Press Releases

• AMIkids Receives $10,000 Grant from Staples Foundation

  AMIkids Receives $10,000 Grant from Staples Foundation
  Funds Will Support Educational Programs for Youth
  

  Tampa, Fla. (December 16, 2011) – AMIkids, a national non-profit organization dedicated to providing youth an opportunity to transform their lives, announced today it has received a $10,000 grant from Staples Foundation, the private foundation created by Staples, Inc.  Funding from Staples will help develop curriculum for youth who are struggling academically to ensure achievement in school. 

  AMIkids provides teens with environmental education, project-based learning and experiential education, to encourage student learning beyond traditional textbooks.  The program serves between 7,500 youth annually, ages 14-18, throughout Florida and beyond.  Of those served, 72 percent are underrepresented minorities. The grant from Staples Foundation will provide youth with necessary support to succeed in school and in life.

  “AMIkids strives to combine education, behavior modification and treatment to educate, instill values, improve life skills, rebuild confidence and reinforce accountability in youth,” said Sherri Ulleg, director of communications, AMIkids.  “With support from Staples Foundation, we will continue our mission to help put youth on the path to success and help them become responsible and productive citizens.”

  “AMIkids has made a positive impact in lives of thousands of youth in Tampa since 1971, helping them to achieve academic success and develop the life skills they need to become productive individuals,” said Amy Shanler, director of community relations for Staples, Inc.  “Staples Foundation is committed to supporting organizations like AMIkids as they work to provide phenomenal educational programs that help local youth realize their full potential.”

  About AMIkids

  Founded in 1969, AMIkids, Inc. is a nationally recognized not-for-profit that offers a promising future to more than eight thousand kids each year through positive and motivating programs that inspire learning, leadership and personal growth. AMIkids has 56 programs in nine states across the U.S., including nine programs in Louisiana. Through education, counseling and behavior modification students are empowered to make positive decisions that will ultimately shape their future and allow them the opportunity to transform their lives. For more information, log on to www.amikids.org.

  About Staples in the Community

  Staples contributes to educational and youth-oriented community efforts, from literacy and mentoring to career skills development, through in-kind and monetary donations and grants from Staples Foundation, the private charitable arm of Staples, Inc.  Through its community relations efforts, Staples and Staples Foundation have helped more than 6,000 organizations in 2,000 communities across 27 countries. Community relations is also an integral component of Staples Soul, which recognizes the connection between long-term business success and the impact Staples has on associates, communities and the planet.  For more information, visit www.staples.com/community.  

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• AMIkids Tampa hosts annual golf tournament at MacDill Air Force Base

  TAMPA, FL (November 10, 2011) – As we look forward to celebrating and honoring the brave men and women who have fought for our country this Veteran’s Day, AMIkids is especially grateful to those military personnel in Tampa who have graciously offered the use of the Bay Palms Golf Complex on MacDill Air Force Base for the AMIkids Tampa annual golf tournament. AMIkids Tampa is hosting the golf tournament on Friday, November 18, 2011 and tee off will be at 12:30 p.m.
  

  The tournament will feature 112 golfers showing their support for Hillsborough’s kids. Major sponsors this year include Amalie Oil, Florida Bank, and Homes by Westbay. Last year, the event raised over $40,000.

  The golf tournament will raise money for AMIkids Tampa, a local non-profit organization that provides an opportunity for our community’s kids to transform into responsible young adults. AMIkids Tampa has served more than 3,700 youth and their families since 1971 with an average 75% success rate.

  AMIkids Tampa is one of 56 programs in nine states affiliated with nationally-recognized AMIkids, a Tampa-based non-profit organization. Since 1969, AMIkids has served more than 105,000 kids. For more information, visit www.AMIkids.org.  
  
  For more information or for members of the press who wish to attend the event, contact Destiny Frasca at 813-248-5091.
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• WAT-AAH! and NFL superstar Marques Colston honor the work of AMIkids

  NEW ORLEANS (November 29, 2011) – WAT-AAH!, the first line of functional bottled water for kids, and NFL superstar, Marques Colston, recently joined forces to bring awareness to the national epidemic of childhood obesity and to promote healthier lifestyle choices. Colston, wide receiver for the New Orleans Saints, greeted fans and signed autographs at the newest Rouses Market in downtown New Orleans, just two blocks from the Superdome.
   
  During the event, WAT-AAH! and Colston honored the work of AMIkids, a national non-profit dedicated to providing our communities' kids with a promising future, holding a special meet and greet with Colston and the kids.
   
  "AMIkids hits very close to home for me which is why it's a pleasure and my mission to support the organization both personally and through my company, WAT-AAH!, to improve the lives of these children,” says Rose Cameron, Founder and CEO of WAT-AAH!. "Meeting and spending time with someone like Marques stays with these kids long after the event itself. He's a great role model I'm honored to facilitate that kind of long standing inspiration for these kids,” she adds.
   
  The kids stood outside the market, anxiously awaiting their chance to meet the Saint.  “Many of our kids dream of one day becoming a professional athlete.  Meeting someone like Marques who is using his success to positively impact the lives of others through his work with Rose Cameron and WAT-AAH! and in the New Orleans community is the right kind of motivation for our kids,” says Sherri Ulleg, Director of Communications for AMIkids.
   
  About AMIkids
  Founded in 1969, AMIkids, Inc., is a nationally-recognized not-for-profit that offers a promising future to more than eight thousand kids each year through positive and motivating programs that inspire learning, leadership and personal growth. AMIkids has 56 programs in nine states across the U.S., including nine programs in Louisiana. Through education, counseling and behavior modification students are empowered to make positive decisions that will ultimately shape their future and allow them the opportunity to transform their lives. For more information, log on to www.amikids.org.
   
  About WAT-AAH!
  WAT-AAH! is a line of functional water for kids free of sugar or sweeteners of any kind. Since 2008, the brand has been convincing kids to drink water as opposed to sodas or sugary drinks. WAT-AAH! is the exclusive beverage partner for Beyonce's 'Move Your Body' Flash Workout, supporting Michelle Obama's Let's Move! initiative. WAT-AAH! has also partnered with other key NFL sports stars through Legacy Growth Partners and SWC Management. WAT-AAH! is available across the US in over 6000 stores/supermarkets as well as 1,500 schools/districts. For more information, visit http://www.wat-aah.com.

• UnitedHealthcare partners with AMIkids to prepare local kids for the school year

  Tampa, Fla. – August 17, 2011 – Team members from UnitedHealthcare presented brand new school supplies donated by their employees to students at AMIkids Tampa yesterday to help get the kids ready for the new school year.
  
  For a several months, local UnitedHealthcare employees have been busy collecting new pens, pencils, folders, scissors, and other much needed school supplies – enough to fill more than six large boxes. Earlier this year, employees also held a carnation sale which raised more than $400. The money was used to purchase additional supplies for donation.
  
  The mission of AMIkids Tampa is to help troubled kids become productive and responsible citizens.  Over 75% of the kids served each year become successful, contributing members of the local community and have no further negative contact with the justice system.  
  
  Education is a key component in the AMIkids program, where the majority of teens enter the program several grade levels behind and are offered one-on-one academics and the opportunity for credit recovery.  A focus on academics, mental health treatment and behavioral services during their stay at AMIkids gives kids the chance to learn the tools necessary to successfully transition back to local public schools or earn their GED.
  
  Rachel, a graduate of AMIkids Tampa, says, “AMIkids Tampa gave me so many opportunities, life lessons, personal insights, guidance and help. When I graduated in June 2009, I felt so accomplished.”  Rachel is thriving today and credits the second chance she was given at AMIkids.
  
  UnitedHealthcare is committed to being socially responsible by helping people live healthier lives through employee involvement, investing in local communities, providing grant and program funding, and more.
  
  For additional information, contact Sherri Ulleg at (727) 512-3233.
  
  ABOUT AMIKIDS
  Founded in 1969, AMIkids, Inc., is a nationally-recognized not-for-profit that offers a promising future to more than nine thousand troubled youth each year through positive and motivating programs that inspire learning, leadership and personal growth.  Through education, counseling and behavior modification students are empowered to make positive decisions that will ultimately shape their future.  For more information, log on to www.amikids.org.
  
  About UnitedHealthcare
  UnitedHealthcare is dedicated to helping people nationwide live healthier lives by simplifying the health care experience, meeting consumer health and wellness needs, and sustaining trusted relationships with care providers.  The company offers the full spectrum of health benefit programs for individuals, employers and Medicare and Medicaid beneficiaries, and contracts directly with more than 650,000 physicians and care professionals and 5,000 hospitals nationwide. UnitedHealthcare serves more than 38 million people and is one of the businesses of UnitedHealth Group (NYSE: UNH), a diversified Fortune 50 health and well-being company.  
  
  
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• AMIkids Pasco receives $5,000 from The Concourse Council

  New Port Richey, Fla. – November 20, 2011 – AMIkids Pasco, a local non-profit organization dedicated to offering our community’s kids an opportunity to transform their lives, has been awarded $5,000 from The Concourse Council.
  
  Since 1993, AMIkids Pasco has served more than 2,300 teenager and their families, helping kids get back on the right track.  More than 75% of youth attending AMIkids Pasco go on to become responsible, productive members of the local community.
  
  “We wanted to recognize AMIkids Pasco’s outstanding work in Pasco County,” says Thad Lowery of The Concourse Council.  The Concourse Council is a non-profit organization whose mission is to provide education about the many recreational services available in Pasco County, including nature trails, picnic areas, riding trails, camping areas and more.  
  
  AMIkids and The Concourse Council share a passion for improving Pasco County.  The $5,000 award will be used by AMIkids Pasco to enhance the education, treatment and behavior services they are providing to teens, giving them a chance to pursue their dreams of entering college, technical school or obtain a meaningful job in the local workforce.
  
  For additional information, contact AMIkids Pasco executive director Mark Carroll at (727) 841-4361.
  
  ABOUT AMIKIDS
  Founded in 1969, AMIkids, Inc., is a nationally-recognized not-for-profit that offers a promising future to more than eight thousand troubled youth each year through positive and motivating programs that inspire learning, leadership and personal growth.  Through education, counseling and behavior modification students are empowered to make positive decisions that will ultimately shape their future.  For more information, log on to www.amikids.org.
  
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