On September 9th, 2014 Erika Mahoney, MS, PEM Do1Thing’s Executive Director was named White House Champion of Change.
(LANSING) – The Lansing Fire Department announced today with great honor that Erika Mahoney, executive director of the “Do 1 Thing” emergency preparedness program and an employee of the department’s Office of Emergency Management, was honored at the White House by Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) Administrator Craig Fugate on Tuesday, September 9th 2014.
As part of FEMA’s Champions of Change program, the White House recognized Erika as an everyday American who is making a positive change in her community. As a recipient of the 2014 Individual and Community Preparedness Awareness to Action Award, Mahoney was invited to the nation’s capital to accept the honor.
“We couldn’t be more proud of Erika and her extraordinary accomplishments leading the Do 1 Thing program,” said Mayor Virg Bernero. “Her expertise and commitment to our community are worthy of national recognition, and we offer her our heartiest congratulations on winning this tremendous national honor.”
The following is an excerpt from the FEMA press release regarding Erika’s accomplishment:
“Erika Mahoney, MS, PEM is the Executive Director of Do 1 Thing, a non-profit dedicated to helping individuals, families, businesses, and communities prepare for all hazards and become disaster resilient. Founded in Lansing, Michigan in 2006, Do 1 Thing is designed to move people from awareness, to intention, to action by addressing the barriers that keep people from preparing for emergencies. What started as a small local awareness campaign has grown into an award-winning non-profit that serves the United States and more.”
The mission of Do 1 Thing is to move individuals, families, businesses, and communities to prepare for all hazards and become disaster resilient. Do 1 Thing discovered that most citizens are more likely to take action and do something if the message comes from a trusted source. Partners working with their employees and stakeholders can influence positive action towards preparedness. Do 1 Thing breaks preparedness down into 12 manageable steps for each month of the year. With Do 1 Thing, individuals can take small steps that make a big difference. Do 1 Thing has successfully translated the monthly program into seven languages, Braille, large print and audio. Recently, Do 1 Thing launched the Disaster Resilient Communities for Older Adults and People with Disabilities Project to increase disaster resilience by:
- Working with individuals to plan and participate in their own disaster preparedness initiatives.
• Planning and working with public safety, emergency response, community and neighborhood groups to address the critical needs of older adults and people with disabilities and others with access and functional needs during an event.
Erika Mahoney, MS, PEM is the Executive Director of Do 1 Thing, a non-profit dedicated to helping individuals, families, businesses, and communities prepare for all hazards and become disaster resilient. Founded in Lansing, Michigan in 2006, Do 1 Thing is designed to move people from awareness, to intention, to action by addressing the barriers that keep people from preparing for emergencies. What started as a small local awareness campaign has grown into an award-winning non-profit that serves the United States and more. Read more below. Erika would like to thank all the Do 1 Thing Board Members, Partners and Supporters for helping Do 1 Thing to achieve our mission of creating disaster resilient communities one step at a time.
http://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2014/sep/8/lansing-nonprofit-to-be-honored-by-white-house/