1. Contact: Darcel Harris 4801 Laguna Blvd.
Colors of Commitment Suite 105202
Colors of
Commitment™
Phone (916) 792-2437 Elk Grove, CA 95758-7037
dharris@colorsofcommitment.com (916) 705-6467
Press Release
Unemployed Sacramento Woman says, “No one
would hire me, so God inspired me.”
Colors of Commitment™ wristband and website introduced during
National Conference on Volunteering and Service in San
Francisco
Sacramento, CA, July 3, 2009: A new multi-colored wristband depicting diversity and
volunteerism recently hit the market during the 2009 National Conference on Volunteering and Service,
held at the Moscone Convention Center in San Francisco, California. The wristband boasts colors that
represent every race: African American, Native American, Latino, Asian, and Caucasian. The colors
blend around the wristband to represent all Americans working together for change. The wristband is
the brainchild of Valerie Johnson, unemployed for almost two years and residing in Elk Grove,
California. Johnson founded her company, Colors of Commitment™ because, as she says, “No one
would hire me, so God inspired me!” Refusing to give in to depression and disappointment, Johnson
took a part-time job at a women’s clothing store while she began to build the business that “God
inspired.” Says Johnson, “Colors of Commitment is designed to get people to make a commitment to
embracing American diversity and a commitment to change.” She says it will take all of us, working
together, but making individual commitments to service, that will ultimately change lives. Johnson says
wearing the multicolored wristband serves as a daily reminder of that commitment.
Johnson hopes to inspire President and Mrs. Obama to use the Colors of Commitment wristband
in a national program such as Obama’s AmeriCorp program, as a symbol of volunteering, or as a
symbol for Mrs. Obama’s national day of Service. Johnson and her sister, Darcel Harris, are collecting
testimonials on their website and Harris intends to publish a book next fall telling the stories of people
who purchased the wristbands and followed through with their commitments. The book will be
dedicated to Senator Curren Price who originally supported and introduced the wristband to California
For Release 9 a.m. PST, June22, 2009
more

2. Page 2 Elk Grove Woman Starts New Business
State Legislative Members, and to the sister’s parents, William and Margie Harris, who are the only
investors in the business.
Colors of Commitment Non Partisan Wristband designed to be a symbol
of Diversity, Volunteerism, and Change
According to Valerie Johnson, “This is not just about putting on a wristband as a symbol. “This is
about a true commitment to actively embracing diversity and then to participating in volunteerism which
will ultimately change your world. People all over the state, all over the nation, all over the world, can
commit to doing something to make a difference.” The Colors of Commitment wristband can be
purchased on the Colors of Commitment website: www.colorsofcommitment.com. Founder Johnson
says, “If you see this wristband on anyone, anyplace, anywhere in the world, you will know that person
has made a commitment to embracing diversity and to volunteerism – they have made a commitment
to doing something, through some form of service.” A side benefit of wearing the wristband – people
are talking to one another about what they are doing or what they can do.
Valerie Johnson lost her job over a year and a half ago and has been unsuccessful in landing
another. She says, “No one would hire me, so God inspired me!” Johnson says she decided not to
mope and feel sorry for herself. After watching the Obama inaugural, she was inspired to create the
multicolored wristband to represent the coming together of Americans. That creation led to the founding
of her small business, Colors of Commitment™.
Since exhibiting at the National Conference on Volunteering and Service, Johnson has received
numerous bulk orders for the bands and is posting ads and messages on Facebook, YouTube, Twitter,
and MySpace. She, her sister and her business manager are speaking to churches, associations,
corporations, and organizations across the state to encourage the start of volunteer programs and the
use of her wristbands as a symbol of their commitments to volunteer projects.
For more information on the Colors of Commitment™ project and wristband, you can send
an email to info@colorsofcommitment.com.
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