suzi katz

Catching Everyone Up!!!

It's been a crazy time as always. I feel like I finally made it through the holidays and now Valentine's Day is tomorrow. I've done a lot in the past couple of months and have met a lot of great people so here it is. I'll keep it short. 

After getting back from Tuscaloosa, it was time to get ready for the Pat Carter Winter Festival. I started the festival 14 years ago and its purpose is to help those individuals from the Salvation Army Women & Children's Living Center. It is always a great time, not just because we provide gifts for all the women and children, but because we get to spend a few hours hanging out, getting to know them a bit better and showing them that even though they're in a transition period in their life, we are all human beings and deserve to be acknowledged and respected. My former assistant, Pat Carter loved this program and did so much to help bring it to fruition each year. When she passed, the only thing to do was to name that special evening after her.

Here are some quick pictures from preparation to that night.

When Maia is around, nothing is out of order.

Nothing would have come together without my great friends who came to put everything together.

I'm pretty sure I need to brush up on my Spanish skills.

Thanks to all the people who donated books at UCF's Barnes & Noble

My friend Jamesha being the cool teenager she is. Such a sweet girl!!

There were so many things going on that night. It was a lot of fun.

Rahman with Tyron and his mom.

Having a great time. 

 

You Never Know Who'll Meet While Painting Some Siding

This past week, I spent four days visiting Tuscaloosa, AL to help rebuild homes that were destroyed by the tornadoes that hit April 27th. It was certainly a humbling experience, seeing the mile wide path of destruction of the tornado that stayed on the ground for a full six minutes. While one house disappears, the one next to it might still be standing. The statistics following the storm are startling, but make me grateful, not only for what I have, but for having the ability to help those who were affected by the storms that day.

While working with Habitat for Humanity, I noticed a man on the roof wearing only a T-shirt. I yelled up to him, like the mom I am, and told him he better get a coat on before he got sick. He laughed at me and said he was fine. Meanwhile, I was freezing my tail off. After being in the warm Orlando weather, working outside all day in an extremely windy 45 degrees was definitely a challenge. He laughed and said he'd be okay. When we returned from lunch that day, he had full winter coveralls on. When I mentioned it, he said his wife had come by and forced him to put them on. I had to laugh at that. 

Later, I learned that his name was Robert Reed. A local hero, who not only survived the storm, but who saved 12 people that day, having pulled them from the rubble. He talked about what happened that day, and finished by telling us that losing all of his material things was nothing. His family had survived and that was the most important. (read his story from the link below). When I return to Tuscaloosa, if it's cold, I'll still tell Robert to put a jacket on. Hopefully, at that point, he'll be able to go inside his new Habitat home to get warm. He happend to be working with us so he could already begin to complete the required number of service hours needed to receive one. Read about his story below. 

http://www.tuscaloosanews.com/article/20111127/NEWS/111129826?tc=ar

I want to send a special thanks out to Dewayne who was the foreman/comic relief at the home we worked on, Cat who always had a great smile on his face. I can't wait to hear about Appie being able to move into her new home. Also a shoutout to Kevin Almond, Associate Athletics Director at the University of Alabama who welcomed us to Tuscaloosa with open arms. I am truly grateful to all the people I met and look forward to my next trip there.

Myself, Robert, Dewayne, Cat, Annie and Richard

Getting a Quick Break Before the Holiday

Hello Everyone,

I must apologize for not keeping up with my blog in such a long time. Many of you probably know how quickly the days go by, and all of a sudden, 12 months have past. Keeping track of work, my husband, my daughter's school sports and social life and, of course, writing the sequel to "a life revealed," has kept me incredibly busy. So now that I have decided to aside some time for myself each week, I hope to keep you updated on what's been going on.

Many of you know that I oversee the Hope for Stanley Alliance (HFS). The Alliance was created to help rebuild the city of New Orleans after Hurricane Katrina and also help rebuild in other cities affected in the same way. After working in New Orleans for the last 5 years, we are making our first trip to Tuscaloosa, Alabama, where we will help rebuild homes, tour the tornado damage, connect with the city and its community. We will still return to New Orleans in the future.

The following is a link is video footage showing the damage done to Tuscaloosa a day after the tornado hit. If you ever want to get involved in working in these cities, you can contact me any time.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OU6hsYk_sWI&feature=youtu.be

Be safe and enjoy your families during the holiday season.

Suzi...

Because of a Book

Recently, I was asked to write an article about why I love reading and writing. Here it is. I hope you enjoy!!

Write for a Reader: Because of A Book with Suzi Katz

 

As always, thanks for your support!!

Women & Children's Living Center

The 2010 Winter Festival is a program I started 13 years ago. This year the name was changed in memory of my former assistant Pat Carter who was an incredible woman who loved this program and giving back to the people from our community. While times are tough for everyone, we were still able to provide special gift bags for 48 women and 18 children.

With the help of donations, each child received at least four gifts. Some toys and, of course at least three books a piece. During the Pat Carter Winter Festival, my daughter, Pat's Family, graduate students from the DeVos Sport Business Management Graduate program took part in decorating cookies, holiday decorations and creating special lanterns. We met some incredible women and will continue to take part in shelter programs throughout the year.

While, it can often seem self serving to tell people about the things I do in the community, it is more important for me to let people know that there are so many small things that can be done to help others. It's not hard to get involved in your community volunteer programs, or start one of your own.

Early preparation and organization went great with my daughter Maia's help.

Hansel, a child living at the Center and Volunteer Kelly Higgins enjoyed participating in art & crafts projects.

The arts & crafts projects where definitely a hit. I think the volunteers enjoyed it as much as the children, their moms and even those women living at the center without children.

Everyone loves cookies. Especially, when you can decorate them whenever you want. 

It was tough getting the kids organized to hand out gifts. They were having so much fun, spending time with their parents and volunteers that the gifts truly came second. Little Brandon's gift bag was almost as big as he was.

Maia enjoyed her part in the Winter Festival. Aside from handing out gifts, she was overwhelmed with excitement while hosting her own arts & crafts workshop.

Look what I made!!!

Volunteers Chris and Elizabeth watched as Hansel opened his special gifts.

Review: A Life Revealed by Suzi Katz

Review: A Life Revealed by Suzi Katz.

Review: A Life Revealed by Suzi Katz

WIN GREAT BOOKS AND PRIZE PACKAGES FROM PUBLISHERS AND AUTHORS

Luxury Reading, an online blog is having it's biggest giveaway ever. As a sponsor, I wanted to let you all know that this is a great opportunity to hear about some great books, win some great books and packages and get to know LuxuryReading.com. Check out the site today and tomorrow.

click here:  Win Amazing Prizes from Publishing Houses and Bestselling Authors!

Hurricane Katrina - Coming up on the fifth year mark

Once again, I had the opportunity to spend a week in New Orleans, with the Hope for Stanley Program, helping to rebuild homes for those families who have been displaced for the last five years. Yes, it has been five years since Hurricane Katrina and the breaching of the levees that were supposed to protect the city from flooding. Because of that breach, 80% of the city was underwater.

With the fifth anniversary of Katrina coming up, it is more important now than ever not to forget about the City and those people who still need assistance. Richard K. Lewis said it beautifully, "The people of New Orleans aren't looking for a handout, they're looking for a hand."

Please remember that while parts of the city are up and running, there are so many parts of the city that need help. 

First Live Interview!

Last night I was interviewed live for the first time. It was a lot of fun. It felt weird listening to myself, but Barry Eva was a great host and made me feel very comfortable. Take a listen if you have an opportunity!!

http://www.blogtalkradio.com/across-the-pond/2010/07/21/a-book-and-a-chat-with-suzi-katz

Thanks for your support and have a great weekend!!!

Suzi...

Listen to my blogtalkradio Interview this evening at 6:30 est.

Tonight I'll be interviewed by Barry Eva, Writer, Chat Show Host, and Speaker. I hope you have a chance to check it out. Here is the link with additional information. Copy and paste the link below if it is not working.

http://www.blogtalkradio.com/across-the-pond/2010/07/21/a-book-and-a-chat-with-suzi-katz