Communities In Schools Announces Partnership with Procter & Gamble's Live, Learn and Thrive Initiative

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Jan 14, 2010, 02:10 ET

Communities In Schools launches national partnership and receives first-ever grant from world's largest consumer packaged goods company

ARLINGTON, Va., Jan. 14 /PRNewswire/ -- Communities In Schools, the nation's largest organization dedicated to keeping students in school and empowering them to succeed in life, is partnering with P&G to launch a cause-related marketing campaign through the company's "Live, Learn and Thrive" global cause . The partnership involves a grant award over two years and a robust cause-related marketing campaign designed to drive awareness of the nation's dropout and student achievement epidemic.

The campaign, which will launch in January 2010, will highlight selected P&G brands at Costco Wholesale, a major international retailer. With a mix of cross-channel promotions including advertisements and editorial placements, consumers will be encouraged to become involved with Communities In Schools and buy P&G products that support the organization. Ultimately, with the help of P&G, Communities In Schools' goal is to serve 300,000 additional students over the next two years, by recruiting significantly more volunteer staff. Communities In Schools relies heavily on volunteers, as its workforce is 95 percent unpaid.

"We are thrilled to be among the very few organizations in North America to receive a Live, Learn and Thrive grant from P&G," said Daniel J. Cardinali, president, Communities In Schools. "There is no more pressing issue than the education of our young people. All other concerns – including economics, health and safety – are impacted by education. It's wonderful to have partners like P&G and Costco Wholesale that are as committed to this issue as we are." "Live, Learn and Thrive" is the focus of P&G's social investment strategy. The company aims to improve life for disadvantaged children and youth by helping them get off to a healthy start, receive access to education, and build skills for life. This prestigious grant is awarded to only three nonprofit organizations in North America annually. Grant recipients are required to have a plan in place to measure and annually report on their activities that improve children's lives.

"We are honored to partner with Communities In Schools and Costco on this important effort," said Brian Sasson, Global Manager for P&G's Social Investments. "Ensuring children and youth have access to education is a fundamental component of our Live, Learn and Thrive cause. Finding solutions to help keep students in school and learning drives not only their success, but that of our nation as well."

Since 1977, Communities In Schools has been working in partnership with public schools, integrating the services that students need to stay in school and achieve high academic outcomes. Services such as tutoring, mentoring, after-school programs, career development, financial literacy, community service and life skills development are coordinated through a single point of contact at the school. Resources are then tailored to the school and the student, and also linked to academic outcomes. This coordinated, integrated way of serving the whole child is the hallmark of the Communities In Schools Model, and initial research findings from this study show that the model is producing favorable outcomes.

About Communities In Schools – Communities In Schools surrounds students with a community of support, empowering them to stay in school and achieve in life. Through a school-based coordinator, Communities In Schools connects students and their families to critical community resources, tailored to local needs. Working in more than 3,200 schools, in the most challenged communities, in 26 states, and the District of Columbia, Communities In Schools serves nearly 1.4 million young people and their families every year. It has become the nation's leading dropout prevention organization, and the only one proven to increase graduation rates.

About P&G – Four billion times a day, P&G brands touch the lives of people around the world. The company has one of the strongest portfolios of trusted, quality, leadership brands, including Pampers(R), Tide(R), Ariel(R), Always(R), Whisper(R), Pantene(R), Mach3(R), Bounty(R), Dawn(R), Gain(R), Pringles(R), Charmin(R), Downy(R), Lenor(R), Iams(R), Crest(R), Oral-B(R), Actonel(R), Duracell(R), Olay(R), Head & Shoulders(R), Wella(R), Gillette(R), Braun(R) and Fusion(R). The P&G community includes approximately 135,000 employees working in about 80 countries worldwide. In these countries and beyond, P&G is committed to improving lives for children in need through its global cause - Live, Learn and Thrive. Every day P&G Live, Learn and Thrive(R) is helping children get off to a healthy start, receive access to education, and build skills for life. Please visit http://www.pg.com for the latest news and in-depth information about P&G, its brands, and Live, Learn and Thrive.

Communities In Schools National Office

2324 Crystal Drive, Suite 801, Arlington, VA 22202 * Telephone 800-CIS-4KIDS * e-mail: [email protected]

www.communitiesinschools.org

SOURCE Communities In Schools