May 1

The "Green Bay Packers Family Cookbook," a project launched by the Packers Women's Association in 1998, recently paid substantial dividends to a variety of area groups.

A total of $21,000, proceeds of cookbook sales to date, has been distributed by the PWA to Camp P.O.P., St. Vincent Hospital, Unity Hospice, the Young Artist Workshops and the NEW Howard/Suamico/Hobart Library Fund.

The largest grant, $10,000, went to Camp P.O.P., a non-profit, 6-week summer day camp program which services children with autism and/or cognitive disabilities. The camp was created in 1996 because of a great need for such a program, since those with such disabilities have limited success to customary camps for children, and also because they are often denied access to camps which service children with other specific disabilities. Certified occupational, speech and language therapists, along with instructional aides, staff the camp, designed for children aged 3 to 10 years.

St. Vincent Hospital, currently involved in a $40 million renovation project, received a $5,000 grant, and Unity Hospice, the Young Artist Workshops and the NEW Howard/Suamico/Hobart Library Fund each received a $2,000 donation.

The Unity Hospice is a program which helps adults and children in the last months of life to remain at home while their medical, emotional and family needs are met by teams of nurses, physicians, social workers, aides, volunteers, chaplains and counselors.

The Young Artist Workshops, an organization founded on the premise that all children should have access to the arts, regardless of physical or cognitive disabilities, offers young people with exceptional education needs a three-week day camp experience, including activities such as theatre, photography, creative writing and computer graphics design.

The grant to the NEW Howard Library fund was donated toward the purchase of books and materials for the new library, which is located in the village of Howard and will open its doors May 15. The culmination of a grass roots effort, the library campaign was launched in 1991 and co-chaired by M.J. Knox and Bob Stazishar.

The cookbook was developed and promoted by a Packers Women's Association committee which included Mary Dellenbach, Jeannie Pederson, Diane Prior, Sherry Schuldes, Madonna Sydney and Jana Timmerman.

PWA members also are currently continuing to dedicate time and efforts to assisting a number of organizations and causes, including the American Cancer Society, American Red Cross, Golden House, Marion House, Manor Care, Odd Fellows Nursing Home, Paul's Pantry, Salvation Army, Service League of Green Bay and the YWCA.