Harper Collins author Joyce Schwarz will be signing copies of Harper Collins' #1 Amazon Bestseller "The Vision Board: The Secret to an Extraordinary Life" at "Reach for the Stars" in Hollywood.

"Reach for the Stars" Brings Groups Together
 in Fight Against Cancer in LGBT Community

WHAT:
The getavision "Reach for the Stars" event on Wednesday, March 10, 2010 will draw together Southern California civic and business leaders and residents to mark the launch of a nationwide cancer outreach to the Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual & Transgender (LGBT) community, while also celebrating the Grand Re-Opening of the landmark Sunset Vine Tower in Hollywood.

"Reach for the Stars" will be the launch of a nationwide outreach program supporting LIVESTRONG™, the Lance Armstrong Foundation (LAF), by Metropolitan Community Charities and the NYC-based National LGBT Cancer Network, which will also be establishing their Southern California HUB.  With the goal of uniting an inclusive group of civic and business leaders in support of LGBT people affected by cancer and to raise awareness about LGBT cancer issues, the three new getavision programs to be launched will provide direct financial assistance to LGBT cancer patients, facilitate local volunteer support for those affected by cancer, and provide work opportunities for those in recovery and attempting to re-enter the workforce.

The event will also celebrate the launch of getavision partner LaughMD Comedy Channel, the short form health and comedy TV channel produced and distributed by the Los Angeles-based award-winning leader in mobile television content, Fun Little Movies, currently in its first phase of deployment at the recently opened new hospital at Kaiser Permanente's Los Angeles Medical Center, Hollywood's largest employer.  Joyce Schwarz, author of Harper Collins' #1 Amazon Bestselling book "The Vision Board: The Secret to an Extraordinary Life" will be on hand for a book signing and leading the creation of the "ultimate vision board" for the Hollywood community.   

WHERE: 
Penthouse and 17th Floor Balcony Levels, Sunset Vine Tower, 1480 Vine Street, Hollywood, CA 90028

WHEN:  
Wednesday, March 10, 2010 from 6pm to 11pm

WHO: 
Southern California Business & Community Leaders & Local Residents

WHY:       
According to the National LGBT Cancer Network, the US government listed LGBT people as one of the six population groups experiencing health disparities in this country, meaning that the burden of disease is not evenly distributed, but falls most heavily on these groups. It is estimated that LGBT people are overrepresented among cancer survivors, accounting for more than 10% of the total, with a growing body of evidence suggesting that LGBT people have a substantially greater risk of developing cancer than the general population.  These increased risks are not a result of difference in physiology or biochemistry, but a product of behaviors, many of which can be traced to stress from living with discrimination, homophobia and transphobia, such as smoking and drinking.  Unfortunately, the increased risks are coupled with decreased cancer screening rates for LGBT people, resulting in cancers being picked up at a later stage when they are more difficult to treat and the prognosis is worse.  Until health care providers and facilities become knowledgeable, respectful and safe for LGBT people, even free screening services will continue to be underutilized by this population.

HOW:
By joining forces and supporting LIVESTRONG™, the Lance Armstrong Foundation (LAF), we are seeking to improve prevention, screening and treatment of cancer. United we will make LGBT cancer a national priority and end needless death and suffering from the disease. Coupled with the National LGBT Cancer Network training and consultation to providers, health care facilities and social service agencies in cultural sensitivity to LGBT people, the getavision programs will provide three critical components to LGBT cancer patient survival: 1.) Finances: Direct financial assistance through microfunding  and debit card distribution; 2.) Family Community Support: Volunteer networking and coordination to support LGBT cancer patients through a Time Banking system; and 3.) Recovery: Practical steps to re-enter the working world through an online barter exchange.

 

About getavision @ Metropolitan Community Charities

The getavision programs are an outreach of Metropolitan Community Charities, a 501(c) non-profit charitable organization, encouraging and supporting people in leading the way into a new era of love, compassion and charity among all people throughout the world, spearheading economic and health-related social justice initiatives and programs.  We are radically inclusive and reach out to all people regardless of faith, race, nationality, gender, sexual orientation, or any other barrier to serving and loving one another.  We are partnering with a wide range of organizations and businesses in seeking to meet the growing needs of individuals affected or threatened by critical health challenges. 

The getavision programs provide funds to health-challenged individuals, facilitate volunteering for and by the health-challenged, and include a barter trading exchange for economic empowerment.  Business partnerships with Retail Data Systems and RBS WorldPay provide a turn-key solution for merchant microfunding to financially assist LGBT cancer patients. Also being launched are locally-based getavision programs for LGBT patient volunteer assistance through an online Time Banking system and an online barter system which enables recovering LGBT patients to engage in professional work in exchange for a virtual barter dollar currency exchangeable both locally and through a global barter exchange alliance. To learn more visit: mccharities.org

 

About the Lance Armstrong Foundation

The Lance Armstrong Foundation (LAF) unites people to fight cancer. The LAF believes that unity is strength, knowledge is power and attitude is everything. The LAF provides the practical information and tools people battling cancer need to live life on their own terms. The LAF also takes aim at the gaps between what is known and what is done to prevent death and suffering due to cancer.  We engage with and advocate for the public at large to pursue an agenda focused on prevention, ensuring access to screening and care, investment in research, and improving the quality of life for people affected by cancer. Founded in 1997 by cancer survivor and champion cyclist Lance Armstrong, the LAF is located in Austin, Texas. To learn more, visit livestrong.org.

 

About the National LGBT Cancer Network

The National LGBT Cancer Network is working to improve the lives of LGBT cancer survivors and those at risk by educating the LGBT community about increased cancer risks and the importance of screening and early detection; training health care providers to offer more culturally-competent, safe and welcoming care; and advocating for LGBT survivors in mainstream cancer organizations, the media and research.  To learn more, visit: cancer-network.org

 

For interviews or additional information, contact:

John D. Boswell  Phone: 310.766.5868  Email: johnboz@getavision.org

 

For interviews or additional LIVESTRONG information, contact: 

Katherine McLane, LAF Communications Director at Katherine.McLane@laf.org

On Wednesday, March 10, 2010, the new getavision programs of Metropolitan Community Charities will be launched at an exciting open house celebration from 6pm to midnight from the balconies and penthouse of Hollywood's premiere Sunset Vine Tower at 1480 Vine Street in Hollywood. 

Partnering with New York City-based National LGBT Cancer Network, Metropolitan Community Charities is spearheading the Southern California-wide expansion of programs to bring getavisionFUND financial assistance to cancer patients and the development of prevention programs spanning from Los Angeles and Palm Springs to Long Beach, Orange County and San Diego. Working together with RBS WorldPay and Retail Data Systems, this first-of-a-kind program brings together credit card processing companies with businesses to redirect money into the getavisionFUND program. Funds are dispersed to those in need through debit cards issued by Visa and MasterCard.

"It's a monumental win-win for everyone.  Nobody loses.  We are uncovering unlimited recurring revenue that just has no threshold," stated Atlanta-based financial services industry consultant Richard Roscher, who has developed the getavisionFUND microfunding program. "This new funding source has the potential to touch literally millions of lives as we expand the reach and depth of the program and get the getavisionFUND debit cards into the hands of those who are in their most desperate struggles."

Other getavision programs which will be showcased at the March 10^th event will include the LaughMD getavisionFUND for patients and families at Hollywood's Kaiser Permanente Los Angeles Medical Center and the LymeAID getavisionFUND, providing assistance and for victims of Lyme disease, a growing epidemic threatening individuals around the USA.

The evening will also highlight two new visionTRADE programs: visionTRADE TimeBank and the Barter Exchange Trading Marketplace.  These programs connect individuals, organizations and businesses with opportunities to generate income and exchange goods and services through TimeBank and the Virtual Barter global trading exchange network systems. 

Collaborating with the Washington, DC-based TimeBanks USA, the visionTRADE TimeBank community will join a global social change movement in 22 countries and six continents, which is revolutionizing neighborhoods and communities, creating a system that connects unmet needs with untapped resources.

The launching of the getavisionFUND and visionTRADE programs is part of the Metropolitan Community Charities revolution in charity and social justice. "We're calling for a revolution of love and redistribution of wealth that directly reaches the health challenged and those who are the most vulnerable and helpless, no matter what sexual orientation, race, age or economic class.  If not you and me, these people are our friends, loved ones or family members," said John Boswell, Director of the getavision programs. Boswell himself has been fighting his own financial and physical battle against an advanced stage of cancer and HIV.