Month: October 2010

Ackermann PR drawing unprecedented national attention to East Tennessee travel and tourism industry

Posted by Erin Freeman – October 29, 2010

Knoxville, Tenn. — October 29, 2010 — In just the past few months, Ackermann PR has brought in the National Geographic Channel, MTV Productions, the Travel Channel’s “Bert The Conqueror,” Channel Four (a major television network based in London), national morning television shows including CW’s The Daily Buzz, and a number of travel shows based in Georgia, Alabama and South Carolina to East Tennessee for special reports about our travel and tourism industry.  Ackermann is also involved in discussions with a major Hollywood film company to produce part of a major motion picture in East Tennessee.  This week, Ackermann’s Rick Laney served as a senior consultant to a pilot television show being shot for the Travel Channel.  Because Ackermann PR approaches East Tennessee’s travel and tourism as a regional effort that crosses local political lines, we have succeeded at focusing national attention on the tremendous assets our region holds.

Laney was featured on WATE-TV (ABC) in a report by Jamie Lynn Drohan about the impact all of this national and international attention has on the local economy.  The entire segment can be watched by clicking the photo below.

Media Contact
Rick Laney
(865) 584-0550
rlaney@ackermannpr.com

Alcoa Foundation grants announced; $190,000 invested back into region

Posted by admin – October 28, 2010

Alcoa, Tenn. — Alcoa Foundation is granting $190,000 to nine non-profit organizations in Blount, Knox, and Sevier counties in Tennessee and Graham County, NC. 

Alcoa’s Community Advisory Board -  a group of 11 business, community and government leaders responsible for evaluating and making recommendations to Alcoa Tennessee Operations and Alcoa Foundation on what projects should be funded – reviewed 25 grant proposals totaling more than $750,000 in funding requests.

This year’s grant-selection process focused on grant programs that “Build Tomorrow’s Workforce and Leaders.”

“Results of a recent community survey, along with the business goals of Tennessee Operations and the valuable input of our Community Advisory Board, led us to narrow our grant making focus to preparing our community to be competitive and build future leaders,” said Chris Jackson, Alcoa Tennessee Operations Location Manager.

Specifically Alcoa was interested in programs that:

  • Offer adult education in workplace readiness skills
  • Strengthen the education system to prepare students for successful careers
  • Engage young learners in science, math, engineering and technology

Additional grant dollars will fund environmental programs in our communities, including a total of $25,000 to the City of Maryville to help enhance and improve recycling efforts at the annual Foothills Fall Festival.  This program was the recipient of a surprise $10,000 grant given in honor Alcoa’s Month of Service and was granted on 10.10.10!

The following is a list of grants that Alcoa Foundation and Alcoa Tennessee Operations are awarding in 2010:

Organization Name 2010 Grant Grant Purpose
Adult Education Foundation of Blount County $19,000 New Start career preparation program for adults
Boys and Girls Clubs of the Tennessee Valley $15,000 Club Tech Technology Centers
City of Maryville $15,000 and $10,000 Recycling Project at Foothills Fall Festival
Friends of the Smokies $25,000 (year 3 of 3) “Trails Forever”; Teacher-Ranger-Teacher initiative
Graham Revitalization Economic Action Team $28,050 Engaging in Science, Technology, Engineering and Math Education project
Haven House/Mane Support $18,145 (year 3 of 3) HALT – Horses Assisting in Life-Changing Transitions
Leadership Blount $12,000 (year 3 of 3) Youth Leadership Blount program
National Parks Conservation Association $17,102 (year 3 of 3) Cades Cove shuttle pilot program
Pellissippi State Community College $30,700 Career Readiness Improvement Program for Knox and Blount Counties

About Alcoa’s Tennessee Operations
Alcoa’s Tennessee Operations is the world’s largest producer of rolled aluminum can sheet for beverage cans.   It has been in operation in Blount County, Tenn. since 1913 and currently employs approximately 1,100 East Tennesseans in its Blount and Knox County locations. 

About Alcoa Foundation
Established in 1952, Alcoa Foundation is a global resource that actively invests in improving the quality of life in the countries around the world where Alcoa operates. The Foundation’s grants address global and local needs in Areas of Excellence that include: Conservation and Sustainability, Global Education and Workplace Skills, Business and Community Partnerships and Safe and Healthy Children and Families. Alcoa Foundation manages Alcoa’s ACTION and Bravo! programs which recognize the volunteer efforts of employees with grants to the organizations they serve. For more information about Alcoa Foundation, visit www.alcoa.com under Community.

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Media Contact:
Christy Newman
(865) 977-3358
 christy.newman@alcoa.com

$10,000 grant from Best Buy Children’s Foundation helps local Boys & Girls Club

Posted by admin – October 27, 2010

Knoxville, Tenn. – Best Buy Children’s Foundation has recognized Boys & Girls Clubs of the Tennessee Valley with a $10,000 Teens and Technology Innovation Grant to support and grow the innovative use of technology within the Haslam Family Club University, located on Caswell Avenue in north Knoxville.

Boys & Girls Clubs of the Tennessee Valley is one of only six recipients across the country to receive this grant, which will be used to fund a teen-driven innovation project using technology to enhance teen programs in the areas of mobile technologies, social networking and/or media safety.

The grant, which aligns with @15, Best Buy’s focus on teens, will allow an estimated 20 Tennessee Valley-area teens to develop marketable skills, achieve academic success and become fully engaged in technology learning. 

This grant will be used for the purpose of extending the Club’s in-house radio station, Radio BGC, into an online station. Boys & Girls Club members will have the opportunity to tune in while at the Club to hear popular music and teen insight and to win contests. Air personalities will also provide public service announcements about important events happening within the Boys & Girls Clubs of the Tennessee Valley organization, which includes 15 locations.

Additionally, parents, community partners and other listeners from across the country will be able to access the station on www.radiobgc.org. 

“We are honored to be recognized by Best Buy Children’s Foundation for our incessant commitment to providing youth with the resources to be creative, compassionate and productive citizens,” said John D. Lee, President & CEO of Boys & Girls Clubs of the Tennessee Valley. “It’s because of partners like the Best Buy Children’s Foundation that we are able to offer technology programming that encourages a passion for education, innovation and future success.”

The Haslam Family Club University, a member of Boys & Girls Clubs of the Tennessee Valley, has continuously been recognized for its technology programs. In fact, the north Knoxville Club recently received the Technology Program Innovation Award at Boys & Girls Clubs of America’s (BGCA’s) 104th Annual National Conference, held this summer in New York, N.Y. 

The Technology Program Innovation Award is presented to one Club throughout the BGCA network that uses technology in innovative ways to teach technology skills as well as enhance overall Club programs and activities.

The Haslam Family Club University provides programs like BGC Radio, an in-house radio station in which members learn the basics of radio broadcasting, and the Comic Book League program, in which members are introduced to the digital and artistic development of the comic book genre. These programs, along with Internet, digital design, photography, movie and music technology classes, helped contribute to the award. 

Millions of America’s youth are in danger of becoming victims of the “digital divide.” These youth are at a disadvantage in the classroom, in the job market and are ill-equipped to take their place as productive members of society. With the help of its partners, Boys & Girls Clubs creates digital opportunities for Club members and staff by making them both computer and Internet literate. Achieving this goal enables Club members to perform on a level playing field both academically and economically.

A study from the University of Washington’s Center for Information & Society found that technology programs like Boys & Girls Clubs of America’s Club Tech promote learning, such as an improved fluency, confidence and excitement with technology. It also demonstrated that Club Tech promotes an understanding among youth that computers are considered an essential part of “being educated.”

Best Buy Children’s Foundation continues to support Boys & Girls Clubs of America’s efforts to create technology rich environments in Clubs to retain teen members, attract new teens and enable Clubs to have a positive impact on their success. Through support of Myclubmylife.com and Teens and Technology Innovation Grants, Best Buy Children’s Foundation is helping Clubs provide a safe, fun and supportive environment to explore, grow and be engaged in the digital and physical community.

For more information on Boys & Girls Clubs of the Tennessee Valley or the Best Buy Children’s Foundation Teens and Technology Innovation Grant, contact John D. Lee at (865) 248-1100 or jlee@bgctnv.org or Kelly Hayman at (865) 248-1136 or khayman@bgctnv.org.

About Boys & Girls Clubs of the Tennessee Valley
Boys & Girls Clubs has served the Tennessee Valley region since 1943. Its mission is to enable all young people, especially those who need the organization the most, to reach their full potential as productive, caring, responsible citizens. The organization’s programs are focused on Character & Leadership Development, Education & Career Development, Health & Life Skills, the Arts, Sports and Fitness & Recreation. Boys & Girls Clubs of the Tennessee Valley serves members in Knox, Blount, Loudon and North Anderson Counties. The organization employs more than 260 trained, professional, caring staff and welcomes more than 1,200 volunteers annually. It is a charter member of United Way. For more information about Boys & Girls Clubs of the Tennessee Valley, visit www.bgctnv.org.

About Best Buy Co., Inc.
With operations in the United States, Canada, Europe, China, Mexico and Turkey, Best Buy is a multinational retailer of technology and entertainment products and services with a commitment to growth and innovation. The Best Buy family of brands and partnerships collectively generates more than $49 billion in annual revenue and includes brands such as Best Buy; Best Buy Mobile; Audiovisions; The Carphone Warehouse; Future Shop; Geek Squad, Jiangsu Five Star; Magnolia Audio Video; Napster; Pacific Sales; and The Phone House. Approximately 180,000 employees apply their talents to help bring the benefits of these brands to life for customers through retail locations, multiple call centers and websites, in-home solutions, product delivery and activities in our communities. Community partnership is central to the way business is done at Best Buy. In fiscal 2010, the company donated a combined $25.2 million to improve the vitality of the communities where its employees and customers live and work. For more information about Best Buy, visit www.bby.com.

About Boys & Girls Clubs of America’s Club Tech Program
Club Tech was created by Boys & Girls Clubs of America (www.bgca.org) and Microsoft (www.microsoft.com) in 2000 to technologically enable Clubs worldwide, transforming Clubs from “swim and gym” to “point and click.” Partnering with longtime supporter Comcast (www.comcast.com) and Microsoft, BGCA provides technology program access to some 4.2 million youth served through Club membership and community outreach at some 4,000 Clubs. By leveling the virtual playing field, kids of all ages and circumstances now have access to the same resources and skills to help them discover their world, expand creativity, perform better in school, and eventually take their technology know-how into the workplace.

Cellular Sales Invests $2 Million in Orlando Area; Announces 50 New Sales Positions

Posted by admin – October 20, 2010

Orlando, Fla. – Cellular Sales, the nation’s largest Verizon premium wireless retailer, today announced a major expansion in the Orlando area. Since mid-July, the company has opened three new stores in the Orlando market and plans to open two more by December. In all, Cellular Sales is looking to fill 50 new sales positions before year’s end.

Cellular Sales Verizon Wireless has opened new locations in Leesburg, Gainesville and Winter Park, Fla. in the past 90 days. Two more store locations, scheduled to open by December, are listed below, along with their opening date, number of sales positions and total investment:

  • 4955 East Silver Springs Boulevard, Six Gun Plaza, Ocala, Fla., 34470
    Opening Early November
    10 sales positions (immediately)
    $400,000 total investment
  • 1690 N. Woodland Boulevard, Shop City Plaza, Deland, Fla., 32720
    Opening Dec. 1, 2010
    10 sales positions (immediately)
    $500,000+ investment

The five stores represent a combined investment of more than $2 million and a boost for the local economy. According to Ann Snyder, the national recruiter for Cellular Sales, sales consultants for the company earn an average of more than $51,000 per year.

Currently, Cellular Sales operates throughout Florida and has more than 350 stores across the United States. Last month, Cellular Sales announced it was opening six new stores and adding at least 100 new sales positions in South Florida. Cellular Sales also recently announced 250 new jobs at its National Call Center in Knoxville, Tenn.

“Cellular Sales has grown rapidly because our sales consultants know the products and service plans backwards and forwards,” said Chris Keen, Regional Director for Cellular Sales. “Our main focus is providing excellent customer service to each and every customer who walks in our doors.”

“Customers experience unparalleled service at Cellular Sales,” said Dane Scism, founder and CEO of Cellular Sales Verizon Wireless. “We follow up with every customer to ask about their in-store experience, plus we monitor each customer’s phone usage so we can identify them when other service plans would be more cost effective. That’s not something every company does.”

Cellular Sales is a 17-year-old privately held company founded and headquartered in Knoxville, Tenn.  The company currently operates throughout the United States.  By year end, Cellular Sales will open at least 50 new stores in markets across the United States, bringing the company’s total number of locations to around 400.  For the past three years, Inc. Magazine has named Cellular Sales one of the nation’s fastest growing retail companies in the country. 

For more information about Cellular Sales, or to find a Cellular Sales location near you, visit the company’s web site at www.cellularsales.com. Job seekers should call Chris Keen at (321) 246-6206 or José Marques at (407) 579-3956 or visit www.cellularsales.com/opportunity to schedule an interview.

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Media Contact:
Rick Laney
(865) 584-0550
rlaney@ackermannpr.com

Cellular Sales Verizon Wireless Announces Major Expansion in Upstate New York

Posted by admin – October 14, 2010

Interior of a Cellular Sales store

Rochester, N.Y. – Cellular Sales, the nation’s largest Verizon premium wireless retailer, today announced a major expansion in upstate New York.  The company will open two new stores and add approximately 50 new sales consultants in the next three months. Fifteen of those positions must be filled immediately. 

Listed below are the new Cellular Sales Verizon Wireless store locations, the date they will open, the number of sales positions available and the store investment:

1190 University Avenue, Rochester, N.Y., 14607
Opening Nov. 1, 2010
10 sales positions (immediately)
$130,000 total investment

1826 Teall Avenue, Shop City Plaza, Syracuse, N.Y., 13206
Opening Nov. 1, 2010
5 sales positions (immediately)
$300,000 investment, excluding training

The two stores represent a combined investment of more than $430,000 and 50 new sales positions. 

Currently, Cellular Sales operates throughout New York and has more than 350 stores across the United States. According to Laura Lynn Riden, the New York recruiter for Cellular Sales, sales consultants for the company earn an average of more than $51,000 per year.

“It’s great to partner with a company that’s expanding all over the country,” said John Chao, a sales representative who joined the Cellular Sales team in 2009 and has traveled from Georgia to help support the growing upstate New York market. “There’s also stability in the wireless industry.  Even in a recession, people need a cell phone.” 

Luke Fletcher, New York Regional Director for Cellular Sales, said, “The unbelievable growth Cellular Sales is experiencing is directly related to the ultimate customer service we provide, and that’s what drives our business.” 

Cellular Sales puts its new sales consultants through several weeks of training and coaches them to provide personal support to every customer they encounter. 

“We don’t pass our clients to an 800 number and forget about them.  We strive to treat every customer like they are our only customer. And it is definitely working,” said Fletcher. 

Last month, Cellular Sales announced it would hire between 200 and 250 new employees to work at its National Call Center in Knoxville, Tenn. The new call center will employ supervisors, managers and customer service representatives in full-time and part-time positions.

“As a company, we have grown by about 30 percent every year.  Our expansion in upstate New York is not a one-time event.  We have every intention to continue this pattern in upstate New York and in all of our markets,” said Dane Scism, founder and CEO of Cellular Sales Verizon Wireless.

Cellular Sales is a 17-year old privately held company founded and headquartered in Knoxville, Tenn.  The company currently operates throughout the United States.  By year end, Cellular Sales will open at least 50 new stores in markets across the United States, bringing the company’s total number of locations to around 400.  For the past three years, Inc. Magazine has named Cellular Sales one of the nation’s fastest growing retail companies in the country.  

This year, Inc. magazine listed Cellular Sales at No. 72 on its list of the nation’s fastest growing companies according to gross dollars of growth. Cellular Sales was ranked No. 1,856 on the fourth annual overall list of the nation’s fastest growing companies (up from No. 2,069 last year).  The “Inc. 5,000” represents a comprehensive look at America’s independent-minded entrepreneurs. 

Growth for Cellular Sales this year was reported at 147 percent according to Inc. magazine.  The magazine ranked Cellular Sales No. 96 on the “Inc. 5,000” list of the nation’s fastest-growing privately held retail companies.  The magazine reported that Cellular Sales’ 2006 revenue of $127.9 million grew to $316.1 million last year. 

For more information about Cellular Sales, or to find a Cellular Sales location near you, visit the company’s web site at www.cellularsales.com. Job seekers should call 888-910-MOBILE (6624) or visit www.cellularsales.com/opportunity for more information.

Media Contact:
Sarah Malak, Ackermann PR
(865) 584-0550
smalak@ackermannpr.com

Clayton Homes and the University of Tennessee team up to build New Norris House

Posted by admin – October 8, 2010

Knoxville, Tenn. – After two years of research, site visits and design work, construction of the New Norris House is under way.

The New Norris House, a sustainable home designed by an interdisciplinary team at the University of Tennessee, Knoxville, is a 21st century take on the original homes in the community of Norris, Tenn., built as part of the Tennessee Valley Authority’s Norris Dam Project in 1933.

Members of Clayton Homes’ engineering, manufacturing and architecture teams served as UT’s consulting partners on the project. Clayton’s participation has involved reviewing designs periodically, making recommendations in terms of technical aspects of the project and ultimately agreeing to price and build the student-designed home in one of the company’s home building facilities.

Prefabrication of the house began in mid-September at a Clayton Homes factory, and the shell of the structure was delivered to the home site last week.

New Norris House Site Plan

Community members Jeff and Regina Merritt, who are active in renovating other historic Norris homes, helped facilitate the university’s acquisition of the home site.

The team is targeting a late April to early May opening of the home for demonstration and visitation by the public. Once completed, the New Norris House will seek LEED platinum certification from the United States Green Building Council, making it the fifth LEED platinum home in Tennessee. The LEED for homes program promotes the design and construction of high-performance green homes and certifies that green design parameters are met.

The original town of Norris was designed as a model community and was revolutionary for its time. The centerpiece of the community was the Norris House, a series of innovative, affordable homes that featured new technologies and design elements such as pre-cast flooring and advancements in ventilation, insulation, electric and thermal heating, indoor plumbing and lighting. In that same spirit, the New Norris House was designed as an affordable, efficient and sustainable structure that incorporates today’s technologies and meets today’s needs.

“The New Norris House reflects the original model of Norris homes in its use of local, natural materials, ability to dwell lightly and responsively to the landscape and overall in its embodied progressive vision,” said Samuel Mortimer, a former architecture student and current research specialist working on the project.

The New Norris House will incorporate green materials to address indoor air quality. The interior will be well-insulated, bright and open. The design also will take advantage of natural ventilation, winter sunlight and summer shade. The house will feature solar-heated hot water, a high-efficiency heat pump, ductless heating and cooling, ventilation that recovers heated or cooled air before exhausting, a system for collecting and storing rainwater, and an on-site system for treating gray water.

After a one-year demonstration and evaluation period where the house will be open for tours for homebuilders, buyers and the public, the New Norris House will become a living laboratory for two UT research students. They will live in the house and will measure some of the energy systems as well as the house’s contributions to the community, which the team also considers to be part of sustainable design.

“We readily understand sustainability concerns in the building design, but sustainability must also be approached through lifestyle and community decisions,” said Assistant Professor Tricia Stuth, who is lead investigator on the project.

“The new design integrates the home into the surrounding community via pedestrian paths linking homes to community service nodes that provide for shopping, recreation, public gatherings and performances. Each node has a unique function serving the town as a whole.”

The bulk of funding for the earlier phases of the project was provided by an Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) grant that the team competed for and won at the EPA P3 Award Competition in April 2009. Other funding was provided by the UT Alliance of Women Philanthropists, the Clayton Homes Foundation and General Shale.

The project, headed by the College of Architecture and Design, included participants from the UT Institute for a Secure and Sustainable Environment, the College of Engineering and the Department of Environmental Studies.

For more information, visit http://www.thenewnorrishouse.com.

Media Contact:
Sarah Malak, Ackermann PR
(865) 584-0550
smalak@ackermannpr.com

Science is a new tool to get pet owners to clean up their act

Posted by admin – October 7, 2010

Knoxville, Tenn. – It may be surprising to know that some of the fiercest battle lines in civic dialogue are being drawn around the matter of dog poop. Words, and more unpleasant items, are being flung between neighbors, homeowners association boards, apartment community residents and managers, community leaders, environmentalists, park advocates, and others. People are passionate about the subject and evidence of the need to clean-up behind our pets is piling up like so much of the waste Fido and his friends deposit on a daily basis.

“The problem of pet owners not picking up after their pets is tearing apart communities,” says BioPet Vet Lab CEO Tom Boyd. “It’s no wonder that Consumer Reports lists ‘dog poop’ as one of the nation’s top ten personal gripes. We used our research in animal DNA identification systems to help provide community leaders with a tool to bring peace back to the neighborhood.”

BioPet Vet Lab, an industry leader in DNA-related pet services, knows a product with a name like PooPrints™ is going to generate a few giggles. And, that’s fine with them as long as it opens the doors to a conversation about a serious problem in communities across the globe. PooPrints™ is a dog DNA identification program from BioPet Vet Lab built on a solid scientific foundation, providing communities with a means to enforce community regulations for pet waste clean-up.

Dog waste is more than an aesthetic issue. Yes, the stuff is underfoot quite a bit. In the United States alone, the nation’s 73 million dogs generate approximately 6.3 billion pounds of waste annually. Approximately 40%, or 2.5 billion pounds, is never picked up by owners. Indeed, dog feces is a bacterial breeding ground of diseases that are especially dangerous to children and others with weakened immune systems. Toxocara canis, a roundworm found in dog waste, is especially dangerous to children and can cause blindness. Meanwhile, Researchers are tracking how unclaimed dog waste is eventually being washed from green spaces to storm drains, arriving untreated at the closest waterway. In the past decade, E. coli bacteria from dog droppings have been identified as significant sources of pollution in rivers, parks, and regional watersheds.

In light of this, apartment community management, homeowners associations, and other communities struggle with providing a welcoming environment to pet owners and maintaining vigilance against the few irresponsible owners who turn shared community space into a biohazard site, endangering the health and safety of their neighbors.

Debbie Logan, a property manager at Twin Ponds Development in Nashua, New Hampshire, has been on the front lines of the dog poop debates.

“Even though we provide pet stations and dog playgrounds,” said Logan, “we quickly learned that a small percentage of our residents were not cleaning up after their pets. As an extremely popular community with pet lovers, a small percentage of violators could quickly ruin it for the responsible residents. After much research we found the ideal solution with BioPet’s PooPrints™ program.”

PooPrints™ is a dog DNA identification program from BioPet Vet Lab built on a solid scientific foundation, providing communities with a means to enforce pooper scooper regulations in multifamily communities.

Communities such as Twin Ponds are requiring pet owners to register their pets in the PooPrints DNA database. Offending waste left unpicked up is collected and analyzed. When a DNA match is discovered, the community has the evidence needed to warn or fine the pet owner.

Success has come early for the community at Twin Ponds. Within the first four samples tested, two violators were quickly identified.

According to Logan, “The program is just fantastic for us. It was easy to implement and everybody wins. We are spending less time looking for violators and residents have a clean, healthy community.”

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About BioPet Vet Lab:  BioPet Vet Lab is an animal DNA testing laboratory located in Knoxville, Tennessee. BioPet’s research and development group explores genetic science in order to offer new tests that can be used to improve the healthcare and quality of life for our beloved pets. For additional information about BioPet Vet Lab, visit their website at www.biopetvetlab.com.

Media Contacts                                 
Shane Rhyne                                       
Ackermann PR                        
(865) 584-0550                                  
srhyne@ackermannpr.com

Schwall Named Vice President Of Marketing For Clayton Retail

Posted by Ryan Willis – October 7, 2010

Knoxville, Tenn. – Clayton Homes, the nation’s largest home builder, announced that David Schwall has been promoted to Vice President of Marketing for Clayton Homes’ Retail company.

“David’s dedication to Clayton Homes is undeniable. His knowledge in the housing industry has proved him very valuable to our company, and we are thrilled to announce his well-deserved new position,” said David M Booth, President.

“Throughout my career, I have faced a number of different challenges that have helped prepare me for this position,” said Schwall. “I look forward to using that experience to lead the retail company’s marketing efforts.”

Schwall began his career with Clayton in 1996 when he joined the Direct Lending Department. In 2000, he helped initiate a lead generation program for Clayton involving Internet and digital marketing. The program touches 25 percent of Clayton’s retail sales and employs more than 60 team members. 

In addition to managing the digital marketing strategy for Clayton Homes’ Retail, Schwall is also a member of the company’s Web Council.

Schwall holds a bachelor’s degree from East Tennessee State University, where he was named 1996 Management Student of the Year. 

Schwall currently serves as the treasurer of the Bennington Farrington Recreation Association. He has also volunteered for United Way of Greater Knoxville and Junior Achievement. He resides in Knoxville with his wife Greta of 12 years and their three children.

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About Clayton Homes:  A Berkshire-Hathaway Company, Clayton Homes is a national, vertically integrated housing company. Through its family of brands, Clayton Homes builds, sells, finances, leases, and insures a full spectrum of affordable housing and is the nation’s number one retailer of modular and manufactured homes. 

Media Contact
Mike Cohen
mcohen@ackermannpr.com
(865) 584-0550

Denzel Washington pairs with Boys & Girls Clubs to curb high school dropout rates

Posted by admin – October 6, 2010

(Knoxville, Tenn.) – October 6 – America’s youth need your help. Did you know that a young person drops out of high school every 26 seconds and that 1.3 million students in the class of 2010 failed to graduate? If these students had graduated, our nation’s economy would have benefitted from more than $335 billion in income over their lifetimes. 

To address the graduation gap and the lost potential among America’s young people, Boys & Girls Clubs of the Tennessee Valley is joining Clubs across the country to align its program offerings into three major areas – academic success, good character and leadership and healthy lifestyles. The ultimate goal is to measure outcomes and curb the escalating high school dropout rate. 

Boys & Girls Clubs of the Tennessee Valley is an affiliate of Boys & Girls Clubs of America (BGCA), one of the world’s largest networks of facility-based youth development organizations whose mission focuses on serving young people during out-of-school time. Across the nation, Clubs have an extensive reach into low-income and minority communities where dropout rates are highest. The Clubs believe their access to children after school and during summers, and their proven ability to exert positive influence when kids are not at home or in school, create a powerful opportunity to help keep young people on a positive educational track.

“We believe there is a third piece to the education equation that is too often left out of the conversation. In addition to the critical influence of home and school, the impact that can be exerted during the nonschool hours, including weekends and summers, as well as after school, is a significant factor,” said John D. Lee of the Boys & Girls Clubs of the Tennessee Valley. “We are focusing on this largely untapped opportunity, in partnership with local schools and parents, to help our most vulnerable Club members learn to value education and realize its role in determining their future success.”  

“Our goal is simple to state, but hard to achieve, unless the entire nation understands and responds to this dropout crisis,” said Denzel Washington, a Club alumnus who has served as the organization’s national spokesperson for 18 years. “We want to help every Boys & Girls Club member advance to the next grade level every year, and graduate from high school on time, prepared with the attitude, knowledge and confidence to achieve their full potential. It’s what we mean by ‘Great Futures Start Here.’”

Research indicates that young people who drop out of high school are more likely to be unemployed, be in poor health, be involved with crime, use illegal drugs and become dependent on public assistance. They also are less likely to contribute to their communities in a meaningful way. 

But the high school dropout crisis is a problem that can be solved, according to Dr. Robert Balfanz of Johns Hopkins University, who has collaborated with Boys & Girls Clubs of America. “Just 12 percent of America’s 20,000 high schools account for 50 percent of dropouts and almost 75 percent of minority dropouts,” Balfanz said.

The age statistics for the young people served by the Boys & Girls Clubs of the Tennessee Valley indicate the organization’s considerable potential to help keep them on track early on, when poor attitudes and habits begin to form, said Lee. “Seventy-six percent of our members are between the ages of 6 and 12, when we can impress upon them how important education is to their future. Our staff serves as mentors, tutors and role models that kids look up to and respect. Their influence really makes a difference.”

Evidence of Impact
Boys & Girls Clubs across the country have already seen dramatic evidence that a holistic approach, including an emphasis on academic success, good character and leadership, and healthy lifestyles, is effective. 

According to a Harris Survey of Club alumni, BGCA’s emphasis on education pays off for youth:
* 90 percent of Club alumni graduate from high school or earn a GED.
* Nearly two-thirds reported that Club staff contributed to their success in high school.  

The High School Dropout Crisis – By the Numbers:
* One-third of America’s children do not graduate from high school.
* Nationally, 1.3 million students in the class of 2010 failed to graduate with a high school diploma.
* For Latino and African-American males, the rate rises to nearly 50 percent.
* The U.S. is the only industrialized country where young people are less likely than their parents to obtain a high school diploma.  

“Everyone can have a role in supporting a youth development program, such as ours, that reaches kids during the out-of-school hours,” said Lee. “Be a volunteer tutor or mentor, join a board, make a financial contribution. There are plenty of ways to help,” he said.

About Boys & Girls Clubs of the Tennessee Valley
Boys & Girls of the Tennessee Valley serves some 5,825 young people, ages 6-17, annually in Knox, Blount, Loudon and North Anderson Counties. The programs offered positively impact the lives of Club members with a special emphasis on outcomes that assure academic success, healthy lifestyles and productive citizenship. Clubs provide a safe place to learn and grow, enjoy ongoing relationships with caring adult professionals, participate in life-enhancing programs and character development experiences and provide hope and opportunity to the youth they serve. Learn more at www.BGCTNV.org.

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