Jan 30, 2006
Football Legend Steve Young Kicks Off 2006 Sharpie "Autographs for
Education" Touches Down in Detroit with Signature Moves Clinic and
$30,000 for Detroit Schools.
Oak Brook IL - From the Lambeau Leap to the Ickey Shuffle, a signature
move can transform a regular touchdown into a legendary performance.
As football's biggest game gets underway in Detroit, grid iron legend
Steve Young, along with New England Patriot's linebacker Willie McGinest
and Tampa Bay linebacker Derrick Brooks are teaming up with
Sharpie® permanent markers to put their signature moves - and their
autographs - to good use and help raise $1 million for education.
Sharpie kicks off the second annual "Autographs for Education" program
Monday, January 30, in Detroit (11 a.m., Detroit Youth
Foundation's YouthVille Detroit, 7375 Woodward Ave). The year-long
nationwide drive aims to collect one million autographs in exchange for
$1 million in Sharpie school funds and supplies.
In Detroit, local elementary school students will participate in a
"signature moves" clinic while Young will be the first signature of the
2006 autograph collection. The participating schools will receive this
year's first Sharpie Autographs for Education donation.
Professional football team mascots will also be on hand to pump up the
crowd. Roary (Detroit), Staley Da Bear (Chicago), Pat Patriot (New
England), and T.D. (Miami) will lead more than 200 students in cheering
on their classmates as they compete to win "best signature move."
Sharpie Signature Moves Clinic
While Young facilitates, McGinest and Brooks will coach teams comprised
of professional football teams' mascots and eight "star" students from
Spain Elementary, Golightly Educational Center, George Crocket
Academy, and the Detroit Academy of Arts and Sciences. The participants
will showcase their skills in the obstacle course that culminates with a
demonstration of a newly created signature celebration move. The crowd,
via the Shout-O-Meter, will cast the deciding vote as to best signature
move. All 200 bleacher-bound students will then be unleashed to sign the
virtual autograph wall.
"When students have the right tools and resources they feel empowered to
learn," Young said. "My two sons are just starting school, and I know
how important it is to have the right supplies. Many schools and
parents struggle to provide the essentials their children need at
school, so I'm asking for everyone's help. I'd love to get a great head
start today toward scoring another million Autographs for Education this
year."
Autographs in Action
The Autographs for Education program aims to benefit 150 schools across
the country, awarding each with $5,000 in school supplies in 2006 via
Sharpie's autograph collection contest. Additionally, ten students 13
years of age and older will be awarded $10,000 scholarships. Details
are available at sharpie.com.
Throughout 2006, Sharpie's Autographs for Education tour will cross the
country in a fleet of Sharpie-branded all-terrain vehicles visiting
schools, local festivals and special events. The vehicles feature
interactive games, product sampling opportunities, and official entry
forms for the signature collection effort. Complete sweepstakes rules
and entry methods can be found at retailers nationwide and at
sharpie.com.
"Through our combined efforts, we can give back to teachers, parents and
students who consistently show loyal support for Sharpie," said Rory
Leyden, president of Sharpie. "The Autographs for Education program is
an incredible opportunity for us to reach out to millions of students
and schools across the nation. Each signature we collect represents one
more child whose educational experience we may improve."
Sharpie's commitment to education also includes online resources for
teachers and students, including opportunities to win school supplies,
scholarships details, lesson plans and Sharpie's virtual autograph wall.
Autographs Make Their Mark
Fishweir Elementary participated in last year's Sharpie Autographs for
Education kick-off in Jacksonville.
"This program was a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for my students,"
said Fishweir Elementary School principal Andrea Akers. "Students and
teachers were thrilled with Sharpie's generous donation. The funds and
supplies went a long way with our teachers and our classrooms, not to
mention equipment the school wouldn't otherwise have been able to
afford."
The autograph campaign swept the nation, aiding entire school districts
as well as individual students.
"Receiving a scholarship from Sharpie came at a perfect time for me,"
said Judith Middlebrooks, an Environmental Engineering major at Mercer
University and recipient of Sharpie's 2005 Autographs for Education
scholarship sweepstakes. "The scholarship enabled me to pay for my last
year of school so I could graduate on time. This was such a wonderful
gift, and I can't thank Sharpie enough for providing this opportunity."
Sharpie's Autographs for Education program launched in 2003 after a
Sharpie marker was featured in a high-profile and somewhat controversial
touchdown celebration in 2002. Since then, the program has been
bringing motivation, funds and school supplies to students, teachers and
parents nationwide.
Since its inception, Sharpie Autographs for Education personalities have
included professional athletes and celebrities, NFL Hall of Famers Howie
Long and Dan Dierdorf, Baltimore's Brian Roberts, PGA TOUR standout Chad
Campbell, Grammy-winning country star Jo Dee Messina, Philadelphia's
Terrell Owens, Pittsburgh's Hines Ward, Green Bay's Donald Driver,
Denver's Rod Smith, Detroit's Jason Hanson, Kansas City's Tony Gonzalez,
Seattle's Grant Wistrom, Chicago's Ron Rivera, and Minnesota's Brad
Johnson, among others.
About Sanford®, Makers of Sharpie®
For more than 40 years, Sharpie is the popular brand of permanent
markers long-associated with the autograph experience. Sanford, maker
of Sharpie, is a division of Newell Rubbermaid Inc. (NYSE: NWL), a
worldwide leader in the manufacturing and marketing of writing
instruments, art products and office organization, including such well
known brands as Paper Mate®, Sharpie®, Parker®, Waterman®, EXPO®,
Foohy®, uni-ball®, and Rolodex®, among others. Sanford makes more than
6,000 products, ranging from markers, pens and pencils to professional
art products, fine writing instruments and office organization products.
Visit sharpie.com or sanfordcorp.com for more information.
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