Joe Matejka founded Custom Fundraising Solutions, which operates mattress fundraisers for schools and other non-profit organizations, in 2005. He’s also worked with a traditional fundraising firm and operated his own company furnishing model homes for builders. Joe Matejka enjoys several recreational activities and generously supports a number of charities, for instance by donating beds to Fill This House. When foster children reach their 18th birthdays, they are no longer under the state’s care, and funding for their support is terminated. Commonly called “aging out,” the legal term is “emancipation.” Those who’ve lived with a family sometimes enjoy their support and assistance in finding a place to live and furnishing it, and others can turn to other relatives for that kind of help. In Ohio’s Cuyahoga County, about 11 teens age out of the system every week; 3 of them, on average, begin their new lives alone, in need of support, and frequently frightened. Fill This House was founded to help teens in Cuyahoga County who are aging out of the foster care system. Faith-based and not-for-profit, it is supported by generous donations from corporate and faith-based organizations, as well as individuals. Fill This House helps by purchasing new household goods and furnishings such as cookware and other kitchen equipment; bedding and small appliances like clocks and toasters; and towels, curtains, and similar items. The group provides these items to teens in the process of transitioning out of the foster care system to independent living arrangements. Included with each bundle of household goods and equipment is a brand-new Bible. In 2014, Fill This House served 99 young people, a 35 percent increase over 2013. Among those served was a group of 10 whose hard work had earned them full scholarships to Cleveland State University. For these scholars, the program “Filled Their Dorms” with all the furnishings and other essentials they’d need, freeing them to attend to their studies and the experience of college life. Further information is available on the organization’s website at www.FillThisHouse.org.
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The founder and president of Custom Fundraising Solutions, Joe Matejka introduced the mattress fundraising concept that is now being used in 1,200 schools around the country. When not managing his business, Joe Matejka enjoys staying active through weight training and biking.
Riding a bike offers many health benefits while also being an enjoyable way to explore the great outdoors. Here are some other reasons to incorporate biking into your daily life: 1. Limits strain on the body. Unlike running, which can negatively impact the legs, ankles, knees, and feet, biking is a low-impact sport that engages many of the same muscles without the same potential for damage and injury. 2. Makes use of widely available infrastructure. Biking rates have doubled since 1990, and federal money has funded 3,000 projects each of the last five years. Many cities are introducing bike lanes, paths, and other amenities. 3. Reduces stress. Bicycle commuters have reported lower stress levels than automobile or public transit commuters. Additionally, a higher percentage of bikers report enjoying their commutes than those using other forms of transportation. Joe Matejka is the founder and president of Westlake, Ohio’s Custom Fundraising Solutions, which he launched in 2005. In his free time, Joe Matejka enjoys biking and weight training.
Most weight trainers are seeking to build muscle by first breaking down the muscle fibers then allowing the fibers to repair themselves, creating new muscle protein, called myofibrils. The process results in stronger, bigger muscles. Here are some beginner tips for anyone looking to build muscle effectively. Prioritize the Big Four The phrase “The Big Four” refers to the most effective strength-building exercises: squats, shoulder presses, bench presses, and deadlights. Focus on these four lifts first and then branch out into other moves. Choose the Barbell Skip the fancy equipment and go straight to the barbell, a time-proven yet simple way to build muscle. Barbells are easily customizable and intuitive to use. Start Simple The main goal of a weight training regime is to do a certain number of reps. Focus on the number of reps and forget the extra maneuvers, such as tempos, while steadily increasing the weight load. Founder and president of Ohio-based Custom Fundraising Solutions, Joe Matejka is responsible for creating the mattress fundraisers concept, which is now used in schools around the nation. Beyond running his company, Joe Matejka supports Fill This House, a local charity, by donating beds.
A faith-based organization, Fill This House provides various household goods, like kitchen utensils and towels, to young individuals who have recently been emancipated and have aged out of the Cuyahoga County foster system. The teens supported by Fill This House have very limited support and possess a very small amount of belongings due to their time in foster and group homes. To continue providing support to these teens, the organization relies heavily on donations and foundation grants. Individuals can donate to Fill This House online through PayPal or contribute to specific beneficiaries or for specific reasons, such as funding a weekly or monthly bus pass for a recipient. Additionally, the organization welcomes donations of new household items. These can be purchased at Walmart or Target through the organization’s gift registries or can be collected through a church or business drive. Due to the limited counter space found in most teens’ apartments, Fill This House encourages donations of small appliances. Ten years ago, Joe Matejka founded Custom Fundraising Solutions, a company that promotes the sale of mattresses as a fundraiser for 1,200 schools nationwide. Professionals like Joe Matejka know that mattresses need to be replaced every five to 10 years, but the following signs can alert you as to when it’s time to go looking for a new one.
- You roll toward the center: As mattresses age, the innerspring systems wear unevenly, causing them to sag. If you and your partner roll together toward the center of the bed, you are no longer getting the support you need to foster quality sleep. - You’re getting inadequate sleep: If a mattress needs to be replaced, there is a good chance you aren’t sleeping well on it. An old mattress may leave you waking up stiff and sore after tossing and turning throughout the night, unable to find a comfortable spot to fall asleep. - You sleep better outside of your own bed: Your bed should generally be a source of comfort and the place you sleep the most soundly. When a mattress needs replacing, you may find yourself feeling better-rested after sleeping on a hotel bed, or in the guest bed at a friend’s house. Joe Matejka is the founder and president of Custom Fundraising Solutions, a business that partners with schools in order to raise funds through the sale of mattresses. Outside of work, Joe Matejka is involved with the nonprofit organization Fill This House, which provides basic necessities to older children who are outgrowing the foster care system.
In the United States, 20,000 youth age out of the foster care system each year. Many spend months or years in out-of-home placement during their childhood, and can be affected by the instability that it creates. Of those who leave foster care at 18, almost 40 percent become homeless at some point in their lives. In order to help give these adolescents a chance at success, groups like Fill This House aim to collect useful household items that help make an apartment into a home. The most helpful donations to nonprofits like Fill This House include dish and drinking glass sets, cleaning supplies, cooking supplies, bedding, small countertop appliances, and personal hygiene items. To learn more about how you can help adolescent foster children, and to see a comprehensive list of items needed for donation, visit www.fillthishouse.org. President of Custom Fundraising Solutions in Westlake, Ohio, Joe Matejka dedicates much of his time to carrying out multimillion-dollar initiatives that benefit organizations like Fill This House. In his spare time, Joe Matejka enjoys cycling and weight training.
To reduce the likelihood of injuries and effectively weight train, the following should be considered. 1. Instead of focusing on the amount of weight, a person should make form a priority. Isolating muscle groups and ensuring smooth and controlled movement with each lift increases gains. 2. To enhance strength, a person should slowly increase resistance or weight. A good rule of thumb is to add just enough, so the final two repetitions are tiresome, but can still be completed with good form. 3. A person can work major muscles two to three times per week. However, planning at least 48 hours of recovery time between each session is vital for allowing the body to repair inevitable tiny tears in muscle tissues. As president of Custom Fundraising Solutions, Joe Matejka helps humanitarian organizations obtain the money they need to run their operations and achieve their goals. When he’s not working, Joe Matejka participates in many activities, especially those related to physical fitness, such as weight training.
Many people are well aware of the health benefits of weight training. For example, it helps people to reach and maintain a healthy weight and to stay strong and fit as they grow older. However, some people may not like weight training very much as a form of exercise. They might find sticking to a program to be boring, for example, or completing multiple sets of an exercise to be repetitive. For these individuals, there are a number of approaches that can make weight training more fun and enjoyable. One approach is to involve family and friends. Working out is often more fun when you have someone by your side who can encourage you and spot you or help you push your limits. Similarly, it’s important to find the right environment for your workout. Some people appreciate the solitude of a home gym, where they can play whatever type of music they want while working out. Others prefer a more traditional gym environment, where they can meet new people and be inspired by others. If a person is working out in the right setting with the right support, weight training is more likely to become an activity they enjoy and look forward to doing. |
AuthorA graduate of Ohio University, Joe Matejka founded Custom Fundraising Solutions (CFS) in 2006 as a way to help raise funds for groups and organizations through one-day mattress sales. Archives
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