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DirectBuy Franchise owner and family join “Team In Training” to raise money for The Leukemia and Lymphoma Society

Ryan Biberston, Brianna Biberston and Jim Biberston of DirectBuy of Albuquerque

Jim Biberston, franchise owner of DirectBuy of Albuquerque, his son Ryan, and daughter-in-law Brianna (who also both work at the club) are training to participate in the Jay Benson Triathlon on May 9, 2010, at the Kirtland Air Force Base in Albuquerque, New Mexico. But they’re not just participating in the Triathlon for their own health and wellness; the Biberstons are a part of Team In Training, an organization that fundraises to support research to find cures for leukemia, lymphoma, and melanoma. The team’s funds raised from the Jay Benson Triathlon will be donated to The Leukemia and Lymphoma Society.

“DirectBuy strives to be a leader in the community by acting as a promoter of change and by helping those in need,” said Jim Biberston. “I see this event as an opportunity to support the local chapter of Team In Training and, through them, the larger movement in the fight against blood cancers across the United States.” Biberston is one of 160 DirectBuy club owners and managers who actively participate in their local communities, supporting such organizations as The Boys and Girls Clubs, the Salvation Army, the YMCA, Homes for our Troops, and children’s hospitals, as well as many others.

 “I was initially contacted by “Be the Match Foundation” as a possible bone marrow donor to someone who is fighting Leukemia, and I’m currently in the process of doing so,” said Ryan Biberston. “We then decided to take it a step further and are competing in this event in honor of all individuals who are battling blood cancers. They are the real heros, and we need all the support we can get to cross the ultimate finish line – finding a cure!”

“Our goal as a family is to raise $4,500 before May 9, 2010,” said Brianna Biberston. “The more people we reach, the more lives we touch, the closer we come to a cure.” To support the Biberstons in their fight against blood cancers, you can visit their team website at http://pages.teamintraining.org/nm/jaytri10/jbiberston.

Since opening in 2004, DirectBuy of Albuquerque has helped consumers enjoy enormous savings on home furnishings, home improvement items, entertainment and outdoor products, flooring and accessories, by providing an avenue to purchase directly from manufacturers or their authorized suppliers. Conveniently located at 5500 Wilshire Avenue Northeast in Albuquerque, DirectBuy Club offers consumers a comfortable setting where members finally have the financial control of buying direct.

About DirectBuy Club

Consumers interested in joining DirectBuy are encouraged to attend an exclusive Open House event, which is designed to educate families about DirectBuy’s business model and the benefits of buying direct. The Open House also helps consumers better understand how DirectBuy members avoid traditional retail markup when purchasing brand-name merchandise.

Since 1971, DirectBuy Club has been showing hundreds of thousands of consumers unparalleled ways to save as they shop for virtually everything for in and around their homes – from furnishings, home improvement and flooring, to entertainment and outdoor products, accessories, and much, much more. With more than 150 locations in North America, DirectBuy offers its members access to more than 700 brand-name manufacturers or their authorized suppliers in the United States, and more than 500 in Canada.

For more information on a DirectBuy Club membership, visit http://www.directbuycares.com.

Consumers interested in seeing DirectBuy Club’s savings, service, and selection up close may obtain a Visitor’s Pass to attend an Open House by visiting www.directbuy.com or www.directbuycares.com.

A fiver… DirectBuy of Greenville celebrates fifth anniversary.

GREENVILLE, SOUTH CAROLINA…

For five years, DirectBuy Club has been offering consumers in the greater Greenville area a new way to save on home improvement projects, furnishings, and accessories.

“It may sound like a cliché but our five years here in Greenville have really gone by fast,” said Tom Akins, owner of DirectBuy of Greenville. “Part of that has been because we’ve been busy. The other part is that when you’re enjoying what you do, the time does fly. And it’s hard not to enjoy watching our members literally save thousands of dollars with their DirectBuy Club memberships.”

The leading home improvement and furnishings club with direct insider prices, DirectBuy of Greenville offers products ranging from light fixtures to televisions to kitchen cabinets, from more than 700 manufacturers or their authorized suppliers at direct insider prices. DirectBuy Club also offers design and delivery services to its members, as well as a listing of local contractors who offer installation services, many times at a discounted rate.

“It hasn’t always been an easy economy in which to do business these past five years, but it’s reinforced our decision to own a DirectBuy Club,” said Akins. “We’re helping people save money and build the homes of their dreams. That has us looking forward to what the next five years will bring.”

Since 2005, DirectBuy of Greenville has helped consumers enjoy enormous savings on home furnishings, home improvement items, entertainment and outdoor products, flooring, and accessories, by providing an avenue to purchase directly from manufacturers or their authorized suppliers. Conveniently located at 1327 Miller Road, Suite 103 in Greenville, DirectBuy Club offers consumers a comfortable setting where they finally have the financial control of buying direct.

About DirectBuy Club

For more than 39 years, DirectBuy Club has been showing thousands of consumers unparalleled ways to save as they shop for virtually everything for in and around their homes – from furnishings, home improvement and flooring, to entertainment and outdoor products, accessories, and much, much more. With more than 150 locations in North America, DirectBuy Club offers its members access to more than 700 brand-name manufacturers or their authorized suppliers in the U.S. and more than 500 brand-name manufacturers or their authorized suppliers in Canada.

Consumers interested in seeing DirectBuy Club’s savings, service, and selection up close may obtain a Visitor’s Pass to attend an Open House by visiting www.directbuy.com or www.directbuycares.com.

Nothing casual about giving… DirectBuy employees donate proceeds from Spirit Day to Boys & Girls Club.

MERRILLVILLE, IN…

While casual days might be the norm for many companies in corporate America, the staff at DirectBuy’s Corporate Headquarters in Merrillville, Indiana, has turned the opportunity to wear jeans to work into a way to generate donations for local causes. For a $2 donation, DirectBuy employees purchase the right to dress down on a predetermined workday. The most recent casual day, or Spirit Day (as it’s referred to at DirectBuy), was held on Wednesday, March 17, 2010, and raised $3,254 for the Boys & Girls Clubs of Northwest Indiana (BGCNWI).

“Spirit Days have been very well received by our employees, but the fact that this one occurred on St. Patrick’s Day gave us the opportunity to make an event out of it,” said Candice Baeza, a team leader at DirectBuy’s Corporate Headquarters. “So, to really drum up donations and get in the spirit of the day, we served a traditional corned beef and cabbage lunch with a Green River punch and raffled off a Nintendo Wii for staff who participated.”

A special guest, Greg Reinholt, development manager for BGCNWI, drew the winning ticket held by Josie Gonzalez, an administrative assistant in DirectBuy’s IT department. “I kept telling everyone my name was going to be pulled, but I never really expected it to happen,” said Gonzalez.

In addition to drawing the winner of the Wii, Reinholt spoke to DirectBuy staff about BGCNWI and its special relationship with DirectBuy (in 2009, DirectBuy employees contributed more than $3600 to BGCNWI) and what their donations meant to the organization. He cited the story of Andrew King, a young man from Gary whose life was greatly impacted by his time spent at several Boys and Girls Clubs throughout his youth.

“I am very happy to be working with DirectBuy. We share a common set of values for our respective members in that we both pride ourselves on individual care, assuring our members receive excellent service,” said Reinholt. “A natural relationship has developed between our organizations and I believe it will be a long-lasting one. Already DirectBuy and its staff have been very generous – 2009’s gifts enabled 20 children to become members of the Clubs!”

 “Our Spirit Days are a lot of fun, especially ones that fall on a fun day like St. Patrick’s Day, but hearing Andrew King’s story really made an impression on everybody,” said Senior Director of Merchandise Services, Patti Titus. “In addition to having some fun and getting to wear jeans to work, our Spirit Days are making a difference to people in the communities in which we live and there’s certainly nothing casual about that.”

About DirectBuy Club

For more than 39 years, DirectBuy Club has been showing thousands of consumers unparalleled ways to save as they shop for virtually everything for in and around their homes – from furnishings, home improvement and flooring, to entertainment and outdoor products, accessories and much, much more. With more than 150 locations in North America, DirectBuy Club offers its members access to more than 700 brand-name manufacturers or their authorized suppliers in the US, and more than 500 brand-name manufacturers or their authorized suppliers in Canada.

Consumers interested in seeing DirectBuy Club’s savings, service, and selection up close may obtain a Visitor’s Pass to attend an Open House by visiting www.directbuy.com or www.directbuycares.com.

Shawn Costa Named New Executive Director of Boys and Girls Club of Marshfield

Shawn Costa of Plymouth, currently the Director of Development for the Boys and Girls Club of Marshfield, has been chosen as Executive Director. Since 2008 Mr. Costa has been instrumental in securing grants and donations that ensure continuation of the valuable programs for the Club’s members.

Shawn is a “Club Kid” and former youth of the year award winner at the Boys and Girls Club of Plymouth. As a proud alumnus he served as a spokesperson during its capital campaign to construct a new facility and was Program Director there. He attributes his successful professional career and advanced education in part to the Club’s internal leadership programs: The Torch Club and The Keystone Club, programs that are currently serving Marshfield’s young people.

Following the Boys and Girls Club culture of education and leadership, Shawn earned his Bachelors Degree in Business Administration at George Washington University in Washington, DC and then his Masters Degree in Business Administration from Providence College. Shawn had always been giving back to the organization that helped him achieve success and served as Program Director and in the Capital Campaign at the Boys and Girls Club of Plymouth. In the several years before being hired at the Marshfield Club, Shawn worked as Development Coordinator in the Providence College Office of Institutional Advancement.

“Shawn’s lifelong experience with Boys and Girls Clubs combined with his business acumen and fundraising experience make him the perfect choice as the Club’s Executive Director,” stated Jim Murphy, President of the Club’s Board of Directors.

“He brings the passion and intelligence that will benefit the children and bring the Club to the next level,” stated board member, Beverly Johnston.

Shawn is excited about the Club’s direction and expansion and looks forward to leading it. He has already enjoyed tutoring and participating in other activities with the kids, and he has become deeply involved with the community. He encourages members of the public to contact him to learn more about the Club, its programs or the Build the Future Campaign.

“The most important issue in the immediate future is building a Club large enough to hold all the kids who have registered as members. A new facility will also allow us to expand our outreach to better serve Marshfield and the surrounding communities. It will be a place our members can call home and the starting place for many bright futures,” said Mr. Costa

The Boys and Girls Club

The Boys and Girls Club of Marshfield provides a safe haven for recreation and fun, which includes a variety of supervised activities for the 1,300 current members and is available to youth (between the ages of 6 to 18 years old) within the town and surrounding communities. The Boys and Girls Club of Marshfield has five Core Areas: Character and Leadership; Education and Career; Health, Sport Fitness Recreation and Life Skills; The Arts; and Technology. These Core Areas serve as the foundation for all programming.

As a privately-funded, non-profit organization, the Boys and Girls Club of Marshfield relies tremendously on the generous philanthropic support of individuals. Financial gifts assist in providing the financial strength necessary to continue the club’s mission “to enable and inspire all young people to realize their full potential as productive and responsible citizens, as well as become tomorrow’s capable leaders.”

For more information about the Boys and Girls Club of Marshfield, please contact (781) 834-CLUB (2582) or visit the club in Library Plaza or the website at MarshfieldBoysAndGirlsClub.com. The club’s mailing address is P.O. Box 311, Marshfield, MA 02050.

Barrie residents win $25,000 home makeover from DirectBuy

BARRIE, ONTARIO…

 When Gina and Rob Baxter received a notice in the mail telling them they had won $25,000 in DirectBuy’s Home Makeover Program, they thought it was just another advertisement and dismissed it as unimportant. Even once DirectBuy of Barrie Co-Owner Christine DeMarsh called the Baxters to let them know they really had won, they still didn’t believe it at first. “It took a few minutes to really sink in,” said DeMarsh. “Then they got really excited and thanked us over and over again.”

“We were speechless when we confirmed we had really won,” said Ron Baxter. “All we could think was, ‘WOW, what awesome news!’” Although the initial shock wore off, the Baxters were still excited days later at the cheque presentation ceremony. “They were ecstatic, and could barely contain their excitement,” said DeMarsh. “Rob was practically beaming while he discussed the renovations this would allow him and his wife to do on their home.” After paying off a credit card, the Baxters plan to use the rest of the money to install hardwood flooring, add a deck extension, and do some yard work, with hopes to do even more.

The Home Makeover Program is an exciting event for both the winners themselves as well as DirectBuy employees. “I was almost excited as the Baxters were,” said DeMarsh. “I felt like I had won to be part of this giveaway and see it change someone’s life.” And that’s just what the Home Makeover winnings have the potential to do: “This happened at a very good time. It really helps out and takes some major stresses away,” said Gina Baxter. “We’re really thankful to DirectBuy for this opportunity; it’s absolutely perfect that it happened to us.”

Over the past few years, DirectBuy has distributed more than a million dollars in prize money to both members and non-members as part of their Home Makeover Program, designed to help consumers create the home of their dreams.

DirectBuy of Barrie, located at 320 Bayfield Street, Unit 63, in Barrie, ON, offers consumers thousands of items including kitchen cabinets, flat-screen televisions, and major appliances from more than 500 manufacturers or their authorized suppliers.

To assist members with their home renovation projects, DirectBuy of Barrie employs product specialists who are specially trained in one of five areas of merchandise: Home Furnishings, Home Improvement, Flooring, Entertainment/Outdoor, and Accessories. Additionally, members benefit from the use of a children’s play area, café, and a members’ lounge to relax in while shopping.

About DirectBuy Club

Consumers who are interested in joining DirectBuy are encouraged to attend an exclusive Open House event, which is designed to educate families about DirectBuy’s unique business model. The Open House also helps consumers better understand how DirectBuy members avoid traditional retail markup when purchasing brand-name merchandise.

Since 1971, DirectBuy Club has been showing hundreds of thousands of consumers unparalleled ways to save as they shop for virtually everything for in and around their homes – from furnishings, home improvement and flooring, to entertainment and outdoor products, accessories, and much, much more. With more than 150 locations in North America, DirectBuy offers its members access to more than 500 brand-name manufacturers or their authorized suppliers in Canada, and more than 700 in the US..

For more information on a DirectBuy Club membership, visit http://www.directbuycares.com.

Consumers interested in seeing DirectBuy Club’s savings, service, and selection up close may obtain a Visitor’s Pass to attend an Open House by visiting www.directbuy.com or www.directbuycares.com.

Old Colony Elder Services Advises Elders and Families Where to Turn after storm flooding

Old Colony Elder Services, (OCES) one of 27 private, non-profit Aging Services Access Points (ASAPs) in the Commonwealth, serves 23 towns in Southeastern Massachusetts and urges both residents and business owners who are dealing with severe storm damage and loss to take action quickly and register immediately for state and federal disaster aid.

According to officials at the Massachusetts Emergency Management Agency (MEMA), homeowners, renters and business owners who suffered disaster-related damage or loss should call the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) registration line at 800-621-FEMA (3362). Multilingual operators are available. Individuals with hearing and/or speech impairments can call 800-462-7585. Online registration is also available at www.DisasterAssistance.gov.

OCES and MEMA advise residents/business owners to register even if you are insured because insurance coverage may not be adequate and some foundation damage may not appear until later. Disaster assistance covers a wide range of losses. Structural damage or repair is covered, as is damage or loss of essential personal property, such as a major appliance or medical equipment (wheelchairs, etc).

OCES advises that once you have registered, there are several very important action steps you need to take. According to guidelines established by MEMA:

Keep critical appointments. A FEMA-contracted inspector will make an appointment to visit your home, usually within a week. Make every effort to be at home or authorize an agent to be present. Use the Helpline option at the FEMA registration toll-free numbers for contact updates, including your agent’s name, a new phone number, or to change appointment times.

Return all forms promptly. After registering, you may receive a U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) disaster loan application package in the mail. Fill out and return these forms promptly since they are an essential part of the disaster-assistance process.

Stay in touch. Use the Helpline for answers to your questions about federal assistance; this is the same number you called to register for aid.

Have realistic expectations. You should not expect disaster assistance to restore you to pre-disaster conditions. It is intended to help you get safe, sanitary housing and meet other critical needs so you can begin your long-term recovery.

Read all FEMA letters and documents. Applicants deemed eligible for disaster assistance will receive a letter from FEMA providing guidance on their disaster relief grant. It will tell you about ways the money can be spent in your recovery. Be advised that federal assistance may have to be repaid if it is duplicated by insurance or other assistance received.

Talk to FEMA if you have questions, especially about insurance. If you receive a FEMA letter stating your application has been denied, it often means that one or more aspects of your application require further information or correction. An “INS-Insured” denial does not necessarily mean “case closed,” it means you must first settle with your insurer to prevent any duplication of payments.

Keep FEMA in mind after your insurance settlement. You may have been underinsured and some uncompensated losses may be eligible for some form of disaster aid. Call the Helpline if your insurance settlement is delayed, if it does not cover all of your loss, if you can’t find rental housing in your area, or if your additional living expense benefits are exhausted. Remember, failure to file a claim with your insurer within 12 months can affect your eligibility for FEMA assistance.

Rebuild with disaster prevention in mind. Before starting any repairs or reconstruction, check with local building officials on required permits and inspections. If you were displaced from your home and incurred hotel or motel expenses, save your receipts and check with FEMA on possible reimbursement.

“Many people were affected by the recent ”hundred year’ storm. We strongly urge anyone who suffers from property damage or loss (which even includes the loss of medications, medical equipment or supplies) to act quickly in order to obtain speedy assistance,” noted Diana DiGiorgi, Executive Director of OCES.

Contact the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) registration line at 800-621-FEMA (3362). For the hearing or speech impaired, call 800-462-7585. Or, register online at www.DisasterAssistance.gov. Seniors, their families and caregivers who have addtional questions or need further assistance are encouraged to contact OCES at (508) 584-1561.

About FEMA

FEMA’s mission is “To support citizens and first responders and to ensure that as a nation we work together to build, sustain, and improve our capability to prepare for, protect against, respond to, recover from, and mitigate all hazards.” To contact FEMA, call their 24-hour line (508) 820-2000.

About OCES
Incorporated in 1974, Old Colony Elder Services is one of 27 private, non-profit Aging Services Access Points (ASAPs) in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts.
OCES offers a number of programs to serve seniors, individuals with disabilities, their families and caregivers such as Family Caregiver; Adult Family Care; Supportive Housing; Nutrition; Money Management; Protective Services; Home Care and more.

OCES offers these programs in the towns of Abington, Avon, Bridgewater, Brockton, Carver, Duxbury, East Bridgewater, Easton, Halifax, Hanover, Hanson, Kingston, Lakeville, Marshfield, Middleboro, Pembroke, Plymouth, Plympton, Rockland, Stoughton, Wareham, West Bridgewater and Whitman.

The organization’s mission is to provide services that support the dignity and independence of elders by helping them maximize their quality of life; live safely and in good health; and, prevent unnecessary or premature institutionalization.