People Magazine, September 27, 2000 (press release) "Innovative New Program Expands The Concept of Mentoring" ----------------------------------------------------------- PEOPLE Magazine Launches 'The Digital Heroes Campaign' with America Online Connecting A Diverse Group of Prominent Leaders with Under-Served Young People For Mentoring Via The Internet Over 100 Participating Notables Include: Pierce Brosnan, Steve Case, Michael J. Fox, Donna Hanover, Gregory Hines, Marion Jones, Robert F. Kennedy Jr., Lenny Krayzelburg, Gerald Levin, Camryn Manheim, Gen. Colin L. Powell, Arnold Schwarzenegger, Russell Simmons, Martha Stewart, Ted Waitt Program Will Serve As Model For Future Growth of E-Mentoring NEW YORK, Sept. 27 /PRNewswire/ -- PEOPLE Magazine today announced the launch of The Digital Heroes Campaign, a major national mentoring initiative, in partnership with America Online and in association with The National Mentoring Partnership, PowerUP and The Waitt Family Foundation. The publication recruited over 100 notable individuals from diverse professions who will serve as e-mentors, and forged the partnership with public and private organizations that developed the other key components of this powerful new program. The Digital Heroes Campaign is the first e- mentoring program to involve such a high-profile group of mentors, and was conceived to serve as a thoroughly tested and evaluated model capable of national expansion. The Digital Heroes Campaign will match mentors with under- served young people participating in PowerUP programs across the country, bring national focus to mentoring and highlight the vast potential of Internet-based communication to form meaningful and valuable connections between adults and children. ``We want to bring a new dimension to mentoring,'' said PEOPLE President Nora McAniff, who is also one of the program's mentors. ``PEOPLE is known for its coverage of extraordinary and inspiring individuals who have the life experiences and capabilities to be ideal role models. But, like many of us, they have been constrained by the demands of busy lives and geographical limitations. E-mentoring will enable them to share their insight with young people who can most benefit by their support. At PEOPLE we also understand the power of celebrity to influence and shape public opinion, and we want to call attention to the important cause of mentoring our nation's youth.'' Each mentor is a respected and successful leader in his or her field. The Digital Heroes include prominent media and entertainment figures, successful businesspeople, award- winning authors, world-champion athletes, national and local government officials, respected journalists and more. A complete list of the founding mentors in The Digital Heroes Campaign is attached. ``The Internet has already become the medium of choice for millions of American youngsters,'' said Richard D. Parsons, who will also participate in the program as an e-mentor, and who is President of Time Warner, the parent company of PEOPLE Magazine. ``This program is an affirmation of its power to educate and enlighten as well as entertain and connect. Equally, it's a reminder that what gives this breakthrough technology such new importance is an old- fashioned truth: People make the difference. People are what turn technology into instruments of help and tools of hope.'' PEOPLE is leveraging its unique position as the world's most popular magazine to involve prominent individuals in the campaign, and is providing staff and resources. PEOPLE supports The Digital Heroes Campaign as part of its charitable umbrella, Our Children, Our Health & Our Planet, and is donating more than $1 million in public service announcements (PSAs) to promote the expansion of the e- mentoring program and the value of mentoring our nation's youth. PEOPLE partnered with America Online (AOL), the world's leader in interactive services, to create The Digital Heroes Campaign. AOL provided funding, technical experience and management support to the program, as part of its commitment to harness the power of the Internet on behalf of under- served youth and believing that young people are a key investment for America's future in the Internet Century. AOL is also donating over $1 million in PSAs to the program. ``The Digital Heroes Campaign offers us the ability to unlock the power of the Internet to strengthen all kinds of mentoring relationships on a national scale,'' said Bob Pittman, President and COO of America Online, and also a DHC mentor. ``We are delighted to use the Internet to make mentoring easier and more effective by overcoming obstacles of time and distance, and in doing so, we hope to improve lives and benefit society.'' The more than 100 mentors in the DHC program will be paired with young people from PowerUP centers across the country between the ages of 13 and 17. Mentors and mentees both undergo training developed by The National Mentoring Partnership to ensure they understand program objectives and meet the recommended guidelines for responsible mentoring provided by The National Mentoring Partnership. In addition, all participants fill out detailed profiles, which are reviewed prior to the matching process. Matches are made based on a combination of factors, including common interests, similar experiences in life, mentor knowledge in an area of special interest, and shared expectations of the mentoring relationship. All mentors have submitted to a background check. The communication between the mentors and their youth participants will take place through online e-mail exchanges in a secure environment designed to protect the participants' privacy. As the program proceeds, every component of it is being analyzed and evaluated by two of the leading experts in mentoring evaluation - Cynthia Sipe, Ph.D. and Rebecca Saito. It will then be packaged into a model program that is planned for expansion within the next year. The Digital Heroes Campaign partners will offer the program to other mentoring organizations nationwide. Many of the more than 5,000 traditional mentoring programs that currently adhere to the ``Elements of Effective Mentoring Practice'' developed by The National Mentoring Partnership and The United Way of America are expected to adopt e- mentoring to expand their ability to attract qualified role models to their mentoring efforts. Since e-mentoring programs are not yet widely available, The Digital Heroes Campaign hopes to inspire and encourage interested individuals to pursue a traditional face-to-face mentoring relationship with a youth. The premier destination site for those interested in learning about current opportunities to mentor is mentoring.org, which now lists the 5,000 mentoring sites mentioned above. Anyone can now serve as a mentor in their area by logging on to the site at http://www.mentoring.org and providing their zip code, or by calling 1-888-432-6368. The Digital Heroes Campaign received significant contributions from its supporting partners: The National Mentoring Partnership (NMP) is the nation's leading advocate for the expansion of mentoring for America's young people and a resource to mentors and mentoring initiatives nationwide, helping communities and states work together to sustain and expand mentoring opportunities for young people. The NMP, along with the Virtual Volunteering Project of The University of Texas's (Austin) Charles A. Dana Center, is providing online training for program youth and adult participants, and training and advisory support for The Digital Heroes Campaign team. ``E-mentoring is an idea whose time has come. It will undoubtedly be a big part of mentoring's future,'' said Geoffrey T. Boisi, Co-Founder and Chairman of the Board of the National Mentoring Partnership and, as Vice Chairman of Chase Investment Banking, a participating mentor. ``We are delighted to partner with PEOPLE magazine and AOL to expand this frontier and are tremendously grateful for the high caliber leaders and resources they are putting behind it.'' PowerUP is the leading national non-profit organization dedicated to helping young people acquire the skills, experiences and resources they need to succeed in the digital age. Based on the mission of America's Promise-The Alliance for Youth, the national crusade led by General Colin L. Powell, USA (Ret), PowerUP builds skills and competence in youth through the delivery of technology in environments conducive to learning, including hundreds of community and education-based locations nationwide. PowerUP will recruit, match, train and provide ongoing support to the youth participating in The Digital Heroes Campaign. ``Few bonds in life are more important than that between a young person and an adult,'' said Rae Grad, CEO of PowerUP. ``This idea is central to PowerUP's mission, and we are pleased to give PowerUP youth this new opportunity to succeed with help from influential, respected adult role models. We hope, over time, to expand the number of e- mentoring opportunities available to serve an even greater number of young people in PowerUP's national network.'' The Waitt Family Foundation is anchored in the belief that the future is something we create. It seeks to open the doors of opportunity and impact individuals, families, and communities through technology-based initiatives that result in systemic change for all involved. The Waitt Family Foundation is generously donating Gateway laptops for use in The Digital Heroes Campaign. ``The combined impact of empowering technology and involved, caring adults in a young person's life can mean a world of difference,'' said Ted Waitt, Founder and Chairman of the Board of Gateway Computers and Founder of The Waitt Family Foundation. ``We are happy to develop these connections, and help in unlocking the potential of the Internet to build lasting and valuable mentoring relationships.'' Mentoring is a proven way to positively influence a young person's growth and development. Research has shown that young people with mentors are more likely to feel self- confident, develop personal talents and skills, attend school every day, go on to college and end up in a stable job; and are less likely to drop out of school or start using alcohol or illegal drugs. (Source: Louis Harris Poll, Big Brothers/Big Sisters of America, Temple University's Center for Intergenerational Learning and The Quantum Opportunities Program.) Simultaneously with the launch of this effort, over 100 AOL employees are participating in a companion e-mentoring pilot program in which they are matched up as mentors with PowerUP youth. CONTACTS: For PEOPLE Magazine: Susan Ollinick 212-522-8470 Alison Weisberg 212-522-0228 For AOL: Richard Socarides 212-484-7318 For The National Mentoring Partnership: Susan Mason 703-224-2210 For PowerUP: Aili Jokela 703-610-3517 For The Waitt Family Foundation: Stacey Steinbeiss 858-551-4839 About PEOPLE Magazine PEOPLE, launched in March 1974, is the world's most popular magazine. Still faithful to its original editorial mission - - to cover extraordinary people doing ordinary things and ordinary people doing extraordinary things - the publication is now read by more than 34 million readers each week, or one in eight Americans. Its success has continued at a remarkable rate over the past several years, even as the magazine has spun off a number of new magazines -- IN STYLE, the hugely successful celebrity lifestyle publication; TEEN PEOPLE, which launched in February of 1998 and in just two years has tripled its rate base to 1.5 million; and PEOPLE en Espanol, the largest general interest Spanish-language magazine in North America - all grounded in the PEOPLE style of responsible, reliable, inspiring and enjoyable personality journalism. PEOPLE's most recent launch, the monthly lifestyle publication REAL SIMPLE, debuted in April 2000 and has already raised its rate base - the paid circulation it guarantees to advertisers - from 400,000 to 700,000 effective with its February 2001 issue. PEOPLE has also launched a successful line of books, and a popular website, http://www.people.com (AOL keyword: PEOPLE) that is one of the most visited entertainment sites each week. PEOPLE has long been committed to ``giving back'' through its charitable platform Our Children, Our Health & Our Planet - the three areas the magazine's readers have indicated are of greatest concern to them. Over the past several years, PEOPLE has used this platform to raise funds and awareness for causes such as child care, education, AIDS research and patient care, women's cancer issues, clean air and water initiatives, teen pregnancy prevention and many more. All organizations PEOPLE supports work both nationally and at the grassroots level to ensure that PEOPLE readers can benefit personally from the magazine's involvement. About America Online, Inc. Founded in 1985, America Online, Inc., based in Dulles, Virginia, is the world's leader in interactive services, Web brands, Internet technologies and e-commerce services. The AOL Foundation is dedicated to ensuring that all people realize the benefits promised by the Internet Revolution as fully and quickly as possible. Foundation programs currently focus on using the Internet to enhance civic discourse, improve the delivery of health care services and information, strengthen philanthropy, improve education and youth services, and provide digital opportunity to under- served communities. The Foundation recently launched Helping.org, a nonprofit, one-stop philanthropy portal where people can sign up to volunteer or make donations to any of 650,000 charities, whether or not those organizations have an online presence. For more information on the AOL Foundation, visit www.aolfoundation.org. AOL keyword: AOL About PowerUP PowerUP creates public and private partnerships to prepare under-served youth to succeed in the digital age. PowerUP partners provide technology, funding, trained personnel, innovative interactive programming, in-kind support and other resources to help close the divide between young people who have access to computer-based information and technology-related skills and those who do not. PowerUP's partners include: America's Promise; The Case Foundation; The Waitt Family Foundation; AOL, Inc./The AOL Foundation; The Corporation for National Service/AmeriCorp*VISTA; Boys & Girls Clubs of America; YMCA of the USA; Communities in Schools; National Urban League; PowerBar, Inc.; Save the Children; Sun Microsystems; HUD; and The U.S. Department of Education. For more information on PowerUP, visit http://www.powerup.org or AOL keyword: PowerUP About The National Mentoring Partnership Founded in 1989, The National Mentoring Partnership (NMP) is an advocate for the expansion of mentoring and a resource to mentors and mentoring initiatives nationwide. NMP helps communities and states work together to sustain and expand mentoring opportunities for young people. By providing leadership and support, NMP helps schools, businesses, civic associations and individuals build programs and access the resources they need to become successful mentors. Visit: www.mentoring.org About The Waitt Family Foundation The Waitt Family Foundation is dedicated to helping good people do great things. The organization was founded in 1993 by Ted Waitt, the Co-Founder and Chairman of Gateway Computers. The Foundation is currently undergoing a period of remarkable growth and dynamism. Anchored in the belief that the future is something we create, The Waitt Family Foundation seeks to open the doors of opportunity to individuals and families in need. Tactically, the Foundation divides its work among three areas of concentration: Future Studies; Contemporary Issues; and Historical Studies. Additional information regarding The Waitt Family Foundation may be found at http://www.waittfoundation.org. The Digital Heroes Campaign Mentor List CONFIRMED AS OF 9/26/00 Andrew Allen, Former Astronaut / Director, Technical Operations, United Space Alliance Serena Altschul, MTV News Anchor & Reporter Kevyn Aucoin, Makeup Artist and Author Mario Batali, Chef / Owner, Babbo, Lupa & Esca Jeff Bewkes, Chairman & CEO, HBO, Inc. Billy Blanks, Creator of Tae-Bo and Seven-Time World Karate Champion Judy Blume, Author Geoffrey Boisi, Vice Chairman, The Chase Manhattan Corporation / Co-founder & Chairman, The National Mentoring Partnership Bernie Brillstein, Founder, Brillstein-Grey Entertainment Pierce Brosnan, Actor, Producer and Environmentalist Lorenzo Carcaterra, Author and Screenwriter Steve Case, Media Executive / Chairman & CEO, AOL, Inc. Raymond G. Chambers, Chairman, Amelior Foundation Kenneth Cole, Designer Cynthia Cooper, Women's Professional Basketball Player / Guard for the WNBA's Houston Comets Ann Curry, NBC Correspondent ; "The Today Show" News Anchor Christopher Darden, Attorney Gavin de Becker, Author and Violence Expert Rick Dees, Radio Personality John Paul DeJoria, CEO, Paul Mitchell Systems Cristian de la Fuente, Actor Pamela Dennis, Fashion Designer Elvis Duran, Morning Show Host, Z-100 Radio, New York Kenneth "Babyface" Edmonds, Grammy-Award Winning Songwriter and Producer Emme, Model, TV Personality, Author and Creative Director, Emme Clothing Line Joan Embery, Conservation Ambassador & Spokesperson, Zoological Society of San Diego/ Animal Trainer Chris Ender, Senior Vice President, Communications, CBS Entertainment Mary Engelbreit, Illustrator and Entrepreneur Chris Evert, Tennis Champion / Founder, Chris Evert Charities, Inc. Fatima, Choreographer Deborah Feingold, Photographer, Teacher and Author Michael J. Fox, Actor, Director, Producer, Writer and CEO of The Michael J. Fox Foundation for Parkinson's Research Senator Bill Frist, MD, US Senator (Republican- Tennessee) Ann Fudge, Business Executive / President, Maxwell House and Post Division; Executive Vice President, Kraft Foods, Inc. Kevin Garnett, Forward for the NBA's Minnesota Timberwolves & 2000 U.S. Olympic Basketball Team Savion Glover, Choreographer and Dancer Bryant Gumbel, Journalist & Host of CBS' "The Early Show" Greg Gumbel, CBS' Lead Play-by-Play Announcer of the NFL and Host, NCAA Basketball Tournaments Dick Guttman, Public Relations Consultant, Screenwriter, and CEO, Guttman Associates Harold Hairston, Fire Commissioner of the City of Philadelphia Scott Hamilton, Olympic Figure Skating Champion Harry Hamlin, Actor and Environmentalist Mia Hamm, Forward for the U.S. National Women's Soccer Team / Founder of the Mia Hamm Foundation Jack Hanna, Host of "Animal Adventures" / Director Emeritus, Columbus Zoo Donna Hanover, Broadcast Journalist and Actor Melissa Joan Hart, Actor and Director Anthony Stewart Head, Actor Carl Hiaasen, Columnist and Author Catherine Hicks, Actor & Star of "Seventh Heaven" Anita Hill, Professor of Law, Social Policy and Women's Studies, Brandeis University Grant Hill, Forward for the NBA's Orlando Magic Gregory Hines, Tap Dancer and Actor Terry Hoben, Paramedic Coordinator, UMDNJ, University Hospital NorthSTAR Air Medical Program Warrington Hudlin, Filmmaker / Founder, dvRepublic.com Kathy Ireland, Lifestyle Designer; CEO, Kathy Ireland Worldwide Dr. O. Wayne Isom, Professor and Chairman, Dept. of Cardiothoracic Surgery at NYU Weill Cornell Medical College Judith Jamison, Artistic Director, Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater Landon Jones, Author and Magazine Editor; Managing Editor, PEOPLE Magazine, 1989-97 Marion Jones, 2000 Olympic Gold Medalist, Track and Field Jackie Joyner-Kersee, Olympic Track and Field Champion Daryn Kagan, News Anchor, CNN Robert F. Kennedy Jr., Professor of Environmental Law, Pace University School of Law & Co-Director, Pace Environmental Litigation Clinic Jeffrey Kramer, Emmy-Award Winning Producer Lenny Krayzelburg, 2000 Olympic Gold-Medalist, Swimming; World Champion & Record Holder in the 100-Meter and 200- Meter Backstroke George Lange, Photographer Fred Langhammer, CEO & President, Estee Lauder, Inc. Jerry Levin, Chairman & CEO, Time Warner Inc.; Humanist Ananda Lewis, MTV VeeJay Rebecca Lobo, Forward for the WNBA's New York Liberty Lisa Loeb, Singer, Songwriter and Performer Kenny Loggins, Musician, Author and Environmentalist Camryn Manheim, Actor, Author and Activist Marlee Matlin, Actor and Producer Nora McAniff, President, PEOPLE Magazine Terry McMillan, Author Danny Meyer, Restauranteur / Co-owner, Union Square Cafe, Gramercy Tavern, Eleven Madison Park & Tabla Michael Michele, Actor David Milch, Emmy-Award Winning Writer/Producer Andy Mill, Former U.S. Olympic Skier Brian Stokes Mitchell, Actor Matthew Modine, Actor Dineh Mohajer, Creative Director and Founder of Hard Candy Deborah Norville, Author and Anchor, "Inside Edition" Bill Nye, Host, "Bill Nye, the Science Guy" Pat O'Brien, Anchor, "Access Hollywood" Soledad O'Brien, Anchor, "Today Show, Weekend Edition" NBC Dick Parsons, President, Time Warner Inc. Bob Pittman, President & COO, AOL, Inc. General Colin L. Powell, USA (Ret.); Former Chairman, Joint Chiefs of Staff Audrey Puente, WNBC Meteorologist Anna Quindlen, Author and Columnist Rick Reilly, Columnist, Sports Illustrated Lisa Rinna, Actor David Robinson, Center for the NBA's San Antonio Spurs David Rockwell, Architect and Designer George Rodrigue, Pop Artist of the Blue Dog Series Cari Ross, Senior Vice President, BWR Public Relations Nanci Ryder, President & Partner, BWR Public Relations Eduardo Sanchez, Filmmaker Cristina Saralegui, Talk Show Host and Journalist Barry C. Scheck, Professor of Law and Director of Clinical Legal Education, Benjamin N. Cardozo School of Law Arnold Schwarzenegger, Actor Rick Schroder, Actor Judge Judy Sheindlin, "Judge Judy" Henry Simmons, Actor Russell Simmons, Chairman, Rush Communications Jane Smith, Teacher and Organ Donor Wendy Smith, Corporate Communications Director, CAA Keely Shaye Smith, Broadcast Journalist, Television Producer, and Author Gene Sperling, Director, National Economic Council; Assistant to the President for Economic Policy Linda Srere, Advertising Executive / President & Chief Client Officer, Y&R Advertising John Starks, Guard for the NBA's Utah Jazz George Stephanopoulos, Political Analyst, ABC News Martha Stewart, Chairman & CEO of Martha Stewart Living Omnimedia, LLC Hannah Storm, NBC Sports Broadcaster Dave Thomas, Founder, Wendy's Old Fashion Hamburgers Restaurants, and Wendy's TV Spokesman John Timoney, Police Commissioner of the City of Philadelphia Mike Utley, Former Detroit Lion Governor Jesse Ventura, Governor of Minnesota Thomas Von Essen, Fire Commissioner of New York City Ted Waitt, Co-founder, Gateway Inc.; Co-founder, Waitt Family Foundation Carol Wallace, Managing Editor, PEOPLE Magazine Dr. Andrew Weil, Physician, Author and Educator; Director, Program in Integrative Medicine, University of Arizona College of Medicine Governor Christine Todd Whitman, Governor of New Jersey Terrie Williams, Author, Lecturer, Public Relations Advisor and Social Worker Stan Winston, Special Effects Expert Bille Woodruff, Director / President, Geneva ----------------------------------------------------------- Bentley's Bedlam http://www.BetsyDa.com/bedlam.html This website is for information and entertainment purposes only and is not intended to infringe on copyrights held by others.