July. He said he was unsure the Patriots would make the trip.

Freedom went 7-1 in the event, beating Blake in the final.The lone Patriot loss came to Newsome in a 14-12 game.

"For us, it was all about team building,'' Donohoe said. "Everyone did a really good job."

Freedom quarterback D.J. Grant had a big day throwing to standouts Andre Folks and Johnny Rodicio, while linebackers Josh Collazo, Bryce Crawford and cornerback Aaron Cox spearheaded the defense.

Grant, entering his first season as the full-time starter, is adapting to his receivers and a more wide open offense implemented by offensve coordinator Donnie Mesick.

"Getting on the same page and working on the chemistry is a big thing for us in these 7-on-7 events,'' Donohoe said.

The Patriots tuned up for the tournament at Skyway Park on Wednesday in the Hillsborough County summer league, beating Alonso, Tampa Catholic, Hillsborough and Leto.

Read the original here:

Freedom stays hot, wins 7on7U event

Freedom Honor Flight Veterans come together, share memories

Posted on by

LA CROSSE, Wis. -

While the Freedom Honor Flight trip to Washington D.C. only lasts a day, the memories are forever.

The flight gives veterans the opportunity to visit the monuments built in their honor in the nation's capital.

Veterans on last month's flight came together on Sunday at the La Crosse Center to talk about their favorite part of the trip and share memories of their service in the military.

Family and friends are also invited to the event.

The President of Freedom Honor Flight Bill Hoel said it's rewarding to hear first-hand how the trip impacts the veterans.

"The very second person to walk in said, 'My husband was on your flight and I haven't seen him this energized and engaged in quite a few years.' That's pretty neat that we can give a family that kind of gift," said Hoel.

Veterans who went on the flight received a DVD with pictures and video of their trip. They were also given photo books with pictures from the event.

The next freedom honor flight is scheduled for September 21st.

Read more:

Freedom Honor Flight Veterans come together, share memories

Rockaway: Let’s stop Narco Freedom from reopening

Posted on by

Civic leaders and lawmakers will meet with the operators of a Rockaway halfway house next month to convince them to keep the storm-damaged facility shut rather than reopening as a homeless shelter.

The Beach 116th St. building, operated by Narco Freedom, is located on a key commercial strip that is undergoing a post-Sandy revival.

The storm swept Narco Freedom and its residents out of the facility. The group, which provides housing and substance abuse treatment, is considering a controversial proposal to house about 40 homeless but that plan is on hold until the meeting.

This is a business district, said Danny Ruscillo, president of the 100th Precinct Community Council, who led a groundswell of opposition to the plan. You cant put homeless people here. It will defeat the whole idea of revitalizing Beach 116th St.

For years, Ruscillo and others have complained that Rockaway is saturated with halfway houses and single room occupancy hotels.

Some of the residents were aggressive panhandlers who scare away customers and harass pedestrians running daily errands.

RELATED: ROCKAWAY DRUG PROGRAM PLEDGES CURFEW CRACKDOWN

The city has helped merchants organize an association and provided grants for spruced up streetscapes and storefronts and many believe that a reopened Narco Freedom facility will halt the momentum.

The most important part of our community recovery is going to be the stability of our commercial area, said Assemblyman Philip Goldfeder. People need a place to shop and spend time with their families.

Goldfeder said he spoke with Narco Freedom officials about the plans impact and is hopeful they will come up with an alternative.

Read the original:

Rockaway: Let's stop Narco Freedom from reopening

Freedom. Confidence. Convenience. New OstoSolutions Ostomy Pouch Disposal Seal Makes Odor-Proof Disposal Possible …

Posted on by

TUCSON, Ariz.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--

Freedom. Confidence. Convenience. Not the words most often associated with living with an ostomy. Now, for the first time, theres a simple, effective product that lets people with an ostomy, or ostomates, go where they like and do whatever they desire, without worry about odor concerns: the OstoSolutions Ostomy Pouch Disposal Seal. OstoSolutions is proud to premier this product at the Wound Ostomy Continence NursesSocietys (WOCN) 45th Annual Conference, June 23-25, 2013, Washington State Convention Center, Seattle, Booth 117.

The patent pending OstoSolutions Ostomy Pouch Disposal Seal is the first and only method on the market today that seals the contents of used ostomy pouches in a 100 percent odor-proof manner, unlike alternate means (black zipper or food storage bags) not designed for or capable of providing airtight disposal. The lightweight seal, made of recycled plastic, is simply inserted into the coupling ring opening of any two-piece used closed-end ostomy pouch or used drainable ostomy pouch with clipless tail closure technology. A toilet is not needed for changing the pouch, and by enabling an odor-proof disposal, the Ostomy Pouch Disposal Seal ensures discretion no matter where the change is made.

I know from my own personal experience that people with an ostomy often find themselves in places where changing their pouch can be very uncomfortable and embarrassing, said Johnnie Cason, founder of OstoSolutions, who is himself living with an ostomy. Even worse, many just avoid doing activities for example, golfing or going places that they enjoyed prior to having an ostomy, such as restaurants and theaters, because theyre not confident theyll be able to dispose of their used pouches discreetly. I designed and developed this pouch disposal seal to meet the needs of people who may have previously felt limited in their activities, and to enhance their quality of life.

The Pouch Disposal Seal meets a need that Ive heard from so many ostomates a way to dispose of used pouches without the sometimes overwhelming concerns around odor, said Mary Lou Boyer, RN, board certified WOCN. The positive impact on quality of life by eliminating this concern is very real for people living with an ostomy, and for their family and friends who will get to enjoy their company more often, in more places.

The OstoSolutions Ostomy Pouch Disposal Seal costs just pennies a day for peace of mind. There are a range of sizes available to fit different pouch brands, including Hollister, ConvaTec and Coloplast. For more information and to place an order for yourself or your organization, please visit http://www.ostosolutions.com, call 888-549-3555, or email info@ostosolutions.com. Join OstoSolutions on Facebook, Twitter and LinkedIn and Make A Change.

Samples and images of the new OstoSolutions Ostomy Pouch Disposal Seal available upon request.

1The Oryx Group. February 1997. Proprietary data on file. Home Care Monday. June 3, 2002. 2http://lib.bioinfo.pl/pmid:16684439

About OstoSolutions LLC

Founded in 2012, OstoSolutions is the sole purveyor of the OstoSolutions Ostomy Pouch Disposal Seal is a unique, convenient, easy-to-use seal that enables 100 percent odor- and worry- free disposal of ostomy pouches. The patent pending lightweight seal, made of recycled plastic, is simply inserted into the coupling ring opening of any two-piece used closed-end ostomy pouch or used drainable ostomy pouch with clipless tail closure technology, providing efficient, discreet disposal. Make A ChangeTM- visit http://www.ostosolutions.com for more information.

See the article here:

Freedom. Confidence. Convenience. New OstoSolutions Ostomy Pouch Disposal Seal Makes Odor-Proof Disposal Possible ...

Feeling for freedom’s limits

Posted on by

Free speech and freedom of religion are widely recognized as inalienable human rights. But there are other freedoms as well -- from want and fear, for instance. Determining the extent and limits of these freedoms is a never-ending job in a democracy.

People across the world stand in front of tanks, brave tear gas and rubber bullets, and sacrifice their lives for freedom. Freedom is among humanitys deepest aspirations, a concept understood in every heart and revered in every society.

Editor, The Christian Science Monitor

John Yemma is Editor of The Christian Science Monitor, which publishes international news and analysis atCSMonitor.com, in theMonitor Weeklynewsmagazine, and in an email-deliveredDaily News Briefing. He can be reached at editor@csmonitor.com.

Subscribe Today to the Monitor

Click Here for your FREE 30 DAYS of The Christian Science Monitor Weekly Digital Edition

But what exactly is the measure of freedom?

In early 1941, President Franklin Roosevelt declared that a secure world rested on four essential human freedoms. Two were already enshrined in the US Constitution and familiar to generations of Americans: freedom of expression and worship. The other two were novel, even radical at the time. One was freedom from want, which Roosevelt described as the right of everyone to a healthy peaceful life. The other was freedom from fear, meaning that no nation will be in a position to commit an act of physical aggression against any neighbor.

FDRs four freedoms are echoed in the preamble of the United Nations Universal Declaration of Human Rights. Four of Norman Rockwells most beloved paintings the working-class guy standing to speak at a public meeting, worshipers heads bowed in prayer, a family gathered for Thanksgiving dinner, and parents tucking in their children while the dad holds a newspaper with the words bombings and horror in the headline illustrate those four freedoms.

The struggle for freedom to and freedom from has propelled history for the past 72 years. It is behind virtually every news event. You can see it in the successive fights against fascism and communism. You can see it in the campaign for equal rights for African-Americans, women, and dozens of groups once excluded from full participation in self-government and the pursuit of happiness. You can see it in this weeks issue of the Monitor Weekly.

See the original post:

Feeling for freedom's limits


  1. Freedom