Latest news with #O'Donnell
American Press
4 hours ago
- General
- American Press
Veterans partner with non-profit for post-storm roof repair kits
Integrity Homes Co-Owners David Souileau and Warren Vandever demonstrate how to use the emergency tarp. (Ashlyn Little / American Press) Southwest Louisiana has seen its fair share of blue tarps on homes in recent years. With hurricane season beginning on June 1, now is the time to be prepared in case an emergency situation strikes. The Southwest Louisiana Veterans Association has partnered with Houston-based non-profit Every Shelter to distribute FEMA-approved emergency roof patch kits as part of a pilot program for local veterans. Every Shelter volunteer John O'Donnell, who is helping coordinate the pilot program, said the organization creates shelters for refugees in places where people need it. 'They were doing it so innovatively, they were creating these shelter solutions from recycled vinyl and recycled styrofoam and the environmental side of me kind of perked up a little bit and I became really interested,' O'Donnell said. Once O'Donnell contacted Every Shelter, he learned about the patch kit. That's when he started working with them to get the word out. The patch kit is 100 percent made in the U.S. The kit includes one tarp, nails and step-by-step installation instructions. 'The tarp is super easy to put up. If you can swing a hammer you can put this tarp up. The kit comes with the nails — it comes with everything you need, including the instructions and a video about where and how to place it. It makes it really accessible for those that need it,' O'Donnell said. Small, smart intervention can prevent bigger damage and keep people safe after a storm, he said. 'For example, with my own roof, we didn't lose the whole roof, we just had enough of a hole in it that enough water got in the walls where we had to gut the whole home. This can bridge that gap between the hole in the roof and getting a new roof,' O'Donnell said. The tarp will last longer than a blue tarp because of the UV specifications that it has and because it is made out of recycled billboard, according to O'Donnell. David Soileau and Warren Vandever co-own Integrity Homes, a veteran-owned contracting company that started in 2020 after Hurricanes Laura and Delta. 'Myself and Warren served our country and we both just want to serve. We're kind of done with the national service, but we still want to serve the community at least. When John brought the opportunity for us to be involved, it let us have a bigger way to serve the community and be ready for the next event,' Souileau said. 'We really wanted to partner up with what John's (O'Donnell) got going on. We have a big heart for the community, especially here in Southwest Louisiana, and want to make sure people get taken care of — mitigation is key, you need a dry place to stay and by having these tarps available can make a huge impact in keeping you safe,' Souileau said. For more information on the Emergency Roof Patch Kits visit
New York Post
7 hours ago
- General
- New York Post
Queens teacher wins $25K state prize for building chicken coops in her school to help special needs kids learn
When Alanna O'Donnell arrived at her Queens classroom Friday, the last thing she expected was to be surprised with a massive $25,000 check. The PS 117 educator always keeps her special needs students at the top of mind, which is exactly what made her one of this year's winners of the FLAG Award for Teaching Excellence. 'This is probably one of the most humbling experiences of my adult life and I'm just honored and grateful to be part of the 177 family,' O'Donnell told The Post as the excitement and surprise partially began to settle in. 5 Alanna O'Donnell was chosen as one of six 2025 FLAG Award winners. James Messerschmidt Advertisement O'Donnell, 46, is one of six teachers across the five boroughs to have been chosen for this year's FLAG Award, which honors educators who 'inspire learning through creativity, passion, and commitment.' She was chosen among a whopping 1,600 nominations — and she has one of her students' parents to thank for quietly throwing her hat in the ring. O'Donnell, a city department of education veteran of 12 years, was chosen for her intense dedication to her tiny special needs classroom at PS 117, Robin Sue Ward School for Exceptional Children — where only one child in her class is able to speak. Advertisement The dedicated teacher built an urban farm and chicken coop using money she secured from a state Department of Agriculture and Markets grant so that her students could run the farm and care for chickens in order to learn responsibility and empathy — traits that are critical for non-verbal people with autism to attain well-being and independence. 5 O'Donnell was awarded a $25,000 unrestricted cash prize, while PS 117 was given another $10,000 to be used for her farming and Pink Lady initiatives. James Messerschmidt Her students help tend the herbs, vegetables and flowers as well as the 7 hens and two small chicks. When the birds lay their eggs, typically one per day, O'Donnell sells them for $5 a dozen — and she revealed theirs a waiting list for the 'under market value' eggs. Advertisement 'It took a few weeks but when [the chickens] got here, there was a lot of like, 'Oh, don't squeeze the neck, don't pop the beak, but you can see that my kids walk them without issue, hug them and hold them and will clean up their poop and will gather their eggs, never an issue and it shows the world that these kids have a voice,' O'Donnell beamed. 'They can do a job. There are 99% of New Yorkers who can't do what these kids can do right now.' 5 Only one of O'Donnell's students is verbal. James Messerschmidt 5 O'Donnell has been teaching within the DOE for 12 years. James Messerschmidt Advertisement In addition to her city farm, O'Donnell routinely takes her students shopping so they can practice paying, counting change and boost their confidence. O'Donnell also runs a group she created during the pandemic called the Pink Ladies, made up of current and former female students, for annual launches, providing a crucial social outlet. The educator thought she was attending an end of the academic year celebration when Principal Christopher Duffy revealed she had won. O'Donnell covered her face with her hands in shock and shook her head from side to side as she was handed her a massive cardboard check as the auditorium burst into thunderous applause from her students and fellow educators. 5 O'Donnell thought she was attending an end of the year party when she was surprised with the award. James Messerschmidt She was given a $25,000 unrestricted cash prize, while PS 117 was given another $10,000 to be used for her farming and Pink Lady initiatives. 'Well, holy moly, I'm sweating like crazy and shaking, but this is amazing and I'm so humbled. To accept an award like this because when one of us shines, we all shine, two, because I'm here at 177,' O'Donnell told the crowd. Upon learning that a parent had nominated her for the honor made the award that much more special, she told The Post, saying: 'This is probably one of the most humbling experiences of my adult life.' Advertisement She said that field 'is not an easy road,' but 'I get to be the voice for the voiceless … giving my kids a chance to get a job at the farmers market or at the Queens County Farm, wouldn't it be amazing?' she continued. 'If I can be their voice, I'll be the voice and I'll help their parents be their voice too.'
Elle
10 hours ago
- Entertainment
- Elle
Cynthia Nixon Asked Rosie O'Donnell To Take That Divisive 'And Just Like That...' Role
There are many things that run through both Sex And The City and its current incarnation And Just Like That... the fashion, the modern dating dilemmas - and the fact that every single episode has us talking, whether that is for good or for bad. FIND OUT MORE ON ELLE COLLECTIVE When it came to the opening episode of And Just Like That... season three, we were primed to be talking about Carrie and Aidan, but the biggest subject of discussion across both sides of the Atlantic seems to be Miranda's fling with a virgin nun - called Mary, no less - played by Rosie O'Donnell. In an interview with Variety about the internet-breaking plotline, O'Donnell explained how she came to join the show, via her friendship with Cynthia Nixon, who plays Miranda.'It was Cynthia,' she said. 'I'm good friends with Cynthia Nixon, and my daughter was actually her assistant on set for the last season of 'Sex and' — of 'And Just Like That.' I call it 'Sex and the City 2,' but that's not it. She put her on there, and then she said, 'By the way, Michael [Patrick King, creator] told me that he has a role for you. Are you up for it?' I said, 'Are you kidding me? In a minute!' I didn't even have to think about it.' Asked how she felt when she found out what that role was, O'Donnell said: 'I laughed my ass off. I thought — I know how to play this character.' 'I was very, very happy to be doing all my scenes with Cynthia. It was not acting for me. I don't have to act in love with her, because I've been in love with her for many years. I saw her in Wit, on Broadway, and even though I had known her for very many years and was friends with her in a real way, when I went backstage, I was awestruck and couldn't find my words.' And while much has been made of the more comical sides of the character - and that Wicked moment - O'Donnell said she found elements of Mary relatable. When asked 'have you known people like Mary who are isolated from their sexuality, even as they get older?' she replied: 'I know many women who only come to in in their 40s, and how hard it is when they set up a life with a man and children, and then they come to realise this basic thing about themselves,' she said. 'I understand their struggle. It was a relatable character — somebody who, for all different reasons, wasn't able to be in touch with who they were, and then came to find the beauty that awaits the rest of her life.' And Just Like That is on Sky and in the UK and NOW TV. ELLE Collective is a new community of fashion, beauty and culture lovers. For access to exclusive content, events, inspiring advice from our Editors and industry experts, as well the opportunity to meet designers, thought-leaders and stylists, become a member today HERE.
CNN
12 hours ago
- Entertainment
- CNN
Rosie O'Donnell is back on the small screen as a nun having the time of her life in ‘And Just Like That…'
Rosie O'Donnell has moved an ocean away from Hollywood, but she's still entertaining audiences. The actress and former talk show host shared with Variety how she ended up playing a lesbian nun having a New York City adventure in 'And Just Like That…,' which returned for its third season on HBO Max on Thursday. O'Donnell explained that she has long been friends with Cynthia Nixon, who plays Miranda on the comedy and its prequel, 'Sex and the City.' 'My daughter was actually her assistant on set,' O'Donnell explained. 'She put her on there, and then she said, 'By the way, Michael told me that he has a role for you. Are you up for it?' I said, 'Are you kidding me? In a minute!' I didn't even have to think about it.' O'Donnell has also known the show's creator, Michael Patrick King, for more than 30 years. 'When I was a young comedian, he was in a comedy duo called King and Mindy — Lisa Mindy and Michael King,' she said. 'I used to hang out with them at Catch a Rising Star and at the Improv. It's been pretty amazing to see the people that began together doing so well.' As for being gay in real life and learning that King had created a lesbian nun character for her, O'Donnell said, 'I laughed my a** off. I thought — I know how to play this character.' 'I was very, very happy to be doing all my scenes with Cynthia. It was not acting for me. I don't have to act in love with her, because I've been in love with her for many years,' O'Donnell said. 'I saw her in 'Wit,' on Broadway, and even though I had known her for very many years and was friends with her in a real way, when I went backstage, I was awestruck and couldn't find my words.' O'Donnell, who has also appeared on the HBO comedy 'Hacks' this season, said people like the character she plays, Mary, who discovers her sexuality later in life, are common. 'I know many women who only come to it in their 40s, and how hard it is when they set up a life with a man and children, and then they come to realize this basic thing about themselves,' she sad. 'I understand their struggle. It was a relatable character — somebody who, for all different reasons, wasn't able to be in touch with who they were, and then came to find the beauty that awaits the rest of her life.' She also reflected on having moved to Ireland from the United States. 'Never, for one moment since I arrived here, did I regret my choice,' O'Donnell said. 'People have been so welcoming, so accepting, and they have a different view of celebrity in the culture here,' she added. 'They are not prioritized over other people. People are much more friendly and intimate with each other in a real way.' HBO Max and CNN are both part of Warner Bros. Discovery.
CNN
12 hours ago
- Entertainment
- CNN
Rosie O'Donnell is back on the small screen as a nun having the time of her life in ‘And Just Like That…'
Rosie O'Donnell has moved an ocean away from Hollywood, but she's still entertaining audiences. The actress and former talk show host shared with Variety how she ended up playing a lesbian nun having a New York City adventure in 'And Just Like That…,' which returned for its third season on HBO Max on Thursday. O'Donnell explained that she has long been friends with Cynthia Nixon, who plays Miranda on the comedy and its prequel, 'Sex and the City.' 'My daughter was actually her assistant on set,' O'Donnell explained. 'She put her on there, and then she said, 'By the way, Michael told me that he has a role for you. Are you up for it?' I said, 'Are you kidding me? In a minute!' I didn't even have to think about it.' O'Donnell has also known the show's creator, Michael Patrick King, for more than 30 years. 'When I was a young comedian, he was in a comedy duo called King and Mindy — Lisa Mindy and Michael King,' she said. 'I used to hang out with them at Catch a Rising Star and at the Improv. It's been pretty amazing to see the people that began together doing so well.' As for being gay in real life and learning that King had created a lesbian nun character for her, O'Donnell said, 'I laughed my a** off. I thought — I know how to play this character.' 'I was very, very happy to be doing all my scenes with Cynthia. It was not acting for me. I don't have to act in love with her, because I've been in love with her for many years,' O'Donnell said. 'I saw her in 'Wit,' on Broadway, and even though I had known her for very many years and was friends with her in a real way, when I went backstage, I was awestruck and couldn't find my words.' O'Donnell, who has also appeared on the HBO comedy 'Hacks' this season, said people like the character she plays, Mary, who discovers her sexuality later in life, are common. 'I know many women who only come to it in their 40s, and how hard it is when they set up a life with a man and children, and then they come to realize this basic thing about themselves,' she sad. 'I understand their struggle. It was a relatable character — somebody who, for all different reasons, wasn't able to be in touch with who they were, and then came to find the beauty that awaits the rest of her life.' She also reflected on having moved to Ireland from the United States. 'Never, for one moment since I arrived here, did I regret my choice,' O'Donnell said. 'People have been so welcoming, so accepting, and they have a different view of celebrity in the culture here,' she added. 'They are not prioritized over other people. People are much more friendly and intimate with each other in a real way.' HBO Max and CNN are both part of Warner Bros. Discovery.
