Justin Tadlock

Hybrid Hook Widgets is a plugin that creates new widget areas for the <a href="http://themehybrid.com/themes/hybrid" rel="nofollow ugc">Hybrid theme</a> and attaches them to the theme’s action hooks. Basically, it allows you to add widgets pretty much anywhere.
Typically, to add extra stuff to the theme, you must use one of Hybrid’s action hooks. This can be quite confusing to some users. This plugin was created mainly for those users without much XHTML and PHP knowledge. It allows them to take advantage of Hybrid’s advanced hook system without the need to understand how it works. Of course, even advanced users can take advantage of this, especially when dealing with client work.
This plugin is for WordPress 2.8+ only.
You must have the <a href="http://themehybrid.com/themes/hybrid" rel="nofollow ugc">Hybrid theme</a> installed to use it.
Full instructions for use can be found in the plugin’s <code>readme.html</code> file, which is included with the plugin download.

Hybrid Hook Widgets

Adds 11 new widget areas to the Hybrid WordPress theme framework using its action hooks.

Thad Allender

GPP Welcome Message Widget is a plugin that adds a widget for easily creating prominent welcome messages.
This plugin is for WordPress 3.0+ only.

GPP Welcome Message Widget

Adds a widget for easily creating prominent welcome messages.

Hybrid Hook Widgets vs GPP Welcome Message Widget