Press Release

Shawnee Employees Head to Biloxi, Mississippi

Friday, October 28, 2005 Shawnee on Delaware, PA. The Shawnee Institute is a 501 (c) 3 organization located in Shawnee on Delaware, Pennsylvania that traditionally focuses on theater and concert programs to benefit the local community.  However, brought on by the recent wave of natural disasters, this non-profit organization has begun to extend its reach to people in need all over the world.  Because it had very close ties to Thailand, the Institute began to take action immediately after the massive tsunami struck the coasts of Southeast Asia.  By raising over $300,000 for relief victims in Phuket, the Institute quickly created a snowball effect of relief efforts.  This project sprouted the "Hands on Thailand" organization, which quickly branched into "Hands on Worldwide", and has now become "Hands on USA"- formed to support the victims of Hurricane Katrina.         

Peter Kirkwood, son of Shawnee Inn owners Charles and Virginia Kirkwood, is currently on the Board of Directors for Hands on USA.  Peter was living in Phuket, Thailand when the tsunami hit, and quickly became involved in the vast hands-on relief efforts taking place there.  After returning to the States, Peter helped to expand the reach of the local grassroots organization in order to help the victims of Katrina.  Having a vast amount of experience in aid work, he wanted to assemble a crew of volunteers to travel to Biloxi, Mississippi to provide volunteer hands-on relief.  A small team of Shawnee employees was quickly put together, as it was not hard to find people who were looking to contribute.  Jon Kirkwood (33), Resort Business Developer and brother of Peter's; Matt Siptroth (32), Resort Grounds Keeper; Monica Restrepo (26), Public Relations Manager; and Jason Startari (25), Resort Executive Assistant, will all be traveling with Peter to Biloxi.  Siptroth, who also traveled to Thailand to help out, enthusiastically stated, "There are a lot of people suffering right now, and being able to contribute to the relief efforts is such a rewarding experience; I jumped at the opportunity."  With the goal of giving at least two full days labor, the team will leave for Mississippi on Friday, November 4th and will return Monday evening, November 7^th.

Hands on USA is currently involved in several different areas and is still looking for volunteers for their following projects: "Gulfport Public Safety Recovery Project", "Medical Outreach Project", "Property Safety and Security Project", "Neighborhood Survey Project", and "Distribution Support Project'.  For more information about Hands on USA, to give a donation, or to volunteer, please visit www.handsonusa.org.