A Summer Kiss for the Last Kiss of Summer

On Thursday, September 27, 2007 I attended the Last Kiss of Summer Gala last night. We had a great turn out and it was a lot of fun!!

I donated the necklace for the silent auction which is shown in the photograph above that I named Summer Kiss since the necklace was specially commissioned for this Gala event to help raise money for Second Chance Employment Services which is a non-profit that connects at-risk women with suitable employment. Summer Kiss is a hand-crafted, hand-wired triple strand necklace, approximately 22" in length. Summer Kiss is made of two (2) types of turquoise in chips and 8mm rondelles, 8mm freshwater pearls, Sterling Silver Wire, Sterling Silver O-Ring Clasp, and Seed beads.

Tanya Brown, Nicole Brown Simpson's sister was the guest speaker and I was honored to hear Tanya's heart-felt story and plea for helping at-risk women. It was earth moving to hear Tanya speak last night and she touched me and many others last night with her story. Thank you Tanya for protecting women and breaking the silence!

Toka Salon's Diva Night for Last Kiss of Summer!!

Teresa Beaman Yurt, a beautiful petite blond, and her generous husband Nuri Yurt , owner and founder of Toka Salon, are donating a fabulous and exciting package to Second Chance Employment Services for the upcoming Gala on September 27th at the Georgetown Four Seasons - Last Kiss of Summer! Teresa Beaman Yurt, co-owner of the famed Toka Salon located in Georgetown and Penn Quarter, will be donating the ultimate spa package for that special get together of your dreams: Diva Night which is the ultimate spa and party package for 35 people valued at $6500.00!! This exciting item will be featured as one of Last Kiss of Summer's live auction items.

Toka Salon has been honored both with celebrity clients, such as First Lady of the United States, Laura Bush. Toka Salon has also featured in the media, such as Washingtonian, Washington Life, Home & Design, and Washington Flyer.

Here's an excerpt from the Washingtonian on Toka Salon :

First Lady Goes Glam
by Ann Limpert
February 2005:
Just after the 2005 inauguration, Mrs. Bush began seeing Nuri Yurt, owner of Georgetown's Toka Salon, who also styles twin daughters Jenna and Barbara. Looser layers and subtle highlights have given the First Lady her best look yet.

Thank you Nuri and Teresa Yurt for helping so many at-risk women become gainfully employed!

Special Thank You to Mr.George W. Koch

Second Chance Employment Services held a very successful meeting tonight Wednesday, August 22nd at the law firm K&L Gates regarding the exciting upcoming, Last Kiss of Summer which will be held on September 22nd at the Four Seasons Hotel in Georgetown. Second Chance would like to take the opportunity to give special thank you to Mr. George W. Koch who is with the of law firm K&L Gates for his generosity in hosting our meeting for us.

Mr. Koch has also served in many top level positions as President and Chief Executive Officer of the Grocery Manufacturers of America, Inc., Director of Federal Affairs for Sears, Roebuck & Company, and Associate Director of the Ohio Council of Retail Merchants.Mr. Koch is also a firm believer in giving back to the community, not only through Second Chance, but also has served in other Professional and Civic Activities for the Advisory Council of the International Executive Service Corps. (Board of Directors), Borden Chemicals & Plastics, Inc. (Board of Directors), 2004 Bryce Harlow Foundation’s Business & Government Relations Award recipient, Crohn's and Colitis Foundation of America (Former member of the Board of Directors), McCormick & Company, Inc. (Former member of the Board of Directors), andWatchdogs of the Treasury (Board of Directors).

Thank you also to everyone who attended!!

Young Rock Group Breaks The Silence

Red Jumpsuit Apparatus is a young rock group that is currently very popular on the radio. This song is called Face Down. In an blog interview by Connie Phillips of Interview: Elias Reidy of Red Jumpsuit Apparatus, Elias Reidy answered the following question:

The song has very gritty lyrics and a sociological message, Ronnie Winter has said the writing came from a personal place. Have you begun to get personal feedback from the fans … Maybe someone the song has touched because they are in a similar situation?

That song was actually released on the demo almost two years ago now. Almost two years and running and it never stops. Every day someone comes up to us who tells us how much that song has affected them or helped them. Everybody says they take it so personally. Domestic battery is just something everyone has either dealt with or knows someone who is dealing with it.

Members of the band with individual MySpace, an online social network, pages are:
Ronnie
Elias
Duke
Joey
Jon

Thank you Red Jumpsuit Apparatus for breaking the silence!

Recognition and Thanks to our Next Meeting Sponsor!

Second Chance Employment Services would like to take the opportunity to thank Mr. George W. Koch for generously hosting our next upcoming committee meeting at his law firm K&L Gates.

Mr. Koch has an impressive range of talent in business, legislation and regulation at the federal and state level as well as the European Union, association governance and management.

Mr. Koch has also served in many top level positions as President and Chief Executive Officer of the Grocery Manufacturers of America, Inc., Director of Federal Affairs for Sears, Roebuck & Company, and Associate Director of the Ohio Council of Retail Merchants.

Mr. Koch is also a firm believer in giving back to the community, not only through Second Chance, but also has served in other Professional and Civic Activities for the Advisory Council of the International Executive Service Corps. (Board of Directors), Borden Chemicals & Plastics, Inc. (Board of Directors), 2004 Bryce Harlow Foundation’s Business & Government Relations Award recipient, Crohn's and Colitis Foundation of America (Former member of the Board of Directors), McCormick & Company, Inc. (Former member of the Board of Directors), and
Watchdogs of the Treasury (Board of Directors).

Wednesday, August 22 at 6:00pm at K&L Gates 1601 K Street, N.W. Washington, D.C. 20006. There is a garage for the building on the K Street side or street parking.

K&L Gates represents capital markets participants and leading global corporations, growth and middle-market companies, and entrepreneurs in every major industry group as well as public sector entities, educational institutions and philanthropic organizations. Thank you again Mr. Koch for providing Second Chance with our next committee meeting space!

Please RSVP by Friday August 17th to e-mail at ludygreen@scesnet.org or call Tawanna at 202-331-7451.

Second Chance Gala Speaker Announced!

The following is a press release for Second Chance Employment Services upcoming special guest speaker at our annual fundraiser, Last Kiss of Summer!

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:

Media Contact: Kirk Monroe
(202) 486-7144
kirk@kmpcr.com

Hollywood and Washington to Join Forces
for Victims of Domestic Violence in Last Kiss of Summer IV

WASHINGTON, D.C. August 4, 2007—What do tickets to the Academy Awards, the Four Seasons in Georgetown, and Nicole Brown Simpson’s sister have in common?

They all will be key parts of one of Washington’s most unique events, the Second Chance Employment Services annual fundraising gala to be held September 27th. The event is called Last Kiss of Summer IV, and has become an annual affair that has raised more than $1 million to help hundreds of abused, elderly, welfare-recipient, and otherwise at-risk women attain long-term employment.

Tanya Brown, internationally acclaimed domestic violence advocate, author, and sister of Nicole Brown Simpson will give the keynote address. Based in California, Tanya Brown founded the Nicole Brown Simpson Foundation and has dedicated her speaking and writing career to educating the public about the dangers and impact of domestic violence. She has joined forces with Second Chance Employment Services to promote its mission of independence and empowerment through the gala.

The black tie dinner/dance event will also feature an exclusive auction to include Academy Awards tickets, Emmy Awards tickets, unique embassy dinners and tours, along with numerous other one-of-a-kind experiences. Although the primary purpose of the evening is fundraising through the sale of individual tickets, corporate sponsorships, table sales, and auction proceeds, the gala has established a reputation as one of Washington’s most elegant and spirited events.

Second Chance Employment Services (SCES) is a non-profit organization of human resource (HR) professionals that seeks to promote financial security for victims of domestic violence and their dependents through comprehensive training and career placement services in the Metropolitan Washington area and New York City. SCES founder, Dr. Ludy Green, is a fifteen year veteran of HR management. Along with her many accomplishments, Dr. Green has a heart for volunteering and has made it her organization’s mission to provide less fortunate women with comprehensive support, free of charge.

New Law Permitting Victims to Break their Lease

An article in the New York Daily News today entitled "Abuse vics can break lease with judge OK" by CHRISENA COLEMAN is about new legislation permitting victims to break their leases in order to help them escape from their desperate situation.

This bill has become an answer to so many cases in which victims are penalized financially for trying to escape their situation.

The article states, "Johnson and Heastie said the legislation will remove one of the most important obstacles domestic violence victims face and they will have the freedom to leave on their own terms. Heastie said the bill has protections in place for landlords. The domestic violence issue cannot be used as an excuse to break a lease. Domestic violence victims will have to petition the judge in order to vacate the lease and landlords will be given an opportunity to be heard by the judge as well."

Aside from the article, it is a good step in the right direction that there is legislation being put forward to help give victims assistance. However, this legislation does not go far enough. Not all courts recognize domestic violence unless there is proven physical abuse, thus turning a blind eye towards acts that the victim may have had to endure. Clearly New York recognises there is a major problem here, but the legislation stops short of giving equal relief to ALL victims seeking escape from their terrifying situation.