Oct 14, 2003
SAN FRANCISCO, October 14, 2003 - Nearly a year after a famous touchdown
celebration, Sharpie®, the popular brand of permanent markers, is
teaming up with Terrell Owens to make a permanent mark on education.
Now, the national program that combines the popular markers with NFL
players, kids and a fleet of silver all-terrain vehicles is scoring a
touchdown in San Francisco, as the "Sharpie Metallic AUTOgraphs for
Education" program visits a middle school in the Bay Area.
Today at the San Francisco 49ers Academy, wide receiver Terrell Owens is
bringing his bold personality and the "AUTOgraphs for Education" program
to East Palo Alto youth. The program, which kicked off earlier this
summer with Owens' help in Atlanta, enlists the support of sports
figures to deliver school supplies and raise funds for schools and
community education groups across the country.
During a special school assembly, Owens will arrive in a custom-designed
Sharpie Metallic Silver Hummer H2 vehicle, donate school supplies and
collect student's signatures on an oversized 8-by-10 foot AUTOgraph
wall. Sharpie will give funds to the 49ers Academy in exchange for the
autographs collected in East Palo Alto, with a cash donation of $3,000
and a matching contribution in school and art supplies. The national
program will wrap up later this fall, for a total donation of $30,000 in
cash and school supplies.
"I have really enjoy working with Sharpie to make a difference for kids
with the Sharpie Metallic AUTOgraphs for Education program," said Owens.
"I am so glad to have been able to make a difference and now bring the
program full circle to impact kids in the Bay Area."
"The 49ers Academy is excited to participate in this great program. Our
school experiences funding challenges and our students are thrilled to
have one of their local heroes visiting their school," said 49ers
Academy Principal Phil Duncan. "Sharpie is really helping to bring
education to the forefront by generously giving money and school
supplies, and athletes like Terrell really motivate kids and keep them
excited about learning and being involved at school."
The Sharpie Metallic AUTOgraphs for Education event at 49ers Academy is
the fifth local-market event this summer and fall taking place among six
schools and community centers across the United States. The first event
kicked off in Atlanta earlier this summer, followed by events in
Chicago, St. Louis and Denver. After East Palo Alto, the final Sharpie
AUTOgraph blitz will take place in Pittsburgh. In each city, local
professional sports figures will seek autographs from students and their
teachers, to benefit the individual schools and community education
programs.
"Sharpie is especially thrilled to team up with Terrell Owens on the
anniversary of his famous touchdown celebration, to support the 49ers
Academy for this worthwhile education program," said Greg Stoner, vice
president and general manager for Sharpie. "Teaming up with an athlete
of Owens' caliber has been wonderful for us because it helps get kids
excited about learning, while making an impact on local communities."
In addition to helping children's education efforts, Sharpie Metallic is
also featuring the all-terrain vehicles as part of the "Sharpie H24U
Hummer H2 Giveaway Sweepstakes," in which individuals can enter online
or via mail to win a silver Hummer H2 of their own. Four Sharpie
Metallic Silver H2s are traveling the country this past summer and fall,
visiting local fairs and festivals in more than 150 cities nationwide,
offering the public a chance to enter the sweepstakes and interactive
displays from Sharpie. For official rules or to enter the sweepstakes,
visit
http://www.sanfordcorp.com/sanford/consumer/h2promo/jhtml/entry_options.jhtml.
Sharpie Metallic is the latest breakthrough product and first metallic
marker from Sharpie, the nearly 40-year-old permanent marker brand.
Perfect for marking on dark surfaces, Sharpie Metallic offers a silver
metallic ink and the permanence and dependability of the world's most
popular family of permanent markers.
About The San Francisco 49ers Academy
The 49ers Academy is a unique partnership - a public alternative school,
supported by a private non-profit agency. Ravenswood Communities in
Schools (CIS) was incorporated in 1996 and is designed to support the
San Francisco 49ers Academy. As a separately incorporated affiliate of
the National Communities In Schools, Inc., Ravenswood CIS utilizes a
collaborative approach to deliver a variety of services to the 49ers
Academy, students and families.