YOUR ORGANIZATION LOGO
(optional)

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

CONTACT:
NAME
PHONE (include cell number)
EMAIL (optional)

SIGN UP TODAY AT SLANT45.ORG TO BECOME A CHAMPION OF COMMUNITY SERVICE

North Texas Super Bowl XLV Host Committee aims to recruit 20,000 kids to
generate 45,000 hours of service for their communities

CITY (Month abbreviated except March through June, plus date and year) – The (name of your organization) is encouraging elementary-age children to get involved in SLANT 45, the youth education program of the North Texas Super Bowl XLV Host Committee, to help make their communities a better place to live.

SLANT 45 — Service Learning Adventures in North Texas – is a free community service program developed for elementary-age children. Designed and managed by creative-learning nonprofit Big Thought in partnership with the Host Committee, SLANT 45 aims to become one of the biggest community wide service-learning programs for children in America.

The goal of SLANT 45 is to recruit 20,000 kids from more than 100 North Texas cities to generate 45,000 hours of community service.

(INSERT OPTIONAL QUOTE FROM MAYOR OR LOCAL LEADER ENCOURAGING KIDS AND ADULTS TO GET INVOLVED IN SLANT 45) Here’s an example — please modify to your liking!

“I encourage our kids to get involved in SLANT 45,” said Local Mayor ABC XYZ. “It’s going to be a fun, terrific learning experience that will teach valuable lessons … and, best of all, it will improve our community. Our kids will never forget this Super Bowl experience.”

Here’s how it works. Adult coaches, equipped with specially designed Playbooks packed with tips and curriculum, will help form teams of kids numbering two or more. The teams will identify and research issues in their local community from their own perspective, then develop a project, which can run over a weekend or span several months. Once a team is registered, local volunteers with The Association of Junior Leagues International or The Links, Inc. will assist the coaches and teams throughout the process.

Projects are limited only by a child’s imagination — from blanket drives and community gardens, to murals painted over graffiti to a neighborhood walking program.

A key component of the learning experience is developing a reflective collage, which must be submitted by October 30, 2010, to be considered for a special touring art exhibition. Teammates meeting all guidelines will receive an official SLANT 45 T-shirt and have an opportunity to be part of a celebration event at Cowboys Stadium in January 2011 (free tickets available on a first-come, first-served basis).

“Here’s a great chance for us to recognize that the heroes of Super Bowl XLV aren’t just on the football field,” said former Dallas Cowboy Daryl Johnston, who serves as the SLANT 45 chairman. “They’re our SLANT 45 participants, our littlest heroes, right here in North Texas, working to do good for others.”

President George W. Bush and Mrs. Laura Bush are honorary chairs of SLANT 45, and Bank of America and the Ted & Shannon Skokos Foundation are the founding sponsors.

To learn more and register, visit slant45.org. Informational flyers are available at (libraries, rec centers, youth organizations, faith-based centers, etc.) or call ___________________ for more information.