Mills has brought national fame to herself and this tiny crossroads community in Hernando County as the 2009 winner of the national Energizer Keep Going Hall of Fame award. The award celebrates people whose attributes and actions best exemplify qualities of the Energizer Bunny: perseverance, determination and never-quit attitude. The bunny is featured in ads plugging the battery company’s theme, “It keeps going and going and going.” Among thousands of applicants for the Hall of Fame, Mills, 53, was selected in June by a company panel from among 100 finalists, then named one of the Top 10. Brief biographies of the 10 appeared on the Energizer Web site, and viewers were asked to vote their choice for a Hall of Fame inductee. The company announced her selection this week. Mills learned of her win about two weeks ago but she was sworn to secrecy. After Marine Sgt. Lea Mills, then 21, son of Mills and her husband, Rob, was killed in Iraq in April 2006, Mills launched her effort to let deployed troops know they are not forgotten. Mills began soliciting donations at any gathering that would have her. In three years, Mills has collected and spent nearly $88,000 sending packages to war zones. She prays over each package.

On Tuesday, while packing for the induction ceremony that will be held Thursday in St. Louis, she was ecstatic. “Oh, wow, I am very excited,” she said, adding, “and a little scared because I’m going to be on a couple of TV stations and meeting Cal Ripken Jr.”

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Stiller & more Today’s Photos Promotion Treat Yourself! 4 Preview Issues

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Catharines has taken on added significance for tournament chairman Dave Matthews. Three weeks ago, the 65-year-old St. Catharines resident was diagnosed with cancer. The longtime member of the St. Catharines Golf and Country Club had seemed a little more fatigued in the last few months, but thought nothing of it, given his age and the long hours he had been putting in preparing for this week’s tournament. But one day, his wife Karen called him for dinner while he was watching television. He picked up the remote control and couldn’t figure out how to work it. “All the symptoms were of a stroke, but it wasn’t,†he said. “Cancer had attacked the brain and you start to lose your motor skills and verbal skills.†Doctors at St. Catharines General Hospital discovered the cancer and the father of two grown children, Scott and Todd, has been undergoing radiation treatment at the Juravinski Cancer Centre in Hamilton. He has undergone five radiation treatments already and his sixth and final one was scheduled for today. “I feel like a million bucks,†he said. “I feel like I felt three months ago.†Doctors discovered his cancer started with a small tumour in his chest and spread to his brain, lungs and liver. He will speak to doctors next week about his health status and treatment options.

“Statistically, he (the doctor) told me a month ago I had anywhere from a month to a year. We passed a month and I fully expect to get past a second month, but I don’t think about it. Every day to me is just a new challenge.â€

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participated, Twestival returns in September with a local twist on “Twestival” – the volunteer-run, charity fundraising events for people who know each other through the micro-blogging service twitter.com. The Vancouver event will take place on September 12th at Ceilis Irish Pub raising funds for the BC Childrens Hospital Foundation's “Be a Superhero” campaign. The first 24 hour “'tweet-up' with a social conscience” inspired thousands and raised $250,000 for clean water charity, , and the next event Twestival Local, looks to be even bigger. Twestival Local again gives every city in the world the chance to hold their own Twestival, but this time they can choose their own local charity. Twitter users in Vancouver chose the BC Childrens Hospital through an online vote on Twitter. The Twestival evening will be informal, and mostly serve to mix, mingle, enter to win prizes, and meet Twitter contacts from around town – all while supporting a cause. “We're hoping to see lots of Vancouver Twitter users coming along as I know the service is extremely popular in this city. Twestival will be an amazing time to meetup with friends and new contacts while generating funds for the cause.” “BC Children's Hospital Foundation (@bcchf) is honoured to be the recipient of funds generated by Vancouver Twestival 2009,” said Sue Carruthers, president and CEO of BC Children's Hospital Foundation. “Donations will go toward the Foundation's “Campaign for BC Children”. The goals of the $200-million Campaign for BC Children are to ensure children and youth in BC and the Yukon have access to outstanding specialized pediatric care in a new BC Children's Hospital building that encourages excellence, and that every child has access to a consistent standard of specialized care, no matter where in this vast province and territory they live.” Global partners across all countries for Twestival are Amiando, Citrix Online, Blurb and Causecast. For the for the full and changing list of cities, or to get involved yourself, go to .

Links & contacts:

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Cohen, chairman and chief executive officer of C&S, in the release. “He’d be proud of what we’ve accomplished together this year.†C&S provides distribution services to grocery chains and independent stores, delivering to about 4,600 locations from distribution centers in 11 states, according to the company. (UPDATED COVERAGE, 5:00 p.m.) Midwestern farmers are benefitting from the skills of a celebrity chef. Rick Bayless, owner of Frontera Grill in Chicago, won the inaugural season of Top Chef Masters, a cooking competition on Bravo television network. His prize — $100,000 to the charity of his choice, goes to the Frontera Farmer Foundation, a charity he started in 2003 to provide grants to small Midwestern farms.

Combs Produce Co., Dallas, has brought in people with produce sales and transportation experience.

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23 to Sept. 27, more than 200 women are expected to attend Ocean’s Eleven’s 13th annual California Ladies State Poker Championship. While the championship is the feature of the weekend, there will be several other tournaments and special events taking place — with a heavy emphasis on charity. The casino and its players are hosting a charity project at Ivey Ranch Park Association in Oceasnisde, whether they will paint fences and pull overgrown weeks on the property. The charity event will take place Sept. 23 from 4-6 p.m. Sycuan Casino They don’t just have poker anymore.

Syucuan casino’s off-track betting facility debuted last month to give the business’ customers even more options. The new facility, with 18 high-definition TVs, can hold up to 120 people.

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Aside from the cast appearances, the evening will include music by DJ Sour Milk, a special photo booth, and a preview screening of the season two premiere episode of “90210,” which is not scheduled to air nationally until September 8, 2009 on the CW network. Fans attending the event will have to bring an old pair of sneakers, which Nike will use as part of its Reuse-A-Shoe program. The zip code with the most shoes will win Nike custom hoodies and a photo with the cast posted on Nikesportswear.com. For more details on the event, . For donation information on Nike’s Reuse-A-Shoe program, click here. 90210 Examiner sneak peek at season two:

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Prisoners at the high-security Frankland jail, near Durham, took part in a 1,000-mile all-day challenge involving running, rowing and cycling in the prison’s Westgate Unit gym. Inmates organised the event and publicised it around the prison using computing and art skills taught within the facility’s walls. With donations from staff and prisoners, about £500 is expected to be raised for the Sir Bobby Robson Foundation. Physical education officer Dave Whitfield said: “Football is a universal language in the prison community and the prison is keen to support charities through fundraising. I was delighted to take this idea forward.”

The challenge took place on Monday, August 31.

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The improvement during the current year quarter was primarily due to the previously discussed growth in patient service and health plan premium revenues. Net income during the current year quarter was adversely impacted by a $6.2 million impairment loss to adjust the carrying value of a non-hospital building to fair value. Adjusted EBITDA for the current year quarter was $74.5 million, a 12.4% increase compared to the prior year quarter. A reconciliation of Adjusted EBITDA to net income (loss) as determined in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles for the quarters ended June 30, 2008 and 2009 is included in the attached supplemental financial information. Vanguard reported income from continuing operations of $27.7 million during the current year compared to a loss of $0.4 million during the prior year. Net income for the current year was $28.6 million compared to a net loss of $0.7 million during the prior year. Adjusted EBITDA was $302.4 million for the current year, an increase of $36.0 million or 13.5% from the prior year. A reconciliation of Adjusted EBITDA to net income (loss) as determined in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles for the years ended June 30, 2008 and 2009 is included in the attached supplemental financial information. Vanguard owns and operates 15 acute care hospitals and complementary facilities and services in Chicago, Illinois; Phoenix, Arizona; San Antonio, Texas; and Massachusetts. Vanguard’s strategy is to develop locally branded, comprehensive healthcare delivery networks in urban markets. Vanguard will pursue acquisitions where there are opportunities to partner with leading delivery systems in new urban markets. Upon acquiring a facility or network of facilities, Vanguard implements strategic and operational improvement initiatives including expanding services, strengthening relationships with physicians and managed care organizations, recruiting new physicians and upgrading information systems and other capital equipment. These strategies improve quality and network coverage in a cost effective and accessible manner for the communities Vanguard serves.

Contact: Vanguard Health Systems, Inc. Aaron Broad Director Investor Relations (615) 665-6131

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