WACO, Texas, Sept. 13 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ — Twenty-five years after opening the first sales center in the country, the Center for Professional Selling at Baylor University continues to lead and excel in all aspects of sales education. To commemorate the anniversary, the Center is hosting five days of events from Thursday, Sept. 16 through Monday, Sept. 20, 2010.

Baylor faculty, the Center’s Advisory Board, selected students and faculty from other schools will attend the events.

The Center for Professional Selling is home to more than 800 graduates and was the first school to offer a professional sales major.

“We have a national and international reputation in academics. When talking about sales, Baylor will be one of the first schools mentioned,” said Dr. Bill Weeks, professor of marketing.

The Advisory Board and faculty continually refine curricula to ensure students are receiving the education and guidance needed before entering the workforce.

“Leading up to the Anniversary, we assessed our resources and identified the changes needed to take the Center and our students to the next level,” said Dr. Andrea Dixon, executive director for the Center for Professional Selling.

This includes developing and requiring new classes, creating new opportunities for internships, updating technology and facilities, and adding new opportunities to refine selling skills through extra-curricular events and additional competitions.

“We help our students develop a truly ethical and moral commitment to their conduct of business wherever they go with their careers,” said Dr. Marjorie Cooper, professor of marketing. This goal has kept the Center for Professional Selling leading the field of sales education and foreshadows the advances and achievements sure to come in the following years.

As the Center celebrates its 25th anniversary, The Journal of Professional Selling and Sales Management celebrates its 30th anniversary. A joint celebration will occur through a Baylor-sponsored research symposium involving over 50 American and international scholars who will develop articles for the special anniversary issue of JPSSM in June 2011.

Other events will include a meeting with University Sales Center Alliance (USCA) members, a talk on the future of sales and the C-suite, and a celebration banquet featuring Coach Scott Drew.

Photos are available for download at http://www.baylor.edu/business/pr/index.php?id=74396.

About Baylor Business

The culture of the Hankamer School of Business at Baylor University is guided by Christian commitment and champions life-long learning, highly-regarded scholarship and service to others as its highest ideals. The School seeks to produce business leaders with recognized integrity, superior theoretical knowledge and practical skills of modern global business developed through an experiential learning environment. The School engages a diverse group of undergraduate, graduate, and executive students and alumni in a curriculum that produces graduates of value to business organizations and to their communities. Visit www.baylor.edu/business and follow on Twitter at twitter.com/Baylor_Business.

CONTACT: CJ Jackson of Baylor University, +1-254-710-7628, Cynthia_Jackson@baylor.edu

SOURCE Baylor University

ALLENDALE, N.J., Sept. 13 /PRNewswire/ – Automated Media Services, Inc. (AMS), the company responsible for the development of 3GTv Networks™, the first out-of-home form of television, has commissioned Bradley University in a media and marketing research program to coincide with 3GTv™'s pilot program launching fourth quarter.  Research will be conducted in nine of Food Lion's Bloom supermarkets located in the Washington D.C. DMA.  

The initiative is being led by Bradley University Professor of Marketing, Jennifer Burton, Ph.D. who is also a member of the AMS advisory board.  Professor Burton's team of recent MBA graduates will gather and analyze primary data in an effort to determine the best practices for utilizing video and other digital media to connect with shoppers and enhance the shopping experience. Study will also look at optimal strategies for the wider rollout of 3GTv™ in 2011.  Specifically, the research will explore:

• How shoppers interact with and feel about media in the store
• The appropriate use of in-store video and the role that audio plays in the in-store experience
• The impact of different types of creative on purchasing behavior
• The impact of 3GTv™'s measurement technology on the adoption and utilization of retail media

Companies participating in the 3GTv™ Bloom pilot will be invited to join a research committee led by Professor Burton. As committee members, 3GTv™ pilot participants will be able to help formulate the research agenda and tailor studies to particular areas of focus. Intelligence gleaned from the research may also help inform product placement and store layout for retailers to maximize merchandising opportunities.

"Research has played a vital role in 3GTv™'s development, and as we move from the lab into the store, this research program will allow us to apply new insights to the improvement of our media technologies," said Bob Wolinsky, CEO of AMS.  "The goal is to take the known science and art of media and television and discover the important qualities that can make marketers' efforts more predictable and efficient, while providing shoppers with the best possible experience."

About Automated Media Services, Inc.

Automated Media Services, Inc. (AMS) is an Allendale, New Jersey-based firm responsible for the creation and development of the next generation television called 3rd Generation Television or 3GTv™.  The 3GTv™ network is the first out-of-home form of television – the solution to today's media and advertising crisis.  Like radio, which decades ago made the leap from in-home to out-of-home, television is now going to do the same with the 3GTv™ network.  Founded by a coterie of industry veterans with over 150 years of collective experience in television, engineering, advertising and marketing, AMS has fused the benefits of in-home television, the efficiencies of the Internet with the ideal demographic location to yield the first development of an automated, plannable advertising and media platform located in the midst of the most coveted marketing environment in the physical universe, the retail store.  For more information, visit: www.3gtv.com.

SOURCE Automated Media Services, Inc.

CHICAGO, Sept. 13 /PRNewswire/ — Sometimes elderly advice is the best advice, according to a new study from the Kellogg School of Management at Northwestern University. The research finds a silver lining to the negative effects of aging—older adults' declining ability to control their responses allows them to provide a greater quantity and quality of advice when it comes to uncomfortable social situations. This is the first study to show that age-related declines in executive function lead to these positive behavioral effects, leading to significantly greater potential for prompting lifestyle changes among advice recipients.

"Everyone at one point or another has witnessed a grandparent or an older adult bluntly comment on someone's appearance while others refrain from saying anything," said Evan Apfelbaum, visiting assistant professor of management and organizations at the Kellogg School and lead author. "We explored the psychological basis for this sort of anecdotal experience and have identified some remarkable positive implications of these naturally-occurring declines in older adults' ability to suppress behavior."

Apfelbaum and his co-authors examined age-related declines in executive function—the mental capacity to control one's responses—among elderly adults (with an average age of 73 years old). While most people remain guarded when discussing sensitive topics in public, the researchers found that this age-related decline prompts the opposite approach and proves itself to be beneficial in social contexts.

"Aging is often associated with a host of negative consequences, including issues with memory, attention, and decision-making," Apfelbaum said. "However, age-related declines in the capacity to control behavior can serve as an ice-breaker, fostering greater engagement and comfort in typically stressful social exchanges.  It appears that these older adults are able to give better advice in these thorny situations because others are more concerned with being offensive than being helpful."

To test this theory, the researchers designed a task in which participants volunteered in a "community-based interview initiative to counsel struggling teenagers." This experiment included 19 college-age adults and 32 elderly adults.  Half of the older adults demonstrated relatively high levels of executive function (comparable to the healthy young adults) and the other half of the older adults demonstrated relatively low levels of executive function. All participants received a photograph of a visibly overweight female and a fictional letter in which she pleaded for help regarding her struggles. The teenager complained of a lack of energy, decreased social engagement, abnormal sleeping patterns and a lack of interest in school—symptoms often associated with childhood obesity. After reviewing the case, the participants were asked to offer advice to the teen and were video recorded.  

The researchers discovered that only 32 percent of the college-age adults and 44 percent of the older adults with higher levels of executive function explicitly mentioned weight as a potential source of the teen's problems. However, 80 percent of the older adults with lower levels of executive function explicitly mentioned weight.

"Although the older adults possessing higher executive function and college-age adults recognized the teenager's serious health threat, they tended not to share their concerns," added Apfelbaum.

Another major finding is the impact of the advice given by the older adults. The researchers asked doctors specializing in obesity treatment to blindly evaluate the advice generated by all participants. These doctors rated the advice provided by older adults with lower executive function as having significantly greater potential to prompt a lifestyle change compared to the other participants.

The study, "Age-related Decline in Executive Function Predicts Better Advice-Giving in Uncomfortable Social Contexts," will appear in a forthcoming issue of the Journal of Experimental Social Psychology. Apfelbaum co-authored the research with Anne C. Krendl and Nalini Ambady of Tufts University.

MORE INFORMATION:  To request the full study or to arrange an interview with Professor Evan Apfelbaum, contact Aaron Mays at the contact information listed below.

For more information about the Kellogg School of Management at Northwestern University, visit http://www.kellogg.northwestern.edu.

SOURCE Kellogg School of Management at Northwestern University

–Stop MRSA Now Coalition Member Focuses on Disinfecting Sports Equipment and Other Shared Items to Help Prevent the Spread of MRSA–

WASHINGTON, Sept. 13 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ — Skin infections like MRSA, which spread through skin to skin contact as well as contact with equipment and shared items, are the cause of 56 percent of all outbreaks of infectious diseases in competitive sports in the U.S.(1,2)– but simple steps parents can take can help prevent the spread.  MRSA (methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus) is a potentially life-threatening antibiotic resistant Staph bacteria that has increasingly been found in community and youth sports settings.(3)

The Stop MRSA Now Coalition in partnership with The Clorox Company and SwapMeSports.com, has teamed up with professional basketball star Grant Hill to launch Equip them Well, a program to help teach families and sports teams about practical MRSA prevention steps, such as washing hands and disinfecting equipment with a bleach solution.  Like so many others who have been affected by the threat of MRSA, Hill understands the importance of prevention, both in the locker room and on the court.

"We need to get more kids in the game with youth sports – but I also know firsthand that MRSA is a tough opponent that many young athletes may face," said Hill, MRSA survivor and Stop MRSA Now Coalition member.  "That is why I am excited about the Equip Them Well program to inform parents and coaches that we all play a part in MRSA prevention."

Donate Used Sports Equipment and Score a Chance to Meet Grant Hill

In addition to educating parents about MRSA prevention, the Equip Them Well program is committed to providing the resources necessary for kids from all communities to take part in youth sports. Parents can collect, disinfect and donate used youth sports equipment to communities in need through the Equip Them Well page on StopMRSANow.org.  

Each family that visits StopMRSANow.org and enters the sweepstakes will score a chance to win a trip to Phoenix for a Suns game and exclusive "meet-and-greet" with Hill.

Equip Them Well – With Simple Equipment Wellness Steps

MRSA is generally spread by skin to skin contact and by touching surfaces that have come in contact with a person's infection. The following steps can help prevent the spread in community settings:

• Scrub up – Wash hands frequently with soap and warm water for at least 15 seconds or use an alcohol-based hand rub sanitizer.  
• Wipe it down – Use a disinfecting bleach solution to wipe down and disinfect hard surfaces. (1 tablespoon of disinfecting bleach diluted in 1 gallon of water or as directed on label)
• Cover your cuts – Keep any nicks or wounds covered with a clean, dry bandage until healed.
• Keep to yourself – Do not share personal items, like towels or razors, that come into contact with bare skin.
• Use a barrier – Keep a towel or clothing between skin and shared equipment.
• Don't play dirty – Wash children's athletic clothing after each use, using the warmest wash recommended and adding bleach when appropriate.

All teams know that sports equipment is often shared among teammates. That makes "equipment wellness" another important part of preventing the spread of MRSA in youth sports settings. It is important to:

• Regularly clean and disinfect sports equipment like balls, racket grips and bats.
• Pay particular attention to disinfecting or properly laundering sports equipment that comes into direct contact with the skin of the players, such as headgear/helmets, mats, and body armor. (3,4)
• Avoid using tape to wrap gripping areas of rackets, bar bells, or to repair rips and tears on other sports equipment. This may provide an environment for germs to thrive and may interfere with the disinfectant process.

Parents can read and download practical prevention steps online at www.stopmrsanow.org.

About STOP MRSA NOW

STOP MRSA Now is a coalition of community members who have experienced first-hand the threat of MRSA and MRSA experts who are committed to working together to reduce the spread of MRSA in community settings and to educate community members on MRSA prevention.

MRSA is a potentially life-threatening antibiotic resistant Staph infection. The MRSA bacteria is carried by up to 5 percent of the population, especially in younger people.(5) According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, in 2005, nearly 19,000 Americans died from MRSA infections.(6) During the same year, there were 134 cases of MRSA in children.(7)

About SwapMeSports.com

SwapMeSports.com is a free community website that allows parents to buy, sell, trade or donate used sports equipment.  The organization facilitates the donation of equipment to organizations, schools and leagues through its community giving program. All donated equipment benefits the many children who would like to participate in sports but cannot afford to. SwapMeSports.com's sponsorship of Equip Them Well encourages families and teams to collect, disinfect and donate used sports equipment, while educating them on MRSA prevention.  For more information, visit www.swapmesports.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. 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.

(1) Turbeville, S.D., Infectious Disease Outbreaks in Competitive Sports. American Journal of Sports Medicine. 2006: 34(11):1860-5.

(2) Zinder, S.Z., National Athletic Trainers' Association Position Statement: Skin Diseases. Journal of Athletic Training. 2010;45(4):411-428.

(3)http://chfs.ky.gov/NR/rdonlyres/DAE9D31C-E9C5-4038-8406-E6B41F70A716/134186/MRSAGuidelinesFinal2_Nov14.doc

(4)http://www.cdph.ca.gov/healthinfo/discond/documents/camrsainfectionsguidelineathleticsdepartment.pdf

(5) "Defend Against MRSA," GoErie.com (PA). July 20, 2008.  

(6) "Puzzling threat; Tough infection challenges doctors," Cox News Service. July 29, 2008

(7) Klevens, R M, Invasive Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus aureus Infections in the United States. JAMA. 2007;298(15):1763-1771.

SOURCE STOP MRSA Now Coalition

PHILADELPHIA, Sept. 13 /PRNewswire/ — Big Brothers Big Sisters is celebrating Hispanic Heritage Month by recognizing "Bigs," "Littles," families, staff and supporters who make their Hispanic Mentoring programs successful.  

(Photo:  http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20100913/PH62038 )

(Photo:  http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20100913/PH62038 )

Big Brothers Big Sisters, the nation's largest donor-supported network of volunteer mentors for youth, carefully makes and supports mentoring matches through community and school-based programs.  The network's nearly 380 agencies across the U.S. provide long-term mentoring support for more Latino children (approximately 44,000), their families and volunteer mentors than any other organization in the nation.  Longstanding independent research finds children mentored in the network — primarily those of single, low-income and incarcerated parents — are more likely to succeed in and out of school.

In a recent informal survey completed by 513 Big Brothers Big Sisters Hispanic mentors ("Bigs"), the majority said they feel good about their mentoring experience.  Big Brothers Big Sisters serves approximately 8,385 self-identified Hispanic mentors.

• 96.6% of Hispanic Bigs who answered the survey agree that they are proud to be a Big.
• 95.9% would recommend being a Big to their friends and family.
• 91.1% agree that their Little is excited to see them when they meet.
• 91.3% say their family and friends support their match.

The organization is focused on recruiting more Latino volunteers, especially males, as boys of color (Hispanic and African American) disproportionately represent those waiting to be matched.

With generous donations from the MetLife Foundation, Goizueta Foundation, Jack-in-the-Box, Cargill, and M&T Trusts, Big Brothers Big Sisters agencies offer Hispanic outreach and mentoring programs that go beyond simple translation and allow staffers to take a culturally competent approach to engaging Hispanic families and volunteers in the mentoring process.  The organization is also working with Univision, offering information and resources through the network's Es el Momento program, which focuses on increasing high school graduation/college attendance among Latinos.  

Big Brothers Big Sisters' 2010 Hispanic Heritage Month activities will include a variety of recognition activities, such as electronic greeting cards for Bigs, Littles, families and mentoring program funders/partners; pot-luck receptions to recognize volunteers, donors and Littles' successes; and "cafecitos," to allow mentoring matches to share with one another stories of the impact of their mentoring relationships while enjoying coffee and traditional desserts.  

Across the nation, Hispanic families say Big Brothers Big Sisters' Hispanic Mentoring programs are having an impact not just on the mentors, but the children and families served by Bigs with the assistance of agency match support staff.  Here are some examples:

San Antonio, Texas

Rene Esquivel & His Little Brother, Clemente

Rene Esquivel and his 13-year-old Little Brother, Clemente, have been matched three years.  The two met the summer before Clemente entered fourth grade, a time when he was not too thrilled to return to school to face the boys who had been bullying him the year before.

Clemente was a Kindergartener when his biological father was incarcerated.  His mother enrolled him in Big Brothers Big Sisters of South Texas as a way to help her son build his self-esteem and overcome depression.  Since the mentoring match began, Clemente's life has turned around.  He is a happy, socially outgoing A-B student.  Clemente and Rene continue to meet several times a month, playing laser-tag, attending sporting events and movies and just hanging out.  Clemente's mother is delighted with how things are going.

Lorena Gonzalez and Her Little Sister, Vanessa

Lorena Gonzalez and her Little Sister, Vanessa, recently celebrated their two-year match anniversary.  When they met, Vanessa was struggling with peer pressure and personal family challenges.  Vanessa needed a wise friend who was willing to listen to her feelings and wanted the best for her future.

In her work, Lorena provides advice and counsel to local teens about self-esteem and peer pressure.  In the past two years, Vanessa has blossomed, moving away from her former shy and reserved disposition to support her Big Sister by serving as a peer role model.  While she still struggles with peer pressures common to many teens, Vanessa has grown to trust Lorena and look to her for guidance and support that she says keeps her on the right track.

Miami, Florida

Maria Zamudio and Her Now Adult 'Alumni' Little Sister, Ywaidree

Maria Zamudio and her Little Sister, Ywaidree, are still the best of friends.  The pair was matched 20 years ago when Ywaidree was only six years old.  She is now 26.  One of Ywaidree's elementary school counselors told the then six-year-old's mother about Big Brothers Big Sisters.  She knew things were particularly difficult because Ywaidree's mother was raising two children on her own while battling lupus.  Ywaidree was trying to help and didn't have much time to be a kid.

Ywaidree can still recall every detail of her first outing with Maria — the delicious hot fudge sundae…and what seemed like hours sitting together at the playground to just talk.  Month after month, year after year, Maria was always there encouraging Ywaidree, doing homework with her and always supporting her goals and dreams while reminding her to never settle for less.  One day, Ywaidree asked Maria if she thought she could be a doctor one day — she told her that after being in the hospitals so much with her mother, she felt like she would like to help other people.  Maria, who had pursued her own dream and become a police officer for the City of Miami Beach, fully encouraged her to follow her heart.

A supporter of Big Brothers Big Sisters of Greater Miami, Ywaidree is now planning to attend medical school.  "As an adult, I now realize that Maria gave me what every child deserves: unconditional love, guidance, and hope," she says.  Maria plans to be by her side all the way.

California – North Bay

Jasmine Sarmiento and Her Little Sister, Jazzmine

Jasmine has been matched with her Little Sister Jazzmine since March of 2007.  As is sometimes the case when mentors are matched with teenagers, scheduling issues were an obstacle in the beginning, as Jazzmine preferred spending time with her friends.  Still, with support and guidance from her match specialist at Big Brothers Big Sisters of the North Bay, Jasmine was committed to setting up weekly outings and eventually won Jazzmine's interest by offering to share cool "teen" experiences in the community, such as museums, and shopping in San Francisco.  

Within time, Jazzmine began sharing more about who she is, what drives her and challenges with growing up — communication issues with her father, being bullied at school, being pulled into negative peer pressure and managing her anger.  Jasmine has been a good listener and has helped her Little Sister by bringing her into her book club and referring her to helpful community resources, including some available through Big Brothers Big Sisters of the North Bay.  Recently during a check-in with Mom, Jazzmine's match specialist overheard the teen in background saying, "Is that Big Brothers Big Sisters?  Tell them I love my Big Sister Jasmine so much!"

San Diego, California

Big Brother, Alfonso, and his Little Brother Abraham

Alfonso knew the moment he met his then 12-year-old Little Brother, Abraham, the weight of his commitment to serve as a mentor with Big Brothers Big Sisters of San Diego County.  "I recall the other teens standing in the shadows looking at me approach the apartments that day. I felt a great responsibility for my new Little Brother and from his mother, Gina, in trusting me with her only son. At that moment, I began to understand the importance of this program."  

An immigrant from Mexico, Alfonso learned from his family the importance of hard work and selflessness.  Today, he sees his Little Brother, Abraham, embracing those same values.  The youngster has gone from being a D-F student to earning B's and C's and said the teen now sees the importance of education.  

"He [Alfonso] has also taught me about self confidence. He has made me think more about my future and has showed me a whole new world. He shows me love, respect and never judges me," Abraham said.

Big Brother Raul and His Little Brother, Herwinth

Just a little more than a year after Carmela, a single mother of four children, enrolled her son, Herwinth, with Big Brothers Big Sisters of San Diego County, she sees remarkable progress with his school performance, behavior and attitude.  After a difficult and tumultuous relationship with her children's father ended, Herwinth's mother worried that her son was becoming withdrawn and angry.  Today, she thanks Raul and her Big Brothers Big Sisters of San Diego County match specialist, Paula Garcia-Reynaga, for the changes she sees in her son.  

"Since Herwinth has been matched, I have noticed significant changes in his attitude and behavior.  Before, he usually kept to himself.  I saw him as a lost child, slowly heading towards the wrong path."  Raul spends time with Herwinth several times a month, playing soccer with him, taking him to San Diego Chargers games or sharing movies.  "Herwinth used to get satisfactory grades, but he now gets A's and 'Excellent' marks.  I am extremely amazed by the program and the impact Raul has had on my son," Carmela said.

About Big Brothers Big Sisters

For more than 100 years, Big Brothers Big Sisters has operated under the belief that inherent in every child is the ability to succeed and thrive in life. Most children served by Big Brothers Big Sisters are in single-parent and low-income families or households where a parent is incarcerated. As the nation's largest donor and volunteer supported mentoring network, Big Brothers Big Sisters makes meaningful, monitored matches between adult volunteers ("Bigs") and children ("Littles").

Big Brothers Big Sisters provides a system of ongoing evaluation and support that is proven by independent studies to help families by improving the odds that "Littles" will perform better in school and avoid violence and illegal activities, and have stronger relationships with their parents and others. Headquartered in Philadelphia with a network of nearly 400 agencies across the country, Big Brothers Big Sisters serves more than 255,000 children. Learn how you can positively impact a child's life, donate, or volunteer at BigBrothersBigSisters.org.

SOURCE Big Brothers Big Sisters

HOLLYWOOD, Calif., Sept. 13 /PRNewswire/ — Paramount Pictures, Participant Media and Walden Media jointly announced today Adopt-A-Classroom and Jones New York in the Classroom have joined the WaitingforSuperman.com "Pledge Progress Meter" by committing to donate $50,000 to schools in need once 80,000 people pledge to see the award-winning documentary film WAITING FOR "SUPERMAN."

(Logo:  http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/19991206/PARLOGO)

(Logo:  http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/19991206/PARLOGO)

"Teachers play a critical role in the success of our schools, our communities and our children," said James Rosenberg, Founder and Executive Director of Adopt-A-Classroom.  "We, along with our national sponsor Jones New York In The Classroom, are excited and honored to be affiliated with 'Waiting for "Superman,"' a film that should enlighten the country about the many challenges students and teachers confront in the classroom everyday."

Adopt-A-Classroom and Jones New York in the Classroom become the fifth notch on the WaitingforSuperman.com "Pledge Progress Meter." FirstBook, OfficeMax®, DonorsChoose.org and Houghton Mifflin Harcourt have already committed to making a difference in education by taking the pledge.

WAITING FOR "SUPERMAN" directed by Davis Guggenheim ("An Inconvenient Truth") will be released under the Paramount Vantage banner and distributed by Paramount Pictures.  It examines the crisis of public education in the United States through multiple interlocking stories. Designed to start a national conversation, the movie and corresponding "Take the Pledge" campaign aim to inspire everyone to create innovative and long-term solutions to help change the course of our kids' lives for the better. The "Pledge Progress Meter" launched in May as a way for non-profits, foundations and corporations to match individual pledge levels with powerful action items aimed at helping both students and public schools.

The film opens in New York and Los Angeles on September 24, nationwide in October.

The film is produced by Lesley Chilcott, with Participant Media's Jeff Skoll and Diane Weyermann serving as executive producers. It is written by Davis Guggenheim & Billy Kimball.

For more information about the movie, or to take the pledge go to http://www.WaitingForSuperman.com or text "PLEDGE" to 77177.

To join the conversation visit us on Facebook at http://www.Facebook.com/WaitingForSuperman

What does your school need? Tell us by Tweeting #MySchoolNeeds at http://www.Twitter.com/WaitingSuperman

For more on Adopt-A-Classroom and Jones New York in the Classroom, visit:

http://www.adoptaclassroom.org/

http://www.jnyintheclassroom.org/

About Paramount Pictures Corporation

Paramount Pictures Corporation (PPC), a global producer and distributor of filmed entertainment, is a unit of Viacom (NYSE: VIA, VIA.B), a leading content company with prominent and respected film, television and digital entertainment brands.  The company's labels include Paramount Pictures, Paramount Vantage, Paramount Classics, Insurge Pictures, MTV Films, and Nickelodeon Movies.  PPC operations also include Paramount Digital Entertainment, Paramount Famous Productions, Paramount Home Entertainment, Paramount Pictures International, Paramount Licensing Inc., Paramount Studio Group, and Worldwide Television Distribution.

About Participant Media

Participant Media is a Los Angeles-based entertainment company that focuses on socially relevant, commercially viable feature films, documentaries and television, as well as publishing and digital media. Participant Media is headed by CEO Jim Berk and was founded in 2004 by philanthropist Jeff Skoll, who serves as Chairman. Ricky Strauss is President.

Participant exists to tell compelling, entertaining stories that bring to the forefront real issues that shape our lives.  For each of its projects, Participant creates extensive social action and advocacy programs, which provide ideas and tools to transform the impact of the media experience into individual and community action. Participant's films include The Kite Runner, Charlie Wilson's War, Darfur Now, An Inconvenient Truth, Good Night, and Good Luck, Syriana, Standard Operating Procedure, The Visitor, The Soloist, Food, Inc., The Informant!, The Cove, The Crazies, Oceans, Furry Vengeance, CASINO JACK and the United States of Money, Countdown to Zero and Waiting for "Superman."

About Walden Media

Walden Media specializes in entertainment for the whole family. Past award-winning films include: "The Chronicles of Narnia" series, "Journey to the Center of the Earth," "Nim's Island" and "Charlotte's Web." Upcoming films include the third installment in the Narnia series "The Chronicles of Narnia: The Voyage of the Dawn Treader."

About Adopt-A-Classroom

Adopt-A-Classroom is a national, award-winning 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization dedicated to supporting classroom teachers and ensuring all children have equal access to a quality education.  Since 1998, the organization has raised over $15 million on behalf of classrooms across America.  Donations are tax-deductible and 100% is passed through to the teacher.  Teachers have the ability to purchase resources that create a more engaging learning environment and also provide valuable new means to inspire children about the wonders of learning.  To support a classroom, visit www.adoptaclassroom.org.

About Jones Apparel Group

Jones Apparel Group, Inc. (www.jonesapparel.com) is a leading designer, marketer and wholesaler of branded apparel, footwear and accessories. The Company also markets directly to consumers through its chain of specialty retail and value-based stores and through its e-commerce web sites. The Company's nationally recognized brands include Jones New York, Nine West, Anne Klein, Gloria Vanderbilt, Stuart Weitzman, Robert Rodriguez, Kasper, Bandolino, Easy Spirit, Evan-Picone, l.e.i., Energie, Enzo Angiolini, Joan & David, Mootsies Tootsies, Sam & Libby, Napier, Judith Jack, Albert Nipon and Le Suit. The Company also markets costume jewelry under the Givenchy brand licensed from Givenchy Corporation, women's footwear under the Dockers® and Dockers® Women brands and infants', toddlers' and boys' footwear (excluding girls' footwear) under the Dockers® and Dockers® Premium brands, licensed from Levi Strauss & Co., apparel and accessories under the Rachel Roy brand licensed from Rachel Roy IP Company, LLC, and Jessica Simpson jeanswear licensed from VCJS LLC.  Each brand is differentiated by its own distinctive styling, pricing strategy, distribution channel and target consumer. The Company contracts for the manufacture of its products through a worldwide network of quality manufacturers. The Company has capitalized on its nationally known brand names by entering into various licenses for several of its trademarks, including Jones New York, Anne Klein New York, Nine West, Gloria Vanderbilt, l.e.i. and Evan-Picone, with select manufacturers of women's and men's products which the Company does not manufacture. For more than 35 years, the Company has built a reputation for excellence in product quality and value, and in operational execution.

SOURCE Paramount Pictures Corporation

CHICAGO, Sept. 13 /PRNewswire/ — UBM Studios' Unicruit today announces a partnership with the Big East Career Consortium to deliver a fully interactive, 3-dimensional virtual career fair for students of 16 colleges and universities that represent the Big East Career Consortium on November 10, 2010.  Participating schools include Cincinnati, Connecticut, DePaul, Georgetown, Louisville, Marquette, Notre Dame, Pittsburgh, Providence, Rutgers, St. John's, Seton Hall, South Florida, Syracuse, Villanova, and West Virginia.

(Photo:  http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20100913/NY63422 )

(Photo:  http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20100913/NY63422 )

"Given today's economic climate, and organizations' desire to reduce business travel costs, we wanted to provide a vehicle that would allow our students, alumni, and employers to interact as if in person, but from the comfort and convenience of their home or office. The Big East Virtual Career Fair will allow employers to recruit and attract talent from our respective schools in a fully interactive and engaging atmosphere as if they were face to face," says Jacquline Chaffin, president of the Big East Career Consortium and director of career services at Seton Hall.

The Big East Virtual Career Fair will present an excellent opportunity for participating employers to showcase their organizations to thousands of students and alumni. Each employer will have a customized virtual booth that will include full branding, videos, presentations, job postings, chat, resume exchange, and video interviewing. The event will be limited to 100 employers and those interested in exhibiting should respond quickly to secure their place in this groundbreaking event.

"Imagine being able to recruit at 16 campuses in one day. Now imagine being able to do so without spending one dime on airplanes, rental cars, or hotels. What would that do to your bottom line, your work/life balance, and the environment? That is exactly what the employers who participate in this revolutionary approach to recruiting college talent will be able to achieve," states Kevin O'Brien, vice president of business development for UBM Studios.

Today's youth live and interact in a virtual world. They text, Facebook, tweet, and rely on an immediacy of information available at their fingertips. It makes sense that employers looking to attract the best and the brightest would adopt an online strategy to meet and interact with students where they live each day, online.

To view a video tour on how the service works, click here.

To register to participate in the career fair, visit www.bigeastcareerfair.com

For additional information on Unicruit or to inquire about sponsorship, contact Kevin O'Brien at kobrien@unicruit.com or (215) 525-5757 X101.

About the Big East Career Consortium

The Big East Career Consortium is a partnership of 16 college career centers of Big East Conference schools.  The network of schools spans 11 states in a region stretching from Rhode Island to Florida to Wisconsin.   The Big East Conference schools provide career services for more than 324,000 students and 2.4 million alumni.  We offer an unparalleled recruiting opportunity for employers and students.

About Unicruit

UBM Studios' Unicruit is a university-centric job fair in which universities help students find work with corporations.  Unicruit.com partners with universities and corporations to create a digital environment which provides students with access to multiple employers.  The career fairs offer virtual booths; job postings; company videos; company presentations; live chat with company representatives; video interviewing; and resume and interview assistance.  Through a single campus or a regional event, recruiters are able to attend all campus career fairs to reach more campuses with less resources and no travel, while students are able to participate from the comfort of their dorm room.  For additional information on Unicruit, visit www.unicruit.com.

SOURCE UBM Studios

PALO ALTO, Calif., Sept. 13 /PRNewswire/ — GaiaRecycle™, LLC, an industry-leading global provider of organic waste recycling systems, announced that it has signed a Memorandum of Understanding and launched a comprehensive pilot project with Wake Forest University to evaluate GaiaRecycle's functionality, performance and operating procedures for processing and diverting onsite food scraps and other organic waste at the university's campus in Winston-Salem, North Carolina.

During the pilot project, GaiaRecycle is jointly collaborating with Wake Forest University and ARAMARK, its food service management partner, to evaluate the effectiveness of onsite food scraps and organic waste reduction and reuse of the output material. The GaiaRecycle system is being evaluated as a significant solution for diverting the university's waste stream that currently goes to a landfill, and converting waste into to a reusable resource for campus landscaping applications.

GaiaRecycle features modular systems and plant-level implementations, ranging from 220 pounds/day to two tons/day, with patented technology that accelerates the organic decomposition process based on drying, sterilizing and grinding food scraps and organic waste while reducing waste volume and weight by up to 90 percent during its 8 to 11 hours processing cycle. GaiaRecycle also offers an anaerobic digestion solution for producing clean, renewable energy from organic waste to process organic solids with the goal of a zero-impact to landfills.

"Sustainability is a key initiative for the campus and we're looking forward to evaluating the results of this pilot project," said Dedee DeLongpre Johnston, Director of Sustainability at Wake Forest University.

Wake Forest University's primary dining facility, managed and operated by ARAMARK, provides meal services three times per day to the campus' full-time residential students, seven days per week. The GaiaRecycle organic waste recycling system will be used to process the waste stream, and its soil amendment and water output products will be analyzed for possible reuse in the campus composting program and for Wake Forest's landscaping and community garden use.

"We are pleased to partner with Wake Forest University on this initiative and to support the University's goal of diverting food scraps and organic waste," said Matt Lugo, Marketing Programs Manager, ARAMARK.

"Wake Forest University is at the forefront of creating a fully sustainable environment," said Young Song, Chief Executive Officer of GaiaRecycle, LLC. "The success of our alliance with Wake Forest further validates GaiaRecycle's zero-waste initiative, and demonstrates the organic waste recycling and reuse advantages of the system over traditional compost or landfill practices."

GaiaRecycle logo:

http://www.ereleases.com/pic/GaiaRecycleLogo.jpg

Photo:

http://www.ereleases.com/pic/GaiaRecycle-200SH.jpg

About Wake Forest University

Located in Winston-Salem, North Carolina, Wake Forest University (http://www.wfu.edu) is consistently ranked in the top 30 national universities by U.S. News and World Report and receives high marks for its small class sizes, high study-abroad rates, and commitment to technological innovation. Undergraduate enrollment is about 4,500, and an additional 2,500 students are enrolled in the Graduate Schools of Arts and Sciences, Law, Business, Divinity and Medicine. Wake Forest University's Office of Sustainability supports student, faculty and staff groups in developing strategic initiatives for integrating principles of sustainability into university programs, from teaching and research to public service and campus operations.

About ARAMARK

ARAMARK (http://www.aramark.com) is a leader in professional services, providing award-winning food services, facilities management, and uniform and career apparel to health care institutions, universities and school districts, stadiums and arenas, and businesses around the world. The company is recognized as one of the "World's Most Ethical Companies" by the Ethisphere Institute, as the industry leader in FORTUNE magazine's "World's Most Admired Companies," and as one of America's Largest Private Companies by both FORTUNE and Forbes magazines. ARAMARK seeks to responsibly address issues that matter to its clients, customers, employees and communities by focusing on employee advocacy, environmental stewardship, health and wellness, and community involvement. Headquartered in Philadelphia, ARAMARK has approximately 255,000 employees serving clients in 22 countries.

About GaiaRecycle, LLC

Headquartered in Palo Alto, CA, GaiaRecycle, LLC (http://www.gaiarecycle.com) provides innovative organic waste recycling and animal oil extraction solutions to U.S. industries including food service providers, food retailers, food producers and manufacturers, livestock processing plants and compost facilities. GaiaRecycle systems process a wide variety of materials including mixed food scraps, chicken bones and liquids without causing jamming or downtime. GaiaRecycle utilizes patented technology developed by its affiliate company, Gaia Corporation, in Korea that has been implemented in its organic waste recycling systems and deployed in a wide range of commercial and industrial applications in over eight countries since 1992.

This press release was issued through eReleases(R).  For more information, visit eReleases Press Release Distribution at http://www.ereleases.com.

SOURCE GaiaRecycle, LLC

Recognizes important work raising awareness about poverty in America

ALEXANDRIA, Va., Sept. 13 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ — Catholic Charities USA, the 100-year-old social service network working to reduce poverty in America, congratulates members of the Cycling for Change team for their 3-month, 5,000-mile journey across the United States raising awareness of poverty in America.

(Logo: http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20081008/CCUSALOGO)

(Logo: http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20081008/CCUSALOGO)

The Cycling for Change team, led by Fr. Matthew Ruhl, S.J., embarked on their journey Memorial Day weekend from Cape Flattery, WA, and ended on Labor Day Weekend in Key West, FL. The team pedaled across the plains, over mountains, down river valleys and through large and small communities to raise awareness of the depth of poverty across the nation – and, to point to some of the solutions.

Fr. Ruhl was accompanied by 11 other cyclists and a support team of four. The 12 cyclists come from all walks of life ranging in age from 24 to 63. They are lawyers, doctors, social workers, photographers and retired volunteers.

When asked what motivates the team, Fr. Ruhl explained, "It's about the poor. It's believing that we have to address the epidemic of poverty in this country – and we have to do it now. I hope and pray the Cycling for Change ride bolsters the efforts of Catholic Charities USA to cut poverty in half in this country by 2020."

Catholic Charities USA was founded in 1910 "to bring about a sense of solidarity" among those in charitable ministries. Since 1910, Catholic Charities USA has encouraged professional social work practice, provided opportunities for training and networking, and served as a national voice and expert on poverty issues. The Centennial is a time to reflect on past accomplishments and renew the commitment to serve those in need.

For more information about Catholic Charities USA's Centennial activities, visit http://www.catholiccharitiesusa.org/centennial.

For more information about Cycling for Change, visit http://www.cyclingforchange.org.

Catholic Charities USA's members provide help and create hope for more than 9 million people a year regardless of religious, social, or economic backgrounds. For almost 300 years, Catholic Charities agencies have worked to reduce poverty by providing a myriad of vital services in their communities, ranging from health care and job training to food and housing. In 2010, Catholic Charities USA celebrates its centennial anniversary.

SOURCE Catholic Charities USA

Sustainable Agriculture and Positive Deviance Focus of New Programs

BOSTON, Sept. 13 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ — Timothy Griffin, PhD, Director, Agriculture, Food and Environment Program at Tufts' Friedman School of Nutrition Science and Policy, and Program Chair for the Fifth Annual Friedman School Symposium announced today the addition of two in-depth workshops that create new educational opportunities for attendees to the November, 2010 conference. "Our work in sustainable agriculture and in positive deviance are two of the most exciting efforts at the Friedman School both for their innovative approaches and their immediate application to current issues in nutrition," said Griffin.

The workshops will be offered on the afternoon of November 4^th, adding a half day of new programs to the existing programs on the 5^th and 6^th.  The workshops will be limited to a maximum of 20 persons affording participants a superior learning environment.

The cost for the programs has been fully underwritten by long-time supporter of the Symposium,

The Coca-Cola Company who expressed interest in both programs. "We are delighted that Coca-Cola stepped forward with a gift to support the workshops. It means we are able to add content without increasing costs to the participants," said Mark Krumm, Director of Communications at the Friedman School. "Our directors for each program will teach their respective courses giving our Symposium attendees a unique opportunity to learn from leaders at the Friedman School," said Krumm.

In addition to the workshops, the Symposium has added a plenary session for all registrants on Positive Deviance and a book signing event for the recently released "Power of Positive Deviance" on the evening of November 5^th. Information on the Friedman School's new on-line certificate programs for mid-career professionals starting in January 2011 will also be unveiled. Positive Deviance, Nutrition Communications and Delivery Science in International Nutrition are the first three certificates the school will offer. This event is open to both registrants and the general public, particularly persons who will be in Boston for the American Dietetic Association's annual conference.

Complete program information on the Symposium, book signing and other learning opportunities are online at http://friedmansymposium.com.

About Tufts University's Friedman School

The Gerald J. and Dorothy R. Friedman School of Nutrition Science and Policy at Tufts University is the only independent school of nutrition in the United States. The school's degree programs which focus on questions relating to famine, hunger, poverty, and communications, are renowned for the application of scientific research to national and international policy. For three decades, the Jean Mayer USDA Human Nutrition Research Center on Aging at Tufts University has studied the relationship between good nutrition and good health in aging populations. Tufts research scientists work with federal agencies to establish the USDA Dietary Guidelines, the Dietary Reference Intakes, and other significant public policies.

SOURCE Tufts University Friedman School