• Community Development Block Grant $3,360,585.00
• HOME Investment Partnerships $1,068,114.00
• Emergency Shelter Grants $135,899.00

The combined funding of $5,103,000 is up slightly from fiscal year 2009 funding levels.
These funds are in addition to the recently awarded Neighborhood Stabilization Program in
the amount of $5 million designed to target foreclosed houses within the City, and the
Homelessness Prevention and Rapid Re-Housing Program (HPRP) in the amount of $1.1 million.

“We will leverage these funding streams to implement new initiatives to stabilize housing and neighborhoods in targeted areas of the City,” McMahon said. “I am pleased our City is competing very favorably in securing federal funds to support our local efforts.”

# # #

Please contact the Community Development Department with any inquires into the nature of
these programs or visit http://www.readingpa.gov/

The hearing on the request will be held on Wednesday October 14, 2009 at 7:00 p.m., at the Reading Municipal Building, 815 Washington Street, Reading, PA 19601 before a hearing officer duly appointed by the Department.

The public is invited to attend. Those individuals desiring to present testimony are requested to inform the Department by October 7, 2009.

Individuals requiring special accommodations to attend the hearing should contact the Department at least 7 days prior to the hearing.

For further information contact:  Fred A. Reddig, (888) 223-6837, 4th Floor Commonwealth Keystone Building, Harrisburg, Pennsylvania 17120.

Most of the characters featured in the movie are from the Berks County, PA region according to Jerry Moyer, the movie’s writer, director and narrator who explained the meaning of the title, ‘FIGHT’.

“To me ‘FIGHT’ means being willing to do whatever it takes to accomplish your dream,” he said. “Being willing – not only to breeze along when things are going well – but to continue on when they don’t. As a matter of fact, when things go completely the opposite of the way you planned, are you willing to go on then? Anyone who watches this movie is going to know that it’s actually possible to go after his or her dreams, not just think about them.

“Most of the people in the movie aren’t celebrities and they weren’t paid to be in the movie. These are real people who have done some pretty amazing things in their lives by waking up and taking the action to make them happen day after day. While others sat around dreaming, these people have been fighting.”

Early endorsements for the movie have come from such notables as Penn State Football Head Coach Joe Paterno who said, “If you want to be a champion, you need to FIGHT!”

Additional support comes from Mark Victor Hansen, co-creator of the #1 New York Times best selling series Chicken Soup for the Soul®, co-author of Cracking the Millionaire Code, The One Minute Millionaire and Cash in a Flash; and author of Richest Kids in America who said, “Jerry Moyer was determined to make a great movie and nothing was going to stop him. When he was a member of my ‘MEGA INNER CIRCLE’, he gave life to his dream. The result… ‘FIGHT-The Movie’. Are you ready to make your dream come true? Watch this movie!”

Featured characters in the movie include Kermit Cintron who lost both of his parents before he turned 13 and went on to become a world-champion boxer; Kristy Kowal who couldn’t swim a full lap at age 8 yet fought through and became an Olympic swimmer; former Penn State football player Adam Taliaffero who was paralyzed during a game and given only a 3% chance to walk again; Nat Gallen, an 11-year-old boy who wakes up daily and fights Cystic Fibrosis; professional golfer Rick Price who missed the PGA cut for 19 years; author Candice Millard whose newborn daughter was diagnosed with cancer while Candice finished writing her first book; actor and acting coach Jim Jarrett who found himself broke and divorced with no reason to go on; U.S. Marine Chris Kaag who will never walk again; entrepreneur Matt Naylor who couldn’t spell ‘dog’ in the 8^th grade; lawyer Elaine Stanko who seemingly had everything yet felt unfulfilled; and strength and conditioning coach Brian Caldwell whose business had gone bankrupt.

Moyer, 46, is a Reading-area entrepreneur, success coach, realtor, former professional soccer player and college soccer coach who studied business and marketing at Penn State University. He partnered with Burke Cherrie, 22, a NYU Film and Television student and owner of Epicoe Pictures production company who coproduced, directed and filmed the movie. Together the pair worked for three years to make their own dream come true in the release of ‘FIGHT – The Movie’.

Additional information on ‘FIGHT – The Movie’, the DVD preorder and the premiere details can be found by visiting www.iamreadytoFIGHT.com or by contacting Jerry Moyer by calling (610) 468-8225 or emailing to jermoyer@aol.com.

(BUSINESS WIRE)

First off, how has the tour been treating you?

Tours been good, it’s been really long and it’s just about over now. I’ve had a really good time and the crowds have been great.

Is there a big difference between being on the show and being on tour?

Total difference…all the weights have been lifted off, cameras are out of your face for the most part and now it’s all about you [us] and the music. It’s time to just sing.

What’s it like being away from your family and friends while on tour?

You know, that’s the toughest part [being away from friends and family]. I’ve missed them a lot but I have become really close with these guys, lived with them for almost a year now and have been spending 24 hours a day with them and have built great relationships.

Has your life completely changed from this experience and winning American Idol?

My life has completely turned upside down. I never dreamed all this could have happened to me and its not at all what I had in mind…you know like signing autographs and people screaming your name its just a complete 360.

When you started the show, obviously you thought you stood a chance but did you think you could actually win the American Idol?

It was more of a step by step process, you know, I just took everything one step at a time.

Alright well I’m sorry but I have to ask you, is Simon really the type of guy that we all see on the T.V?

[Laughs] Simon is a believer in what he says, other than that he’s a really nice guy to talk too and we’ll just leave it at that.

Haha fair enough, before we end this is there something you want to say to your fans or anything you would like to touch on?

Man, our fans come out everyday and just sit for hours…literally. I’m so happy they watch the show and American Idol fans are the best fans out there. So I just want to say thank you to all my fans.

The American Idol 2009 tour is in Reading, Pa this week.  More information here.

Check back tomorrow for other interviews.  I will be talking with other contestants from the show.

Signing out: Marcus Shellenberger

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