MEDIA ADVISORY
Contact: Alan Miller AMPR 718-317-8745 alanmillerpr@aol.com
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
OLYMPIC SILVER MEDALIST TIM MOREHOUSE LAUNCHES FENCING-IN-THE-SCHOOLS TO BRING FENCING TO
1 MILLION STUDENTS IN THE U.S.!
KICKOFF EVENT AT BARYSHNIKOV ARTS CENTER TO FEATURE
“FENCING MASTERS” COMPETITION WITH OLYMPIANS AND VERY SPECIAL GUESTS
2008 Olympic Silver Medalist, and three-time Olympic team member Tim Morehouse launches his ambitious FENCING-IN-THE-SCHOOLS initiative with a special fundraising event at the Baryshnikov Arts Center (450 West 37th Street, NYC) on WEDNESDAY, MARCH 13 at 7:00pm. FENCING-IN-THE-SCHOOLS (501c3) is aimed at increasing awareness for the sport of fencing and highlighting fencing as a great fitness alternative to combat childhood obesity in America’s youth while instilling Olympic ideals. The initiative will launch with a pilot program for 1,800 students at six schools in East and West Harlem starting in late March through the Democracy Prep charter school network.
The March 13th event, held in collaboration with online fundraising platform Crowdrise, aims to secure funding for the initial pilot program. Event sponsor Sabra Hummus is covering the event costs so that 100% of proceeds raised through ticket sales will be dedicated to covering expenses for launching fencing schools with Democracy Prep.
“The goal of FENCING-IN-THE-SCHOOLS is to eventually get a million kids fencing, and we know that in order to do that we’re going to need people to take action to assist us, “said Morehouse. “By partnering with Crowdrise, we feel we’ve found a great platform that will enable us to engage the energy and passion of the fencing community and local schools to help us bring fencing across the country. This effort depends on your support. Please join us!”
The event will feature inspirational talks by members of the U.S. Olympic fencing team and FENCING-IN-THE-SCHOOLS ambassadors, including World Cup Paris Team Gold Medalist Miles Chamley-Watson and Olympians Nzhingha Prescod and Daryl Homer.
A highlight of the kickoff event will be the Fencing Masters competition featuring the best U.S. fencers competing head-to-head, including Morehouse versus Homer in a battle of the top two men’s saber fencers in the country. UNIVERSAL SPORTS NETWORK, which aired last year’s Fencing Masters: Kickoff to London, will air the Fencing Masters portion of the FENCING-IN-THE-SCHOOLS launch event in April 2013.
To purchase tickets to the March 13th FENCING-IN-THE-SCHOOLS launch event, to donate to the schools, or to join the campaign and directly help with the fundraising efforts, please visit www.crowdrise.com/fencingintheschools2013. You can also support the cause by sharing this web link via social media.
For more information about FENCING-IN-THE-SCHOOLS and to learn how you can get involved, please visit www.fencingintheschools.org.
MORE…
ABOUT FENCING-IN-THE-SCHOOLS
Fencing-in-the-Schools (www.fencingingtheschools.org) is an educational organization whose mission statement, “Empowering youth to achieve excellence through the sport of fencing” will be carried out by bringing the sport of fencing to schools around the country to fight childhood obesity while promoting the Olympic ideals of excellence, respect, and friendship.
It was founded in 2011 by Olympic Silver Medalist and Teach For America alum Tim Morehouse so children could have the same opportunities and benefits that he had from the sport. Fencing-in-the-Schools carries out its mission by training school teachers to teach the sport of fencing utilizing the Fencing-in-the-Schools youth curriculum. The curriculum focuses on both the physical and mental skills of fencing, while also promoting the ideals of the Olympic movement.
The organization raises awareness for the sport and its programs by utilizing U.S. Olympic team members and Fencing-in-the-Schools ambassadors to conduct school assemblies, give fencing clinics, appear in promotional videos, and participate in events throughout the country that help promote their mission.
The program will kick-off with 1800 students fencing in East and West Harlem and look to expand to 10,000 students across the country in the 2013-2014 school year with an ultimate goal of 1 million kids fencing by 2023. Schools interested in participating in a program should email info@fencingintheschools.org
ABOUT CROWDRISE
Crowdrise (www.crowdrise.com), founded by actor Ed Norton, is a unique blend of crowdfunding, social networking, contests, and more. It is an innovative, online fundraising and event management website for individuals, charity fundraisers and event fundraising. Crowdrise helps you raise tons of money for your cause or charity and have the most fun in the world while doing it.
ABOUT DEMOCRACY PREP: CHARTER SCHOOL NETWORK
Democracy Prep Public Schools is a growing network of seven nonprofit public charter schools that share the same goal of ensuring that all scholars “Work Hard, Go to College, and Change the World.” In 2012-13, Democracy Prep is educating roughly 2,000 citizen-scholars in grades K-12. Over the past five years, Democracy Prep has been the highest performing Charter Management Organization on the Chancellor’s Progress Report, and in 2010 Democracy Prep Charter Middle School was named the #1 middle school in the entire City of New York. In 2012, Democracy Prep’s Harlem Prep Charter School became the most successful turnaround of a public school in New York State history.
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