DonorsChoose.org, the online charity that makes it easy for anyone to help students in need, announced today that Kia Motors America (KMA) has made a $1 million commitment to public schools as part of the citizen philanthropy organization’s first-ever national partnership with an automotive brand. Kia’s donation launches a Double Your Impact campaign with DonorsChoose.org, designed to fund 50 percent of classroom projects near Kia’s network of more than 755 retail showrooms across the country as well as the company’s U.S. headquarters in southern California and assembly plant in southwest Georgia. By matching community donations, KMA will bring more than $2 million of classroom projects to life and the offer is available until all funding is applied to classroom projects.
To view Multimedia News Release, go to http://www.multivu.com/players/English/57176-kia-corporate-social-responsibility/
The Ad Council, in partnership with the American Council on Education and the U.S. Tennis Association, will debut new TV public service advertisements (PSAs) at the US Open today on behalf of the national KnowHow2GO campaign designed to encourage low-income and first generation students to take the steps necessary to prepare for college. The ads will premiere on TV screens throughout the Arthur Ashe Stadium during the tournament.
To view Multimedia News Release, go to http://www.multivu.com/mnr/57839-ad-council-american-council-on-education-usta-college-access-knowhow2go
Abbott has selected 40 undergraduate and graduate students living with cystic fibrosis (CF) to each receive a $2,500 CFCareForward Scholarship for use during the 2012-2013 academic year. Recipients were chosen based on their impressive academic merits, community involvement and creativity, and will now compete for two additional scholarships for a total award of $20,000 each – in honor of the 20th anniversary of the program. From now until Sept. 11, 2012, the public is invited to vote at www.CFCareForwardScholarship.com to help determine this year’s Thriving Undergraduate and Graduate Student winners.
To view Multimedia News Release, go to http://www.multivu.com/mnr/56750-2012-cfcareforward-scholarships-announced-voting-open
With one third of American children overweight and 75 percent not getting enough daily exercise, Henkel, the company behind some of the nation’s leading brands, including Dial®, Purex®, Right Guard® and Soft Scrub®, is actively addressing this urgent health and fitness crisis facing our nation’s youth. In cooperation with Alliance for a Healthier Generation (AHG), Henkel today announced the launch of its annual Henkel Helps Get Kids Fit program in an effort to make a change and improve the quality of life of an entire generation. With schools facing budget cuts and limited resources across the country, the Henkel Helps Get Kids Fit program will award one deserving school with $25,000 to be used toward equipment and services to enhance their students’ health and fitness education.
To view Multimedia News Release, go to http://www.multivu.com/mnr/57305-henkel-helps-get-kids-fit-alliance-for-a-healthier-generation
Walmart today announced the results of the “Walmart Class of 2012 Back-to-School Survey,” which revealed that 76 percent of moms with children in kindergarten to 12th grade consider back-to-school a time for a fresh start over Jan. 1 – in fact, nine out of ten moms make back-to-school “resolutions” in preparation for the year ahead. With 78 percent of moms planning to get organized this new school year, Walmart today launched Classrooms by Walmart, an online compilation of thousands of classroom supply lists representing schools in all 50 states plus Washington, D.C., making it easier for moms to get their back-to-school supplies online and in Walmart stores.
To view Multimedia News Release, go to https://www.multivu.com/mnr/57202-walmart-back-to-school-survey-online-supply-list-classrooms-moms
Steelcase Education Solutions launches today a first-of-its-kind table-based collection of classroom furniture, Verb™, and enhances its active learning chair, Node®, to college and university planners at SCUP’s 47th Annual International Conference & Idea Marketplace at Hyatt Regency Chicago. These award-winning solutions keep students and instructors collaborating and engaged.
To view Multimedia News Release, go to http://www.multivu.com/mnr/57141-steelcase-education-solutions-launches-verb-node-active-learning-solutions
The Culinary Institute of America (CIA), the world’s premier culinary college, sent six of its distinguished faculty and degree program students to catch fish off the coast of Louisiana in Plaquemines Parish and experience firsthand the purity and taste of the region’s seafood.
The team of four chefs and two culinary arts students from the CIA’s Hyde Park, New York campus toured the Parish and sampled shrimp, crab, oysters, tuna, and snapper straight from its waters. The two-day tour culminated in “A Celebration of America’s Best Seafood,” a four-course dinner at the historic Woodland Plantation.
To view Multimedia News Release, go to http://www.multivu.com/mnr/56892-plaquemines-parish-culinary-institute-of-america-cia-seafood-fishing
The College Board today kicked off a nationwide movement to make education a more prominent issue in the 2012 presidential campaign. The effort calls upon the major candidates to discuss and debate their plans for reform amid an alarming decline in the state of American education. The College Board launched the campaign on the National Mall with a compelling public installation of 857 school desks, representing the 857 students who drop out of American schools every hour of every school day.
To view Multimedia News Release, go to http://www.multivu.com/mnr/52371-college-board-don-t-forget-ed-education-campaign-presidential-election
Red Hawk Elementary’s Red Hawk Movement, Erie, Colo. – Movement and exercise are more than activities at Red Hawk Elementary, they are foundational elements of the school culture. As a new public school in the St. Vrain Valley School District located outside of Denver, Red Hawk built physical activity into the plan from day one. Using a rotating daily “movement calendar,” students gain 40 minutes of moderate to vigorous physical activity on a daily basis, in addition to scheduled PE class and recess. These structured routines are taught by the professional PE staff outdoors or in the gym, and can be repeated in the classroom with student leaders taking charge. Strategically placed 20-minute blocks occur once in the morning to increase energy and attentiveness at the start of the day, and once in the afternoon immediately before math and science, the most challenging academic subjects. Favorite activities include the ‘Red Hawk Walk,’ in which students power-walk along designated routes throughout the building, as well as in-class cardio and dance breaks. Each Friday the week ends with “All-School Movement,” when all 460 students, faculty and staff head outside to participate in a coordinated fitness routine set to popular music.
To view Multimedia News Release, go to http://www.multivu.com/mnr/56327-childobesity180-physical-activity-contest-100-mile-club-red-hawk-movement
ChildObesity180 today announced the two National school program winners of its nationwide innovation contest. The competition was designed to identify and reward the most creative, impactful, and scalable school-based programs and technologies to promote children’s physical activity.
Among the many schools nationwide employing running and walking programs, the 100 Mile Club in Corona-Norco, CA is a true pioneer. Inspired by the 1992 Summer Olympics, special education teacher Kara Lubin had a dream that kids would be motivated to stay fit by the simple goal of “winning the gold medal.” These medals, based on dedication and effort, not speed and fitness, could reward students of all abilities, including Lubin’s special education students. Lubin took action and founded the 100 Mile Club in 1993. Elementary school students are presented with a straightforward challenge, run 100 miles over the course of the school year. Students log miles before school, after school, during recess, and at sanctioned community events. Milestones are rewarded with simple tokens – wristbands, pencils, and medals. A year-end assembly celebrates and recognizes students who have achieved 100 miles, and those still with miles to go. Nearly 20 years later, the 100 Mile Club has stood the test of time, and been adopted by schools in California and across the nation. The program is highly scalable and with Lubin’s help, is now in place in more than 115 schools across eight U.S. states, reaching more than 30,000 students.
To view Multimedia News Release, go to http://www.multivu.com/mnr/56327-childobesity180-physical-activity-contest-100-mile-club-red-hawk-movement
Last summer, Sierra Coulthard’s life changed forever.
She spent a week identifying her strengths and discovering who she was. She learned what it takes to be a leader and how leaders can change lives. And the Wisconsin high school student realized just how real and rampant poverty is in the world today.
“My eyes were opened to so many troubles in the world,“ she said. “I saw how real the needs of people are and I wanted to do something to help.”
Coulthard returned home and immediately connected with Nashville-based Soles4Souls, which since 2005 has secured more than 17 million new and gently used shoes for people throughout the world. The charity shipped her a large supply of new shoe boxes that she placed throughout her home town of Neillsville to encourage donations. Nearly 1,000 pairs of shoes were donated to the “Sierra’s Shoes” drive.
And last month, she was able to travel to Haiti and pass them out to deserving children who needed them.
Coulthard’s vision for the drive was developed at the National FFA Organization’s annual Washington Leadership Conference, which focuses on leadership development, personal growth and community service. More than 2,200 students – up to 340 a week – from throughout the U.S. who are FFA members will attend one of the conference’s seven week-long sessions in June and July.
To view Multimedia News Release, go to http://www.multivu.com/mnr/56306-2012-national-ffa-organization-washington-student-leadership-conference