MINNEAPOLIS--()--American Express today announced the launch of its signature ‘Travel with Your Mind’ philanthropic program for the second year in a row in the Twin Cities. Launched in 2009, the program is designed to help support schools through a series of travel-themed beautification projects and multi-cultural initiatives across several U.S. cities. Inspired by its ongoing commitment toward education and desire to promote cultural awareness, American Express, working with HandsOn Twin Cities, selected Capitol Hill Magnet School as the 2010-2011 “Travel with Your Mind” beneficiary. The first project in the Twin Cities will take place at Capitol Hill Magnet School on Saturday, October 16, 2010 from 8:30am to 12pm.
“Making a difference in the communities where our Cardmembers and employees live and work is important to American Express”
For the first of the three projects planned during the 2010-11 school year, American Express and Delta Air Lines employees together with local parents, students, teachers and community members will paint globally-themed murals, landscape school grounds, and install woodchip barriers, bike racks and benches. The projects for Capitol Hill Magnet School were decided upon in advance at a “Design Day” meeting in which key community members discussed and selected proposed revitalization projects based on the school’s needs.
“Making a difference in the communities where our Cardmembers and employees live and work is important to American Express,” said David Rabkin, vice president, Delta Co-brand, American Express. “We know that schools are at the heart of communities and an issue that many people care about deeply, so we’re extremely gratified to bring the Travel with Your Mind program to a second deserving school in the Twin Cities this year.”
“It is with great excitement and enthusiasm that we begin another year of partnership with American Express,” said Meghan Morse, project manager for HandsOn Twin Cities. “Last year’s projects at Northeast Middle School made a significant impact on the school and students in large part due to the immense amount of support from the school and community. We’re looking forward to building on that momentum at Capitol Hill Magnet School.”
Project Selection and Future Activities
The “Travel with Your Mind’ theme was selected to help expose students to the new possibilities travel creates through a series of travel-related projects and multicultural initiatives – without leaving their own backyard. Two additional projects are scheduled to take place at Capitol Hill Magnet School during the winter and spring semesters, which will be announced in early 2011.
In addition to the Twin Cities, American Express is also working with the HandsOn Network to bring the “Travel with Your Mind” program to Atlanta, Detroit, Memphis, and New York City where similar projects will be executed throughout the year. Overall, American Express’ “Travel with Your Mind” program in all five cities is expected to deliver more than 2,500 volunteers, 10,000 volunteer hours and contributions totaling more than $500,000.
Anyone interested in volunteering for the first project at Capitol Hill Magnet School on Saturday, October 16, 2010 from 8:30 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. should register at www.handsontwincities.org.
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American Express Company (www.americanexpress.com) is a leading global payments and travel company founded in 1850.
About HandsOn Twin Cities
HandsOn Twin Cities (formerly Volunteer Resource Center) matches potential volunteers with opportunities in the Twin Cities area. With a searchable online database featuring thousands of local volunteer opportunities, HandsOn Twin Cities makes it easy for adults, youth and families to find volunteer opportunities. HandsOn Twin Cities also provides volunteer management training and consultation for program managers from local nonprofit, corporate, and government organizations.
Established in 1919 to foster a strong local community through volunteer action, HandsOn Twin Cities is the first and one of the most comprehensive volunteer centers in the country. For more information, visit www.handsontwincities.org.
About HandsOn Network
HandsOn Network, the volunteer-focused arm of Points of Light Institute, is the largest volunteer network in the nation and includes more than 250 HandsOn Action Centers that reach more than 83% of the nation's population and extend to ten countries. HandsOn includes a powerful network of more than 70,000 corporate, faith and nonprofit organizations that are answering the call to serve and creating scaled impact. In 2008, the network delivered approximately 30 million hours of volunteer service valued at $615 million. For more information, visit www.handsonnetwork.org.
Founded on the belief that communities can make a positive change, HandsOn Schools applies an innovative approach to school revitalization. By uniting the collective resources of parents, communities, and corporations, HandsOn Schools aims to reestablish schools as the focal point of the community.
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