EIN Presswire: Education Press Releases

Farmers Insurance and the University of Farmers Receive Two Awards From Corporate University Xchange

Fri, 25 May 2012 00:45:44 +0000

Farmers Insurance and the University of Farmers Receive Two Awards From Corporate University Xchange

Farmers Receives Awards for Measurement (Excellence Award) and Branding (Best Practice Award)

PR Newswire

LOS ANGELES, May 24, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- Farmers Insurance and the University of Farmers received the awards at the 13th Annual gala CUX Awards for Excellence and Innovation in Corporate Learning. The event was held as part of the three-day Global Leadership Congress at the University of Pennsylvania in Philadelphia from May 15-17, 2012.

(Logo: http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20080605/LATH062)

The Corp U Awards for Excellence and Innovation are the longest running independent evaluation of corporate learning and talent programs in the United States. The awards honor corporate, non-profit and government learning organizations that improve both business and employee performance through Alignment, Alliances, Branding, Launching, Leadership Development, Learning Technology, and Measurement.

A panel of independent, expert judges from companies including Ernst and Young, Westinghouse, GE Energy, and Aon Hewitt scored the award applicants based on various criteria specific to each category.

Farmers competed with organizations such as Microsoft, NASA, Raytheon and Westinghouse in winning the two awards.

Annette Thompson, Chief Learning Officer of Farmers said, "To be honored by CUX this year is a true testament to the quality of education and curriculum offered by the instructors at the University of Farmers. We are very proud of our work and how it benefits all Farmers' agents, district managers, and employees through innovative learning and development programs that receive accolades year after year."

"With so many organizations that have raised the bar for leadership and innovation participating in this year's Congress, selecting those who were truly the best of the best was a daunting challenge for the judging panel," said Alan Todd, Chief Executive Officer of CorpU. "We at CorpU congratulate the winners, and extend our gratitude to each organization that shares our commitment to empowering their employees through talent development by implementing innovation across their enterprises."

Corporate University Xchange (CorpU) is transforming the way companies solve problems, generate ideas and improve business performance through social learning and talent development. A partner to the world's leading organizations through collaborative thinking and learning communities, Corporate University Xchange is at the forefront of the projected $150 billion market for corporate learning in the 21st century.

Farmers Insurance Group of Companies is a leading U.S. insurer of automobiles, homes and small businesses and also provides a wide range of other insurance and financial services products. Farmers Insurance is proud to serve more than 10 million households with more than 20 million individual policies across all 50 states through the efforts of over 50,000 exclusive and independent agents and nearly 24,000 employees.

Farmers is a trade name and may refer to Farmers Group, Inc. or the Farmers Exchanges, as the case may be. Farmers Group, Inc., a management and holding company, along with its subsidiaries, is wholly owned by the Zurich Insurance Group. The Farmers Exchanges are three reciprocal insurers (Farmers Insurance Exchange, Fire Insurance Exchange and Truck Insurance Exchange), including their subsidiaries and affiliates, owned by their policyholders, and managed by Farmers Group, Inc. and its subsidiaries. For more information about Farmers, visit its Web site at www.farmers.com or at www.Facebook.com/FarmersInsurance.

Contact:	Jerry Davies
	213-400-4459
	Jerry.davies@farmersinsurance.com

SOURCE Farmers Insurance

Achieve3000 Used iReach to Share Optimized Content to Increase Traffic and Accelerate Growth

Thu, 24 May 2012 21:51:33 +0000

Achieve3000 Used iReach to Share Optimized Content to Increase Traffic and Accelerate Growth

PR Newswire

NEW YORK, May 24, 2012 /PRNewswire-iReach/ -- Just as you would develop copy for your website, compose a blog post or structure a webinar or event information page, writing online press releases with your intended audience in mind impacts brand awareness and recognition, online pick-up and organic search traffic.

(Logo: http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20120524/CG13654)

To that point, by incorporating keywords that your audiences use when conducting online searches in your press releases, coupled with distribution to PR Newswire's extensive online network through iReach, communication professionals are able to cost-effectively improve search engine marketing and generate long-lasting visibility of their content across some of the largest websites, as well as niche websites fitting for their content.

Achieve3000, the leader in differentiated online instruction for grades 2-12, leveraged the power of keyword-rich content to drive traffic to its search-optimized website, bring awareness to its new brand positioning and activate an integrated marketing campaign. By utilizing iReach's WebReach distribution option, Achieve3000 distributed an online press release with links to their website to more than 1,000 news and media websites, significantly impacting its organic search engine rankings, site visits and traffic, as well as its lead generation initiatives.

"iReach is an incredible digital marketing tool," said Michael Fleischner, vice president, Marketing, Achieve3000. "It puts our content in front of our target audiences at the point they are looking for us, and drives inbound demand in a big way. It widely and efficiently distributes our content to a broad swath of online media outlets – making our content, products and value proposition extremely findable."

Specifically, Achieve3000 saw:

12x increase in site visits from Google, a 9x increase from Bing and a 7x increase from Yahoo
15x increase in branded search queries
45% of traffic from new visitors
815 quality, inbound links secured
High-value site conversions such as demo requests, content downloads and sales opportunities

To send out your next iReach release, visit: https://ireach.prnewswire.com.

About PR Newswire

PR Newswire (www.prnewswire.com) is the premier global provider of multimedia platforms that enable marketers, corporate communicators, sustainability officers, public affairs and investor relations officers to leverage content to engage with all their key audiences. Having pioneered the commercial news distribution industry 58 years ago, PR Newswire today provides end-to-end solutions to produce, optimize and target content — from rich media to online video to multimedia — and then distribute content and measure results across traditional, digital, mobile and social channels. Combining the world's largest multi-channel, multi-cultural content distribution and optimization network with comprehensive workflow tools and platforms, PR Newswire enables the world's enterprises to engage opportunity everywhere it exists. PR Newswire serves tens of thousands of clients from offices in the Americas, Europe, Middle East, Africa and the Asia-Pacific region, and is a UBM plc company.

Media Contact: Meryl Serouya PR Newswire, 2013606009, meryl.serouya@prnewswire.com

News distributed by PR Newswire iReach: https://ireach.prnewswire.com

SOURCE PR Newswire

Robert T. Eglet Advocacy Center Announced In Las Vegas

Thu, 24 May 2012 21:39:57 +0000

Robert T. Eglet Advocacy Center Announced In Las Vegas

Robert Eglet Announced 2011 Attorney of the Year by the Nevada Justice Association

PR Newswire

LAS VEGAS, May 24, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- This is being released by SCM: Construction will begin in June 2012 on the 46,000sq' 4-story ROBERT T. EGLET ADVOCACY CENTER at 400 S. 7th Street in Las Vegas with a completion date of December 2013. 100 Las Vegas residents will be employed in its construction over the next 18 months. The project is financed by Bank of Nevada.

(Photo: http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20120524/LA12682)

Judge David Wall, Ret., & John Valery White, Dean William S. Boyd School of Law will introduce the first Eglet Wall Law Scholarship recipient at the ceremony.

"My partners and myself envision The Courtroom at the Advocacy Center to be utilized by the law students at Boyd School of Law allowing us to directly participate in their education and continue to attract the best and brightest to choose Las Vegas both for their education and law career. We are pleased to announce the Eglet Wall Law Scholarship For Outstanding Academic Achievement," said Eglet.

May 2012 marks the 107th anniversary that Las Vegas was founded. Charles Squires - who built the city's first bank, hotel, lumberyard and real estate firm, helped bring electricity to the city and write the city charter - will be honored with a historic marker from the State Historic Preservation Office that will be on permanent display at the Advocacy Center.

Robert Eglet received the largest verdict in Nevada history and one of the largest in U.S. history, $500 million.

Eglet Wall Law Firm is located at 400 S. 4th Street, 6th floor Las Vegas, Nevada, 89101. www.egletwall.com.

SOURCE SCM

"Personality Genes" May Help Account for Longevity

Thu, 24 May 2012 21:21:44 +0000

"Personality Genes" May Help Account for Longevity

PR Newswire

BRONX, N.Y., May 24, 2012 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- "It's in their genes" is a common refrain from scientists when asked about factors that allow centenarians to reach age 100 and beyond. Up until now, research has focused on genetic variations that offer a physiological advantage such as high levels of HDL ("good") cholesterol. But researchers at Albert Einstein College of Medicine and Ferkauf Graduate School of Psychology of Yeshiva University have found that personality traits like being outgoing, optimistic, easygoing, and enjoying laughter as well as staying engaged in activities may also be part of the longevity genes mix.

The findings, published online May 21 in the journal Aging, come from Einstein's Longevity Genes Project, which includes over 500 Ashkenazi Jews over the age of 95 and 700 of their offspring. Ashkenazi (Eastern European) Jews were selected because they are genetically homogeneous, making it easier to spot genetic differences within the study population.

Previous studies have indicated that personality arises from underlying genetic mechanisms that may directly affect health. The present study of 243 of the centenarians (average age 97.6 years, 75 percent women) was aimed at detecting genetically-based personality characteristics by developing a brief measure (the Personality Outlook Profile Scale, or POPS) of personality in centenarians.

"When I started working with centenarians, I thought we'd find that they survived so long in part because they were mean and ornery," said Nir Barzilai, M.D., the Ingeborg and Ira Leon Rennert Chair of Aging Research, director of Einstein's Institute for Aging Research and co-corresponding author of the study. "But when we assessed the personalities of these 243 centenarians, we found qualities that clearly reflect a positive attitude towards life. Most were outgoing, optimistic and easygoing. They considered laughter an important part of life and had a large social network. They expressed emotions openly rather than bottling them up." In addition, the centenarians had lower scores for displaying neurotic personality and higher scores for being conscientious compared with a representative sample of the U.S. population.

"Some evidence indicates that personality can change between the ages of 70 and 100, so we don't know whether our centenarians have maintained their personality traits across their entire lifespans," continued Dr. Barzilai. "Nevertheless, our findings suggest that centenarians share particular personality traits and that genetically-based aspects of personality may play an important role in achieving both good health and exceptional longevity."

The study is titled "Positive attitude towards life and emotional expression as personality phenotypes for centenarians." The POPS was developed by lead author Kaori Kato, Psy.D., now at Weill Cornell Medical College, who validated it through comparisons with two previously established measures of personality traits. Other authors of the study were Richard Zweig, Ph.D., assistant clinical professor of psychiatry and behavioral sciences at Einstein and director of the Older Adult Program at Ferkauf, and Gil Atzmon, Ph.D., assistant professor of medicine and of genetics at Einstein.

About Albert Einstein College of Medicine of Yeshiva University

Albert Einstein College of Medicine of Yeshiva University is one of the nation's premier centers for research, medical education and clinical investigation. During the 2011-2012 academic year, Einstein is home to 724 M.D. students, 248 Ph.D. students, 117 students in the combined M.D./Ph.D. program, and 368 postdoctoral research fellows. The College of Medicine has 2,522 full time faculty members located on the main campus and at its clinical affiliates. In 2011, Einstein received nearly $170 million in awards from the NIH. This includes the funding of major research centers at Einstein in diabetes, cancer, liver disease, and AIDS. Other areas where the College of Medicine is concentrating its efforts include developmental brain research, neuroscience, cardiac disease, and initiatives to reduce and eliminate ethnic and racial health disparities. Its partnership with Montefiore Medical Center, the University Hospital and academic medical center for Einstein, advances clinical and translational research to accelerate the pace at which new discoveries become the treatments and therapies that benefit patients. Through its extensive affiliation network involving Montefiore, Jacobi Medical Center –Einstein's founding hospital, and five other hospital systems in the Bronx, Manhattan, Long Island and Brooklyn, Einstein runs one of the largest post-graduate medical training programs in the United States, offering approximately 155 residency programs to more than 2,200 physicians in training. For more information, please visit www.einstein.yu.edu and follow us on Twitter @EinsteinMed.

SOURCE Albert Einstein College of Medicine

Chartwells School Dining Services Sponsors Cooking up Change Healthy Cooking Contest

Thu, 24 May 2012 20:45:00 +0000

Strengthens Commitment to Healthy School Food

This week in our nation's capital, Chartwells School Dining Services, participated as a platinum sponsor and a judge in the annual National Cooking up Change® healthy cooking contest. Cooking up Change® is a cooking competition created by the Healthy Schools Campaign that challenges teams of high school students to create healthy, great-tasting school meals that exceed current USDA standards as well as the gold standard of the HealthierUS School Challenge, using ingredients commonly available to food service that can be easily prepared in a school kitchen.

Student chefs from Chicago, Denver, Jacksonville, Santa Ana, St. Louis, and Winston-Salem presented their healthy school lunches before a prestigious panel of judges for consideration as the best healthy school lunch in the nation. Karen Duncan, wife of Secretary of Education Arne Duncan and Christie Vilsack, wife of Secretary of Agriculture Tom Vilsack, served as Cooking up Change® Honorary National co-chairs. Duncan also served as a judge for the contest.

The team from Valley High School, Santa Ana, CA won with their menu of lemon and spinach chicken with Tuscan bean salad and cinnamon poached pears. Winning honorable mention was the team from Chicago Public Schools (CPS) with their oven-fried chicken, "Cousins" collard greens & cabbage, and sweet potato salad. The team from Chicago Vocational Career Academy (CVCA), a CPS school managed by Chartwells Thompson Hospitality, also had the recent honor of serving this menu on Capitol Hill last week to lawmakers and staff. Last year, Chicago Public Schools made news with their unprecedented purchase of 1.2 million pounds of chicken raised without antibiotics which was served as part of school lunch menus.

The Cooking up Change contest engages students in the national dialogue about school food, policy and resources that would make it possible for all children to have access to lunches as nutritious and appealing as those created in the contest. It challenges students to create a healthy school lunch with affordable ingredients, comparable to those found in dining centers across the country.

"We are extremely proud of the students who competed in Cooking up Change and are lending their voices to the national discussion on school food," said Rochelle Davis, President and CEO of Healthy Schools Campaign. "These students are speaking up to make healthy and appealing school meals like the ones they have created the norm in our nation's schools."

The Cooking up Change student contestants found their participation to be very rewarding in these times of school lunch reform, with many of them commenting that it helped change their outlook on their own eating behavior. They were very proud that this experience influenced their families as well and made positive changes to family cooking and eating habits. Chartwells' mission is to change the way students and their families view food and Cooking up Change is an excellent example of a program that supports this initiative.

CVCA student, Diamonte B., said, "I learned teamwork. I learned to work together, work hard, stay focused." Fellow student chef Sheanice D., said, "We learned a lot during this competition -- a lot about the ingredients and where they came from." The competition gave the students aspirations for the future. "We'll keep cooking from our hearts and believing we can make it anywhere," said Sheanice.

"Cooking up Change provides a unique hands-on educational experience for students to engage their peers about eating healthy," said Margie Saidel RD, Vice President of Nutrition and Sustainability for Chartwells School Dining Services, Platinum Sponsor. "We are so proud that these amazing kids have the courage to compete and to plant the seeds of change for a healthier life for themselves as well as their peers and families."

For more information about Cooking up Change®, please visit www.CookingupChange.org.

About Chartwells School Dining Services
Chartwells, a division of Charlotte, NC-based Compass Group, provides dining services for over 550 public school districts and private schools, comprising over 6,000 separate elementary, middle and high schools nationwide. For more information about Chartwells School Dining Services, visit www.eatlearnlive.com.

About Healthy Schools Campaign
Healthy Schools Campaign, an independent not-for-profit organization, is a leading authority on healthy school environments and a voice for people who care about our environment, our children, and education. HSC advocates for policies and practices that allow all students, teachers and staff to learn and work in a healthy school environment. For more information, please visit www.healthyschoolscampaign.org.

About Cooking up Change®
Cooking up Change® is a healthy cooking contest for high school student chefs. With the guidance of a chef instructor and dietitians, teams are challenged to prepare a great-tasting, nutritious meal that meets the nutritional standards and cost constraints that school food service staff face every day. Cooking up Change® engages students in the national dialogue about healthy school food. For more information, please visit www.CookingupChange.org.

Ayde Lyons
Chartwells School Dining Services
Phone: 914-935-5320
Email: Email Contact

BusiNeighbor.org Announces Cell Phone Drive to Purchase 500 Payless Shoe Gift Cards

Thu, 24 May 2012 20:31:07 +0000

BusiNeighbor.org Announces Cell Phone Drive to Purchase 500 Payless Shoe Gift Cards

Busineighbor.org announces cell phone drive to help children

PR Newswire

ATLANTA, May 24, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- More than 58,000 Georgia children live in poor or low-income households and are considered homeless. According to the National Center on Family Homelessness Georgia ranks 47 out of 50 states in child homelessness.

But statistics don't get to the heart of how a child feels when they can't attend school because they have no shoes. If they don't have shoes, they can't go to school. Or worse students are embarrassed and teased. Interviews show a new pair of shoes can help reduce bullying, boost a child's self-esteem and improve the economy.

This critical need has prompted a Georgia organization BusiNeighbor Inc. to take a stand and announce their kickoff of a Cell Phone Fundraising Program, in partnership with GRC Wireless Recycling and Payless ShoeSource, Inc. BusiNeighbor Inc. will earn from .50¢ up to $30.00 for every cell phone collected, regardless of age or condition. The proceeds from this collection drive will go towards the purchase of 500 Payless ShoeSource Gift Cards to distribute 100 cards to five Georgia local charities that provide services to homeless families at a celebration event held at Villa Christina on August 13, 2012.

"It is estimated that Americans have 3 or more cell phones they no longer use but haven't discarded or recycled. "BusiNeighbor Inc. can use these phones to make a child happy and assist financially-challenged parents. Aside from providing new shoes, let's help restore dignity, and build confidence said Charmelle Scott Executive Director of BusiNeighbor Inc. BusiNeighbor Inc. want these children happy in school making friends and creating positive memorable moments instead of focusing on what peers think and reflecting on their most unfortunate situation."

BusiNeighbor Inc. is requesting assistance from local businesses to initiate collection campaigns with its employees, customers and friends. People and companies interested in donating or collecting phones can visit the organization's website.

About BusiNeighbor.org®
BusiNeighbor Inc. is a Georgia-based 501(c) (3) organization. BusiNeighbor Inc.'s philanthropic efforts include financial assistance to anyone in need: homeless, single parents, elderly, and veterans. BusiNeighbor Inc. partners with many local organizations to foster a relationship based on compassion for a fellow neighbor.

SOURCE BusiNeighbor.org

Boughton Law Corporation: Facebook, Social Media and Online Reputation Management

Thu, 24 May 2012 20:30:00 +0000

The big social media issue of the day isn't Facebook's $104 billion IPO, or whether Ashton Kutcher or Lady Gaga are still tweeting. It's the fact that many users of Facebook, Twitter, YouTube and other social media platforms - particularly teens and twenty-somethings - still don't appreciate that the comments, photos and videos they post on social media sites can be publicly accessible, profoundly inappropriate, legally defamatory and career-limiting. Everything that goes online stays online, leaving digital tattoos that anyone from teachers to scholarship committees to future employers might find, and, more importantly, might find objectionable.

On Thursday, May 31, 2012, Scholar in Residence Tony Wilson discusses the importance of online reputation management in a lecture titled Social Media: How to Protect Yourself from Yourself. This lecture considers how the social media landscape has revolutionized how we communicate and interrelate with one another, and how important it is to understand the effects of our digital contributions and take ownership of what we say and do online.

"From the 15-year-old's perspective, it might be a badge of honour to post photos of wayward drunken exploits on Facebook," says Wilson, "thinking that because their parents aren't 'friends', Mom and Dad won't see them. But when a teen has 750 Facebook friends, it's easy for them to lose control of where those posts travel and who will eventually see them."

Tony Wilson's presentation discusses how important it is for students and parents alike to understand the importance of protecting their online reputation, how easily a reputation can be damaged and how long that damage can last.

"I can only echo what most of the deans of Canada's law schools tell their new students each year: clean up your Facebook pages because your prospective employers will be looking for you. I can tell you first-hand that all employers do," says Wilson. "We have to."

Tony Wilson's presentation Social Media: How to Protect Yourself from Yourself will be held on May 31, 2012 at 7pm at the Copeland Lecture Theatre at St. Michaels University School. Admission is free, but registration is advised. Click here to register for this event.

Tony Wilson (SMUS 74) regularly practices law in the areas of franchising, licensing and IP law at Boughton Law Corporation in Vancouver and is ranked as a leading Canadian Franchise lawyer by LEXPERT and Who'sWho Legal. He is the author of Manage Your Online Reputation, a book written to guide individuals and businesses on how to monitor and protect their personal and corporate reputations on social media. He is a regular business columnist for the Globe and Mail and Lawyers Weekly, Bartalk and Canadian Lawyer magazines.

He is an Adjunct Professor at Simon Fraser University and a Bencher of the Law Society of British Columbia.

St. Michaels University School is a co-educational, independent day and boarding school situated in Victoria, British Columbia. With a population of 930 students from Kindergarten to Grade 12 representing 20 countries and varied economic, cultural and ethnic backgrounds, SMUS grads are exceptionally prepared to find their place as engaged citizens of the world.

Boughton Law Corporation is a full service Vancouver law firm located in Vancouver. Carrying on business as Boughton, our predecessor law partnership was founded in 1949. We strive to deliver the highest quality legal work and service to our clients; to be accessible, efficient and responsive; to find practical and effective solutions; to communicate clearly; and to conduct ourselves with honesty and integrity. Boughton is an independently owned Vancouver law firm, but is part of an international network of law firms called MERITAS.

For more information or media enquiries, please contact:
SMUS
Laura Authier
Director of Marketing and Communications
Office - 250-370-6164 or Cell - 250-888-5950
laura.authier@smus.ca
Boughton Law Corporation
Tony Wilson
Associate Counsel
604-684-1800
twilson@boughton.ca

U.S. Space & Rocket Center to Celebrate 30th Anniversary of Space Camp

Thu, 24 May 2012 20:03:27 +0000

U.S. Space & Rocket Center to Celebrate 30th Anniversary of Space Camp

PR Newswire

Officials to Recognize 600,000th Student in the World-Renowned Program

HUNTSVILLE, Ala., May 24, 2012 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Space Camp® was training the next generation of explorers long before workforce development became a national topic. June 15, 2012, marks the 30th anniversary of this internationally-recognized program that today counts four astronauts, one cosmonaut, and nearly 600,000 other alumni, many in careers on the frontiers of technology.

The U.S. Space & Rocket Center (USSRC) in Huntsville, Alabama – home of Space Camp – is hosting a weekend of family-friendly activities from June 14-16, 2012, as a Space Camp alumni reunion and community celebration. The spotlight event is the Space Camp Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony and Dinner on Friday evening at 6 p.m. in the Saturn V Hall at the USSRC. Captain Robert "Hoot" Gibson, U.S. Navy (Ret.) and five-time Shuttle astronaut, International Space Station (ISS) Flight Director Ed Van Cise and Liz Warren, Ph.D., ISS Physiologist, along with Meteorologist Stephanie Abrams from The Weather Channel, will be inducted into the Space Camp Hall of Fame at the ceremony. Other special events include the Retro Night Social with a special showing of Space Camp the movie and a silent auction at the Space Camp Hall of Fame Dinner to benefit the Scholarship Fund, which supports financial scholarships for eligible students.

"We are proud to welcome home alumni for the 30th anniversary celebration of Space Camp and the 2012 Space Camp Hall of Fame," said Dr. Deborah Barnhart, CEO and Executive Director of the USSRC. "We have a fun agenda planned for alumni and look forward to meeting their families and hearing their stories of success since attending."

Space Camp was the vision of Dr. Wernher von Braun, the pioneer of America's space program and architect of the Saturn V rocket. Based on his dream of putting children and adults through astronaut training at the U.S. Space & Rocket Center in Huntsville, nearly 600,000 trainees have graduated from the program.

The mission of Space Camp has always been to inspire, motivate and develop a greater affinity for learning, particularly in the areas of science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) education. Data from student surveys document the educational benefits of the program. The U.S. Space & Rocket Center surveyed nearly 10,000 Space Camp trainees who attended between 1987 and 1992. More than 90% of the alumni said they took more science courses particularly physics and chemistry in the years following their camp attendance and more than 90% also reported taking more math courses. Nearly 75% said they learned about their current careers from Space Camp.

This supports a competent, qualified workforce for hundreds of companies and for the U.S. government. Today alumni work for companies like Boeing, Honeywell Aerospace, Teledyne Brown, ATK, Pratt & Whitney Rocketdyne, Lockheed Martin and many others. Thousands more found their inspiration at Space Camp to work for the government on world-class programs like the Space Shuttle Program, the International Space Station, the Hubble Telescope, and numerous other aerospace, defense and technology projects. Dottie Metcalf Lindenberger flew aboard the Space Shuttle Discovery on STS-131 in April, 2010, becoming the first Space Camp alumna to go into space. Other astronaut alumni are Serena Aunon and Kathleen Rubins, NASA; Samantha Cristoforetti, European Space Agency; and Russian cosmonaut Aleksandr Lazutkin.

If Space Camp has touched your life or you are a graduate of the program, connect with other alumni at www.spacecamp.com/community or for tickets and a complete listing of activities planned for the anniversary weekend, visit www.spacecamp.com/30th.

Contact: Tim Hall, Strategist
U.S. Space & Rocket Center
(256) 701-0916
timh@spacecamp.com

SOURCE U.S. Space & Rocket Center

Washington State Educators Named Success at the Core Fellows

Thu, 24 May 2012 19:53:10 +0000

Washington State Educators Named Success at the Core Fellows

Recipients to Foster Effective Use of Professional Development Community

PR Newswire

SEATTLE, May 24, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- Success at the Core, a community of educators focused on improving student achievement through professional development for teachers and leadership teams, has selected ten Washington state educators as its Success at the Core Fellows. These Fellows will guide other educators in deepening adoption of best practices in school leadership and student instruction through use of the Success at the Core resources.

The Fellows are:

Beth Ashley, Education Consultant, Mt. Vernon
Ailene Baxter, Junior High Principal, Puyallup School District
Andrea Brixey, High School Teacher, Cascade School District
Heather Byington, Elementary Teacher, Shelton School District
Obadiah Dunham, Junior High Principal, Northshore School District
Corrie Freiwaldt, Instructional Coach, Renton School District
Merrilou Harrison, Education Consultant, Yakima
Deb Gribskov, Instructional Coach, Kelso School District
Tyler Rice, High School Teacher, Mt. Adams School District
Jean Sheckler, Instructional Coach, Tacoma Public Schools

Applications for the Fellows Program were open to educators in Washington state, who were evaluated on several criteria, including: commitment to learning and classroom improvement; experience with using Success at the Core to deepen instructional focus and develop school leadership; and understanding of social media tools to communicate and build communities. The Success at the Core Fellows Program runs through December 2013.

Success at the Core launched a set of free, field-tested professional development modules in 2010 designed to help leadership teams and teachers elevate classroom instruction and improve student outcomes. Success at the Core began when Paul G. Allen, philanthropist and co-founder of Microsoft, asked his production company, Vulcan Productions, how media could be used to make a difference in education. To answer Allen's question, Vulcan Productions collaborated with the Education Development Center, a non-profit with a track record in fostering school improvement through innovative materials and professional development, to develop Success at the Core. Currently, the Success at the Core community includes more than 8,700 educators, over 3,200 of which are from Washington state.

Entirely web-based, the toolkit includes downloadable materials and multi-media presentations, as well as 47 documentary-quality videos filmed in Washington state middle schools. The toolkit captures how highly effective leadership teams operate and what outstanding instruction looks like. Already, four independent studies have pointed to the valuable contributions made to instructional quality by Success at the Core's well-researched and award-winning content.

Success at the Core Fellows represent educators who have used and adapted these resources. Fellows will build awareness and use of Success at the Core more broadly across Washington state and in and beyond the Pacific Northwest. Each Fellow – who will be compensated as part of the program – will engage online communities, work with Pacific Northwest and national education partners, and aid in research efforts aimed at measuring the program's impact on instruction and leadership.

"We were impressed by the diversity of ways that applicants utilized Success at the Core resources to advance their school improvement agendas," said Bonnie Benjamin-Phariss, director of Vulcan Productions. "The Fellows we selected demonstrate unique qualifications and skills that allow them to address the role of professional development in shaping student achievement."

The ten Fellows will be honored at an event in late June.

For additional information on Success at the Core, visit http://www.successatthecore.com, and join the Success at the Core community on Facebook and Twitter.

About Success at the Core
Success at the Core is an independently evaluated, web-based professional development toolkit for school leadership teams and teachers that captures how highly effective leadership teams operate and what outstanding instruction looks like. Success at the Core features seven modules for leadership teams and 24 practical strategies for classroom teachers, materials that help teachers and leadership teams work together to drive school-wide instructional improvement. Success at the Core is a collaboration between Education Development Center, a global nonprofit organization that addresses some of the world's most urgent challenges in education, health and economic development, and Vulcan Productions, Paul G. Allen's award-winning film company. Visit www.successatthecore.com to learn more.

SOURCE Success at the Core

How Crowd Funding has Transformed the Publishing Landscape Through Hybrid Advances

Thu, 24 May 2012 19:49:15 +0000

How Crowd Funding has Transformed the Publishing Landscape Through Hybrid Advances

New Trends in Publishing Lead a California Educator to Offer Pre-Orders of His Inner-City Children's Book

PR Newswire

LOS ANGELES, May 24, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- New Trends in Publishing lead a California educator, Joseph Gutiz, to seek help in funding by offering pre-orders of his humorous, anti-bullying, and pro sports children's book through the reward filled crowd-funding site, Kickstarter.

(Photo: http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20120524/LA13653)

Joseph Gutiz, Author/Independent publisher (http://www.josephgutizpublishing.com), also a California educator for the past twelve years, and a professional photographer for the past three years (http://www.josephgutizphotography.com), understands first hand what children deal with on a daily basis. Joseph Gutiz, who writes and publishes under this pseudo name, recently launched the book project entitled "The Adventures of Chubby Cheeks: The Pro Quest," which balances many issues children face nowadays, such as bullying, financial hardships, and common middle school dilemmas, all while they pursue their dream of becoming skateboarding pros without compromising good humor.

The book is set in the world-renowned Skateboarding city of Venice Beach, CA. Which has been a mecca for new trends like skateboarding, body building, street art to name a few. Joseph now wants to be the next Jeff Kinney in order to bring more awareness to the various common issues that plague our youth of today. He thinks that the book will do well by offering diverse characters in a well-plotted story line in order to capture the age group that he has written for (8-14).

Here are just a few of these assorted characters: a bullied chubby cheeked boy and his wimpy African-American sidekick set out on a Pro Quest to become pros at everything they do, along with a skateboarding bulldog, a blue jay, and a daring Caucasian skater girl. As they start their quest, they encounter thrills, mishaps and everyday inner-city childhood adventures along the way.

Although the book has been written and edited, it has never been submitted to any traditional agent or publisher for consideration. "In an era when an author must do nearly everything on his own, independent publishing makes sense," Said the new author who is independently publishing through JG Publishing.

However, the project needs support in the form of pledges in exchange for creative rewards, such as an ebook or printed copy, original illustrations, and the opportunity to become a part of the publishing process.

Upon the successful funding of the Kickstarter project, the book will be reviewed and officially launch by the end of the year both in print and as an ebook. In order to create the best possible book, the author has already assembled his own publishing team of people comprised of an illustrator, editors, and marketing consultants.

Contact Information:

Joseph Gutiz
Office: 951-208-0391
Cell: 951-552-0603

Email: josephgutiz@yahoo.com
Twitter: twitter.com/jgutizbooks
Blog: josephgutiz.blogspot.com
YouTube: www.youtube.com/josephGutiz

SOURCE JG Publishing

Harrison College to offer Leadership Certificate in September

Thu, 24 May 2012 19:47:00 +0000

Harrison College to offer Leadership Certificate in September

PR Newswire

College partners with Simon T. Bailey to develop curriculum

INDIANAPOLIS, May 24, 2012 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Harrison College (www.harrison.edu) announced today that the college will offer a program titled Leadership Certificate in Partnership with Simon T. Bailey, beginning with its Fall Quarter. Simon T. Bailey is a business thought leader and author of Release Your Brilliance, published by HarperCollins and ranked #17 of the Top 100 books being read by Corporate America according to 800CEORead.com. He is the founder of the Brilliance Institute and a former sales leader of the world- renowned Disney Institute.

(Logo: http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20110601/MM12302LOGO)

The idea to offer the Leadership Certificate in Partnership with Simon T. Bailey stems from feedback that Harrison College staff received from members of Advisory Boards that serve the college's 12 campuses in Indiana and Ohio. Those advisory boards, comprising men and women from businesses in communities served by the college, have repeatedly pointed to a need for leadership training for their managers and employees.

"Harrison College, which prides itself on providing a career-focused education, consistently solicits input from area businesses about our curriculum and new programs of study," said Dennis A. Trinkle, Harrison College's provost and chief academic officer. "We want to ensure that our students are receiving instruction that remains relevant in an ever-changing business environment. When we repeatedly hear from employers that their current and future employees lack basic leadership skills, it's imperative that we respond."

Harrison College's Leadership Certificate in Partnership with Simon T. Bailey will consist of a nine-course, 36 credit hour program and will be offered through the college's burgeoning Online division. Of the nine courses, the curriculums for four were developed entirely by Bailey:

Leadership, Management and Self-Understanding for the Global Leadership Challenge;
International Comparative Leadership & Management;
Leading Others: Individuals, Teams and Organizations;
Change Leadership and Leadership Communication.

Simon T. Bailey also collaborated with Harrison College in developing the curriculum for a fifth course – Leadership Capstone: Integrating Leadership. Instructional video featuring Simon T. Bailey will be integrated into the courses, and he will also participate in "Train the Trainer" sessions with Harrison College faculty.

"When it comes to teaching audiences about leadership and organizational brilliance, there's nobody better than Simon T. Bailey," Trinkle said. "Harrison College is extremely fortunate to have been able to forge this partnership. He will inject an unprecedented level of energy and enthusiasm into the Online classroom that will set this leadership training apart from similar training offered by other colleges and universities."

"It is a privilege to partner with Harrison College in offering relevant content that engages, enlightens, and empowers working professionals to lead brilliantly in times of change," Simon T. Bailey said.

The curriculum for Harrison College's Leadership Certificate in Partnership with Simon T. Bailey is geared toward entrepreneurs and professionals who already hold a Bachelor's Degree, and are employed by a company that values, encourages, and promotes employees with strong leadership skills. Because the courses are offered 100 percent online, the program is available to anyone nationally or internationally.

About Harrison College

Harrison College is a contemporary, career-focused institution of Higher Education serving more than 6,000 students throughout the United States and Internationally. Harrison College has 12 campuses in Indiana and Ohio, two culinary schools in Indiana and North Carolina, and also offers courses online at Harrison.edu. The institution grants Associates and Bachelor's degrees across five schools of study: Business, Health Sciences, Information Technology, Criminal Justice, and Veterinary Technology, as well as its culinary division, The Chef's Academy. Harrison College offers students a variety of learning environments including online, traditional classroom or a combination of both. Harrison College is accredited by the Accrediting Council of Independent Colleges and Schools (ACICS) and is dedicated to excellence in higher learning. In addition, the College is currently a Candidate with The Higher Learning Commission and an affiliate of the North Central Association (HLC-NCA). Harrison College was founded in 1902 as Indiana Business College and has a rich history of preparing students for success in their chosen profession.

About Simon T. Bailey

As the driving force behind the Brilliance Institute, founder and CEO Simon T. Bailey innovates and inspires organizational transformation among the world's largest corporations. A compelling business thought leader, Simon teaches audiences how to achieve the perfect balance of leadership and organizational success by connecting the dots between individual and organizational brilliance. He challenges and teaches businesses and organizations to clear obstacles to brilliance in their cultures, processes, and people, thereby achieving higher levels of engagement, retention, productivity and a brilliant bottom line.

Simon solidified his position as a recognized sales director in experiential learning for business professionals across the globe during his leadership tenure at the world-renowned Disney Institute based at the Walt Disney World Resort. In less than ten years, his tireless pursuit to remain a step ahead of the perpetual trends and innovations of the organizational space has led to Meetings and Conventions magazine's designation as "One of the best keynote speakers ever heard or used," putting him in the same category as Bill Gates, General Colin Powell and Tony Robbins.

Simon has impacted the lives of more than 1 million people with his counsel and coaching from the C-Suite to the front lines for clients including, Verizon, Microsoft, Wells Fargo, Met-Life, Omni Hotels & Resorts, IBM, and Procter and Gamble through his forward-thinking, practical interactive sessions and action-oriented programs.

A bestselling author of 7 books, Simon T. Bailey's breakout masterpiece, Release Your Brilliance, published by HarperCollins, was ranked number 17 of the Top 100 books being read by Corporate America, according to 800CEORead.com. Currently it is available in English, Spanish and Portuguese, and will soon be available in other languages. His highly anticipated new book, The Vuja' de' Moment! – Shift from Average to Brilliant, is a call to action that invites readers to shift their thinking, creating a disruption from the norm that ignites innovation, increasing accountability and profitability in life and business.

Simon holds a Master's Degree from Faith Christian University and was inducted as an honorary member of the University of Central Florida Golden Key International Honor Society. He is a graduate of Rollins College Executive Management Certificate Program, one of the top 25 best private graduate business schools in the USA. Simon is a Certified Speaking Professional, the highest earned designation from the National Speakers Association and International Federation of Professional Speakers.

For more information, visit Simon's website at www.simontbailey.com.

MEDIA CONTACTS

Harrison College
Mark Apple, Director of Public Relations
Mark.Apple@Harrison.edu
Office: (317) 447-6112 Mobile: (317) 605-0937

SOURCE Harrison College

Aberdeen Invests in Philadelphia's Future

Thu, 24 May 2012 19:45:01 +0000

Aberdeen Invests in Philadelphia's Future

PR Newswire

PHILADELPHIA, May 24, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- Aberdeen Asset Management Inc. ("Aberdeen"), the global asset management firm with U.S. headquarters in Philadelphia, has partnered with the Wharton School's Knowledge@Wharton to run an investment competition for Philadelphia high school students.

The investment competition ran for 10 weeks, from March 5 to May 11. On Friday, June 1, students from each participating class will be invited to Aberdeen's U.S. headquarters in Philadelphia to present their investment strategies to Aberdeen portfolio managers. The competition was open to both Philadelphia charter and public schools. Teams will be judged on their investment strategy plans, presentations and investment performance.

"Aberdeen believes that it is important to invest in Philadelphia high school students' financial literacy," says Gary Marshall, the Chief Executive Officer of Aberdeen. "The knowledge that students develop in the competition will not only be applicable to financial decisions, but also to other choices affecting their outlook on savings and investment, like choosing a college."

The investment competition promotes financial literacy through an extensive curriculum that encourages students to think strategically about investments. Students work in teams to design investment strategies and then implement those strategies using the Wharton School's on-line investment simulator.

"I have seen a lot of trading simulation games for high school students that do not promote sound financial decision making," says Scott Stimpfel, Director of Knowledge@Wharton High School's Education Initiatives. "Our competition is not about buying and selling stocks, but instead learning about the fundamentals of investment decision making."

"The investment competition really challenges our students to think critically about their decisions," says Aaron Greberman, IB Business Management teacher at Bodine High School for International Affairs. "Our students have responded to this challenge and have been very engaged in the competition."

Over the course of the competition, Aberdeen representatives met with participating classes, facilitated class activities and discussed their careers. Aberdeen hopes that the competition will enhance Philadelphia students' financial literacy and general career awareness.

"There are a lot of talented high school students in Philadelphia who might not be aware of careers in financial services," says Marshall, "We hope that this competition might inspire some students to think about careers in investment management."

On Friday, June 1, 2012 from 11:30 am – 1:00 pm, top teams from each of the participating schools will present their investment philosophies to the Aberdeen Investment Challenge Board at Aberdeen's Philadelphia headquarters. The top team will be selected by the Board upon the conclusion of all presentations. All invited students will also get the opportunity to speak with Aberdeen investment professionals, tour the office, and enjoy a lunch provided by Aberdeen.

About Aberdeen Asset Management Inc.

Aberdeen Asset Management PLC, the parent company of Aberdeen Asset Management Inc., is an independently‐run asset manager listed on the London Stock Exchange since 1991, and operating from 30 offices in 23 countries (the "Group"). The Group invests on behalf of institutional and wholesale clients, primarily in equities, fixed income, alternative investment strategies and property. The Group manages more than US$270.3 billion of assets for both institutions and private individuals as of December 31, 2011. "Aberdeen" is a U.S. registered service mark of Aberdeen Asset Management PLC.

About the Wharton School and Knowledge@Wharton

Knowledge@Wharton is the online business analysis journal of the Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania. The site, which is free, captures relevant knowledge generated at Wharton and beyond by offering articles and videos based on research, conferences, speakers, books and interviews with faculty and other experts on current business topics. The Knowledge@Wharton network – including Chinese, Spanish, Portuguese, Indian, Arabic and High School editions – has more than two million subscribers worldwide.

SOURCE Aberdeen Asset Management Inc.

Gut Symptoms in the Global Spotlight for "World Digestive Health Day" on May 29

Thu, 24 May 2012 19:34:03 +0000

Gut Symptoms in the Global Spotlight for "World Digestive Health Day" on May 29

PR Newswire

New Resource Center from the American College of Gastroenterology Addresses Common Digestive Troubles

BETHESDA, Md., May 24, 2012 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- The American College of Gastroenterology has created a special online resource center that features the College's wealth of scientifically-based education material and information, the latest related research from The American Journal of Gastroenterology and expert insight to help patients understand common gastrointestinal (GI) symptoms and how these symptoms should be appropriately treated and managed.

GI symptoms such as heartburn, indigestion/dyspepsia, bloating and constipation are among the most common but also among the most misinterpreted and their impact and significance misunderstood both by health care providers and patients, according the World Gastroenterology Organisation which has called on the international community of patient groups and gastroenterologists to observe World Digestive Health Day on May 29th through educational outreach on this year's health focus, "From Heartburn to Constipation - Common GI Symptoms in the Community: Impact and Interpretation."

In support of this global awareness effort, the ACG has identified a number of resources for those seeking evidenced-based information, treatment guidelines, as well as ACG expert answers to the most frequently asked questions and concerns about a range of common GI symptoms such as heartburn, diarrhea, abdominal pain, constipation, diarrhea, gas and bloating.

Access the ACG Common GI Symptoms Resource Center

"Many of these symptoms are experienced as the result of food intolerances or lifestyle factors, like inactivity, obesity, or smoking, but they can also be present in more than one GI condition such as Irritable Bowel Syndrome and in more serious GI diseases such as Crohn's disease, ulcerative colitis and even later-stage colorectal cancer," explained ACG President Lawrence Schiller, M.D., FACG. "So it is vital that patients take them seriously and see their doctor to get an accurate diagnosis, rule out any serious condition, and get the proper treatment, especially if they are experiencing these symptoms regularly or if these symptoms are disrupting their overall well-being or daily life. "

ACG is committed to quality in patient care and the creation of this new online resource not only increases awareness about common GI symptoms but helps fulfills an important educational mission of the World Gasteroenterology Organisation, according to Dr. Schiller.

Latest Statistics for Some Common GI Conditions

In the United States:

Chronic constipation affects 63 million people
Hemorrhoids affect 75 percent of people older than 45
GERD/Heartburn: 20 percent of the population experiences reflux symptoms at least weekly
Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS) affects 15.3 million people
Peptic Ulcer Disease affects 1.4 million people

Source: National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases (NIDDK)

Physician Experts Available for Interviews
ACG physician experts are available to provide insight on a variety of common GI symptoms as well as the latest research, and treatment guidelines. They are also able to address issues related to common GI symptoms such as:

Recent scientific developments concerning food choice as a key management strategy for functional GI symptoms.
The role of gut bacteria in gastrointestinal and non-gastrointestinal health
Summer picnics, cook-outs and food-borne Illness: Tips for safe outdoor eating
Non-gluten sensitivity: Trendy gimmick or Real deal

Please visit the ACG's Common GI Symptoms Resource Center for education information and expert resources, including audio podcasts and clinical guidelines.

About the American College of Gastroenterology
Founded in 1932, the American College of Gastroenterology is an organization with an international membership of more than 12,000 individuals from 80 countries. The College is committed to serving the clinically oriented digestive disease specialist though its emphasis on scholarly practice, teaching and research. The mission of the College is to serve the evolving needs of physicians in the delivery of high quality, scientifically sound, humanistic, ethical, and cost-effective health care to gastroenterology patients. www.gi.org Follow ACG on Twitter

SOURCE American College of Gastroenterology

"The Ronald Reagan Great Communicator Debate Series" Announced for High School Students Nationwide

Thu, 24 May 2012 19:13:00 +0000

The Ronald Reagan Presidential Foundation's Walter and Leonore Annenberg Presidential Learning Center is proud to announce The Ronald Reagan Great Communicator Debate Series, which will award $35,000 in scholarship funds to outstanding high school debate students across the nation. The Ronald Reagan Great Communicator Debate Series is designed to provide an avenue for high school students across the country to develop their civic knowledge, skills, and dispositions as they research, discuss, and engage in public debate. Rather than follow the traditional school year, this program is designed to align with and leverage the energy of Election 2012.

The competition will consist of three distinct rounds. First, local debates will take place on high school campuses nationwide between June and September of 2012. School champions will advance to regional championships held in September and October of 2012. Regional championships will be held at university campuses including: University of Southern California, University of Notre Dame, University of Georgia, University of Texas, Boston College, and George Mason University. Regional champions will then be flown to the National Championship at the Ronald Reagan Presidential Library on October 27, 2012 and compete for $35,000 in scholarship awards.

"President Reagan was known as the 'Great Communicator' and as a great debater," said John Heubusch, executive director of the Ronald Reagan Presidential Foundation. "It is our mission at the Reagan Foundation to help teach and promote these skills to students -- our nation's future leaders."

For the debate series, the Walter and Leonore Annenberg Presidential Learning Center has partnered with the USC Trojan Debate Squad, the National Forensic League, and the National Association for Urban Debate Leagues.

"President Ronald Reagan's legacy reminds us that outstanding leadership requires effective communication," said J. Scott Wunn, executive director of the National Forensic League. "The Great Communicator Debate Series will allow our future leaders from all over the United States to showcase their abilities in formulating thoughts and opinions in a meaningful and constructive way. No single activity enhances critical thinking, argumentation, research, and communication skills more than debate."

The Ronald Reagan Great Communicator Debate Series is designed to align with the final debates of the 2012 presidential election, promote civic engagement, highlight the legacy of President Reagan as both "The Great Communicator" and a legendary presidential debater, and provide a showcase for many of the nation's most promising high school communicators. The program is sponsored by The Chapman Hanson Foundation and The S. Robert and Denise Zeilstra Foundation.

For complete information on the series, links to resources, and to register your school for the series, visit www.reaganfoundation.org/debates.aspx.

The Ronald Reagan Presidential Foundation is a non-profit, non-partisan organization whose mission is to promote the legacy of Ronald Reagan by convening, educating and engaging people around the world in his core principles of freedom, economic opportunity, global democracy and national pride. The Reagan Foundation sustains the Ronald Reagan Presidential Library and Museum, the Reagan Center for Public Affairs, the Walter and Leonore Annenberg Presidential Learning Center and The Air Force One Pavilion. Located in Simi Valley, California the Library houses 63 million pages of Gubernatorial, Presidential and personal papers and over 60,000 gifts and artifacts chronicling the lives of Ronald and Nancy Reagan. It now also serves as the final resting place of America's 40th President. www.reaganfoundation.org

MEDIA CONTACT:
Melissa Giller
Email Contact

The Fray's Isaac Slade Stops by Local Elementary School to Deliver Donation of $40,000 Worth of Instruments for Music Program

Thu, 24 May 2012 19:05:00 +0000

The Mr. Holland's Opus Foundation Program Supports Music Education

What:
A donation of $40,000 worth of musical instruments to Pennington Elementary School from the Mr. Holland's Opus Foundation and Colorado Public Radio, thanks to support from The Anschutz Foundation. There will be a presentation at the school, with the students there to receive and play the instruments for the first time.

Who:
Isaac Slade, The Fray; Steve Blatt, Colorado Public Radio; Lisa Rucker, The Anschutz Foundation; Tricia Steel, The Mr. Holland's Opus Foundation; Superintendent Cindy Stevenson, Jeffco Public Schools.

When:
Tuesday, May 29, 9:00-10:00 a.m.

Where:
Pennington Elementary, 4617 Independence St., Wheat Ridge, CO 80033

Media:
Media are invited to cover the event, and speak with representatives from the organizations involved, as well as people from Pennington Elementary.

MHOF:
The Mr. Holland's Opus Foundation donates new and refurbished musical instruments to underserved schools nationwide, in an effort to give youngsters the many benefits of music education, help them to be better students and inspire creativity and expression through playing music. Since 1996, 15,000 instruments have been donated to 1,260 music programs across the country benefiting thousands of students. More information can be found at www.mhopus.org.

CPR:
Colorado Public Radio is a community-driven institution committed to promoting excellence in music education throughout Colorado. With the support of The Mr. Holland's Opus Foundation, Colorado Public Radio has held three annual instrument drives, collecting more than 1,500 instruments from listeners, repairing them and awarding them to deserving schools and music programs throughout the state.

Contact:
Steve Honig
The Honig Company
818-986-4300
Email Contact