For Immediate Release
Atlanta, Georgia

The Atlanta location of NDC and RNDC are pleased to announce a fund raising partnership with Atlanta’s Shepherd Center. The Shepherd Center is private, not-for-profit hospital specializing in medical treatment, research and rehabilitation for people with spinal cord injury, brain injury or suffering from Multiple Sclerosis. They have also expanded their mission to include pain management. Founded in 1975, Shepherd Center is ranked by U.S. News & World Report among the top 10 rehabilitation hospitals in the nation. Patients at Shepherd Center get more than just medical care; they get an experience that brings healing and hope. Shepherd takes a team approach to rehabilitation. They understand patients and families are going through more than just recovery from an injury; they are learning a new a way of life.

Through charitable giving, our company founders have a long and generous history with Shepherd. In an effort to grow the relationship between our company and Shepherd, a steering committee was formed to lay the foundation and to work closely with Shepherd to develop a strategic plan. The committee members are: Fred Bleiberg, Natalie Byers, Kari Carlos, Richard Davis, Frank Grames, Mitch Kerpoe, Rob Kurz, Neil Merson, Claus Reissig, Chip Stevens, Chase Underwood and Karl Wagner. The group recently toured Shepherd and then met with James Shepherd and other Shepherd leaders to brainstorm next steps. Although volunteer and fund raising opportunities may be available for employees later, the committee’s initial focus was decided to be on charitable giving at the company level. Chaired by Mitch Kerpoe, plans are underway to have the company sponsor an Annual Wine and Food pairing fund raiser on the Shepherd property during 1QTR11.

Some of you may know about the Shepherd center and its 35 years of work to get the catastrophically injured people back to school, home, work and into normal society as a whole. Their patients have come from 36 states as well as several foreign countries. During a recent tour, the committee met and learned of many stories of hope and return to living life. They learned about work done with our military heroes to assist them in recovery. They learned Shepherd provides 30 days complementary housing on site so family members can be nearby during the critical first month of therapy as well as intensive family and patient education and training.

Look for more to come about this important pairing of our company and The Shepherd Center and opportunities for us all to participate in such a worthwhile cause.
www.shepherd.org