Media Relations

Sample Press Releases

Local newspapers love to print local news. If you are a Local Area Organizer or someone who has benefitted by participating in the Feast, you can send your local newspaper a press release, or, create an article on your blog!  Let’s spread the news about this powerful annual event! 

You’ll find two press releases below that you can use as samples. The contact name and addresses in your release should be your own, and you’ll want to include as much detail as possible about you and what inspired you to host an event. 

Generally, news releases should not exceed two pages and should be double-spaced. Ideally, you email them to the media outlet rather than mailing or faxing them in. News outlets also love photos that are sent along with a press release, so be sure to include one that you have the rights to use.

Sample Press Release  – Local

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE 

December 15, YEAR

Contact: YOUR CONTACT INFO INCLUDING NAME, ORGANIZATION, PHONE #.  

(YOUR CITY, STATE)  The Feast for the Soul Opening Celebration at YOUR LOCATION

The public is invited to participate in a one-hour meditation and celebration gathering to start the New Year peacefully.  On the 15th of January, at YOUR LOCATION, YOUR NAME is offering an opening ceremony to mark the first day of the Feast for the Soul, a 40-day interdenominational spiritual practice intensive observed by people of all over the world.

Last year over 20,000 people in over 29 different countries participated in this worldwide event from their own home.

The Dalai Lama has endorsed the Feast and Deepak Chopra has added his endorsement saying, “Meditating for 40 minutes a day for 40 days as practiced during the Feast for the Soul won’t just further one’s conscious evolution, it will have an effect on humanity. Humanity will be at peace when enough individuals choose to make peace a part of their spiritual practice.”

(ABOUT YOUR EVENT) All are invited to join the non-denominational opening ceremony for the Feast for the Soul at WHERE, WHEN. Attendees will hear inspirational readings and be guided into a silent meditation.

The event is open to the public, though space is limited. No meditation experience is necessary.  Admission is by donation. REGISTRATION INFO HERE. 

“The Feast is a beautiful time of year to recommit to one’s spiritual practice after the busy holiday season. It’s when you take time each day focus inward to find the source of love and peace. That peace, if shared by enough people will spread around the world,” says Feast founder, Valerie Skonie, of Sarasota, Florida.

She says the initial inspiration for the Feast came to her when she read a poem by a 13th Century mystic Jelaluddin Rumi:

What nine months does for the embryo,
Forty early mornings
Will do for your growing awareness.

That’s when she decided to make something happen. 

“Consider the stories of Noah, Elijah, Moses, Jesus, Buddha, and Mohammed. Each spent 40 days in retreat or contemplation. When these prophets returned from their inner journey, they had changed, and, in turn, their world had changed.” says Skonie. “Now it’s our turn to participate in this shift and not to look to our spiritual leaders to do it for us.”

Learn more about the Feast for the Soul by going to their website: www.FeastfortheSoul.org, or calling (928) 254-0064. ADD YOUR INFO HERE.

Sample Media Release 2

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE  December 15, YEAR

Contact: YOUR LOCAL CONTACT INFO HERE 

 GLOBAL PEACE INITIATIVE COMES TO (YOUR TOWN HERE) WITH THE FEAST FOR THE SOUL

(INSERT LOCAL EVENT INFORMATION HERE) 

This event is being planned in conjunction with the  Feast for the Soul.

On January 15, the annual Feast for the Soul – a nondenominational spiritual practice intensive begins. Now in its 11th year, the Feast is a time when people worldwide commit or recommit to deepening their personal spiritual practice in hopes of cultivating an inner landscape of peace. The idea is that if inner peace is experienced by enough people, it creates a ripple effect that can be felt around the world. 

The Feast for the Soul is observed from January 15- February 23. It’s a worldwide 40-day period of spiritual practice. Last year over 20,000 people in at least 29 different countries participated in this free worldwide event.

The Dalai Lama has endorsed the Feast for years now, and Deepak Chopra says about the event is powerful, saying “Meditating 40 minutes a day for 40 days, as done in the Winter Feast for the Soul won’t just further one’s conscious evolution. Humanity will be at peace when enough individuals choose to make peace a part of their spiritual practice.”

The initial inspiration for the Feast for the Soul came from a poem by the renowned 13th Century mystic Jelaluddin Rumi, better known as Rumi. 

What nine months does for the embryo,
Forty early mornings
Will do for your growing awareness.

When you consider the personal stories of important religious figures including Noah, Elijah, Moses, Jesus, Buddha, and Mohammed, you’ll recognize that each one spent 40 days in retreat or contemplation. When these prophets returned from their inner journey, they had changed, and, in turn, their world had changed.

The Feast features a faculty of teachers from many religious traditions who offer free online meditations to assist people in developing their own spiritual practice. Spiritual practice can be defined as prayer, meditation, reading sacred texts, yoga, martial arts, and even expressive arts.

Given the challenges and struggles we see taking place in the world today, this event enables people to commit to the life-changing practice of peace through stillness and meditation.

To register for this event, call YOUR CONTACT INFO HERE

Learn more about the Feast for the Soul by visiting their website: www.FeastfortheSoul.org. There is no cost to participate in the Feast. It is free and open to all.