ALEXANDRIA, VA--(Marketwire - Nov 14, 2012) - National PTA®, along with AXA Foundation (the philanthropic arm of AXA Equitable) announced today that for the first time ever PTA Take Your Family to School Week will have a theme, which will focus on a critical risk for our nation's youth -- Safety at Home and at Play.
Another first is National PTA making tool kits available for any and all parent groups and community organizations. The tool kits, developed in partnership with Safe Kids Worldwide, will arm parent groups with resources to engage families, teachers, students and the community to raise awareness of the most dangerous safety risks and work together to achieve safer behaviors. Tool kits will also have tips to help groups conduct events and activities for Take Your Family to School Week.
National PTA also announced that they will offer 100 grants of $500 each to local PTAs across the country as part of National PTA's Take Your Family to School Week -- a special week in February that encourages PTAs to engage families in their schools and recognizes them for their efforts.
With the announcement of the grants and child safety theme, AXA also reaffirmed its steadfast support of students, families and education by continuing its sponsorship of National PTA. AXA Foundation has been a Proud National Sponsor of PTA since 2005 and has helped to positively engage hundreds of thousands of families in their child's education and school environment. AXA Foundation is also the awards sponsor of Take Your Family to School Week.
"We are excited about the theme for Take Your Family to School Week. For the first time ever we are combining two significant aspects of family engagement into this special week, being involved in your child's education and ensuring their overall health and well-being. Child safety is a growing concern nationwide and PTA wants to inform families about the latest information and resources that will help them keep their kids safe," said Betsy Landers, National PTA President.
"This type of family engagement could not be possible without the AXA Foundation's steadfast support over the years. They are true champions of children, family engagement and student success. Their sponsorship demonstrates their genuine dedication and commitment to our nation's families."
"The AXA Foundation is proud to support PTA Take Your Family to School Week. Our involvement over the years is natural because we support family engagement and children's educational success," said Faith Frank, President of the AXA Foundation. "We're particularly excited about this year's theme of child safety, because AXA Equitable's mission is to help people build more secure futures and provide protection for the long term.
"Through our signature program, AXA Achievement, AXA Equitable is one of the nation's largest corporate providers of scholarships. Our sponsorship of Take Your Family to School Week grants is part of our ongoing commitment to increasing educational opportunities."
The grants are used to build positive partnerships with teachers and families, connect parents to their children's school experiences, and give children fun ways to share what they are learning and doing in class with their families.
Take Your Family to School Week is celebrated each February to pay tribute to PTA's legacy of building family-school partnerships. The timing of the week -- in February -- honors the day PTA was founded: February 17, 1897. The upcoming special week will be held February 18-22, 2013.
About National PTA
National PTA® comprises millions of families, students, teachers, administrators, and business and community leaders devoted to the educational success of children and the promotion of parent involvement in schools. PTA is a registered 501(c)(3) nonprofit association that prides itself on being a powerful voice for all children, a relevant resource for families and communities, and a strong advocate for public education. Membership in PTA is open to anyone who wants to be involved and make a difference for the education, health, and welfare of children and youth.
About AXA Foundation
The AXA Foundation is the philanthropic arm of AXA Equitable, one of the nation's premier financial services organizations and a member of the global AXA Group, a worldwide leader in financial protection and wealth management. The Foundation directs the company's philanthropic and volunteer activities, working to improve the quality of life in communities across the country where AXA has a presence. The AXA Foundation's multifaceted signature program, AXA Achievement, supports the company's strong commitment to Corporate Responsibility and AXA Group's flagship theme of "Risk Research and Education," by providing America's youth with the access and advice to help them succeed in college and beyond. Since AXA Achievement launched in 2003, over $21.5 million in scholarships has been awarded to more than 4,800 students nationwide. For more information, visit www.axa-achievement.com or AXA Equitable's Facebook page.
About Safe Kids Worldwide
Safe Kids Worldwide is a global network of organizations dedicated to providing parents and caregivers with practical and proven resources to protect kids from unintentional injuries, the number one cause of death to children in the United States. Throughout the world, almost one million children die of an injury each year, and every one of these tragedies is preventable. Safe Kids works with an extensive network of more than 600 coalitions in the U.S. and in 22 countries to reduce traffic injuries, drownings, falls, burns, poisonings and more. Since 1988, Safe Kids has helped reduce the U.S. childhood death rate from unintentional injury by 53 percent. Working together, we can do much more for kids everywhere. Join our effort at safekids.org.
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Contact Information:
Contact:
James Martinez
Cell: (571) 329-9352