Women for Women International’s Help Women and Children Survivors of War Rebuild project is currently less than 1,000 votes away from being among the top five winning projects that will share $2.5 million in funding through the American Express Members Project contest.

Arico announced that it has entered into a partnership with Women for Women International.

Women for Women International, a non-profit organization, helps women in war-torn regions rebuild their lives by providing financial and emotional support, job skills training, rights awareness and leadership education, and access to business skills, capital and markets. The program aims to help women become more confident, independent and productive as they embrace the importance of their roles in rebuilding their families, their communities and ultimately, their nations.

There is still space available for the Gluten Free Adventure Trek to Costa Rica, arranged by EMS, taking place from November 23 - 29, 2008, over Thanksgiving week.

The eight-day/seven-night trip will feature a hike up the Arenal Volcano, a rafting trip down the Pacuare River and a choice of additional activities. All equipment is provided. Comfortable rustic lodging is in two-person safari-style A-frame tents, complete with beds, mattresses and bedding. All meals are gluten free and will be prepared by trained staff.

The University of Chicago's Celiac Disease Center will be offering its annual free blood screening for celiac disease on Saturday, October 18 from 8:30am to noon. The event will also feature exhibitors and a Q&A with an interactive panel of experts at 10:30 am. 

It's estimated that more than 3 million people suffer from celiac disease in the United States, yet 97% of them are undiagnosed. The Center is offering this screening at no cost since many individuals would not otherwise have access to celiac disease testing - either because their doctors refuse to carry out the tests, their insurance do not cover the cost or they are uninsured.

Arico’s all-natural gluten- and dairy-free snacks were selected by ShapeYou.com, a health and fitness web site, to receive its ShapeYou 2008 GearAwards.

Arico’s Sea Salt Mist Cassava Chips and its Peanut Butter and Double Chocolate Cookie Bars were among the recipients of ShapeYou’s “Top Gear of the Year” award.

Is your local school system required to provide your child with a gluten-free meal?

If your child is unable to eat the meals provided by the school because of a verifiable illness or disability, then the answer is "yes," nutrition consultant and author Tricia Thompson wrote in a recent column on Diet.com.

According to a survey by the American Celiac Disease Alliance (ACDA), a non-profit organization that advocates for the celiac disease community, many parents report that their children’s schools have refused to provide gluten-free meals upon request.