Westport, Connecticut ─ Today, during the America East Conference Basketball Championship, Newman's Own Foundation unveiled the top grant recipients of its second-annual Campus Community Service Challenge.  The Giving Circle, in partnership with University at Albany's Third World Impact, received the top grant of $25,000.  Boys & Girls Clubs of Binghamton, working with Binghamton University's Boys & Girls Club Mentors, received $15,000.  Two student group/non-profit partnerships tied for the third-place grant.  Both Community Servings, Inc. who partnered with Boston University's Student Food Rescue, and Girl Scouts of the Green and White Mountains with University of New Hampshire's Eta Alpha Chapter of Alpha Phi received a $10,000 grant from Newman's Own Foundation.  In total, over $100,000 was awarded to nonprofits throughout the tournament.

The Newman's Own Foundation Campus Community Service Challenge was developed to encourage the practice of philanthropy among younger generations, specifically on college campuses.  Each of the America East's nine member universities nominated a student group, which was partnered with a local nonprofit, for a Newman's Own Foundation grant.

"The Newman's Own Foundation Campus Community Service Challenge underscores the commitment and enthusiasm of so many young people to make ours a better world," said Robert Forrester, president of Newman's Own Foundation.  "The spirit of philanthropy and volunteerism is indeed thriving at these institutions.  Newman's Own Foundation is proud to support the work of this year's Challenge grantees that are making a difference on campus and in the community, inspiring more students to give back."

Grant recommendations were based on the student groups' involvement with their chosen nonprofit, and the impact of the partnership on those served by the nonprofit as well as on the students themselves.

The applications of the nine student group/non-profit partnerships were reviewed and grants recommended by the NOF Challenge's Selection Panel.  Leaders in philanthropy and social activism, the judges were:

• 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

For the second year in a row after reviewing the proposals, Newman's Own Foundation was so impressed by the quality of each of them that it decided to increase all Honorable Mention grants fifty percent, from $5,000 to $7,500.  Receiving these grants were:

• University of Hartford's Habitat for Humanity partnering with University of Hartford's Alternate Spring Break.

• University of Maine's Bodwell Center for Service and Volunteerism partnering with University of Maine's Welcome Weekend Day of Service.

• University of Maryland, Baltimore County's Baseball and Softball teams partnering with League of Dreams.

• Stony Brook University's Alpha Epsilon Delta Health and Pre-Professional Honor Society partnering with Make-A-Wish Foundation of Suffolk County.

• University of Vermont's Alternative Spring Break, partnering with University of Vermont.

"The students of the America East Conference exceeded our expectations during this year's Newman's Own Foundation Campus Community Service Challenge," said America East Commissioner Patrick Nero.  "The work they do in their communities is a testament to the quality of our nine member institutions and their student bodies. Newman's Own Foundation does a terrific job of promoting community service and volunteerism. We are proud to partner with them on this initiative."

The Challenge also featured "charity stripe shootouts" throughout the tournament.  University students, selected from the crowd, played to win $1,000 for a local charity of choice.  In total, $7,000 was awarded to nonprofits recommended by these students. Cheering them on at each game were young people from Hartford-area nonprofits, attending with ticket blocks made available to the America East through a grant from Newman's Own Foundation.

To learn more about the NOF Challenge and the nine student group/non-profit partnerships, please visit http://newmansownfoundation.org/Challenge/.

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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.