John McCain Wins Catholic Support Nationwide

John McCain Wins Catholic Support Nationwide

ARLINGTON, Virginia, March 10 /Standard Newswire/ -- Today over 100 prominent Catholics nationwide have come together to support John McCain for president. The National Catholics for McCain Committee, led by U.S. Senator Sam Brownback (R-KS) and Former Governor Frank Keating (R-OK), is growing rapidly. The group is represented by elected officials, businessmen and women, grassroots organizers, students, and Catholic leaders from over two dozen states.

"John McCain has a common sense vision for America based on faith, freedom, and families," said Senator Sam Brownback (R-KS), National Co-Chair of the National Catholics for McCain Committee. "Committed to the protection of innocent human life, he is a leader Catholics will be proud to support. John McCain knows from experience what it means when a society tramples on the truth of the value of the human person. He is committed to defending the dignity and value of every person, regardless of their status."

John McCain expressed his deep appreciation and stated, "I want to thank Catholic voters today, who have played a vital role in electing me as the Republican nominee for the presidency. I am humbled by the support of such a diverse group of Catholic leaders who are dedicated to the defense of traditional marriage, advocate for the protection of innocent human life, and share my vision for a stronger, safer and more prosperous America. I stand firmly with those Catholics who believe that human rights are natural rights for all people, in all places, and in all stages of life."

The National Catholics for McCain Committee is actively recruiting Catholics at the national, regional, state, local, and parish levels to help share John McCain's vision and pro-Catholic message.

Catholics For McCain Co- Chairs:

U.S. Senator Sam Brownback, Kansas
Former Governor Frank Keating, Oklahoma

Catholics For McCain National Leadership Committee:

Republican House Leader John Boehner, Ohio
Former U.S. Senator Mike DeWine, Ohio
Representative Lincoln Diaz-Balart, Florida
Representative Mario Diaz-Balart, Florida
Former U.S. Secretary of State Alexander Haig, Washington, DC
Representative Ray LaHood, Illinois
Representative Dan Lungren, California
U.S. Senator Mel Martinez, Florida
Representative Jean Schmidt, Ohio
Representative Pat Tiberi, Ohio

Catholics For McCain National Steering Committee:

David Adams, Florida, Retired Senior Foreign Service Officer
Laurence Alvarado, Florida, Managing Director, Bearing Point & Contributor, InsideCatholic.com
Hon. William Barr, Virginia, Former U.S. Attorney General, U.S. Department of Justice
David Barron, South Carolina, Former Advisor & Surrogate, Reagan for President
Andresen Blom, Hawaii, Former Executive Director, Hawaii Right to Life
Gerry Bradley, Indiana, Law Professor, University of Notre Dame School of Law
Helen Anne Bunn, California, Owner & Operator, Health Care Facilities
Frank Cannon, Virginia, Treasurer, Susan B. Anthony List & Former Campaign Manager, Bauer for President
Mary Cannon, Virginia, Speechwriter & Former Deputy Communications Director, Kemp for President
Ryan Carney, Virginia, Former Chairman, CUA Republicans & Former Finance Director, Brownback for President
Alan Carson, Georgia, President, Obor Digital
Joseph Cella, Virginia, Founder, National Catholic Prayer Breakfast
Theo Chalgren, Minnesota, Visual Media Producer
Linda Chavez, Virginia, Conservative Author & Syndicated Columnist
Denis Coleman, Florida, Former Chairman, Covenant House & Former General Counsel, Bermuda
Jim Corbett, South Carolina, Former State Director, Brownback for President
Lisa Correnti, Maryland, Grassroots Activist & Homemaker
Timothy Costa, Rhode Island, Policy Advisor
Marjorie Dannenfelser, Virginia, President, Susan B. Anthony List
Martin Dannenfelser, Virginia, Former Vice President, Family Research Council
Shawn Denton, Florida, Catholic Outreach Coordinator in Broward County, McCain for President
Terry Denton, Florida, Catholic Outreach Coordinator in Broward County, McCain for President
Bob Destro, Washington, DC, Law Professor, Catholic University of America Columbus School of Law
Stephen Louis A. Dillard, Georgia, Attorney & Former Legal Policy Advisor, Huckabee for President
Bernard Dobranski, Michigan, Dean, Ave Maria School of Law
Aggie Dowd, New Hampshire, Political Activist
John Dowd, New Hampshire, Former State Chairman, New Hampshire Republican Party & Coordinator, Catholics for Bush
Martin Duggan, Missouri, Television Host & Catholic Activist
John Eddy, Arkansas, Former National Victory Director, Republican National Committee
Tracy Eddy, Arkansas, Former Senior Staffer, the White House
Umberto Fedeli, Ohio, President & CEO, Fedeli Group
Ariel Fernandez, Florida, Catholic Outreach Coordinator in Miami-Dade County, McCain for President
James Fitzpatrick, Pennsylvania, Former State Regional Coalition Chair, Catholics for Bush
Dorothy Fleming, Minnesota, Deputy Chair, Republican Party of Minnesota
Angela Flood, Virginia, Former Deputy Political Director, the White House
Robert P. George, New Jersey, McCormick Professor of Jurisprudence, Princeton University
Martin Gillespie, New Jersey, Former Director of Catholic Outreach, Republican National Committee
Rob Gleason, Pennsylvania, Chairman, Republican Party of Pennsylvania
Frank Hanna, Georgia, CEO, Hanna Capital, LLC
Hon. Melissa Hart, Pennsylvania, Former Representative, US House & Candidate for Congress
Deal W. Hudson, Washington, DC, President, Morley Publishing Group
John J. Jakubczyk, Arizona, Former President, Arizona Right to Life
John M. Klink, California, Former Diplomat, Vatican
Christian Kotscher, Georgia, National Principal, IBM
Alfred A. Lagan, Massachusetts, Founder & Chairman, Congress Asset Management Company
Alyssa Lombardi, Virginia, Teacher & Pro-Life Activist
Connie Marshner, Virginia, Writer, Editor & Grassroots Leader
Kitty Martinez, Florida, Former Educator
Hon. Bob McDonnell, Virginia, Attorney General, Virginia
Edward McFadden, Virginia, Former Senior Advisor, Fred Thompson for President
Margaret Melady, Virginia, Former President, American University in Rome
Amb. Thomas Melady, Virginia, Former US Ambassador, Vatican
Tom Monaghan, Florida, Catholic Philanthropist & Founder, Domino's Pizza & Ave Maria University
Hon. Maureen Mooney, New Hampshire, State Representative (R-Merrimack) & Former State Director, Catholics for Bush
Mario Murgado, Florida, President & CEO, Miami Automotive Retail, Inc. Brickell Motors
Dennis Myers, Florida, Broward County Republican Executive Committee
Chris Nolan, Maryland, President, Landbridge Equity, LLC
Catherine Nugent, Missouri, President, Willis Pendleton Inc.
Joe O'Farrell, Georgia, Catholic Activist & Fundraiser
Patrick O'Meara, Michigan, Founder, O'Meara Ferguson Kearns, Inc.
Hon. Brian Palmer, Michigan, State Representative (R-Romeo)
Dana Phillips, Iowa, Former Co-Chairman, Catholics for Brownback
William F. Plunkett, Jr., New York, Attorney
Alexandra Preate, New York, Principal, Capital HQ
George Prezioso, New York, Vice President, AWMA
John Pudner, Georgia, President, Concentric Direct
Robert Reilly, Virginia, Former Director, Voice of America
Maureen Roselli, New Jersey, Founding CEO & Former President, Catholic Alliance
Austin Ruse, Virginia, President, Catholic Family and Human Rights Institute
Cathy Ruse, Virginia, Former Chief Pro- Life Spokesman, U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops
Paul G. Scolese, Virginia, Former Staff, Bush-Cheney 2000 Presidential Transition Office
Lauren Shea, Florida, Political Activist
Timothy D. Shea, Florida, Real Estate Executive
Shawn Smeallie, Virginia, Partner, American Continental Group
Jack St. Martin, Colorado, Former Campaign Manager, Beauprez for Governor
John Stanton, Pennsylvania, Former Executive Director, Southeast Pennsylvania Pro-Life Union
Frank Stella, Michigan, Chairman & CEO, F.D. Stella Products Company
Hon. George W. Strake, Jr., Texas, Former Secretary of State, Texas & Former Chairman, Republican Party of Texas
Warren Sweeney, New Jersey, Former Executive Director, National Right to Life Committee
Christina Valentine, Virginia, Former President, Franciscan University of Steubenville College Republicans
Rick Valentine, Virginia, Former Deputy Assistant U.S. Attorney General, U.S. Department of Justice
Susan Valentine, Virginia, Vice President, Virginia Society for Human Life
Tim Von Dohlen, Texas, 2004 Delegate & Former Representative, Texas State House
Pat Von Dohlen, Texas, Pro-Life Activist
Robert Wasinger, Virginia, Former Campaign Manager, Brownback for President
John Willke, Ohio, President, Life Issues Institute, Inc.
Chuck Yob, Michigan, Republican National Committeeman, Michigan
Eugene J. Zurlo, South Carolina, Chairman, Zurlo Investment Trust & Former President, Catholic Radio Association

Catholic Students For McCain Leadership Committee:

Billy Valentine, Virginia, Chairman, Catholic Students for McCain, Franciscan University of Steubenville
Lauren Benning, Florida, Catholic Outreach Coordinator in Lee County, McCain for President, Duke University
Raymond M. Gennawey, III, California, Former Chairman, CUA Republicans, Catholic University of America
Danielle Huntley, Massachusetts, Former President, Students for Life of America, Boston College School of Law
Kilty Maher, Iowa, Ave Maria University
Matthew Rooney, New Jersey, Former Chairman, CUA Republicans, Rutgers Law School
Terry Schilling, Illinois, Student Body President, Franciscan University of Steubenville
Thomas Ternan, Texas, Franklin & Marshall College
Katie Wilcox, Michigan, Ave Maria Law School
Colm Willis, Oregon, Boston College

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Bereaved Parent, Sibling Organization Recognizes 95 Compassionate Employers Nationwide

Bereaved Parent, Sibling Organization Recognizes 95 Compassionate Employers Nationwide

OAK BROOK, Ill., March 3 /Christian Newswire/ -- Ninety five employers, representing 38 states plus Washington D. C., are being recognized by The Compassionate Friends for showing extra sensitivity to bereaved employees following the death of a child. The Compassionate Friends (TCF) is the nation's largest self-help bereavement organization with 600 chapters serving all 50 states, Washington D.C., and Puerto Rico.

Nominated by the persons they have directly helped, these employers are receiving Compassionate Employer Recognition in 2008 for going above and beyond the normal policies of most companies in helping their employees when the death of a child occurred.

Criteria for Compassionate Employer Recognition include, but are not limited to:


Allowing additional time off without loss of benefits.
Allowing flexible work schedules and assignments.
Allowing leeway in job performance standards.
Fostering an environment of mutual support among coworkers.
Providing professional grief counseling, human resources support, or information regarding self-help bereavement organizations.
Other policies and practices that go beyond what is normal in the community.

This is the eighth year for recognition of employers, with recipients jumping from three the first year, to the current 95 for 2008. Employers being recognized range from small companies with as few as four employees to large companies with as many as 10,000.

The 2008 recipients of TCF's Compassionate Employer Recognition are (by state): ARIZONA: Northwest Medical Center, Tucson; Town of Marana/Marana Police Dept., Marana; CALIFORNIA: Experian, Costa Mesa; Hilton Hotels Corporation, Beverly Hills; Mathews Machinery, Inc., Corona; McCune Garden Chapel, Vacaville; Medical Board of California - DCA, Sacramento; Miller Starr Regalia, Walnut Creek; Western Placer Unified School District, Lincoln; COLORADO: Park Forest Care Center, Westminster; CONNECTICUT: Abel Womack, Inc.,Wallingford; FLORIDA: Buddy Foster Chevrolet/Dade City Chevrolet, Zephyrhills; Consulate Health Care of Vero Beach, Vero Beach; Gold's Gym, Sarasota; NisAir Air Conditioning, Fort Pierce; Women's Health Specialists, Jensen Beach; GEORGIA: Georgia Baptist Convention, Duluth; Midway Primary School, Silver Creek; HAWAII: Hawaii State Department of Commerce and Consumer Affairs, Honolulu; ILLINOIS: Animal Welfare League, Chicago Ridge; Bon Air, Inc., Moline; INDIANA: Dealer Services Corporation, Carmel; IOWA: Good Samaritan Society, West Union Center, West Union; Magee Construction Company, Cedar Falls; United States Dept. of Agriculture, Ames; Wagoner Family Foot Clinic, Maquoketa; KANSAS: Lane County Hospital, Dighton; MARYLAND: Merrill Lynch, Frederick; MiddleBrook Pharmaceuticals, Germantown; Union Hospital of Cecil County, Elkton; MASSACHUSETTS: Barnstable Public Schools, Hyannis; Berman Devalerio Pease Tabacco Burt & Pucillo, Boston; MICHIGAN: Ann Arbor Orthopaedic Surgery, PC, Ypsilanti; Pridgeon and Clay, Inc., Grand Rapids; Providence Hospital, Southfield; MINNESOTA: Fisher School District, Fisher; Merrill Communications, St. Paul; Minneapolis Post Office, Minneapolis; Risk Solution Resources, Blaine; U.S. Energy Services, Plymouth; MISSISSIPPI: Fox-Everett, Inc. Jackson, ; MISSOURI: Country Mart, Branson; Northwest Valley Middle School, House Springs; MONTANA: Young Parents' Education Center, Great Falls; NEBRASKA: Henderson Health Care Services, Henderson; NEW HAMPSHIRE: Anthem Blue Cross and Blue Shield in New Hampshire, Manchester; Bicentennial Elementary School, Nashua; Manchester Memorial High School, Manchester; NEW JERSEY: James D. Butler, PA, Jersey City; St. Barnabas Health Care System Behavioral Health, Newark; United States Federal Probation, Trenton; NEW YORK: American Red Cross, Adirondack Saratoga Chapter, Glens Falls; Delaware Surgical Group, Williamsville; Kurt S. Adler, Inc., New York; Monroe County Medical Society, Rochester; Regeneron Pharmaceuticals, Inc. Tarrytown; NORTH CAROLINA: City of Durham, Durham; Durham County Library, Durham; Newland Communities, Durham; O'Charley's Restaurant, Cary; Piedmont Health Services, Inc., Carrboro; South Piedmonth Community College, Polkton; Stabilus, Gastonia; NORTH DAKOTA: Southwest Healthcare Services, Bowman; OHIO: Gilmour Academy School, Gates Mills; Mt. Carmel Health, Columbus; OKLAHOMA: Southwest Oklahoma Blood Institute, Lawton; U.S. Cellular, Tulsa; OREGON: Ticor Title Insurance Company, Portland; XL Overhead Construction Inc. Medford; PENNSYLVANIA: Children's Hospital of Pittsburgh Respiratory Dept., Pittsburgh; Computer Aid, Inc., Allentown; Tuscarora Intermediate Unit 11 Community Education Services, Lewistown; Whitford Corporation, Elverson; RHODE ISLAND: Jackson Hewitt Tax Service, Greenville; SOUTH CAROLINA: Coastal Fasteners and Supply, Myrtle Beach; SOUTH DAKOTA: Sanford Health, Sioux Falls; TENNESSEE: Quinco Mental Health Center, Selmer; TEXAS: ABC Printing, Longview; All About Kids Child Care and Learning Center, Weatherford; Bell Helicopter, Fort Worth; Citifinancial Auto, Bedford; Gila Corporation dba Municipal Services Bureau, Austin; InterContinental Stephen F. Austin Hotel, Austin; Metrocare Services, Dallas; Zachry Construction Corporation, San Antonio; UTAH: Cedar Ridge Middle School and Cache County School District, Hyde Park; VERMONT: NEOems, Brandon; VIRGINIA: IBM, Fairfax; Sentara Obici Hospital, Suffolk; WASHINGTON: Carry Gear Solutions, Seattle; Kiemle & Hagood Company, Spokane; State of Washington Dept. of Ecology, Olympia; WISCONSIN: Middleton-Cross Plains Area School District; WASHINGTON, D.C.: FINRA

"So often employees who have experienced the death of a child are expected to return to work in three days, handle the same work load as before, and to leave their grief at home," says Patricia Loder, Executive Director of The Compassionate Friends. "There is oftentimes a lack of understanding by employers about the realities of grief in the workplace. These 95 employers, large and small, public and private, are being recognized for providing the compassion and understanding that is so vital to the bereavement process."

The mission of T3he Compassionate Friends is to assist families toward the positive resolution of grief following the death of a child of any age and to provide information to help others be supportive. To contact The Compassionate Friends, call toll-free 877-969- 0010 or visit the TCF national website at www.compassionatefriends.org. Nominations for the 2008 Compassionate Employer Recognition program will be accepted starting Monday, August 4 shortly after The Compassionate Friends 31st National Conference in Nashville, Tennessee.

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