Brand Celebrates Second Year as Sponsor and Expands Program to Two New Cities
Tarrytown, NY – July 24, 2008 – Crystal Light, the drink mix that has helped women “pump up their water,” is proud to join Step Up Women’s Network in announcing the expansion to two new cities – New York and Chicago – of the groundbreaking “I Dream To...” photojournalism program. The program partners underserved teenage women with mentors in a desired career field, inviting the teens to learn about and document possible future career paths.
The “I Dream To…” program was conducted over a 12-week period in all three cities, during which teens worked with Step Up program leaders to explore and photograph a variety of career options. Program participants developed new skills in photography, journalism and critical thinking. At the conclusion of the program, teens were paired with women from each of their dream careers, whom they spent a day interviewing and photographing.
“We are delighted that this year’s photojournalism program has grown to include two new cities in our second year as national sponsor,” said Sivonne Davis, Senior Brand Manager, Crystal Light. “We are committed to supporting underserved young women and their mentors, and are proud to sponsor a unique program like ‘I Dream To…’”
“The expansion of this important program to two more major cities would not be possible without the support of Crystal Light,” said Danielle Carrig, Executive Director of Step Up Women’s Network. “Their involvement has enabled Step Up teens to be mentored by successful, career-driven women they wouldn’t necessarily meet every day in their communities, and to dream bigger for what their own careers may hold.”
To celebrate the successful culmination of the program, Step Up teens will be invited to showcase their photographs and essays in art gallery events in their respective cities. Chicago’s photojournalism event, “Daring to Dream Big,” is scheduled for July 24 at the Zygman Voss Gallery. The Los Angeles “I Dream To…” Photojournalism Event will take place on July 26 at the Helms Bakery Complex. The New York City event will be held on July 30 at the Getty Images Gallery, which is a partner for the event. For more information, please visit www.suwn.org.
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Contact:
Tim Hanlon
Marketing Services
212-431-5300 x4701
thanlon@aspenms.com
Bridget MacConnell
Kraft Foods
914-425-6979
bmacconnell@kraft.com
About Crystal Light
With just five calories per serving, Crystal Light is a great tasting, sugar-free beverage, which provides the benefits of hydration. Crystal Light is available in 28 refreshing flavors and comes in a variety of forms including convenient On The Go packets and individual tubs as well as 16 fluid ounce ready-to-drink bottles. Crystal Light is also an excellent beverage option for people with diabetes, because it contains <1 g of carbohydrate per serving and is considered a FREE exchange. For more information about Crystal Light, please visit www.CrystalLight.com.
About uPumpItUp.com
uPumpItUp is the definitive new online social network for women. Sponsored by Kraft brand Crystal Light, uPumpItUp is chaired by actress and musician Mandy Moore, who challenges women to pursue interests and talents to achieve balance in their lives. Moore is supported by a panel of Wellness Experts including fashion guide Bobbie Thomas, entertainment guru Erika Lenkert, celebrity yoga instructor Mandy Ingber and award-winning journalist Cynné Simpson, each of whom encourage women to reach their goals by supporting and interacting with one another through a series of carefully-crafted interactive challenges and the accompanying online community forum. www.upumpitup.com.
About Kraft Foods
Kraft Foods (NYSE:KFT) is one of the world’s largest food and beverage companies, with 2007 revenues of more than $37 billion. For more than 100 years, Kraft has offered consumers delicious and wholesome foods that fit the way they live. Kraft markets a broad portfolio of iconic brands in more than 150 countries, including nine brands with revenues exceeding $1 billion: Kraft cheeses, dinners and dressings; Oscar Mayer meats; Philadelphia cream cheese; Maxwell House coffee; Nabisco cookies and crackers and its Oreo brand; Jacobs coffees; Milka chocolates and LU biscuits. Kraft is a fully independent company and is listed in the Standard & Poor’s 100 and 500 indexes. The company is a member of the Dow Jones Sustainability Index and the Ethibel Sustainability Index. For more information, visit the company’s web site at www.kraft.com.
About Step Up Women’s Network
Step Up Women's Network is a national non-profit membership organization dedicated to strengthening community resources for women and girls. Through teen empowerment programs for underserved girls, women's health education and advocacy, professional mentorship and social networking opportunities, we educate and activate our members to ensure that women and girls have the tools they need to create a better future. Step Up has a network of over 50,000 women nationwide, with offices in Chicago, Los Angeles, and New York. High profile supporters of Step Up Women’s Network include Jessica Alba, Ivanka Trump, Elizabeth Rohm, Jamie Lee Curtis, and Alfre Woodard.
Step Up Women’s Network Teen Empowerment Programs
Step Up Women’s Network Teen Programs inspire underserved teen girls to overcome barriers and achieve their full potential through education in health & well-being, self-esteem & leadership, and career & college development. Girls in Step Up programming are high school-aged with less than 2% of participants’ parents holding a college degree, 90% living at or below the federal poverty level, and 75% of participants’ primary home language is not English. Step Up’s volunteer to teen ratio is 5:1 to ensure that each teen receives the attention and guidance she needs.