FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
 
 
DANIELLE GONZALES AND JOSEPH MARINO
NAMED "LOCAL HEROES" BY NATIONAL NONPROFIT FOUNDATION

New York, NY - (November 18, 2005) – Danielle "Dani" Gonzales, 15, of Parachute, CO, and Joseph Marino, 17, of Phoenix, AZ, are winners of the "2005 Local Hero Patient Celebration Program," announced today by the Crohn's & Colitis Foundation of America (CCFA). 
Dani, Joseph and their families will receive all-expense-paid trips to New York this weekend, where they will be presented with their awards by Pearl Jam guitarist Mike McCready, a longtime Crohn's disease sufferer.

The "Local Hero" award is presented to young people who have shown courage and determination while living with Crohn's disease or ulcerative colitis.  Now in its fifth year, the program is sponsored by CCFA in partnership with ConvaTec, a division of the Bristol-Myers Squibb Company.
An avid ice hockey, volleyball and track participant, Dani was diagnosed with severe ulcerative colitis last year. Misdiagnosed in 2003, she was seriously ill by the time her condition was confirmed.  She was even forced to miss six weeks of school due to her frequent hospital visits.

After losing much of her self-confidence, through her sisters urging, Dani entered the "Miss Garfield County" pageant – and won.

That honor gave Dani her confidence back and the desire to make a difference in her community by creating the "Princess Club," a self-esteem service organization for girls with chronic illnesses. Today, when Dani learns about a girl in a similar circumstance, she presents her with a crown and sash and shares her experiences. 

Joseph has lived with Crohn's disease since he was four years old.  Although he may be down at times, his strong, upbeat attitude always allows him to bounce back.  And that's exactly what happened two years ago after he decided to undergo a colectomy in hopes of controlling his disease. Unfortunately, he experienced major complications and received the devastating news that his Crohn's had returned. 

In spite of these hardships, Joseph has continued to excel at school and resumed playing baseball at a high level.  Remarkably, he's even found a way to raise funds to help researchers find a cure for Crohn's disease and ulcerative colitis.

Partnering with the Babe Ruth League in 2003, Joseph created a youth baseball tournament that raised $3,600 for CCFA.  This past year, his tournament and baseball camp experienced significant growth, raising some $20,000 for the Foundation.

"For their unselfishness and dedication, CCFA is proud to name Danielle "Dani" Gonzales and Joseph Marino 2005 Local Heroes," said Mark Goldman, Chairman of the Board of Trustees of CCFA.  "Crohn's disease and ulcerative colitis can be both physically and emotionally devastating, especially to kids.  All of our applicants and winners serve as role models for those who suffer from these illnesses."

Kids and teenagers between the ages of seven and 17 from across the country submitted applications to the program.  Winners were chosen based on the following criteria: service to the community, academic, athletic or extracurricular achievement, active lifestyle, and positive attitude.

When appropriate, Local Hero winners serve as spokespersons for various CCFA activities and programs.  Previous winners have spoken at CCFA chapter events and appeared at the Foundation's first national advocacy conference in Washington, D.C.

Crohn's disease and ulcerative colitis are painful, medically incurable illnesses that attack the digestive system.  Crohn's disease may attack anywhere from the mouth to the anus, while ulcerative colitis inflames the large intestine (colon) only.  Symptoms may include persistent diarrhea, abdominal pain or cramps, rectal bleeding, fever, and weight loss.  Many patients require hospitalization and surgery.  These illnesses can cause severe complications, including colon cancer in patients with long-term disease.  Some 1.4 million American adults and children suffer from these diseases, with as many as 150,000 under the age of 18.  Most people develop the diseases between the ages of 15 and 35.

About CCFA:
The Crohn's & Colitis Foundation of America's (CCFA) mission is to cure and prevent Crohn's disease and ulcerative colitis through research, and to improve the quality of life of children and adults affected by these digestive diseases through education and support. More than 80 cents of every dollar the Foundation spends goes to mission-critical programs.  CCFA consistently meets the standards of organizations that monitor charities, including the Better Business Bureau's Wise Giving Alliance (give.org) and the American Institute of Philanthropy (charitywatch.org).  For more information, contact CCFA at 800-932-2423 or visit www.ccfa.org.
 
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Media Contact:
Danny Jovic
PFS Marketwyse on behalf of CCFA
973-812-8883 ext. 249
djovic@pfsmarketwyse.com