The Philadelphia Story

On Thursday, April 28, 2005, I took the Rescue Rick the Grass Cut Man (sm) campaign to Philadelphia to share the yard safety brotherly love. I made an appearance at Independence Hall as a tribute to my fellow Americans who had the courage to think outside-the-box with the goal of creating a new America based on freedom and equality. I handed out several hundred leaflets. Then, I pushed my toy lawn mower up Chestnut Street where I hitched-up my lawn mower to have a few conversations with several members of the Jefferson Health System. Next stop, I cut the concrete sidewalk over to the Philadelphia City Hall where I handed out several hundred more leaflets. I appreciated the positive feedback from several good people who indicated that they intended to pass along the yard safety message. Last stop for the day, I headed over to the Philadelphia Inquirer with hopes to get another newspaper story written about yard safety, featuring my character Rescue Rick the Grass Cut Man (sm) - a yard safety caped-crusader and renaissance yardman. I drove back to Hermitage, Pennsylvania, stopping at rest areas along the way to populate the brochure rack with yard safety leaflets.

Rescue Rick the Grass Cut Man (sm)

Big Apple

I was on national television in New York City both Wednesday (4/27/05) and Thursday (4/28/05) morning. On Wednesday, I started at the Today Show; the cameraman filmed me just before a commercial break. I then went to the Fox News "Fox and Friends" newscast where I stood immediately outside the studio - the side window. The guest was Jim Lehrer; I was literally five feet behind him. I was dressed as Rescue Rick the Grass Cut Man and had a toy lawn mower with a golf club driver attached acting as a handle extension. After Fox, I went to the Viacom building and stood outside the entrance holding a sign that read "Rescue Rick the Grass Cut Man (www.rescuerick.com)". On Wednesday night, I handed-out leaflets outside Carnegie Hall for about one-hour before the concert. Next, I stopped at the Carnegie Deli and requested that my Rescue Rick (sm) photograph be placed next to Jackie Mason, since I joined Jackie at his table at the Carnegie Deli a few years ago. Next, I strolled down Broadway (passing out leaflets) until I arrived at MTV. I stood in front of MTV and handed-out about 700 leaflets.

On Thursday, I started at Good Morning America. I did not have a ticket so I stood outside near a window. I waited about 30 minutes, and I realized that I might not get on-the-air. I went back to Fox News. The Fox News morning co-anchor, Steve Doocy, remembered me and actually said on-the-air that Rescue Rick the Grass Cut Man was visiting the window again; the smoking monkey was the topic of the show. During a commercial break, I gimped over to CNN for a brief unscheduled appearance (at their window). Keep in mind, I was pushing my toy lawn mower up-and-down the Avenue of the Americas. I returned to Fox where I had a nice conversation with the Fox crew and security, who came outside the studio for a mechanical bull-riding segment. After the show, I pushed the toy lawn mower up 6th Avenue to Central Park, over to 5th Avenue, down 5th Avenue to 46th Street, over to Madison Avenue, up Madison Avenue to 61st Street, over to Park Avenue, down Park Avenue to the Helmsley Building, up Park Avenue to 57th Street, and finally to a Central Park bench to rest my pounding and throbbing foot. The Rescue Rick stroll through midtown Manhattan was a great experience for me and a eye-catching and educational experience for thousands of New Yorkers. Ironically, just a few years ago, I was walking on Park Avenue in a suit-and-tie as a Wall Street investment banker. Now, I push a toy lawn mower as a yard safety super hero with a goal to find a cure for yard accidents. I am now a renaissance yardman- that day as a street performer.

I am trying to promote yard safety awareness. I want to prevent outdoor power equipment accidents. Think before you cut. It hurts. (tm)

Rescue Rick the Grass Cut Man (sm)

Spring Season Yard Safety

I am trying to kick-off the Spring Season with a blast of my yard safety news release, with hopes to create national awareness regarding the importance of yard safety. My goal is that there will not be any yard accidents this year, including outdoor power equipment accidents. I have pasted my kick-off news release below for your convenience.

Rescue Rick Springs into Yard Safety

Richard “Rescue Rick the Grass Cut Man” Mudrinich springs into yard safety for another season.

Some are born great, some achieve greatness, and some have greatness thrust upon 'em."- Act ii, Sc. 5, Twelfth Night, William Shakespeare

Peter Parker was bitten by a radioactive spider. Bruce Wayne was transformed by the tragic death of his parents. The Fantastic Four were bombarded with Cosmic Rays. For Richard Mudrinich, of Hermitage, Pennsylvania, greatness came in the form of a lawn mower accident.

Rescue Rick the Grass Cut Man (sm) is a “caped crusader” working tirelessly to prevent lawn mower accidents and to promote yard safety. “The Spring Season has arrived. Growing grass needs cut, and I want to prevent outdoor power equipment accidents. In essence, I want to blast my public service safety message to create awareness so that people do not get hurt this season,” shares Rescue Rick.

Rescue Rick (sm) is a renaissance yardman, utilizing various art forms to communicate his safety message. “I want to educate and entertain the general public regarding the importance of yard safety. Lawn mower accidents happen in a split-second, often resulting in life-altering outcomes that sometimes include amputation. I learned this from first-hand experience when I amputated part of my left foot while cutting the grass,” shares Rescue Rick.

Rescue Rick the Grass Cut Man wants to create awareness regarding the frequency and severity of lawn mower accidents and to promote preventive measures to rescue individuals and families from the dreaded experience associated with yard accidents. Each year, there are about 100,000 lawn mower accidents. Furthermore, the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) reports that hospital emergency rooms treat more than 400,000 outdoor garden-tool-related accidents each year. Estimates from past statistics indicate that yardwork accidents fatally injure more than 3,000 people. According to Rescue Rick, "Think before you cut. It hurts. I encourage you to heed the outdoor power equipment safety precautions and to promote grass cut safety!"

About Rescue Rick the Grass Cut Man (sm)

Richard “Rescue Rick the Grass Cut Man” Mudrinich is an artist and entrepreneur with a social conscience. He is an advocate and promoter of yard safety. He is a renaissance yardman, utilizing various art forms to communicate his safety message. In addition, he is the Founder of the Society of Lawn Mower Amputees. He graduated from the Carnegie Mellon Tepper School of Business (MBA) and the Pennsylvania State University (Bachelor of Science – Chemical Engineering). He has maintained a steady passion for entrepreneurship and social ventures for several years, including serving as a volunteer with the Carnegie Mellon Entrepreneurship Network and the MIT Enterprise Forum. He lives in Hermitage, Pennsylvania. For additional information, please visit the Rescue Rick the Grass Cut Man (sm) website at http://www.freewebs.com/rescuerick/ and BLOG at http://rescuerick.blogspot.com/ to provide interactive feedback.

Pope John Paul II

I am watching TV about the life and contributions of Pope John Paul II. In my small way, I am compelled to advance the Rescue Rick the Grass Cut Man (sm) yard safety awareness campaign to a higher level.

Disney

A few weeks ago, I was visiting New York City. A highlight of my trip was meeting Michael Eisner on St. Patrick's Day while walking on the streets of Manhattan. Needless to say, I was compelled to present the Rescue Rick the Grass Cut Man (sm) concept to Mr. Eisner for his consideration. I am very grateful for the opportunity to speak with Michael Eisner about my yard safey awareness campaign.

Mahoning County Farm Bureau

It was an honor to give a presentation on yard safety on March 30, 2005 at the Mahoning County Farm Bureau meeting at the Mill Creek MetroParks Farm, across from the Canfield Fairgrounds. I want to thank Mary Moore, Safety Director of the Mahoning County Farm Bureau, for inviting me to speak at the annual safety seminar. In essence, I told my story with regards to my lawn mower accident that resulted in the partial amputation of my left foot. Furthermore, I described the evolution of Rescue Rick the Grass Cut Man (sm) and presented a few creative initiatives to promote yard safety using various art forms to communicate my safety message. The bulk of my presentation focused on practical safety tips with the goal to educate and prevent accidents from happening to the attendees and beyond.