News | For Immediate Release
Inland Empire United Way Calls on Facebook Friends for Votes
Target Selects Kids In Need Foundation and HandsOn Network as Two of Ten Charities to Receive a Portion of $3 Million
RANCHO CUCAMONGA, CA (May 14, 2009) – Inland Empire United Way initiatives, IEUW KidSmart and HandsOn Inland Empire, are partners with the Kids In Need Foundation and the HandsOn Network who each recently announced their participation in Bullseye Gives (www.facebook.com/target), the first-ever Target Facebook giving campaign.
From May 10 through May 25, Inland Empire United Way, IEUW KidSmart and HandsOn Inland Empire Facebook fans, constituents, donors and supporters can visit facebook.com/Target and vote for the organization to win a portion of a $3 million charitable donation. Voting for the national organizations benefit our programs locally with more supplies to give to our local schools, and tools to renovate and restore schools in our community. The more votes, the larger the donation, so vote now until May 25!
“This is a great opportunity for us to give free school supplies to more students who desperately need them, so we are very grateful that Target chose the Kids In Need Foundation to be part of this project,” said Dave Smith, executive director of the Foundation.
“We’re delighted to be partnering with Target on this innovative campaign. We’re particularly excited to take part because the money we’re able to generate through votes will help us expand and accelerate the success of our HandsOn Schools program.” states Amy Smith, President, HandsOn Network.
Based on the percentage of votes received per charity, that percentage will represent the charities’ portion of $3 million. All votes and dollars allocated will be updated in real time on the Target Facebook page throughout the course of the contest. Site visitors can vote once per day, every day, throughout the contest. The final donation allocation per charity will be announced on May 26.
“At Target, our reputation is built on our legacy of giving, and Bullseye Gives is an incredible opportunity for us to continue to engage Target guests and the online community,” said Laysha Ward, president, community relations, Target. “This is a unique way to help raise awareness of the important work these deserving charities do and increase localized volunteerism nationwide.”
The other eight charities participating in Bullseye Gives include American Red Cross, Breast Cancer Research Foundation, Feeding America, Parent Teacher Association (PTA), National Park Foundation, Operation Gratitude, St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital®, and The Salvation Army. The selected charities fall within the Target’s core areas of giving, as well as causes that are of specific interest to its guests.
Inland Empire United Way is a nonprofit organization that works in partnership with local community leaders, businesses, government agencies, nonprofit organizations, and individuals to build a stronger community. By strategically investing in programs and initiatives such as HandsOn Inland Empire, KidSmart, Pathways, and 2-1-1 San Bernardino County, long-lasting and positive changes are made in the lives of children, families, and individuals. The IEUW service area covers regions of Los Angeles, San Bernardino, and Riverside counties. Visit us online at www.ieuw.org.
The IEUW KidSmart initiative improves the lives of underprivileged children by ensuring they attend school well fed, ready to learn, and equipped with tools to learn and succeed. KidSmart partners with schools, companies, organizations, and volunteers to accomplish this goal through its programs: Kids Pack, Kids Café, Healthy Kids, and School Tools. Visit us online at www.ieuwkidsmart.org.
HandsOn Inland Empireis a program of Inland Empire United Way bringing individuals, families, teams and corporate groups together to strengthen communities through meaningful volunteer action within San Bernardino and Riverside Counties and the Pomona Valley. Visit us online at www.HandsOnInlandEmpire.org
About Kids In Need Foundation
The Kids In Need Foundation is a national 501(c)(3) charitable organization whose mission is to ensure that every child is prepared to learn and succeed by providing free school supplies nationally to students most in need. The Kids in Need National Network of Resource Centers includes 23 facilities that allow teachers from low-income schools to obtain free school supplies for their students. In addition, Kids In Need Teacher Grants provide K-12 educators with funding to provide innovative learning opportunities for students. The Kids in Need Foundation has distributed nearly $300 million in school supplies since its founding, directly benefiting 1.6 million students and 100,000 teachers annually, and has awarded $1 million in grants to teachers.
About HandsOn Network
HandsOn Network, a business unit of Points of Light Institute, creates opportunities for people to apply their interests and passions to make a difference in communities. The Network is leading people from impulse to action turning their ideas for change into real projects like renovating student classrooms, creating new school libraries, building wheel chair ramps, watershed protection projects and tutoring programs. The Network includes over 250 affiliates reaching 83% of the American population, with an additional 12 international affiliates in 9 countries. In 2008 alone, HandsOn Network supported 70,000 nonprofit organizations with training and resources for volunteer management, engaged 1.3 million volunteers and generated an estimated 30.4 million service hours, valued at $615 million, toward critical community problems.
About Target
Minneapolis-based Target Corporation (NYSE:TGT) serves guests at 1,699 stores in 49 states nationwide and at Target.com. Target is committed to providing a fun and convenient shopping experience with access to unique and highly differentiated products at affordable prices. Since 1946, the corporation has given 5 percent of its income through community grants and programs like Take Charge of Education. Today, that giving equals more than $3 million a week.
Facebook® is a registered trademark of Facebook Inc.
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For more information, please contact:
Allan Collins, HandsOn Inland Empire Director, at (909) 980-2857 ext 243
Lorraine Ousley, KidSmart Director, at (909) 980-2857 ext 203
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