Lily throws a strike!

Last night, 9-year-old Lily James threw out the first pitch at the Mariners game alongside Phil Pierson, the Medic One paramedic who saved her life three years ago.

In July 2009, Lily nearly drowned and her feet were almost severed when an inflatable on her family's boat flew off and she was caught in the tow rope. For Lily's complete story, please see the previous blog post.

Before the pitch, Paramedic Phil Pierson was presented with the Medic One Foundation's "Spirit of Team Play Award," for exemplifying integrity, teamwork and compassion while on the job.

Check out these photos of Lily and Phil taken last night at Safeco Field:

Mom, Dad and Lily meet the Mariner Moose!

The Pierson Family meets the Mariner Moose!

Phil receives the Medic One Foundation "Spirit of Team Play Award."

Lily waits to throw out the first pitch with her father, Greg James.

Phil hands Lily the baseball for the first pitch.

It's a strike!

Lily gets an autograph from Mariners Outfielder Michael Saunders.

Got the autograph!

Lily, Mom and the signed baseball.

9-year-old Lily James to throw out first pitch at M's game tonight with the paramedic who saved her life

Tonight, 9-year-old Lily James will throw out the first pitch at the Mariners game alongside Phil Pierson, the Medic One paramedic who saved her life.

In July 2009, Lily nearly drowned and her feet were almost severed when an inflatable on her family’s boat flew off and she was caught in the tow rope. A series of surgeries have once again given Lily full-use of her feet, but paramedics including Pierson treating her on the dock of the Mercer Island Beach Club the day of the accident kept her alive.

Paramedic Phil Pierson is also receiving the Medic One Foundation's "Spirit of Team Play Award" for exemplifying integrity, teamwork and compassion while on the job. Coworkers nominated Pierson this year and last for his many years of providing emergency medical skills and CPR training, both for the public and other paramedics.

Check out coverage of Lily's story in the Seattle Times and on KOMO 4 News:

Medical Teams International hosts The BIG Run; opens new REAL. LIFE. Exhibit

 
Last Saturday morning more than 200 people participated in Medical Teams International's The BIG Run. The 5k run raised more than $17,000 for the victims of the 2010 Haitian earthquake.

At the conclusion of the run, Medical Teams International opened the doors of its brand new REAL. LIFE. Exhibit for the first time. The exhibit provides visitors with a walk through, multi-sensory experience that enables people to understand what real life is like for those affected by disaster, conflict and poverty. The exhibit also highlights the hope that Medical Teams International provides to those in need by displaying "before" and "after" scenes of people and places that have been influenced by MTI volunteers. Please visit this web page for more information on the REAL. LIFE. Exhibit.

Here are some photos taken on Saturday of The BIG Run and the exhibit opening:

Local Mercer Island girl to throw ceremonial first pitch at Mariners game on Sept.14 alongside Medic One paramedic who saved her life

Lily James, a 9 year-old Mercer Island girl, was involved in a horrific boating accident back in 2009 that almost severed her legs and ender her life. Medic One paramedic Phil Pierson was one of the first people to arrive at the scene and his effort and world-class paramedic training helped save Lily's life. Lily will join Phil at the Mariners game on Wednesday to throw out the first pitch as he receives the 'Spirit of Team Play' award, an honor bestowed by the Medic One Foundation. The Mariners have created a special offer for the game and $5 from every ticket purchased here, will go towards the Medic One Foundation.

To learn more about Lily and Phil's incredible story, see this article written by Lynda Mapes over at The Seattle Times.

Medical Teams International set to open the brand new REAL. LIFE. Exhibit - Sponsored by The Hasselbeck Family directly after The BIG Run 5k

Medical Teams International is hosting The BIG Run 5k fun run/walk this Saturday Sept. 10, at 9 a.m., to raise money for victims of the 2010 Haitian Earthquake. Directly following the start of The BIG Run is the grand opening of the REAL. LIFE. Exhibit - Sponsored by The Hasselbeck Family, which provides people with a walk through, multi-sensory experience that enables people to understand what real life is like for those affected by disaster, conflict and poverty. Run starts at 9 a.m. doors to the exhibit open at 9:30 a.m.

The BIG Run was created to honor the memory of Matthew Bouthillier, an emergency-room nurse at Swedish Medical Center in Issaquah, who unexpectedly died in Port-au-Prince, Haiti while volunteering as part of a medical disaster relief team. Matt’s wife Melissa established The BIG Run to honor her husband and his work and to raise money to support the on-going effort of Medical Teams International in Haiti.

“We are thrilled to host The BIG Run in Matt’s honor, and to also share this brand new exhibit with the community on this exciting, event-filled day,” said Jim Mhoon, Medical Teams International Executive Director. “The REAL. LIFE. Exhibit – Sponsored by The Hasselbeck Family will spark a flame of compassion, empathy, and action in the hearts of people concerned with global health and well-being.”

The exhibit also highlights the hope that Medical Teams International provides to those in need by displaying “before” and “after” scenes of people and places that have been influenced by volunteers. Visitors can also tour the Medical Teams International Mobile Dental vans used by their volunteer dental professionals to provide free dental care to those most in need throughout the Pacific Northwest.

The days events will take place at the Medical Teams International Mike and Kathy Holmgren Center in Redmond, Wash. The registration fee for The BIG Run is $35. Register before Sept. 10 and save $5. To find out more information about the run, visit this site, or contact Montero Productions at 425.454.7055. For more information about the REAL. LIFE. Exhibit head here.

Check out this story in the Redmond Reporter as well as this video about the REAL. LIFE. Exhibit made by Medical Teams International.

Aviation High School Launches Next Era; Breaks Ground on New Campus at The Museum of Flight

Yesterday, Aug. 23, 2011, Aviation High School launched into their next era as they celebrated their planned new, $43.5 million campus at The Museum of Flight with a groundbreaking that included four planes piloted by Aviation High School alumni, a student-built robot assisting with the first shovel of dirt and a symbolic, student-designed rocket launch.

“Today’s groundbreaking represents a giant step forward in securing the future of Aviation High School,” said AHS Principal Reba Gilman. “Since the school’s founding in 2004, we have dreamed of having a permanent home on a campus such as this one at The Museum of Flight. We could not be more thrilled to partner with the Museum, whose mission mirrors our own—to inspire and prepare students to pursue education and career pathways in science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM) to fulfill the critical gaps in our nation’s workforce.”

Aviation High School has operated out of two temporary locations since its inception in 2004. The new facility is being built on East Marginal Way, across the street from the main Museum of Flight campus and just north of the Museum’s outdoor airpark and brand, new space gallery.

Aviation High School was the first college preparatory aviation-themed high school in the nation. It is a school where all subjects are taught in the context of aviation, with a focus on science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) education. Although Aviation High School is part of the Highline Public School District, it is open to students all across the region. Last year, approximately 50 percent of the AHS student body came from the local area with the rest from surrounding districts as far away as Olympia, Everett, and Bremerton.

The Seattle Times' Jack Broom did a story on the groundbreaking that was on the front page of Tuesday's paper. That story can be found here.

Below are some pictures from the event.

AHS donors James and Sherry Raisbeck welcome pilot and AHS inaugural class graduate Joey Marco after Marco arrived at the groundbreaking in a plane, which he piloted.

AHS breaks ground on its new high school campus. From left to right: AHS Principal and CEO Reba Gilman, AHS Donor and Supporter James Raisbeck, King County Executive Dow Constantine, Boeing Vice President for State and Government Operations in the Northwest Region Laura Peterson, Port of Seattle Commissioner Bill Bryant, Museum of Flight President and CEO Doug King and Chairman of the Board of Aviation High School Peter Anderson.

Aviation High School Principal and CEO Reba Gilman speaks to a large crowd gathered for the groundbreaking of the new Aviation High School on the campus of The Museum of Flight.

Seattle Times: Spa business is ideal fit

Today Janet Denyer, CEO of Gene Juarez Salon & Spas, was featured on the front page of the Seattle Times business section.

The story overviews what Denyer has accomplished in her first five years as CEO of Gene Juarez. Since taking over as CEO in 2006, Denyer has opened two new Gene Juarez salons, re-branded and relaunched three salons into new locations, doubled the enrollment of the company's two beauty schools, created nearly 150 new jobs and launched a national hair-care collection.

Click here to read the full article, or pick up a copy of the Aug. 15, 2011 edition of the Seattle Times. Also, check out this piece in the Seattle Times on the company's retired founder Gene Juarez, who open his first salon in Seattle in 1971.