They're in Italy...

Thank you again to everyone who assisted in getting Diana over to Florence. and contributed to the various fundraisers the girls had to raise spending money funds.

Diana and Amanda left on Friday, September 7, and have arrived safe and sound.

Today, was their first day of classes, but I haven't heard how they're going. I'm sure though, it has to be a lot more fun taking history , art and science in Florence then here in Riverside (no offense to Riverside... smile!).

Anyway,if you're still interested in supporting the girls efforts, feel free to forward any contribution to me at my home address, 15615 Oliver Street, Moreno Valley, CA 92555.

As soon as the girls are able to, they will be posting photo's. I'll keep my fingers crossed.

A quick shout out and thank you to several friends who have recently contributed dollars and recycling containers:
Benita Roberts
Gary & Julia Orso
Rose Girard
The Gang at Wilkin Guge (for the 7 bags of plastic bottles, glass bottles and cans)

Thank you again for all the positive energy being sent to Amanda and Diana.

Fundraiser update

Grazie...Grazie...Grazie...

The fundraiser would not have been a success without the friends and family who showed up yesterday, August 11, at Fairmount Park to support Diana and Amanda.

It was another amazing afternoon. The weather was perfect. The venue was beautiful. Fairmount Park couldn't have looked better. Thank you to the City of Riverside Park and Recreation people for cleaning up the area so nicely.

Thanks to our family and friends who showed up, not only to help monetarily, but helped with unloading our cars, setting up the grills with charcoal, barbecueing, "swooshing of flies" from the food, and then clean-up: Of course, I want to say thanks to Olga and Marcello, Diana's parents, for providing the meats, "hot" salsa, pico de gallo, guacamole and rice. Everything was soooooo delicious!

Thank you to Bea and Gary for barbecueing. They arrived early and immediately went to work cooking. Wow!!

Karen and Clint Bradford for providing the hot dog and hamburger buns, ice and serving trays.

Pam Nusser, for the very delicious chocolate chip oatmeal cookies. Yummy!!!

Michael McFarland for providing the music through his computer and speakers.

Thank you to the following friends and family who attended the barbecue. The girls raised just over $600.
Bea and Gary
Karen & Clint Bradford
Junior Serrato
Simone, Michael & Megan McFarland
Keida and Maria Velasquez
Diana's mother's brother, his wife and two children
Paul, Ann, Owen, Ian, and baby Riley
Ron, Suzette, Wren & Ethan Woodbury
Monique Saenz and family
Christophe, Kim, Natalee and Cedric Genet
Noe Sapolu
About 20 members of Diana's family - including Diana's dad's brother and his family. Diana's mom's two sisters and their family. Diana's cousin Lupe, her husband, and their new baby.
Diana's family friends Carmen and Lillian.
Mary and Liz Carrillo
Several of Amanda and Diana's friends.

I really hoped to post the photo's that Karen Bradford took. However, I'm still learning how to use my MAC and I just could not get this computer to post them. Please come back and visit later this week.

Grazie, grazie, grazie... I truly am grateful for all the support.

Buon giorno... Good morning

Several of you have asked, actually have commented on the "Ricki Times" flyer. I have been incredibly remiss in mentioning that it was created by the very talented, Adam Khan, who I have the pleasure of working with. He is very creative and I am very lucky to work with him.

Others have asked what subjects Diana and Amanda will be studying while over in Florence. Believe it or not, they'll be taking classes that they would typically take stateside. Health Science, History of World Civilization or 6 or 7, Art Appreciation and for an additional $300 they can take an Italian language class.

The classes will be taught by two RCC professors, Jim Morrison and Dwight Lomayesva.

The program fee cost $6,499 and includes airfare, their accommodations while in Florence, medical & travel insurance and an excursion to Rome. They still pay for their class tuition, passport and visa fees, meals and other personal expenses. Hence the reason for the various fundraisers.

Thank you so very much to Friends who have recently contributed to Diana's trip and Spending Money for both girls:
LaDonna Ardary
Stephanie & Erik Redmond
Ann & Jim Gore
John Richardson
Mark & Elizabeth Godfrey
Ione Flanagan

Wishing you all a fabulous day!

Buona sera...Good Evening

Today Amanda and Diana had their first fundraising activity ... a Garage Sale. Yahoo!! It turned out pretty good. All sales went to the girls Spending Money Fund. Their goal is to raise at least $1,200 a piece before they leave.

Diana has an additional goal of raising $6,500 to pay for her trip. She's raised just over $2,500. Thank you, thank you to those of you who have been mentioned on previous posts.

Today was such a great day to have the garage sale! The weather couldn't have been better and the shoppers were very nice. Not too many tried to negotiate low, low prices.

Thank you to Friends who supported the garage sale and Diana's own personal goal:

Bea Ramos
Stephanie Redmond
Neighbors, Oscar, Greg and Clarence
Kathy Allavie
Kristen Kirkpatrick

I bought a book, Europe from $85 a Day.. The girls will be reading this one... smile!!!

I also bought for them a language CD, iSpeak italian, which will load Italian phrases into iTunes. They'll then be able to download it to their iPod.

Thanks for reading. Don't forget to pass this blog on to any of your friends and ask them to send good supportive thoughts in the direction of the girls.

Arrivederci

August 2 UPDATE

Thanks for the feedback regarding what could be added to the blog. I really like the idea of posting pictures of where the girls will be staying in Florence. We'll also post photo's of them stateside participating/working on their fundraising activities.

Don't forget, this Saturday, August 4 from 6:30 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. will be a garage sale at our home. Our address is 15615 Oliver Street, Moreno Valley. All proceeds from the sale will go to the girls for spending money.

Thank you to my most recent Friends who have contributed directly to Diana for the funding of her trip:
Singh
Debbie & Fred Hoffman
Wendel & Janis Tucker
RCI - Ninth Street
Charles Field

By the way, I haven't mentioned this, but Diana and Amanda will be leaving on September 7 and returning November 30. They'll be spending a full semester in Italy!

Please keep the comments coming. Thank you so much for the support.

Remember the biggest way you can assist is to pass the blog link on to your friends.

July 31 Update

Good evening,

I just have to recognize some Friends who have contributed to Diana's trip.

Thank you very much Nick & Sandy Ferguson and Wally Rice and Linda Reifschneider.

I'm sure I speak for Diana that we are grateful for the support.

Friends, if you've received the email link to this blog, please help me out by testing it and posting a comment. If you can't post a comment, then please email me and let me know. I'm not sure why I'm having issues...smile!


Aloha,
Ricki

July 30 update -- Please send comments

I'm trying to figure out how to conveniently and easily have my friends post to this blog.

Why don't you indicate that you're going to post a comment, add your email address and/or sign up for a google account, and lets see if that'll work.

I know this is going to be fun and exciting to see this blog grow, but in the meantime, please be patient.

I would really appreciate receiving your comments, suggestions and advice.

Thanks for the support.

By the way, please check out Diana's blog, which is listed at the top of my blog.