TEENS DONATE 200,000 JEANS FOR HOMELESS YOUTH IN AEROPOSTALE/DOSOMETHING.ORG CLOTHING DRIVE

"TEENS FOR JEANS" PROGRAM IS PART OF PARTICIPANT MEDIA'S SOCIAL ACTION CAMPAIGN FOR THE SOLOIST

Teens across North America collected over 200,000 pairs of gently-worn jeans for DoSomething.org and Aéropostale’s Teens for Jeans program tied to Participant Media's social action campaign for THE SOLOIST. The initiative was launched on January 26th and encouraged teenagers to collect and donate jeans to their local Aéropostale stores.
 
The employees of the Aeropostale store located in the Mall at Turtle Creek in Jonesboro, Arkansas did an exceptional job in rallying their community and won a private screening of THE SOLOIST. The film, a DreamWorks Pictures-Universal Pictures presentation in association with StudioCanal and Participant Media, opens in theaters April 24.
 
Jim Berk, Participant Media CEO said "With 1 in 3 homeless people under the age of 18, teaming with Aeropostale and DoSomething.org Teens for Jeans was an excellent way to engage young people in our social action campaign for THE SOLOIST".
 
Do Something CEO Nancy Lublin, said “200,000 teenagers have a new pair of jeans now because other teens felt compelled to get involved.”
 
“By partnering with our customers, Do Something and local communities we were able to shed light on a serious issue and help homeless teens” says Scott Birnbaum, SVP of Marketing at Aéropostale. “Teens for Jeans really shows the heart and spirit of the Aero brand.”
 
"We are so excited to be a part of Teens for Jeans. It was great to see the community come out in support of the cause and help us raise awareness on teen homelessness,” says the manager of the Aeropostale store at the Mall at Turtle Creek.  “We couldn't have done it with out our customers help."
 
About Participant Media
Participant Media is a Los Angeles-based entertainment company that focuses on socially relevant, commercially viable feature films, documentaries and television, as well as publishing and digital media.  Participant Media is headed by CEO Jim Berk and was founded in 2004 by philanthropist Jeff Skoll, who serves as Chairman. Ricky Strauss is President.
 
Participant exists to tell compelling, entertaining stories that bring to the forefront real issues that shape our lives.  For each of its projects, Participant creates extensive social action and advocacy programs which provide ideas and tools to transform the impact of the media experience into individual and community action.  Participant’s films include THE KITE RUNNER, CHARLIE WILSON’S WAR, DARFUR NOW, AN INCONVENIENT TRUTH, GOOD, NIGHT AND GOOD LUCK., SYRIANA, STANDARD OPERATING PROCEDURE and THE VISITOR.
 
About AÉROPOSTALE, Inc.
Aéropostale, Inc. is a mall-based, specialty retailer of casual apparel and accessories, principally targeting 14 to 17 year-old young women and men. The company provides customers with a focused selection of high-quality, active-oriented, fashion and fashion basic merchandise at compelling values. Aéropostale maintains control over its proprietary brands by designing, sourcing, marketing and selling all of its own merchandise. Aéropostale products can only be purchased in its stores or on-line through its e-commerce website (www.aeropostale.com).
 
About Do Something
Do Something believes teenagers have the power to make a difference. We leverage communications technologies to enable teens to convert their ideas and energy into positive action.  We inspire, empower and celebrate a generation of doers: teenagers who recognize the need to do something, believe in their ability to get it done, and then take action.  Plug in at www.dosomething.org.
 
Contact:
Participant Media
Alice Zou
mPRm Public Relations 323.933.3399
 
Aéropostale
Quinn Solomon
646.452.1820
 
Do Something
Janell Vantrease
Sunshine, Sachs & Associates 212.691.2800