Katy, TX (July 20, 2008) –  On August 4, Pulcinella Ristorante will host a very special event, “The Art of Hugging,” to benefit ARTreach. At the one-time event, Michelle Nichols, a former Katy resident and BusinessWeek.com columnist, will talk about her new book Hug Your Kids Today! 5 Key Lessons for Every Working Parent. Performance artists will also create art and guests can sip wine and eat delicious Italian food.
 
Nichols is the founder of National Hug Your Kids Day, held on July 21, with something happening in 17 states for the first celebration. She will share why all the talk about “work-life balance” is the wrong goal. Instead, she recommends working parents prioritize, and put “family first and work a close second.”
 
She speaks from credibility. In 1998, her 8 ½ year old son, Mark, died suddenly from brain cancer. She now shares the five key lessons she learned in her journey back “from Hell to happiness.” As it says on the book’s back cover, “these lessons can help attendees be a better mother, father, stepparent, grandparent, employee or employer….And it all starts with a hug.”  www.HugYourKidsToday.com. The book is available at the website or on www.Amazon.com . Nichols now lives in Reno, Nevada.
 
Humorous speaker Rebecca Fox will also be on hand to share her entertaining observations on parenting and working. Fox is well-known for making women laugh at their daily challenges.
 
ARTreach has a unique community partnership with Pulcinella Ristorante. The world class Italian restaurant has locations in Dallas and Katy. The Katy location hosts monthly ARTreach dinner events, beginning with a Founders Day Event held on February 4th. The events help to build local awareness for the social and educational benefits associated with ARTreach programs serving the needy in Katy, Fort Bend County and the Houston area. www.artreachonline.com “We wanted to help our community and help ARTreach” says Pulcinella owner Dwight Sellers, “and hosting a wonderful dinner comes naturally to us.”
 
“The Art of Hugging” event is on August 4 and begins at 6:30 p.m. Pulcinella Ristorante is located at 6455 South Fry Road, in the Grand Lakes subdivision.  Tickets are $25 and guests will receive an autographed copy of Nichols’ new book “Hug Your Kids Today!” Space is limited to 40 guests. Reservations can be made with Terri Bieber, Executive Director , ARTreach at (713) 444-1897 art.reach@earthlink.net or Rebecca Fox at (281) 684-9966rebecccafox2@comcast.net .