I know they say a picture is worth a thousand words, but I think in this case you will find that the pre-pictures did not do justice to this amazing event and those that put it on, as well as to attendees like Rachael.

All are Welcome, from "Newborn" to "Rated R"

Citizen Hunters, I recently learned of a great opportunity to help the Children's Hospital Of Los Angeles (CHLA). A dear friend told me that CHLA recently upgraded its rooms from VCRs to DVD players, and they are in desperate need of a DVD library for the children and their families to enjoy.

CHLA is a 331-bed, non-profit, private pediatric treatment center located in the heart of Los Angeles. Each year, the hospital cares for over 200,000 inpatients and outpatients from birth to 21 years of age, referred from throughout California and the world.

After speaking with CHLA's fundraising department and receiving their approval, Tina Manguikian decided to start a DVD Drive to build the library from scratch. Her goal is to collect anywhere between 1000 - 1500 DVDs, New or Used, Newborn to Rated R, by June 13, 2008.

How to Help:

Please send DVDs directly to Tina Manguikian at:
2700 Neilson Way,
Unit 725,
Santa Monica, CA 90405

For further information contact Tina at: dvddonations@yahoo.com or (310) 314-5266

I strive to be a "creative activist" every day. This passion remains the heart and soul of this blog as well as the numerous projects and groups I am involved with. The Creative Visions Foundation (CVF) supports and nurtures my fellow creative activists- people who use media, the arts, and technology to inform, inspire, and empower others to create positive action and transform the world around us.

They are facing the challenge of matching a grant by an anonymous donor and fan. They must raise $100,000 by June 10th. If successful, the donor has agreed to match $1 for every $2 raised. For more information on how to become a creative activist too pleasevisit their Web site.

I want you to meet Lisa Peruto, my dear friend, and now officially my partner in crime, as detailed by Gar Joseph in today's Clout.

Also meet Kim meeder, who is another everyday hero I profiled on CBS' Early Show. She brings abused horses together with abused children so that their healling can begin.

Citizen Hunters, Father's day is a time to celebrate the support, sacrifice, and love Fathers provide. This Father's Day, please take a moment to help a single dad in financial despair by making a contribution to the Andre Sobel River of Life. Some of you may remember this organization from previous blogs.

The Andre Sobel River of Life Foundation helps single caregivers of catastrophically ill children. The Fathers you can help this holiday must juggle caring for their seriously ill child with keeping food on the table, a roof over the family's head and gas in the car. They are forced to decide between staying at work to maintain health insurance coverage or quitting work to stay at their child's bedside. They sometimes must face the dilemma of buying their child's medicines or buying the siblings' food.

Although we may not be able to provide a cure for his child, we can help soften a Dad's financial crisis burden. It is my hope that our contributions will allow him to be where he most wants to be - with his child!

To make a gift today, go to: www.andreriverolife.org/donate.

You may also contact the foundation at:

Andre Sobel River of Life Foundation
8899 Beverly Boulevard, Suite 111
Los Angeles, CA 90048
301-365-1137
aswire@andreriveroflife.org

As some of you Citizen Hunters are aware, I have started working for CBS's Early Show doing a segment called Extraordinary People: The Hero Next Door. I think I may have the best job on earth, as I get to meet some of the most amazing people in our country and share their stories.

While covering a piece that will air this Wednesday, on identical twins with autism, I learned just how much parents of children with autism need the guidance and support of others. Corrine Morgan-Thomas, one such parent, is the mother of 25-year-old autistic twins Steven and Phillip. Corrine and her family have learned from many years of coping with the many challenges of autism and continuously reach out to help similarly situated parents worldwide.
You may have seen the lifetime movie "Miracle Run" based upon their family story. What I find most inspiring about Corrine, her sons, and her husband Doug is their ability to give back to the community, sometimes well beyond their means.

Some of their efforts to reach out to other parents - Corrine and her family have created

Citizen Hunters, here's a quick update for you.

Last Thursday, the House of Representatives voted in favor of a domestic spending provision of the war supplemental funding bill which includes a World War II-style GI Bill for Iraq and Afghanistan veterans. The final bill will also allow service members who stay in the military to transfer their education benefits to their spouses and children.

Sixty-four years have passed since President Roosevelt signed the original GI Bill into law, making education affordable for eight million World War II veterans. Because of last week's agreement, there is a real chance that we could see a new GI Bill signed within several days and sent to the President.

For more information, check out www.GIBill2008.org or www.IAVA.org

UPDATE 7/1: For more details on how this new law will reward some of my favorite Citizen Hunters, please check out this link.

Check out the family I profiled on CBS's Early Show. The extraordinary people I had the pleasure of intervewing were Corrine Morgan-Thomas, her husband Doug, and her autistic twin sons, Stephen and Philip. In this piece, their family shares thier story in order to educate, help, and encourage others dealing with the challenges of autism.

I want to thank my colleague David Gambacorta for introducing me to this amazing soldier, and to thank this man and his family for their service and sacrifice.

I hope, if you are able, you will let a helping hand to the family by making a donation. (The info is at the end fo the piece.)