FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE                                                                    November 29, 2005 Contact:  Lynne Valencia, 9NEWS Director of Community Relations    303-871-1417 KUVO Radio Host Named 9Who Care Winner Chet Sisk of Centennial Honored For Work With Homeless

Denver, CO—Congratulations to Chet Sisk, the October 2005 Winner of the 9Who Care Award.  In addition to volunteering for several organizations, Sisk has spent every Thursday for the last three years at the Samaritan House, teaching life skills to the homeless.  Perhaps the reason Chet feels so passionately about helping the homeless is it wasn’t long ago that he was in their shoes. About four years ago Sisk was a recognized leader in the advertising world, but suddenly lost his job, his savings, and his livelihood.  “When newsprint went up (in price), it caused an immediate recession in the newspaper industry. Then you cap that off with 9/11 and poof, everything just kind of went up in smoke." While the turn of events was certainly devastating, it was a blessing of sorts too.  When Chet asked his mother and grandmother for advise, they opened his eyes to the power of giving.  “She said, well son the best thing you can do is go and help someone else and that's exactly what I did."

Ever since, Sisk has approached everything with a heart full of service.  “Chet’s work with the homeless is a true labor of love,” explains Tom LaRotonda.  “He doesn’t do it for the recognition that many people do volunteer work for.  Nor does he do it out of a sense of guilt or shame… He is inspired by a deep heart-filled desire to help the homeless truly transform their lives to become the powerful authentic human being they really are.”

Chet is hoping to pass on even more of the lessons he learned from his experience with homelessness—in his book Seven Steps to Success Learned from the Homeless.  It’s clear, however, that his lessons and example have already made an impression at the Samaritan House.  The program’s Resident Programs Supervisor, Joyce Castle, says she’s herd residents telling each other that his class is “awesome.”

Join us in congratulating Chet Sisk, the October 2005 9Who Care Winner.  Sisk’s story will air during 9NEWS Saturday morning on October 8th. 

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