Press Releases

PARTICIPANT MEDIA WELCOMES STAND FOR CHILDREN AND UNITED WAY AS NATIONAL PARTNERS FOR THE SOCIAL ACTION CAMPAIGN FOR WAITING FOR “SUPERMAN”, WITH GENEROUS FUNDING FROM THE FORD FOUNDATION

Hollywood [ September 28, 2010 ]

Participant Media has partnered with Stand for Children, United Way, and the Ford Foundation for its national social action campaign for the documentary film WAITING FOR “SUPERMAN”, a Paramount Vantage and Participant Media presentation in association with Walden Media, which opened in New York and Los Angeles on September 24th and will expand to cities throughout North America throughout October.  

PARTICIPANT MEDIA’S SOCIAL ACTION SITE FOR WAITING FOR “SUPERMAN” PROVIDES RESOURCES AND TOOLS FOR MOVIEGOERS TO TAKE ACTION ON EDUCATION REFORM

Hollywood [ September 24, 2010 ]

waitingforsuperman.com/action Features Call to Action Letters to Elected Officials, New Interactive Education Map Created by Bing, Debate Tool, City Pages and More

$5 MILLION TO CREATE HIGH QUALITY EDUCATION OPPORTUNITIES 
FOR MORE CHILDREN 
 


Hollywood [ September 23, 2010 ]

NewSchools Venture Fund Joins WaitingforSuperman.com “Pledge Progress Meter” at the 150,000 Pledge Level

Paramount Pictures, Participant Media and Walden Media jointly announced today NewSchools Venture Fund has joined the WaitingforSuperman.com “Pledge Progress Meter” for the award-winning documentary film WAITING FOR “SUPERMAN” at the 150,000 pledge level. The Fund has committed to investing $5 million in entrepreneurial organizations to create high quality public education opportunities for more of America’s children.



NewSchools is committed to transforming public education through powerful ideas and passionate entrepreneurs so that all children – especially those in underserved communities – have the opportunity to succeed. To achieve this goal, they support education entrepreneurs, help them grow their organizations to scale, and help connect their work to broader systems change. These entrepreneurs increase the supply of new high-quality schools, teachers, and tools that serve students. They also contribute to the momentum toward more significant improvement within the existing system.

T Bone Burnett To Premiere The Speaking Clock Revue With Two October Multi-Artist Concerts in Boston and New York To Benefit Music And Arts Education In Public Schools

Los Angeles [ September 14, 2010 ]

Both Shows To Be Presented In Association With Participant Media
And Forthcoming Waiting For “Superman” Documentary Film

ADOPT-A-CLASSROOM AND JONES NEW YORK IN THE CLASSROOM PLEDGE TO DONATE $50,000 TO SCHOOLS IN NEED

Hollywood [ September 13, 2010 ]

Join WaitingforSuperman.com “Pledge Progress Meter” at the 80,000 Pledge Level

Paramount Pictures, Participant Media and Walden Media jointly announced today Adopt-A-Classroom and Jones New York in the Classroom have joined the WaitingforSuperman.com “Pledge Progress Meter” by committing to donate $50,000 to schools in need once 80,000 people pledge to see the award-winning documentary film WAITING FOR “SUPERMAN.”

60,000 PEOPLE PLEDGE TO SEE “WAITING FOR ‘SUPERMAN’”

Hollywood [ September 9, 2010 ]

First Book and Houghton Mifflin Harcourt donate an additional $100,000 worth of new books to schools in need – fourth benchmark met on WaitingForSuperman.com

“Pledge Progress Meter”

Paramount Pictures, Participant Media and Walden Media announced today 60,000 people have pledged to see the award-winning documentary film WAITING FOR “SUPERMAN” when it opens this fall, making it the fourth goal reached on the campaign’s “Pledge Progress Meter.” As a result, First Book and global education leader Houghton Mifflin Harcourt (HMH) will distribute an additional $100,000 worth of new books to schools and programs in low-income communities across the country. First Book and HMH initially joined forces at the 50,000 level by donating 250,000 new books in a similar fashion. The books will be generously provided by HMH and distributed through First Book’s award-winning book distribution channels.

50,000 PEOPLE PLEDGE TO SEE WAITING FOR “SUPERMAN”

Hollywood [ September 3, 2010 ]

First Book and Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Donate 250,000 New Books to Schools and Programs in Need

Third Benchmark Met on WaitingForSuperman.com “Pledge Progress Meter”

Paramount Pictures, Participant Media and Walden Media announced today 50,000 people have pledged to see the award-winning documentary film WAITING FOR “SUPERMAN” when it opens this fall, making it the third goal reached on the campaign’s “Pledge Progress Meter.” As a result, First Book and Houghton Mifflin Harcourt are teaming up to distribute 250,000 new books to schools and programs in low-income communities across the country. The books will be generously provided by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt and distributed through First Book’s award-winning book distribution channels. In addition, the duo will donate an additional $100,000 worth of new books once the “Pledge Progress Meter” reaches 60,000.


MEMBERS PROJECT® ANNOUNCES FIVE NEW WINNERS TO SHARE $1 MILLION IN FUNDING FROM AMERICAN EXPRESS

New York [ August 30, 2010 ]

Five Charitable Organizations Chosen in Second Round of Public Voting

Third Voting Cycle Now Launches, Allowing Users to Vote Through Facebook for the First Time

American Express and TakePart announced today the latest round of winners of Members Project, an innovative online initiative that provides everyone with the opportunity to take small steps to make a big difference by linking up with volunteer opportunities to earn Membership Rewards® bonus points, voting for their favorite charities to receive support from American Express or contributing themselves to causes they care about. Chosen by the public through online voting, the five organizations will collectively receive $1 million in funding from American Express to advance their missions of serving communities around the world. The five charitable organizations that will each receive $200,000 in funding from American Express are:

•    Arts & Culture:  StoryCorps – With this funding, StoryCorps will record, share and preserve the stories of nearly 1,000 people nationwide, adding to their vast, diverse archives. With a focus on the stories of everyday people – those often excluded from the historical record – they remind the nation that every story matters and every voice counts.

•    Community Development:  Grameen Foundation – With the $200,000 in funding from Members Project, Grameen Foundation will help local microfinance institutions in Africa, Asia and Latin America provide tiny loans to some of the world’s poorest people so they can start or expand small businesses. Its innovative technology programs will provide access to practical farming and health information to people in poor communities through mobile phones.

•    Education:  Jumpstart for Young Children – The $200,000 in funding from American Express will help support Jumpstart's yearlong, early education program and will be leveraged during the 2010-2011 school year to help support Jumpstart Corps members provide the right start to over 9,500 preschool children, launch Jumpstart’s new curriculum program nationwide and fuel the organization’s growth.

•    Environment & Wildlife:  National Audubon Society – The funding will go to support the ongoing emergency response and long-term restoration effort of the Gulf coast, such as working on aspects of coastal health and gathering vital data on oiled birds to gain critical insights into the impact of the spill.

•    Health & Wellness:  American Cancer Society – The American Cancer Society combines an unyielding passion with nearly a century of experience to save lives and end suffering from cancer. As a global grassroots force of more than three million volunteers, the Society fights for every birthday threatened by every cancer in every community. As the largest non-governmental investor in cancer research, contributing about $3.4 billion, the Society turns what it knows about cancer into what it does. As a result, more than 11 million people in America who have had cancer and countless more who have avoided it will be celebrating birthdays this year.
 

40,000 PEOPLE PLEDGE TO SEE WAITING FOR “SUPERMAN”

Hollywood [ August 23, 2010 ]

OfficeMax® Set to Expand Its “A Day Made Better” Program – Second Benchmark Met on WaitingForSuperman.com “
Pledge Progress Meter”

Paramount Pictures, Participant Media and Walden Media announced today 40,000 people have pledged to see the award-winning documentary film WAITING FOR “SUPERMAN” when it opens this fall, making it the second goal reached on the campaign’s “Pledge Progress Meter.” As a result, Chicago-based office supply retailer OfficeMax® is fulfilling its commitment to add 40 deserving U.S. teachers to its “A Day Made Better” program.
 

HOUGHTON MIFFLIN HARCOURT PROVIDES $100,000 IN NEW CHILDREN’S BOOKS TO U.S. LIBRARIES IN NEED

Hollywood [ August 16, 2010 ]

Joins WaitingforSuperman.com “Pledge Progress Meter” at the 60,000 Pledge Level

Paramount Pictures, Participant Media and Walden Media jointly announced today that global education leader Houghton Mifflin Harcourt has joined the WaitingforSuperman.com “Pledge Progress Meter” by committing to provide $100,000 worth of new children’s books to U.S. libraries in need once 60,000 people pledge to see the award-winning documentary film WAITING FOR “SUPERMAN.”
 

30,000 PEOPLE PLEDGE TO SEE WAITING FOR “SUPERMAN”

Hollywood [ August 9, 2010 ]

DonorsChoose.org Set to Make Donation in Support of Education – First Benchmark Met on WaitingForSuperman.com “Pledge Progress Meter”

Paramount Pictures, Participant Media and Walden Media announced today 30,000 people have pledged to see the award-winning documentary film WAITING FOR “SUPERMAN” when it opens this fall, making it the first goal reached on the campaign’s “Pledge Progress Meter.” As a result, DonorsChoose.org is fulfilling their commitment and donating $5 gift cards to every person who pledges to see the film by September 15th.


TWO BIG NEW INITIATIVES HIT THE WAITINGFORSUPERMAN.COM 
PLEDGE PROGRESS METER

Hollywood [ July 30, 2010 ]

DonorsChoose.org Commits to Donation at the 30,000 Pledge Level



OfficeMax® Will Expand Their “A Day Made Better” Program at 40,000 Pledges

Paramount Pictures, Participant Media and Walden Media announced today the addition of two new partners in the online “Take the Pledge” campaign supporting the national release of the award-winning documentary film WAITING FOR “SUPERMAN” this fall. DonorsChoose.org and Chicago-based office supply retailer OfficeMax® have joined the WaitingforSuperman.com “Pledge Progress Meter” at the 30,000 and 40,000 levels, respectively.


Biggest Names in Music Urge Fans to See New Film Countdown to Zero and Join the Movement
to Eliminate Nuclear Weapons and Ratify New START Treaty

Los Angeles [ July 15, 2010 ]

Macy Gray, Trent Reznor, Pearl Jam, R.E.M., Maroon 5, 
Tom Morello, Steve Earle, Ok Go, BoDeans, Circa Survive, Rise Against, Los Amigos Invisibles, Neon Indian, Edward Sharpe and the Magnetic Zeros, Bostich & Fussible, Mayer Hawthorne, Michael Franti, They Might be Giants, Ozomatli, Mexican Institute of Sound, Lotus, Fanfarlo, Jay Electronica, Weezer, Entrance Band, The Gossip’s Beth Ditto, Subsonica

LAURIE LUH NAMED SENIOR DIRECTOR OF HUMAN RESOURCES AND OFFICE OPERATIONS FOR PARTICIPANT MEDIA

Los Angeles [ June 16, 2010 ]

Laurie Luh has been named Senior Director of Human Resources and Office Operations for Participant Media, it was announced today by Participant CEO Jim Berk.
 


Said Berk, “This new position is both an acknowledgment of Laurie’s extraordinary skill in recruiting top talent to a company that uniquely combines entertainment with social action and digital media, and a reflection of her expanded responsibilities in managing all aspects of human resources for a team that has grown threefold over the course of her tenure.”


MEMBERS PROJECT® ANNOUNCES FIRST ROUND WINNERS TO SHARE $1.2 MILLION IN FUNDING FROM AMERICAN EXPRESS

New York [ June 1, 2010 ]

American Express and TakePart announced today that National Trust for Historic Preservation, Rails-to-Trails Conservancy, International Rescue Committee, DonorsChoose.org, ASPCA and Operation Smile are the winners of the first voting cycle in Members Project, an innovative online initiative that provides everyone with an opportunity to take small steps to make a big difference.  Based on the votes of the public, American Express will provide the six winning charitable organizations with a total of $1.2 million in funding that will positively impact millions of lives around the world, in the areas of arts & culture, community development, environment & wildlife, education and health & wellness.  The National Trust for Historic Preservation and Rails-to-Trails Conservancy tied in their category, and American Express has decided that both organizations will be receiving $200,000 in grant money.  Everyone, whether a Cardmember or not, has the opportunity to vote for the charity that they think deserves funding from American Express. The second Members Project voting cycle is now open for participants to select their favorite charity vying to share $1 million in funding.

PARTICIPANT MEDIA’S "SAVE MY OCEANS" NATIONAL SOCIAL ACTION CAMPAIGN FOR THE DISNEYNATURE RELEASE OCEANS TARGETS BOTH COASTAL AND LAND-LOCKED  RESIDENTS

Los Angeles [ May 11, 2010 ]

Multi-Platform Program Includes www.SaveMyOceans.com

“Save My Oceans,” Participant Media’s multi-platform nationwide social action campaign for Disneynature’s motion picture release OCEANS, is designed to create awareness about the crisis facing our oceans by informing people that regardless of where they live, everything we do impacts our oceans, and in return impacts us.  The social action campaign includes the online hub www.SaveMyOceans.com , the Save My Oceans college concert tour, an art installation, a Save My Oceans pledge and contest with unique art by renowned artist Shepard Fairey and his creative studio, Studio Number One, an entertaining short video titled Use Less Plastic, and a companion book to the film OCEANS.  



“Whether you live right next to a body of water or in a landlocked area, the things you do every day affect our oceans. The trick is getting people across the country to pause and think about the impact they are having,” said Wendy Cohen, Manager of Community and Alliances for Participant. “The Save my Oceans campaign which includes an animated video and presence on social networks, is raising awareness and inspiring people to make a small change that will have an enormous impact on the health of our oceans.” 


is the online hub for the Oceans Social Action campaign.  The site is designed to provide information about the most pressing issues currently affecting our oceans as well as solutions and actions that people can take every day, from supporting national oceans policy to modifications in the types of fish they eat or household cleaning products they use.  

  is a hub of oceans information and activism designed to inform, inspire, and compel change.

PARTICIPANT MEDIA’S SOCIAL ACTION CAMPAIGN FOR NEW FILM FURRY VENGEANCE, OPENING APRIL 30, BRINGS WILDLIFE AND HABITAT PRESERVATION TO CLASSROOMS ACROSS THE U.S.

Los Angeles [ April 13, 2010 ]

Campaign associates include National Wildlife Federation, Endangered Species Coalition, Defenders of Wildlife

For the upcoming feature film comedy Furry Vengeance, opening nationwide on April 30th, Participant Media’s social action campaign will focus on bringing the message of wildlife and habitat preservation to over 16,000  schools or approximately a half a million students around the country. Teamed with Summit Entertainment and the award-winning curriculum specialists at Young Minds Inspired (YMI), Participant has created a free educational program designed to teach 3rd to 5th grade pupils about the effects of every day decisions on our environment.

PARTICIPANT MEDIA TEAMS WITH GREENPEACE AND CHEMICAL SECURITY COALITION FOR THE CRAZIES SOCIAL ACTION CAMPAIGN

Los Angeles [ March 15, 2010 ]

Key Action Promotes Passage of Chemical Security Legislation in U.S. Senate

For its Social Action campaign in connection with The Crazies, Participant Media has joined forces with Greenpeace and the Chemical Security Coalition to educate, engage and activate people to support the passage of chemical security legislation in the U.S. Senate.  The film, which opened February 26th, deals with the horrifying effects of a mysterious toxin that contaminates the water supply of a small Midwestern town, causing insanity and death for the residents. Although fictional, it vividly portrays the potential result of an accidental release of an ultra-hazardous substance and the disregard for public safety, illuminating the real-world challenge of protecting communities in proximity to hazardous chemical plants across America.

AMERICAN EXPRESS AND TAKEPART® ANNOUNCE 2010 MEMBERS PROJECT® EMPOWERING EVERYONE TO TAKE SMALL STEPS TO MAKE A BIG DIFFERENCE

New York [ March 8, 2010 ]

Partnership to Provide Ongoing Opportunities for People to Vote, Donate and Get Rewarded for Volunteering 
 


Inspirational Members Project Spots Debut during 2010 Academy Awards® Broadcast

American Express and Take Part are proud to announce the return of Members Project, an innovative online initiative that provides those with a passion for philanthropy and interest in giving back an opportunity to take small steps to make a big difference. American Express has joined forces with TakePart, a content-driven social action network created by Participant Media, a company using entertaining films like Oscar®-winning documentary An Inconvenient Truth and 2010 Oscar nominee Food, Inc. to drive citizen engagement and social action. This announcement kicks off a multi-year relationship designed to help people make a difference in the lives of others through Members Project at TakePart.com/MembersProject. This program encourages everyone, whether an American Express® Cardmember or not, to do their part by providing numerous ways to get involved, including sharing their passion for worthy causes. Whether it’s volunteering for a local organization, making a donation or voting for a charity to receive additional funding from American Express, Members Project will provide the tools and resources to support the diverse causes people care about most and help empower everyone to be successful at making a difference. 





PARTICIPANT MEDIA IS TAKING ITS SOCIAL ACTION CAMPAIGN FOR OCEANS ON THE ROAD

Los Angeles [ March 2, 2010 ]

SAVE MY OCEANS TOUR TO VISIT COLLEGES NATIONWIDE WITH LIVE MUSIC, ART AND FILM SCREENINGS TO RAISE AWARENESS ABOUT THE CRISIS FACING THE WORLD’S OCEANS
 
DISNEYNATURE'S FILM OCEANS OPENS IN THEATERS APRIL 22, 2010

Participant Media announced today that it will take its Social Action campaign for Disneynature’s upcoming motion picture OCEANS on the road with the SAVE MY OCEANS TOUR. In conjunction with the opening of the film, the tour will visit a cross-section of college campuses nationwide with a series of events that celebrate our collective passion for the oceans and educate students on what they can do to help protect them.  Those universities tentatively set to participate include the University of Florida, San Diego State University, George Washington University, University of California, Berkeley, University of Hawaii, Arizona State University, University of Southern California, Louisiana State University and University of Utah.