FORT WAYNE HOPING FOR THIRD TIME CHARM AS ALL-AMERICA CITY

Should City Win a Third Time, We Will Be Part of the "Hall of Fame"

Fort Wayne, Ind . ' Fort Wayne Mayor Tom Henry proudly announced Fort Wayne's inclusion among the thirty finalists for the 2009 All-America City Award bestowed by the National Civic League.

“We know our community has been honored twice in the past with this prestigious designation,” said Mayor Henry. “We are very pleased with being in this elite group of finalists and I have confidence our projects and presentation will carry us through to the winners' circle.”

A group of city staff and community representatives has been meeting for several months to identify three grassroots projects that address local challenges. Winning communities will have proven success in community-based problem-solving, grassroots engagement and public/private/nonprofit collaboration. At least one of the projects highlighted by each community must focus on the needs of young people. Fort Wayne's selected projects were presented in its application under the theme “All Together Now,” a nod to the inclusive and collaborative nature of each of the projects.

Ten of the thirty finalists will be named an All-America City. When a City has been named an All-America City three times, it is referred to as being in the "Hall of Fame" to showcase its outstanding civic accomplishment.

A delegation of thirty community representatives will travel to Tampa, Florida for the competition June 17-19. The committee is accepting financial underwriting to help defray the costs of the delegation. Companies or individuals wishing to make a tax-free donation to the effort may do so by sending a check to the City of Fort Wayne and noting “All-America City” in the check memo. More information is available at the City's website, www.cityoffortwayne.org

Let's work together to make

Fort Wayne an All America City !

Our Sponsors:

http://www.fortwayne.com/

                     www.flyfwa.com 

http://www.fwchamber.org  

Donation by Greater Fort Wayne Chamber of Commerce

in partnership with Fort Wayne International Airport 

http://www.foxcontractors.com/

http://ipfw.edu/

http://www.visitfortwayne.com/

http://www.bv.com/

http://www.oneluckyguitar.com/

http://www.doitbestcorp.com/

http://www.icemiller.com/ 

http://www.rwarmstrong.com/

http://www.hoosierpark.com/

http://www.midwestsp.com/

ALL TOGETHER NOW!!

The All-America City Award is America's original and most prestigious community recognition award.  Since 1949, the Award has honored communities of all sizes (cities, towns, counties, neighborhoods and regions) where community members, government, businesses and nonprofit organizations work together to address critical local issues. More than 500 communities have earned this distinguished title and many have earned it more than once, including Fort Wayne.

Fort Wayne has received this prestigious award twice, our last time was 1998.  We have also placed as a finalist twice since 1998.  Currently, the three areas we are focusing on to demonstrate our collaboration are the International Community, Trails, and the Allen Superior Court - Great Kids Make Great Communities.  

The application process alone represents a valuable opportunity to evaluate the way our community manages opportunities and challenges, which can make our community stronger.  Communities that earn the All-America City title realize numerous benefits, including:

• Local, state, and national recognition
• Greater civic pride and greater civic collaboration
• Economic stimulus

For more information on the All America City Award process, please refer to the National Civic League website at http://www.ncl.org/

Let's work together to make

Fort Wayne an All America City !

All America City Sponsorship Form

Donor/Company Name: ________________________________________________________

(As you would like it to appear in any printed materials)

Name and phone number of person to be contacted for additional information:

Name:_________________________________ Phone: (____)_________________________

Fax: (___)____________________ E-mail: ________________________________________

Address:_____________________________________________________________________

City: _________________________________ State:_______ Zip: ___________________

 Yes! My company would like to support the City of Fort Wayne'€™s All America City team!

Please reserve my company the following sponsorship opportunity:

¨ Platinum Level ($10,000)

¨ Gold Level ($5,000)

¨ Silver Level ($2,500)

¨ Bronze Level ($1,000)

¨ Logo enclosed (camera ready, please do not fold. Or e-mail to This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

(Please send logo as soon as possible for inclusion in printed materials)

¨ No, my company is not able to sponsor, but would like to support the All America City team with a donation of: $________

¨ Payment enclosed: $

¨ Please bill me at the above address

If additional information is needed, please contact:

Kerri Przemielewski by phone at 427-1120, or by email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Let's work together to make

Fort Wayne an All America City !

Committee Members

Steering Committee:

Chair:  Kerri Przemielewski - Mayor's Public Information Office

Mary Richman - City of Fort Wayne, Human Resources

Zenovia Pearson - Mayor's Northwest Area Advocate

Dennis Robinson - Fort Wayne Convention and Visitor's Bureau

Denise Porter-Ross - Mayor's Northeast Area Advocate

Amy Lazoff - Parkview Foundation

Kelly Lundberg - City of Fort Wayne, Office of Housing and Neighborhood Services

International Committee:

Chair:  Zenovia Pearson - Mayor's Northwest Area Advocate

Co-Chair:  Ocleva Williams - Neighborhood Action Center

Nyein Chan - Catholic Charities

Irene Paxia - American Red Cross' Multicultural Information Exchange

Saneta Maiko - Crime Victim Care

FeyFey Moussou - AISEDA

Tony Aduro - AISEDA

Ric Robles - Fort Wayne Police Department

Christine Marshall - Multicultural Council of Fort Wayne

Trails Committee:

Chair:  Dawn Ritchie - City of Fort Wayne, Greenway Manager

Co-Chair:  Bill Zielke - Aboite New Trails, Fort Wayne Board of Parks Commissioner

Jon Bomberger - Baker & Daniels

Roger Goodland - Greenway Consortium, Inc.

Scott Allen - Northwest Allen Trails

Amy Hartzog - City of Fort Wayne Greenway Assistant

Youth Committee:

Chair:  Denise Porter-Ross - Mayor's Northeast Area Advocate

Co-Chair:  Megan Kelly - Great KIDS make Great COMMUNITIES

Michael Talbott - Purdue University Extension Office

Anne Duff - Leadership Fort Wayne

Marketing Committee:

Rebecca Karcher - Mayor's Director of Public Information

Heather Schoegler - One Lucky Guitar, Inc.

Anthony Juliano - Asher Agency

Beth Heironimus - United Way

Molly McCray - City Council, Research Assistant

Let's work together to make

Fort Wayne an All America City !

Sponsorship Opportunities:

Platinum Level - $10,000

• Limited Opportunity '€“ 2 sponsors only at this level
• Company or Foundation logo will be prominently featured on all media materials, City of Fort Wayne website, shirts worn at the All America City competition, signage at our Celebration event and commemorative booklet.

Gold Level - $5,000

• Company or Foundation logo will be featured on the City of Fort Wayne website, shirts worn at the All America City competition, signage at our Celebration event, commemorative booklet and in other media materials as space allows.

Silver Level - $2,500  

• Company or Foundation name will be featured on City of Fort Wayne website, shirts worn at the All America City competition, signage at our Celebration event, commemorative booklet and in other media materials as space allows.

Bronze Level - $1,000

• Company or Foundation name will be featured on City of Fort Wayne website, signage at our Celebration event, commemorative booklet and in other media materials as space allows.

Media Formats may include: printed materials, any advertising media that may be procured, signage, new releases, media alerts, information booklets, Public Service Announcements and web links. Printing deadlines will determine inclusion in many formats.

Fort Wayne Pursues the 2009

All America City  Award

All Together Now!

"All Together Now" exemplifies the collaborative spirit of the three projects highlighted in Fort Wayne's All-America City application. The theme is designed to create a framework for discussing how Fort Wayne is addressing its challenges and planning for its future.

By touching the lives of diverse populations, including recent immigrants, youth, and families, these projects include ALL of our neighborhoods, and they connect these neighborhoods in a way that builds a unique sense of community. Also, due to the interconnections among those providing service through, and those served by, these projects, they touch ALL of our residential, business, and governmental segments. These projects are truly inclusive of ALL demographics within our community.

In highlighting projects that promote teamwork, we strive to demonstrate how Fort Wayne is working TOGETHER to build a stronger community. Collaboration is key to success for all three of our highlighted projects. Only by standing TOGETHER will we succeed TOGETHER.

The opportunities and challenges in our community cannot wait. NOW is the time for our youth to build their leadership skills. NOW is the time for us to welcome our newest citizens as they make us stronger through diversity. NOW is the time for us to build a new infrastructure that connects neighborhoods--and neighbors--in ways that improve our quality of life.

NOW is time for Fort Wayne to demonstrate why it is an All-America City. NOW is the time for ALL of us to come TOGETHER. ALL. TOGETHER. NOW.