Media Industry Connects to Iraqi and Afghani Children Through the TD Foundation. Join Us for Cocktails on December 7 - Tom Deierlein - MediaBizBloggers

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On Tuesday December 7th, join your colleagues and friends for cocktails, fun, silent auction, an update from the front, and to support an important cause the media and advertising industry adopted in 2006. The 5th Annual TD Foundation Cocktail Party and Fundraiser is taking place at the Time & Life Building, hosted for the second year in a row by Time Inc Digital. To RSVP please email Natalie_Sandoval@timeinc.com. Details are below.

You first learned of my personal story that led to the creation of the TD Foundation here on these very pages in October 2005, when Jack Myers shared an email advising that I had been called up to serve in Iraq, even though I was close to turning 40 and was an inactive reservist. While in Baghdad in 2006, I was overwhelmed by the poverty, non-existent infrastructure and complete lack of medical care. That is when the advertising industry first answered the call – boxes of clothes, toys, vitamins, and school supplies began to poor in. While on my missions we would stop, set up security and give the humanitarian aid to children and families. Every minute put us additional risk, but the soldiers loved it and it was worth it to see the smiles of the children who had absolutely nothing, plus the quiet, grateful nods of the mothers in full burkas holding a bottle of 300 vitamins. All these families wanted is exactly what each and every parent here in the US wants – a safe life for their children, an education, and some food on the table. The needs were simple, the resources were few, and the future was bleak. We made a difference.

On September 9, 2006 I was shot by a sniper. I spent eight months in the hospital. Again the advertising and media community answered the call. Bill Flatley, Paul Bremer, and Sean Finnegan started a foundation to continue our efforts. To date, we have spent more than $400,000 to help improve and save the lives of countless children. We have shipped more than $100,000 worth of school supplies, $75,000 of medical supplies, wheelchairs, and provided life saving surgery for more than 30 children – everything from heart surgery to severe burns to pediatric orthopedic leg reconstruction from a rocket attack.

The need continues. Things are better, but we as an industry must continue to answer the call – critical infrastructure and basic educational and medical facilities still do not exist. Our guest speaker on December 7 is Captain (Chaplain) Mike Oliver. He just returned from his second tour in October. He will talk about his two tours, including "The Surge" and our work together this past year.

You can make a real and tangible difference. Join your friends for some holiday cheer and simultaneously help. Regardless of your stance on the conflicts, we can all agree that innocent children deserve a chance. Not only will you have a great time, trust me you will feel the giving spirit of the holidays for months to come.

Party and Foundation Details: RSVP: Natalie_Sandoval@timeinc.com

It is a 3 hour long cocktail party with LIVE MUSIC, silent auction and brief presentation and update on the work of the Foundation by Tom Deierlein and other guest speakers. This is a non-political event.

5th Annual TD Foundation Holiday Party
Tuesday December 7th, 6-9pm
Time & Life Building
1271 Avenue of Americas
New York, NY 10020

HOST: Time Inc Digital
Sponsors: Collective, NBCU and Universal Audience Platform, Quantcast, and Tremor Media

The minimum TAX DEDUCTIBLE donation remains only $150. For $250, you can bring a client/guest. Platinum donors this year is $500.

After you RSVP, make the payment directly on the site – www.tdfoundation.org, the email receipt is your entry ticket and tax receipt.

Here is a recent email string that helps illustrate my point (names changed):

November 6, 2010

I…would like to get some information or an idea on how to help the needy children in Anytown, Iraq. My department responds to calls that involve Iraqi children, the majority (in our opinion) are abuse related. It's emotionalto send them to the local hospital because they don't have much care there and from what we are told " if they don't have money they will not be seen". I am limited as a military member to help without breaking military protocol.

It is also hard to get support when we are the few people who actually see these poor children that need help. I feel there is actually more than what we can see. My question is how can I get help to these injured children? I know your organization deals with children around Baghdad, how can we get help up North? What avenues can I go through to start some kind of aid? Any information or suggestions are greatly appreciated, keep up the good work.

More on the TD Foundation:

NBC Nightly News Video: http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/21134540/vp/21502982#21502982

 MSN 5 Part Series: http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/19717176/ns/us_news-giving

NYTimes: http://www.nytimes.com/2007/06/21/business/media/21adco.html?_r=1&ref=business

Parade: http://www.parade.com/features/070426-youramerica-tom-deierlein-intro.html

Fox NY: http://www.myfoxny.com/dpp/news/A_Soldiers_Foundation

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