River_Rat_459
05-05-2013, 15:49
I wanted to share this story from my city's online news site. This is an AWESOME idea, and hopefully it will catch fire and get bigger. If you own a business or know of someone who does, please consider getting involved and participating in/promoting this movement.
Bridgeport Businessman's "Freedom Day" Idea Thanking Military and Families Goes National
By Jeff Toquinto on May 05, 2013
When you operate more than a dozen businesses in two states, have more than 100 employees under your direction and have a busy family life, finding free time to think is a rare commodity for Dr. Robert Martino. Yet, Martino usually finds that quiet time as he gets ready for another day of work that involves managing Wilson Martino Dental, TLC Dental, offices in Tennessee or serving as co-owner of Engine and Airframe Solutions Worlds (EASW) at the North Central West Virginia Airport.
While that time has served Martino and his businesses well, it’s also a time when Martino tries to find ways to give back to a community that has been good to him, his family and his businesses. Many months ago, Martino, who has the dual titles of DDS and CEO, was getting ready for work when he was feeling a little bit sorry for himself.
“It was one of those days where I was kind of whining to myself about how much stuff I’ve got to do today and I hear this song from Lonestar, ‘I’m Already There,’ which is about veterans serving and missing their families and their families missing them,” said Martino. “I was never in a military family, but when you listen it chokes you up. I don’t realize what those military families are going through, but you know they’re going through a lot that we don’t always think about. Our troops are giving the ultimate sacrifice, but they’ll be the first to tell you that they’re families are sacrificing a lot too.”
And from that one moment, Dr. Robert Martino decided he wasn’t going to whine about his day anymore. Instead, he decided he needed to do something to make a day better for military personnel, their families and veterans. The result of that will be the first-ever “Freedom Day,” which is set for Sept. 12, 2013.
“I decided that we were going to pick a day and give these families and veterans a day where we can do whatever we can for them at no cost. Whether it’s a cleaning, extractions a filling, whatever, we’ll do it on this day,” said Martino. “We want this to be a ‘National Thank You’ movement.”
Initially, the idea was just to have it in the Wilson Martino or TLC Dental Offices. That, however, changed when Martino met with a group of his peers – the Platinum Circle – that is basically a national study group for those in dentistry.
“It’s a think tank for the most part that has multiple divisions to it, including one that focuses on giving back,” said Martino. “I told them my idea and showed them the video that I actually made that goes to the Lonestar video.”
And from there, well, things have taken off. Not only are many of the members of the Platinum Circle involved thanks to a committee that was formed to endorse Martino’s idea, but Freedom Day has gone national and it’s gone beyond dentistry. Martino already has 20 states lined up with state directors in place in many of them and dozens of businesses agreeing to provide free services.
Just how big is it? Martino has gotten inquires on the matter via phone and email from a director of 60 minutes, an associate involved with the O’Reilly Factor, the Wounded Warrior Project and even a member of Congress who sits on the House Armed Services Committee.
“One of our committee members knew (Congressman) Jon Runyan (R-NJ) and told him about the project,” said Martino. “One day, out of the blue, he calls me about it. From that point forward, it’s taken off. We’ve gotten correspondence from the national media about it. I don’t know if we’ll have a segment on 60 minutes or anything like that, but groups like that have gotten in touch with us and they’re aware of what we’re doing.”
Within the next four months, Martino said we’re hoping to have all 50 states involved and 50 state directors. From there, the hope is to have each state director to have at least 10 city coordinators and for each coordinator to get 10 businesses to donate services or products as part of Freedom Day.
“We’re all aware that free dentistry for a day or a free slice of pizza may not change a life, but we hope it will let the veterans, those serving right now and their families know that we respect what they’re going through,” said Martino. “I don’t think my wife Lori and I even want to imagine what it would be like to have to have a child overseas and not being able to see them every day or hear from them. This is the very least we can do.”
In the weeks ahead, along with getting more states and businesses involved, Martino is hoping to have an honorary committee formed. That group, he said, will consist of known political individuals, athletes, celebrities and other individuals of fame that can simply lend their name to the cause to get businesses involved.
As for the date of Sept. 12, Martino said its significance isn’t what it seems to be.
“We picked that date because it’s a Thursday and it’s after a lot of the summer activities have ended. We’ll do this every year on the second Thursday of September,” Martino said.
Eighteen businesses in West Virginia are offering services for Freedom Day. And more can join. Mountain State businesses can contact Bridgeport Freedom Day Director Amy Voldeck at 304-842-7568. You can also reach West Virginia Freedom Day Director Wendy
Boyce at 304-624-5250. Nationally, any business can call 1-8-555-THANK YOU.
The National Freedom Day Committee members include Martino, Mark Murphy, Ragan Hartman, Dr. Aaron Wilharm, Shannon Richkowski, RDH, Hygiene Mastery, Dr. Ralph Berk and Mr. Bob Leonard.
http://youtu.be/n6kLQVkcTws
On Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/FreedomDayUsa
Website: http://www.freedomdayusa.com/ (http://www.freedomdayusa.com/index.html)
Story Source: http://www.connect-bridgeport.com/connect.cfm?func=view§ion=News&item=Bridgeport-Businessmans-Freedom-Day-Idea-Thanking-Military-and-Families-Goes-National3467
Bridgeport Businessman's "Freedom Day" Idea Thanking Military and Families Goes National
By Jeff Toquinto on May 05, 2013
When you operate more than a dozen businesses in two states, have more than 100 employees under your direction and have a busy family life, finding free time to think is a rare commodity for Dr. Robert Martino. Yet, Martino usually finds that quiet time as he gets ready for another day of work that involves managing Wilson Martino Dental, TLC Dental, offices in Tennessee or serving as co-owner of Engine and Airframe Solutions Worlds (EASW) at the North Central West Virginia Airport.
While that time has served Martino and his businesses well, it’s also a time when Martino tries to find ways to give back to a community that has been good to him, his family and his businesses. Many months ago, Martino, who has the dual titles of DDS and CEO, was getting ready for work when he was feeling a little bit sorry for himself.
“It was one of those days where I was kind of whining to myself about how much stuff I’ve got to do today and I hear this song from Lonestar, ‘I’m Already There,’ which is about veterans serving and missing their families and their families missing them,” said Martino. “I was never in a military family, but when you listen it chokes you up. I don’t realize what those military families are going through, but you know they’re going through a lot that we don’t always think about. Our troops are giving the ultimate sacrifice, but they’ll be the first to tell you that they’re families are sacrificing a lot too.”
And from that one moment, Dr. Robert Martino decided he wasn’t going to whine about his day anymore. Instead, he decided he needed to do something to make a day better for military personnel, their families and veterans. The result of that will be the first-ever “Freedom Day,” which is set for Sept. 12, 2013.
“I decided that we were going to pick a day and give these families and veterans a day where we can do whatever we can for them at no cost. Whether it’s a cleaning, extractions a filling, whatever, we’ll do it on this day,” said Martino. “We want this to be a ‘National Thank You’ movement.”
Initially, the idea was just to have it in the Wilson Martino or TLC Dental Offices. That, however, changed when Martino met with a group of his peers – the Platinum Circle – that is basically a national study group for those in dentistry.
“It’s a think tank for the most part that has multiple divisions to it, including one that focuses on giving back,” said Martino. “I told them my idea and showed them the video that I actually made that goes to the Lonestar video.”
And from there, well, things have taken off. Not only are many of the members of the Platinum Circle involved thanks to a committee that was formed to endorse Martino’s idea, but Freedom Day has gone national and it’s gone beyond dentistry. Martino already has 20 states lined up with state directors in place in many of them and dozens of businesses agreeing to provide free services.
Just how big is it? Martino has gotten inquires on the matter via phone and email from a director of 60 minutes, an associate involved with the O’Reilly Factor, the Wounded Warrior Project and even a member of Congress who sits on the House Armed Services Committee.
“One of our committee members knew (Congressman) Jon Runyan (R-NJ) and told him about the project,” said Martino. “One day, out of the blue, he calls me about it. From that point forward, it’s taken off. We’ve gotten correspondence from the national media about it. I don’t know if we’ll have a segment on 60 minutes or anything like that, but groups like that have gotten in touch with us and they’re aware of what we’re doing.”
Within the next four months, Martino said we’re hoping to have all 50 states involved and 50 state directors. From there, the hope is to have each state director to have at least 10 city coordinators and for each coordinator to get 10 businesses to donate services or products as part of Freedom Day.
“We’re all aware that free dentistry for a day or a free slice of pizza may not change a life, but we hope it will let the veterans, those serving right now and their families know that we respect what they’re going through,” said Martino. “I don’t think my wife Lori and I even want to imagine what it would be like to have to have a child overseas and not being able to see them every day or hear from them. This is the very least we can do.”
In the weeks ahead, along with getting more states and businesses involved, Martino is hoping to have an honorary committee formed. That group, he said, will consist of known political individuals, athletes, celebrities and other individuals of fame that can simply lend their name to the cause to get businesses involved.
As for the date of Sept. 12, Martino said its significance isn’t what it seems to be.
“We picked that date because it’s a Thursday and it’s after a lot of the summer activities have ended. We’ll do this every year on the second Thursday of September,” Martino said.
Eighteen businesses in West Virginia are offering services for Freedom Day. And more can join. Mountain State businesses can contact Bridgeport Freedom Day Director Amy Voldeck at 304-842-7568. You can also reach West Virginia Freedom Day Director Wendy
Boyce at 304-624-5250. Nationally, any business can call 1-8-555-THANK YOU.
The National Freedom Day Committee members include Martino, Mark Murphy, Ragan Hartman, Dr. Aaron Wilharm, Shannon Richkowski, RDH, Hygiene Mastery, Dr. Ralph Berk and Mr. Bob Leonard.
http://youtu.be/n6kLQVkcTws
On Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/FreedomDayUsa
Website: http://www.freedomdayusa.com/ (http://www.freedomdayusa.com/index.html)
Story Source: http://www.connect-bridgeport.com/connect.cfm?func=view§ion=News&item=Bridgeport-Businessmans-Freedom-Day-Idea-Thanking-Military-and-Families-Goes-National3467