Ridgefield Park, N.J. – New York Giants quarterback Eli Manning
today called on students, parents and teachers across the U.S. to improve
technology in classrooms by submitting a 100-word essay for the chance to win a
portion of more than $1 million in technology from Samsung’s Four Seasons of
Hope.
The philanthropic initiative will reward winning writers with a
Samsung Go netbook and their local schools with cutting-edge Samsung products,
Microsoft software, DirecTV educational television programming, cash grants and
Best Buy gift cards.
The contest comes on the heels of Samsung’s National Tech in The
Classroom survey that reveals 77 percent of Americans think the K-12 schools in
their communities lack the technology access needed to help kids succeed in the
21st century. Respondents to the survey further named technology teaching tools
among the top three needs for companies to meet in local classrooms.
“Samsung continually develops high-quality products featuring the
latest in innovation and design. These efforts led to much of Samsung’s recent
success and market leadership in the electronics industry, and now we plan to
leverage these achievements to help close the technology gap in schools,” said
C.S. Choi, president and CEO of Samsung Electronics America. “It is our goal to
help students, teachers and everyone interested in advancing technology in U.S.
schools. Samsung’s Four Seasons of Hope allows us to be a part of the solution
to help the people and communities where we work and live.”
Samsung and its partners have provided more than $9 million in
technology, software, TV programming donations and cash grants to K-12 schools
in the U.S. over the past five years.
Beginning today through Nov. 1, entrants can submit 100-word
essays on the subject: “How consumer electronics, computer equipment and
software awarded through Samsung’s Four Seasons of Hope could benefit your
school?” To view all of the contest rules and submit the essay visit: www.fourseasonsofhope.com. Follow
the contest on Four Seasons of Hope’s Facebook fan page (www.facebook.com/fourseasonsofhope)
or on Twitter from @SamsungTweets.
As part of his commitment to Four Seasons of Hope, Manning filmed
a public service announcement about technology and education that will air
during the month of October in Best Buy stores and broadcasted on the DirecTV
network nationwide. A donation representing a portion of Samsung purchases made
at Best Buy stores during the contest period will be made benefitting
non-profit youth charities. Students (with parental/guardian permission) can
vote at [email protected].
The panel of judges participating in the judging process will
include Steve Smith, editor in chief of TWICE, and representatives from Cornell
University, Wharton Business School, USA Today, American Association of School
Administrators (AASA) and PTO Today.
