News Release: Nationwide Literacy Contest Underway

Friday, January 1, 2010

Contact: Pedro C. Moreno, Cell 202-378-8218

For Media Inquiries only: Patti Tripathi 703-371-2007

Or visit www.TriPathMedia.com

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

A NATIONWIDE LITERACY CONTEST UNDERWAY FOR YOUNG

WOMEN IN AMERICA TO PLANT A LEARNING "SEED" FOR THEIR

UNDERPRIVILEGED SISTERS OVERSEAS

The winning father and daughter team travels to DC to videotape its message to the world

(Warrenton, Virginia) January 1, 2010 – Girls and young women are encouraged to submit a brief summary of what message they would send to millions of underprivileged girls and their fathers regarding the importance of education and literacy. THE CONTEST DEADLINE FOR ENTRIES IS JANUARY 31, 2010.  For full details visit www.FatherAndDaughter.org

The selected Sister Envoy for Education and Development (SEED) will be flown to Washington DC to deliver her speech at a special event with invited dignitaries and the media. The contest, which is sponsored by Virginia-based charity the Father and Daughter Alliance (FADA), is open to girls/young women, residents of the United States, between the ages of 13 to 23.

Submit your summary by e-mail to PMoreno@fatheranddaughter.org

First Prize is a trip to Washington, D.C. (approximate value of trip and accommodation is up to $3,000) for the SEED Envoy and her father or father figure; There are also Second and Third Prizes. The winning SEED Envoy, selected among 10 finalists, will travel to the nation's capital during spring break of 2010 and deliver her speech which may be videotaped, broadcast and featured on FADA’s website and worldwide. So, get creative SEEDS and help the world blossom!

“I have a daughter, and when these girls in India and other countries are denied an education for whatever reason, every girl's potential in the world is greatly undermined,” said Pedro C. Moreno, the Founder and President of the Father and Daughter Alliance. FADA is a grassroots effort to connect fathers and daughters in the slums of New Delhi, India and enroll the girls into schools. “Many are denied valuable education because they lack $20, or because the schools do not have bathrooms, or simply because their fathers don’t allow them to do so, potentially subjugating them to a life-time of exploitation.”

Girls reportedly account for more than half of the approximately 75 million children out of school. Their fathers are for the most part the sole decision-makers about whether girls go to school or not, in countries like India, Afghanistan, Benin, Guatemala and Yemen. FADA, which is a 501 (c)(3) non-profit, plans to expand the program from India to other countries to enable fathers to enroll their daughters into schools.

For more information or to enter this contest e-mail PMoreno@fatheranddaughter.org  Or visit

www.FatherAndDaughter.org

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