Platinum Selling Artist Shawn Mendes Exceeds Fundraising Goal to Build School

NEW YORK, Oct. 30, 2015 /PRNewswire/ -- Singer-songwriter Shawn Mendes announced today that he exceeded his goal to raise $25,000 through his Represent Campaign to benefit Pencils of Promise (PoP). The "STITCHES" singer, launched his #BuildASchoolWithShawn campaign on October 14, sparking a worldwide trend on Twitter. He has now hit 164% of his fundraising goal to build a school in rural Ghana with the non-profit education organization. Shawn funded 98% of his campaign after just one social media post, showcasing not only the power of his fans and community, but also how young people can affect and fuel social change. 

Shawn, who was recently named one of TIME Magazine's 30 Most Influential Teens, winner of Choice Male Web Star at this year's Teen Choice Awards, as well as winner of Best New Act and Best Push at this year's MTV European Music Awards, raised funds through an innovative Represent Campaign allowing fans to purchase exclusive merchandise with proceeds benefiting Pencils of Promise.

"Shawn has been an amazing partner to Pencils of Promise," says PoP Director of Marketing Natalie Ebel. "For so many children, a PoP school is the safest most sound structure in their community and Shawn is helping to give more deserving children a safe learning environment."

Shawn was deeply inspired by the campaign and looks forward to continuing to build more schools with Pencils of Promise in the future. 

"I'm so excited we were able to raise enough funds to build a school for the kids in Shia, Ghana. This means the world to me that my fans joined me & supported such an amazing cause." --SHAWN MENDES

PoP was founded in 2008 with the goal of increasing quality education for children in the developing world. Since inception, the organization has built over 300 schools and educated more than 30,000 students.

About Shawn Mendes: 
Singer-songwriter Shawn Mendes has emerged from teen viral sensation to major best-selling status almost overnight. Soon after artist manager Andrew Gertler discovered & introduced Mendes to now-label Island Records in early 2014, Shawn's debut single "Life Of The Party" broke records, topping the iTunes Charts and selling over 150,000 copies in its first week due to his legions of fans. The success of the song made Shawn the youngest ever artist to break into the Billboard Hot 100's Top 25 with a debut single. Then, just a month later, Mendes released his self-titled debut EP, which also hit the #1 spot on iTunes once again, and entered at #5 on the Billboard album charts, showing the staying power of the young artist. 

In April 2015, Shawn released his debut album Handwritten, which debuted #1 on the Billboard 200 charts and includes Top 5 at Top 40 Radio certified platinum single "Stitches" as well as certified platinum single "Life of the Party," and certified gold "Something Big." In addition to joining Taylor Swift on her The 1989 World Tour, Mendes has been on his own sold out headlining tour including a sold out show at LA's Greek Theatre.

About Pencils of Promise: 
Pencils of Promise ("PoP") is a for-purpose organization founded in 2008 with the goal of increasing access to quality education for children in the developing world. PoP works with communities across the globe to build schools and create programs that provide educational opportunities for children.  To date, PoP has built over 300 schools and provided access to education to more than 30,000 students throughout Laos, Nicaragua, Guatemala and Ghana, establishing itself as a leader amongst the innovative global nonprofits working toward sustainable social change. 

PRESS CONTACT: 
JONESWORKS  
Kirby Allison  
[email protected] 
212.839.0111

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SOURCE Pencils of Promise

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