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BKFK and The Weather Channel Launch the Akitas to Zebras (A2Z)
Animal Challenge with a $10,000 Grand Prize
America’s Youth Challenged to Create New Ideas to Protect Animals
STAMFORD, CT – April 1, 2008 - By Kids for Kids (BKFK) and The
Weather Channel today announced the Akitas to Zebras (A2Z) Animal Challenge,
“A2Z Challenge” The A2Z Challenge asks America’s young people to create
solutions which protect the welfare of all animals, including ideas to save
endangered species. The winning youth will receive a $10,000 grand prize, media
acclaim, and the possibility to see their idea become a reality.
Examples of the passion young people feel for protecting animals were
demonstrated by two of the teen “eco-ambassadors” selected to attend the
Forecast Earth Summit staged by The Weather Channel last December. Initiatives
undertaken by two of the teens were: a “road show” presentation for peers about
the endangered status of Panda bears and a recycling fund-raiser to benefit a
local zoo.
BKFK is committed to inspiring all youth to tap their creative potential in
solving real world problems and finding new opportunities. The A2Z Animal
Challenge focuses on a theme teens are passionate about. Over 63% of US
households have a pet with an estimated $43 billion in spending for 2008. In
households with children, over 70% have a pet (2007-2008 National Pet Owners
Survey).
Youth entering the A2Z Challenge must address a specific animal welfare concern
and describe how their invention or idea will help or improve the lives of
animals. The competition spans the spectrum of animals from household pets to
animals living in the wild.
All youth in the United States of America ages 19 and under are eligible to
compete in the A2Z Challenge. They can enter as many times as they like. The
contest period runs from April 1st, 2008 until 12:00PM EST on June 30, 2008. All
entries must be received online at:
www.bkfk.com/a2zchallenge . BKFK.com’s exclusive social entrepreneurship
platform, the “Idea Locker™”, provides powerful online tools for idea generation
and brainstorming, to support the creative process of this competition. A link
to the site will be available on
theweatherchannelkids.com, a Web site created by The Weather Channel to
empower, inspire and amaze kids as they learn about weather and the environment.
In addition to the $10,000 Grand Prize, the winner will receive a ‘Dream to
Reality Prize Package/Trip'; which consists of: A 2-day/1-night trip for two
(entrant & parent/legal guardian) to Washington D.C. to visit an animal/wildlife
agency.
“We have seen first-hand how young people have animal protection and welfare so
close to their hearts and therefore we are very enthused about the many
thoughtful and inspiring entries this competition will produce. We welcome this
chance to be a part of a program that brings to light what a rich resource for a
better tomorrow we have in the youth of today,” said Shari Pace, vice president
of licensing, The Weather Channel.
Norman Goldstein, Founder and CEO of BKFK, commented: “We are very excited to
partner with The Weather Channel to challenge American Youth to create new ways
to protect and save animals, particularly in natural disasters or other adverse
conditions.”
In addition to the A2Z Animal Challenge, BKFK is also launching three other
national competitions on April 1st, 2008. The BKFK-CosmoGirl! Mind Your Own
Business Challenge will reward the best Girl-created new business ideas, The
Design Squad Trash To Treasure Competition challenges teens to create cool new
stuff from discarded items, and the Advertise Your Cause Challenge seeks ideas
from young people on creative new cause-related advertising and awareness
campaigns. All four BKFK competitions launching April 1st will be hosted online
at
www.bkfk.com/competition and each offers a $10,000 Grand prize and
“connections to reality.”
About By Kids For Kids Co. (BKFK)
By Kids for Kids® (BKFK®) is a youth marketing and media company partnering with
the worlds’ leading corporations to provide a platform to foster, share,
showcase, and commercialize youth innovation and entrepreneurship. Their mission
is to inspire, motivate and stimulate the innovative spirit within all young
people.
The closely held Stamford, CT-based corporation has been dedicated to making
youth ideas a reality since 2003. Thru its website (www.bkfk.com
) and its social community (Idea Locker™), online competitions, TV show (Think
Big™), Magazine (Possible™), press, and education outreach the company engages
youth in the US and around the world. BKFK® youth-created products are available
nationally and serve as a testament to the power of youth innovation and social
entrepreneurship.
More information about the company and its successes helping young innovators is
available online at www.bkfk.com
About The Weather Channel
The Weather Channel®, the nation’s leading provider of national, regional and
local weather information and programming, is a 24-hour weather network which
can be seen in over 96 million U.S. households. Its Web site,
weather.com, reaches more
than 35 million unique users per month and is consistently ranked #15 among all
Web sites by Nielsen//NetRatings. The Weather Channel also operates The Weather
Channel HD, Weatherscan® which is an all-local 24/7 cable network, The Weather
Channel Radio Network, The Weather Channel Newspaper Services, and is the
leading weather information provider for emerging technologies. The Weather
Channel is owned by Landmark Communications, Inc., a Norfolk, VA-based,
privately held media company.
Contacts:
For BKFK: John Forrester | (323) 702-3684 |
media@bkfk.com
For The Weather Channel: Connie Malko | (770) 226-2180 |
CMalko@weather.com
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