Four Schools Awarded Grants Totaling More Than $100,000 in The Clorox Power A Bright Future Contest

1.6 Million Votes Cast to Determine Winning Schools

OAKLAND, Calif., Dec. 7, 2010 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- The Clorox® Company is celebrating the 2010 season of giving by awarding a total of $110,000 in Power A Bright Future grants to school programs that are helping create brighter futures for their students.  With more than 1,600 program nominations from across the country and 1.6 million public votes, four outstanding schools rose to the top of the pack.

With great excitement, The Clorox Company would like to announce that the following schools are the recipients of this year's Power a Bright Future grants:

• Grand-Prize Winner ($50,000 grant): Metrolina Christian Academy (Indian Trail, NC)
  • Metrolina Christian Academy middle and high school students currently compete in 11 sports with 26 athletic teams. However, the Academy does not have its own tennis courts or fields for football, soccer, baseball and softball, forcing athletic teams to always play "away" games. The Power A Bright Future grant will help Metrolina Christian Academy towards its goal of constructing a new athletics complex, so the Warriors can finally host at-home games and play in front of their highly supportive fans.
• Learn Grant Winner ($20,000 grant): Archimedean Middle Conservatory (Miami, FL)
  • Archimedean Middle Conservatory's ArchiSci is an academic club with a focus on bringing science, technology, engineering and math education to life. In only its third year of competition, it was the first-ever team from South Florida to win the Science Olympiad State Competition, and went on to compete in Nationals at the University of Illinois. The Power A Bright Future grant will help Archimedean reach its goal of expanding ArchiSci to reach more than 100 students and extend the influence of the club to Archimedean Academy (Kindergarten-5^th grade) and Archimedean Upper Conservatory (9-11^th grade).
• Play Grant Winner ($20,000 grant): Collinswood Language Academy (Charlotte, NC)
  • Collinswood Language Academy is a high-achieving, hard-working school, but it lacks a proper playground for its students. Although Collinswood consistently ranks in the top tier of state test scores, and despite the proven importance of regular exercise for young children, a shortage of funds have made it difficult to replace the playground equipment teachers called "outdated" and "unsafe" in its grant application. Collinswood's teachers said "this is a school that works. Our students deserve a safe place to run, jump and play." Now as a recipient of a Power A Bright Future grant, Collinswood can't wait to reward its students with the playground they deserve.
• Create Grant Winner ($20,000 grant): Mountain View High School (Vancouver, WA)
  • The Mountain View High School Band program helps nurture individual talents, motivate students through daily challenges, develop students' self esteem, and inspire them to become responsible and mature young adults.  Although parents and students have held numerous fundraisers and contributed greatly, there is still not enough funding to enhance or replace the deficient instruments, most of which have been used by the students since the school opened in 1983. The Power A Bright Future grant will help replace old instruments, provide access to instruments which are not readily available and allow students who would otherwise be unable to participate due to financial obligation to be included in this rewarding program.

"It's been inspiring to see how people unite to help support the school programs in their communities," said Jon Balousek, vice president, Clorox Cleaning Division.  "Through the Power A Bright Future grant program, we're glad to be able to give back to those programs that are making such a profound difference in the lives of the students and their communities."  

The final four Power A Bright Future grant recipients were determined by consumers who voted online (www.powerabrightfuture.com) for their favorite grant nominee between October 5, 2010 and November 1, 2010. The program that received the highest number of votes was awarded the $50,000 grand-prize grant, and the next top vote-getter in each category (Learn, Play and Create) was each awarded a $20,000 grant.

The Clorox Company launched the Power A Bright Future grant contest on August 12, 2010, asking parents and teachers across the country to nominate school sports, music and art programs that had been hit hard by ongoing education budget cuts.  

For more information about the Power A Bright Future grant program, including official contest rules and entry guidelines, visit www.powerabrightfuture.com.

About The Clorox Company

The Clorox Company is a multinational manufacturer and marketer of consumer products, with fiscal year 2010 revenues of $5.53 billion.  Clorox markets some of consumers' most trusted and recognized brand names, including its namesake bleach and cleaning products; Pine-Sol® cleaners; Green Works® natural home care products; Brita® water-filtration systems; Burt's Bees® natural personal care products; Kingsford® charcoal; Hidden Valley® and K C Masterpiece® dressings and sauces; Glad® bags, wraps and containers; Fresh Step® and Scoop Away® cat litter; and Armor All® and STP® auto-care products. In addition, key products in Latin America include Clorox®, Nevex® and Ayudín® bleach, laundry additives and spray cleaners; Bon Bril® cleaning utensils; and Poett® and Mistolín® cleaners, laundry additives and air fresheners. In Australia, New Zealand and Africa, key products include Chux® cleaning cloths, sponges, scourers and disposable gloves; Glad® products; Gumption® paste cleaner; Handy Andy® cleaners; and Armor All® auto-care products. In Asia and the Middle East, key products include Clorox® bleach, laundry additives and spray cleaners; Glad® products; Armor All®, STP® and Prestone® auto-care products; and Pine-Sol® cleaners.  Clorox is committed to making a positive difference in the communities where its employees work and live. Founded in 1980, The Clorox Company Foundation has awarded cash grants totaling more than $80 million to nonprofit organizations, schools and colleges. In fiscal 2010 alone, the foundation awarded $3.5 million in cash grants, and Clorox made product donations valued at $8.8 million.  For more information about Clorox, visit www.TheCloroxCompany.com.

SOURCE The Clorox Company