PHILADELPHIA, Dec. 9, 2005 (PRIMEZONE) -- Interaction between youth from Philadelphia and the Main Line is a rare occurrence at best. The Starfinder Foundation's Passport to Excellence Day gives children of different backgrounds a chance not only to bond but also to experience diverse cultures from all over the world.
The Starfinder Foundation, in conjunction with 10 students from the Management 100 program at the Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania, will present a Passport to Excellence Day on December 10, 2005, from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. at the Shipley School at 814 Yarrow Street in Bryn Mawr. Over 120 second- through fourth-graders from Philadelphia-area schools -- the Gesu School, Isaac Sheppard School, Chester School, St. Francis de Sales, and The Shipley School -- will take part in a day of learning, sharing, virtual travel, community service, and recreation, all tied together by the theme of soccer.
Moving through the day in six teams of 20, students will receive personalized passports with their photos and information about each country they will "visit." After a grand opening ceremony, the children will "travel" to rooms extravagantly decorated to represent China, Australia, South Africa, and France. They will learn about these cultures and take part in corresponding character building activities such as role-play skits and board games that present thought-invoking moral questions. The teams will also participate in soccer instruction segments run by the University of Pennsylvania men's soccer team, the Haverford College women's soccer team, and Starfinder staff. In the afternoon the children will carry out a community service project in coordination with the Children's Hospital of Philadelphia. The day will conclude with a friendly mini World Cup soccer tournament.
The Starfinder Foundation is a dynamic youth organization utilizing soccer as a vehicle for children's personal growth and development through recreation and education. Starfinder's mission is to create inspirational learning environments where children are encouraged through soccer to develop strong moral character, strive for academic excellence and live with a positive attitude, regardless of their socio-economic status. Other Starfinder programs include after-school programs and holiday camps for elementary and middle school-aged children and Leading Through Soccer leadership development programs for teens. For more information, visit www.starfinderfoundation.org.
The Starfinder Foundation's Passport to Excellence Day program is made possible by numerous partnerships, including:
City Year Greater Philadelphia: For the fourth year, a team of eight corps members from this Americorps-funded program are working with Starfinder throughout the academic year in its after-school and Passport to Excellence programs. City Year's mission is to build democracy through citizen service, civic leadership and social entrepreneurship. The City Year Starfinder Team will serve as team leaders during the day.
The Shipley School: This is the third year that Shipley has hosted Starfinder's Passport to Excellence program. Through this collaboration, Starfinder and Shipley seek to broaden the experiences of children living in urban and suburban communities by providing engaging forums of interaction. The Shipley School, a pre-kindergarten through grade 12 co-educational day school, is committed to educational excellence and dedicated to developing in each student a love of learning and a compassionate participation in the world.
U. S. Dept. of Agriculture (USDA), Mid-Atlantic Region Food and Nutrition Services: The USDA supports the Passport to Excellence program through its Eat Smart. Play Hard.(tm) campaign, which aims to foster healthy eating habits and combat the high incidence of obesity in American children.
Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania: Ten students in Wharton's Management 100 program have worked with Starfinder throughout the fall to help design, plan, publicize, and coordinate this Passport to Excellence program.
This event is open to the press for its entirety from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.