DeCouto Group International and ICON International Foundation Unite to Help Homeless Children

NewswireToday | Clipper Mills, CA, United States, 07/11/2010

A campaign has been launched to generate funding to help the future of youth across America and the world. This funding strategy has been created to bring about awareness, out reach and continue the mission.

“Recently, a member of ICON International Foundation’s team (Michael Price) went looking for help to continue their invaluable work. In his efforts, he came across the ambassadors of goodwill, the Thumb Buddies. He then approached Tom McIlwaine, director for DGI in North America to explore what we could possibly do to help. It wasn’t long before Tom contacted me with a strong desire to become a part of this” said co-founder Paul DeCouto.

Following ongoing communication with Chairman Nicole Rolfe and Director Garry Duncan, the union was put in place.

“It is with all our passion, hearts and soul that we at DGI enter into this partnership. It brings us great sadness to know that there are so many young people feeling a sense of being lost with no direction. We must strive to eliminate this everywhere in the world. No, this isn’t mission impossible! This is the time to mobilize and make a difference. Children are the future, and people – we have to wake up. Especially the system” said Paul DeCouto.

“With any downturn in the economy, two of the areas that seem to be hit hardest are the education system and social programs. Budget cuts are inevitable but children’s programs should be the last to feel the effects. Unfortunately that never seems to be the case and so we cut funds to schools and social programs. Many organizations limp along while others cease to exist altogether, leaving our children without the support and tools that they need, to learn and grow, with confidence” indicated Tom McIlwaine.

Icon was founded in 1971, receiving federal qualification in 1972/73 as a fully tax exempt 501(c) (3) Educational and Charitable Foundation. It’s mission:

“To provide education for as many people as possible who are unable to provide such for themselves; to provide housing for those in need and to support any other worthy charitable causes that may enhance mankind's mental and philosophical evolution in all that is fine and noble”.

Focused on the 1,000,000+ homeless children and another 500,000 children aged out of the foster care system at age 18 the Icon village program was developed to provide residence for our youth that become homeless. Along with the initial ranch in Kansas, Icon is working to provide similar programs in both California and Nevada (iconinternationalfoundation.org).

Unfortunately, like many other essential programs, the efforts that Icon has spent forty years developing are at risk due to the financial turn in the economy.

We at DGI believe it is imperative that something be done to ensure the ongoing success of Icon and its’ programs for the future of our children.

The Thumb Buddies (thumbbuddies.com) have a message, and it’s loud and clear; let’s unite and make a difference for ICON International Foundation.

DeCouto Group International is dedicated to the creation, design and development of concepts that help to protect children and make a positive impact all over this great planet.

http://www.newswiretoday.com/news/73597/

Educator Glen Blomgren Joins Icon International Foundation

- PRLog (Press Release) 10/08/2010

Educator Glen Blomgren Joins Icon International Foundational and DeCouto Group International to Provide Education To Icon Village Homeless.

Woodbridge California, United States, 8/ __/2010 – Glen Blomgren to extend his expert abilities to the Icon Village projects. Mr. Blomgren will design all curriculums for degree and vocational programs.

Curriculums of the Icon Villages will span various degree programs to vocational pursuits. Most of Glen Blomgren’s professional history has revolved around education. His Christa McAuliff Academy founded in the Western US, is familiar to many top students and their families. The name Christa McAuliff resonates with most of us tainted with sadness.  He sold the Academy a few years ago.

Glen Blomgren has stated he shares the opinions of IIF and DGI, his collaborators in the Icon Villages, that serious concentration on prevention of child and youth homelessness with provision of a proper education is absolutely necessary. Icon Executive Director Garry Duncan added: “Absence of a thorough education coupled with homelessness for months or years has created a condition in America and globally, of virtual illiteracy regarding history and science, as well as the professional ability to obtain quality employment whether it be a clerk with mathematical ability or a physicist.  Being employable is necessary in order to support a family or even one’s self. This lacking becomes accumulative as one generation follows another into a desperate trap, and creates a subculture     of addiction,  prostitution, thievery,  even murder, and nearly always incarceration  .  

Vice President of Communications Michael Price: “The CA Icon Village, to be the first of many, will house and educate nearly 200 boys and girls at a time who are or will be homeless, including aging out of foster homes. No young person from any state will ever be turned away. Research indicates we have annually, upwards to 2,000,000 homeless youth in the US alone and this is disgraceful!”

Icon International Foundation was organized in the early 70s as a qualified 501(c) (3) public benefit, educational and charitable corporation. (www.iconinternationalfoundation.org).

The DeCouto Group International is dedicated to the protection of children globally, through design, creation and development of educational concepts and products to help protect children from bullying, child predators, and more. (www.thumbuddies.com)

We invite more organizations, companies and individuals to join us in this endeavour.  

For Additional DGI Information Contact:
Tom McIlwaine, DeCouto Group International
Director for North America: 877-867-9082

Contacts For Icon International Foundation:
Executive V.P. Garry Duncan 209-437-4072
V. P. of Communications, Michael Price: 702-473-4419
Email:  info@iconinternationalfoundation.org

http://www.iconinternationalfoundation.org/

http://www.prlog.org/10850668-educator-glen-blomgren-joins-icon-international-foundation.html

Thumb Buddies Come To Life

We invite you to watch the 3D CGI animated development of the Thumb Buddies.

This is the initial structuring and creation of each character as they come to life on screen in full 3D.

Each character possesses it’s own unique personality. This is Shaker taking a spin.

The Thumb Buddies will be involved in a variety of projects ranging from a mini series to a full feature production.

Newly Appointed Director For North American Division

- 01/11/10

We are pleased to announce and welcome Tom McIlwaine to our management team.

Tom has a wealth of experience in Project management and Human Resources, providing direction to such organizations as Bell Canada in Toronto, West Corporation in Omaha, Nebraska and Parkway Alliance in British Columbia, Canada.

Tom’s business experience combined with his shared passion for the Thumb Buddies and commitment to providing a safer environment for our children has led him to be actively involved in fund raising to assist in locating missing children as well as become a proud member of Bullying.org.

It is with considerable enthusiasm that Tom has decided to join DGI as their Director for the North American Division.

Thumb Buddies Remember

They say that the window to the soul is in one’s eyes. If this is true then when we look in the eyes of a child we can only see beauty and innocence. How can such innocence be exploited? We pray for a better world where children can live in safety.

To the missing children all over the world and their families, the Thumb Buddies and their creators the DeCouto family remember you. Your beautiful smile will always be in the hearts of those who know and love you. We send all our prayers and good wishes out to you.

May you be reunited with your family and the smile that once lit up their lives be ignited once more.

Little lights that shine

Shine bright, Shine bright

May Angels watch over you

May all the love and well wishes surround you and keep you safe

You will always be in our hearts

Your beauty and innocence will always be remembered

Wherever you are, you are never far from our thoughts

Sleep well little angels