LOS ANGELES, CA--(Marketwire - May 26, 2010) - GNC, the country's largest specialty retailer of nutritional products, has announced it is the title sponsor of the third annual Third Street Olympic Games in Los Angeles Saturday June 5, 2010. The Games, this year themed "Pass the Torch," help raise awareness and gather school supplies for thousands of homeless children living in Los Angeles. As part of its sponsorship, GNC will donate 1,500 backpacks to the Third Street Elementary School, whose parents and children initiated and host the event as well as purchase school supplies to fill the backpacks. Whole Foods Market Third & Fairfax and Disney / ABC Television Group have also signed on as sponsors.
In addition to filling GNC's 1,500 backpacks with new school supplies, event organizers aim to raise an additional $15,000 for "Friends of Third," a nonprofit organization that supplements under-funded programs at Third Street Elementary, one of many local public schools hit hard by California's budget crisis.
Hosted on the school campus at 201 South June Street from 10 a.m. - 1 p.m., the event is a fun-filled family day that celebrates sports, community and giving. Students compete in a variety of events including relay races, obstacle courses and tug of war while friends and family members cheer from the sidelines.
The admission cost for students is a backpack or bag of new school supplies for donation to local homeless children. Schools on Wheels, a non-profit organization that provides one-on-one tutoring for underprivileged children in Los Angeles, will distribute the collected supplies to homeless children and those in need. All participating children get a "Pass the Torch" t-shirt and a complementary lunch. Parents and guests pay $10 at the door and can purchase a t-shirt to help raise money for the school.
"More than 14,000 children in Los Angeles are homeless," says Dr. Suzie Oh, principal of Third Street Elementary. "Their average age is nine, and school-age homeless children make up a third of the homeless population in LA. The students and families at our school want to help."
According to event co-chairman Trent Cooper, the Third Street Olympic Games started three years ago with a group of parents who wanted to broaden their children's perspectives. "We wanted our children to realize that not all kids had the same opportunities and that some really needed help. Kids are naturally empathetic and the Games have given them a powerful opportunity to express their desire to give and help others."
Cooper added the school is proud that their grassroots effort has grown from the original handful of volunteer parents to 2,000 attendees, and the number of backpacks has nearly doubled with the 1,500 GNC is supplying this year.
Also reflective of the event's growing success, organizers coined the name "Pass the Torch" to symbolize their hopes that the "torch" lit at the Third Street School can be passed to schools across the country. For schools interested in hosting a "Pass the Torch" Olympics organizers plan to provide a turnkey planning-template and post it on the school's website at a later date.
Jennifer Brinker, Vice President of Marketing for GNC, said they are enthusiastic about their opportunity to help double the impact the event has on the homeless population. "The Third Street Olympic Games is a wonderful community effort. GNC is dedicated to helping consumers Live Well, and we applaud what the parents and kids of Third Street Elementary are doing to help others in need live better lives."
In addition to GNC, Whole Foods Market Third & Fairfax is also joining forces to sponsor the event. The Whole Foods Market Third and Fairfax will provide a variety of all-natural foods for a family-style BBQ that volunteer parents will cook and serve. Cindy Yamaguchi, marketing supervisor, said, "Whole Foods is thrilled to be a part of the Third Street Olympic Games. As active participants in our community, we are extremely proud of the students at Third Street Elementary. Their leadership and passion for community service is infectious!"
Third Street invites other individuals and companies to help "Pass the Torch" by logging on to www.ThirdStreetOlympics.com to pledge donations. Additionally, the school is hosting an auction on Charity Buzz (www.charitybuzz.com) following the Saturday event on June 8. Auction items include unique entertainment experiences such as set visits to Hollywood's hottest TV shows and opportunities to have lunch with a cast member. Additional items include VIP tickets to concerts and sporting events packaged with opportunities to meet the stars as well as luxury travel packages for five-star resorts.
Additional sponsors include: Sport Chalet, Prime Time Sports Camp, Classic Party Rentals, Viceroy Hotel Group, And Company, Toast, Teles Estates, Cliff Kid, Out of Frame, Sign Korea, Feature Flash, and Gold's Gym.
About GNC
GNC, headquartered in Pittsburgh, Pa., a leading global specialty retailer of nutritional products including vitamin, mineral, herbal and other specialty supplements and sports nutrition, diet and energy products. As of March 31, 2010, GNC has more than 7,000 locations, of which more than 5,450 retail locations are in the United States (including 901 franchise and 1,923 Rite Aid franchise store-within-a-store locations) and franchise operations in 49 countries. The Company -- which is dedicated to helping consumers Live Well -- also offers products and product information online at www.gnc.com.
About Third Street Elementary School
Located in Hancock Park, Los Angeles, Third Street School is a K-5 public elementary school of academic distinction. The school's API (Academic Performance Index) score in 2009 was 926 (out of 1,000), placing the school in the top two percent of all elementary schools in Los Angeles. Please visit www.thirdstreetschool.com or the event FACEBOOK page for information.
About School-On-Wheels
School on Wheels is a 501(c) (3) non-profit organization that provides educational assistance and support to homeless students k-12th grades. School on Wheels works with students throughout Southern California and they have two learning centers; one in Skid Row and one in South Los Angeles. For more information please contact Sinead Chilton, schilton@schoolonwheels.org, (805) 641-1678.
Contact Information:
Media contacts:
For Third Street:
Karin Olsen
310-497-0052
