Newman's Own Foundation Unveils Campus Community Service Challenge Finalists

Newman's Own Foundation Unveils Campus Community Service Challenge Finalists

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9 Nonprofits Participate for $25,000 Top Grant in Innovative Student-Engagement Initiative; Grants to be Presented During America East Conference Basketball Championship

Westport, Connecticut — Newman’s Own Foundation today announced the nine nonprofit finalists to participate in the second annual Newman’s Own Foundation Campus Community Service Challenge.  The selected nonprofits, nominated by and paired with a student group from each of the America East’s nine member universities, are eligible to receive the Challenge’s top grant of $25,000. In total, $80,000 will be awarded to nominated nonprofits.

“A priority of the Foundation is to encourage the practice of philanthropy among younger generations,” said Bob Forrester, president of Newman’s Own Foundation. “The Newman’s Own Foundation Challenge underscores the commitment and enthusiasm of so many young people to make ours a better world. The caliber of the student group and nonprofit partnerships we have recieved this year is quite extraordinary.”

One student group has been selected as a finalist by each member university for its work with a nonprofit partner. The top grants will be awarded based on:

·     The level of the student group’s involvement with its nonprofit partner, and the impact of the partnership on those served by the nonprofit, as well as on the students themselves.

·     The actual mission and programs of the nonprofit, the populations and purposes it serves, and the impact the Foundation’s grant will have on it.

The top grant will be $25,000. The next two grants will be for $15,000 and $10,000 respectively. Six nonprofits will each receive a $5,000 grant from Newman’s Own Foundation.  The Challenge’s grant finalists are:

·     University at Albany’s Third World Impact, partnering with The Giving Circle, to build a school for 500 students in Uganda, as well as sending Albany students to Uganda to teach.

·     Binghamton University’s Boys & Girls Club Mentors, partnering with Boys & Girls Clubs of Binghamton, to improve the lives of underprivileged youth through programming that targets personal development, academics, and service to others.

·     Boston University’s Student Food Rescue, partnering with Community Servings, Inc., to regularly provide meals to homebound and sick children and families, and advocate for hunger relief.

·     University of Hartford’s Habitat for Humanity, partnering with University of Hartford’s Alternate Spring Break, to help build houses in Valdosta, GA.

·     University of Maine’s Bodwell Center for Service and Volunteerism, partnering with University of Maine’s Welcome Weekend Day of Service, to connect approximately 800 volunteers with 40 local, nonprofit organizations.

·     University of Maryland, Baltimore County’s Baseball and Softball teams, partnering with League of Dreams, to lead baseball and softball clinics for physically and mentally-challenged children.

·     University of New Hampshire’s Eta Alpha Chapter of Alpha Phi, partnering with Girl Scouts of the Green and White Mountains, to educate girls about healthy relationships, domestic-violence prevention, and self defense.

·     Stony Brook University’s Alpha Epsilon Delta Health and Pre-Professional Honor Society, partnering with Make-A-Wish Foundation of Suffolk County, to grant wishes for children with life-threatening medical conditions.

·     University of Vermont’s Alternative Spring Break, partnering with University of Vermont, to provide funds for a greater number of students to travel and volunteer with nonprofit organizations around the country.

The nine student/nonprofit partnerships will be reviewed and voted on by the Newman’s Own Foundation Campus Community Service Challenge’s Selection Panel.  Leaders in philanthropy and social activism, the judges are:

·     Jonathan Fanton, president emeritus of New School for Social Research and the John D. and Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation, and current Franklin D. Roosevelt fellow at Hunter College

·     Ben Goldhirsh, CEO and co-founder of GOOD Magazine

·     Rebecca Lobo, basketball analyst for ESPN and former player in the Women’s National Basketball Association

·     Dikembe Mutombo, NBA legend and well-known philanthropist who currently serves as a global ambassador for the NBA 

The winners will be presented throughout the America East Men’s and Women’s Basketball Championships held at the University of Hartford from March 3-6, 2011.

To learn more, please visit www.NewmansOwnFoundation.org/Challenge

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About Newman’s Own Foundation (www.newmansownfoundation.org)
Paul Newman was committed to helping make the world a better place. To carry on his philanthropic legacy, Newman’s Own Foundation donates to charity all net royalties and profits after taxes it receives from the sale of Newman’s Own products. To date, Paul Newman and Newman’s Own Foundation have given over $300 million to thousands of charities around the world.

About America East (www.americaeast.com)
Since its beginning as a men’s basketball conference in 1979, America East has evolved into one of the most comprehensive NCAA Division I conferences with 20 championship sports serving more than 3,000 student-athletes. Supporting the missions of its nine member institutions – Albany, Binghamton, Boston University, Hartford, Maine, UMBC, New Hampshire, Stony Brook and Vermont – America East is committed to developing champions in academics, athletics and leadership.