Donations Pour In For Teen's April 16th NY Experience We hope that Mandi's courage inspires other kids living with illnesses to find mentors and ask for help so they too can live their dreams.

New York (PRWEB) April 15, 2008 -- Mandi Alto of Virginia, MN has overcome a lot of obstacles in her young life: a rare childhood cancer, kidney stones, polycystic ovarian syndrome, and a blood clotting disorder. Adding to the 18-year-old high school senior's troubles: enjoying that one special night all girls dream about: her high school prom.

ComedyCures Foundation Mandi's family finances have been depleted due to the cost of her cancer treatments. Then there is the all important dress - today's skimpy prom styles won't flatter the plus size youth. But like Cinderella, Mandi has found her Fairy Godmother here in the metropolitan area. And Fairy Godmothers have helpers.

Thanks to Mandi's penpal and fellow cancer survivor Saranne Rothberg, founder of the ComedyCures Foundation www.comedycures.org, Mandi will be flown into Manhattan on Wednesday, April 16 for a whirlwind day in which she will receive a head-to-toe prom makeover any princess would envy.

NWA WorldVacations is donating round-trip airfare to fly Mandi and her stepmother, Chris Alto, from Duluth to LaGuardia as well as accommodations for the Altos during their stay in NY. They will be ushered from the airport and around town by Six Stars Limo of New York as her day unfolds. Fashion designer Kathlin Argiro has designed and will fit Mandi's dress, Macy's Herald Square is donating a generous shopping spree for all Prom accessories, Maybelline of New York is gifting a year's supply of makeup, celebrity makeup artist John Nelson and OC 61's colorist Laurie Daniel and stylist Dayler Chagas form her beauty team.

Ann Shoket, editor-in-chief of Seventeen Magazine, has joined Mandi's welcoming committee. The Alto makeover team also includes Edite stylist Rachel Paletsky and Samantha Prag of Tim Gunns' Guide to Style.

The fashion portion of Mandi's day culminates in Argiro's studio where local teen girls will greet Mandi, Rothberg and Rothberg's daughter, Lauriel. North Jersey plus size supermodel and fellow cancer survivor Emme will share beauty secrets and coach Mandi for her New York fashion photo shoot by Raquel Lauren.

And no first-time trip to the Big Apple would be complete without a Broadway show. A delicious dinner will be catered by Broadway's exquisite Thalia Restaurant before Mandi heads to see Xanadu, whose cast has planned a great night out including VIP Xanadu tickets, a cast meet-and-greet, and show gifts and souvenirs.

Not that she's likely to forget this experience, but Mandi's entire day in New York will be captured on film by Skyview cameraman David Stollak with DMJ digital field producer David Jasse and photographer Kristy Leibowitz documenting Mandi's experiences.

Adding to this magical day: Mandi and Rothberg have never met.

Mandi Alto reached out to fellow cancer survivor Saranne Rothberg, founder of the ComedyCures Foundation, and her daughter, Lauriel, for advice recently as she had done in 2004 when then 14-year-old Mandi saw the pair on television sharing their joy-filled strategies for surviving cancer as a family. Mandi wanted to learn Saranne's tips and with the Altos' permission, Mandi and Saranne have been e-mail pals ever since.

Learning of Mandi's prom dress dilemma, Saranne and Lauriel (age 15) immediately jumped into action and started reaching out for donations to make Mandi's big night dreams come true. As New Yorkers usually do, they came through in a big way.

"The outpouring of support has been tremendous," said Rothberg. "We hope that Mandi's courage inspires other kids living with illnesses to find mentors and ask for help so they too can live their dreams."

Mandi's whirlwind day will of course end before the clock strikes twelve: she'll be whisked back to the airport to return to Duluth with her new designer prom dress, lots of swag, and lifelong memories.

And yes, Mandi has a date for her prom.

MEDIA CONTACT: Patti Roiz 888-300-3990 201-906-6693 roiz.patricia @ gmail.com SaranneR @ ComedyCures.org

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My super cool and incredibly inspiring girlfriend Saranne Rothberg, is one brilliant ray or light and the founder of the Comeday Cures Foundation. I love that she puts her daughter first in all that she does and being her friend is nothing short of extraordinary. I wish more single entertainment moms could take a page from her book!

Right from her site:

The ComedyCures Foundation tickles funny bones! We bring joy, laughter, and therapeutic humor programs to kids and grown-ups living with illness depression, trauma and disabilities. Through large & small scale therapeutic comedy programs, we entertain and educate patients, families and caregivers about the power of a comic perspective and the positive benefits of laughter on the body, mind, and spirit. "Yes, laughter is great medicine!" Love, laughter and hope are communicated in every aspect of our unique programs.

Saranne Rothberg is a woman with a simple goal—to help you find joy in your journey. Saranne launched The ComedyCures Foundation, a 501(c)3 human service organization, from her chemo chair in 1999 as an outgrowth of her personal experience with the healing power of a comic perspective. She and her daughter discovered that therapeutic comedy served as a great family coping strategy as they dealt with Saranne’s early stage IV cancer diagnosis.

Today, Saranne is cancer-free and has taken ComedyCures’ life-affirming work to ill patients and families throughout the country. Her ground-breaking digital ComedyCures' PSA campaign launched daily this fall on the most listened to radio station in the country. This "ComedyCures LaughingLunch Break" at 12:35pm is impacting millions of people a month with hilarious performances by America's funniest comics. In addition, Saranne helped over 160,000 people at more than 260 live events rediscover their funny bones through her motivational, inspirational, laughter-rich performances and unique therapeutic productions. Oprah features Saranne as her "Hero" in her book, "Live Your Best Life".

(www.comedycures.org) (www.thethreetomatoes.com)

I've included mine for you to see.

Please visit www.safehorizon.org to find out more about this proactive and very needed organization!

Finally, we need your help..... Hands of Light in Action is going to Greensburg, Kansas in July to assist in rebuilding a whole community destroyed by a tornado. Population is 1800. F5 Tornado (280 miles/hour) on 5/04/07. 90% of community in rubble. Household income is $29,000 and median age is 45. Mostly a farming community. National press has not spotlighted Greenburg so volunteers are there but the town is in need of many more hands. Anyone that would be interested in volunteering on this trip can contact Nancy Malone at 734-788-9230.

We had originally planned to go to New Orleans, but several of the volunteers were raised in farming communitees in the midwest and had a heartfelt need to assist. When we were discussing the trip, we unanymously decided on Greensburg, Kansas. We will be assisting with the rebuilding of Greensburg. At this time, they are unable to accept clothing and furniture due to the lack of storage space. Hands of Light in Action is requesting monetary contributions, Lowes, Home Depot, Target or KMart gift cards. 100% of donations/contributions continue to go towards rebuilding/assisting communities hit by disasters. Your contribution/donation would be greatly appreciated. HOLIA is a 501(3)c nonprofit organization and your donations are tax deductible. Donations may be sent to: Hands of Light in Action P. O. Box 87513 Canton, MI 48187

Thank you to all of you for your continued support of HOLIA.

Don't sweat the small stuff, Love your family, Live your life to the fullest---for sometimes it is just too short, Be the change you want for your world!!!

Blessings to all of you,

Nancy Malone

TCC is the leading 501(c)(3) nonprofit, nonpartisan social and public advocacy organization of the arts and entertainment community. Founded in 1989 by prominent members of the creative community, The Creative Coalition is dedicated to educating its members on issues of public importance, primarily the First Amendment, public education and arts advocacy. Headquartered in New York City, The Creative Coalition also has offices in Washington, D.C., Los Angeles and San Francisco. The Creative Coalition does not endorse or raise funds for political parties or candidates.

To learn more about The Creative Coalition (TCC) and the projects they might have in your area, go to: www.thecreativecoalition.org

"Sexual violence has been dismissed as random acts of individual soldiers. But in armed conflict, rape is also often a military tactic, service as a combat tool to humiliate and demoralize individuals, to tear apart families, and to devastate communities. Armed forces use sexual violence as the spoils of war for soldiers who see the rape of women as their entitlement. Lawlessness allows perpetrators to act with impunity and leaves survivors wit little to no recourse. The UN has a mandate to protect populations from sexual violence and to respond to the needs of survivors."

CNN anchor Isha Sesay lead the panel moderation where activist Eve Ensler, director of V-Day, a global movement to end violence against women and children and internationally acclaimed playwright; Deputy Prosecutor Fatou Bensouda of the International Criminal Court; the UN Force Commander in Liberia and Sierra Leone, General Daniel Opande; and the Director of the Forum for Women, Law and Development, Sapana Pradhan Malla. In closing, the new UN Under-Secretary General for Humanitarian Affairs, John Holmes spoke of having three girls of his own and his committment to end the widespread rape during war times in the world today.

To learn more: Vday.org (reclaiming Peace 2007)

StopRapeNow.org

To be sure, I am now a more informed woman about my heart health than ever before!

If you would like to know more about how to prevent heart disease check out www.womansday.com or for information about free screenings coming your way go to www.sistertosister.org

When I go into junior high schools pro bono to share my journey to positive body image and self esteem, I always leave feeling electrified. They do it to me every time. I go to inform them, and I leave a new person. So for me, the charity work that I’ve created rules.

Give a few a try or maybe you would like to focus your energies on one initiative. Either way, what you give out will not compare to what you receive in return. The rewards are endless.

Create your own way of giving back. I tell the many girls and young women who have shared with me their own stories about self esteem and body image to pass along the message. You have no idea how healing it is to have a recent (or even not-so-recent!) grad take the time to return to their high school or college to share some of life’s experiences, how they’ve coped, and what they’ve learned. Just to hear someone share honestly on getting through some of life’s little emergencies can help us put our own situations into perspective and validate that what we are often feeling is neither strange nor weird. Try it!