More than 2,500 gather at Cowboys Stadium to hear a distinguished lineup of speakers introduce one of the largest service-learning initiatives in U.S. history

Septmeber 21, 2009

At an announcement ceremony held today at Cowboys Stadium and attended by more than 600 elementary school children and nearly 2,000 business and civic leaders, the North Texas Super Bowl XLV Host Committee and Big Thought revealed plans for one of the most comprehensive youth-education programs in Super Bowl history and one of the largest community-wide service-learning initiatives in U.S. annals. 

“Service Learning Adventures in North Texas” (also known as “SLANT 45”) was introduced with fanfare that included a speech by the program’s Honorary Co-Chairs President George W. Bush and Mrs. Laura Bush, appearances by Dallas Cowboys legends and a performance by multi-platinum pop sensation and SLANT 45 supporter Jordin Sparks.

SLANT 45’s goals include working with more than 20,000 North Texas students (Grades 3-5) to log a minimum combined 45,000 service-learning hours. The program was conceived and will be implemented by North Texas-based Big Thought (www.bigthought.org), one of the nation’s leading nonprofit organizations focused on improving public education through creative learning.

The program — which launches early 2010 and runs through Super Bowl XLV (to be held in Cowboys Stadium on Feb. 6, 2011) – is funded by Bank of America and local philanthropists, Ted and Shannon Skokos. Additional support for today’s announcement ceremony was provided by Sparks Charities, CorporateMagic, American Airlines, Chick-fil-A on North Collins Street in Arlington, the Pepsi Bottling Group, Radio Disney, Rosewood Hotels & Resorts, Wynne Sedan & Limousine Group and Go Vision.

"Bank of America is very proud of our partnership with SLANT 45,” said Richard Holt, Bank of America Dallas Market President. “It is our responsibility to prepare the next generation for the future. As active, contributing members to the community, this initiative parallels our mutual goals and passion – giving back to the community through service — by instilling a sense of pride early among the children which will surely enrich their lives."

Said Gigi Antoni, Big Thought President & CEO: “Service-Learning is a way to teach kids how to take what they learn in school and turn it into action in the world. But it has an end, and the end is to make a positive contribution to your community. A lot of what we learn in school is academic. In the workplace, you have to put that into action. SLANT 45 will provide a chance to build community, connect kids to their community, empower them to understand that they can make a difference and change things. I cannot wait to see what 20,000 children, who decide they want to make a difference in their community can accomplish.”

The “45” in SLANT 45 is a nod to Super Bowl XLV. “Slant 45” was an integral part of the Dallas Cowboys’ playbook during the team’s drive to three Super Bowl titles during the 1990s. The play required fullback Daryl Johnston to plow into the line and open a hole for running back Emmitt Smith. Smith would trail Johnston, then slant at a 45 degree angle once he spotted daylight.

Johnston, who sits on the North Texas Super Bowl XLV Host Committee’s Board of Directors and is an NFL analyst for FOX, serves as Chair of the SLANT 45 Action Team, which will consult on the project.

“After my first meeting with Gigi and the team from Big Thought, they had me,” said Johnston. “As a Host Committee, we want to help the NFL put on a great game and show off our region. But we also want to leave a legacy. That’s what this program is all about. The projects developed by the kids involved with SLANT 45 will be amazing, no doubt, but the lasting effect this effort will have on young minds — that’s what’s really exciting. These children will be our leaders in 20 years. This program will teach them to work together, help their neighbor and dream big. It doesn’t get any better than that.”

To learn more about SLANT 45, including how to become involved, go to www.slant45.org.

For more information: Tony Fay – North Texas Super Bowl XLV Host Committee
(w) 214-252-5110
tfay@northtexassuperbowl.com

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ABOUT BIG THOUGHT

Founded in 1987, Dallas-based Big Thought is one of the nation’s leading nonprofit organizations focused on improving public education through creative learning. Driven by its mission — to make imagination a part of everyday learning — Big Thought develops groundbreaking programs to address problem-solving, life skills and workforce development, providing children with pathways to success.  Through its strategic systems building and innovative partnerships, Big Thought now serves more than 300,000 Dallas children, families and teachers each year, both in and out of the classroom.  Annually, Big Thought also delivers more than one million hours of programming and individual creative instruction. A model to cities across America, Big Thought has achieved national recognition, including the Americans for the Arts “2009 Arts in Education Award” and the President’s Committee on the Arts and the Humanities “Coming Up Taller Award” in 2004. Learn more at bigthought.org.

 

ABOUT BANK OF AMERICA

Bank of America is one of the world's largest financial institutions, serving individual consumers, small- and middle-market businesses and large corporations with a full range of banking, investing, asset management and other financial and risk management products and services. The company provides unmatched convenience in the United States, serving approximately 53 million consumer and small business relationships with more than 6,100 retail banking offices, nearly 18,500 ATMs and award-winning online banking with 29 million active users. Bank of America is among the world's leading wealth management companies and is a global leader in corporate and investment banking and trading across a broad range of asset classes serving corporations, governments, institutions and individuals around the world. Bank of America offers industry-leading support to more than 4 million small business owners through a suite of innovative, easy-to-use online products and services. The company serves clients in more than 150 countries. Bank of America Corporation stock (NYSE: BAC) is a component of the Dow Jones Industrial Average and is listed on the New York Stock Exchange.

 

ABOUT SPARKS CHARITIES

Sparks Charities is a donor advised fund that raises money for several different causes close to Jordin Sparks and the Sparks family's heart.  In the last year it has drilled wells in Myanmar Province, stocked a local food bank in Phoenix, given money to a local theater and afterschool program run by Alice Cooper, and raised funds to ship donated ambulances to Uganda.

 

ABOUT CORPORATEMAGIC

CorporateMagic is the official production company of the North Texas Super Bowl XLV Host Committee.