"TEEN CHOICE 2008" IS DOING SOMETHING GOOD FOR TEENS WHO ARE MAKING A DIFFERENCE
Newly Added "Do Something" Award Recognizes Young People Changing The World
Winner Will Receive $100,000 to Invest In Cause
TEEN CHOICE 2008 has added a new award category called the "Do Something" award which will be given to a young person under the age 25 who is doing something good to change the world. In addition to the previously announced TEEN CHOICE 2008 categories, teens will also determine who will win the $100,000 prize by voting for their favorite "Do Something" award nominee online at TeenChoiceAwards.com. The show, hosted by Miley Cyrus, will air Monday, Aug. 4 (8:00-10:00 PM ET/PT) on FOX.
"One amazing young person is going to be recognized for their philanthropic efforts and impact on their community and get the rock star treatment they deserve at the show," said Bob Bain, Executive Producer of TEEN CHOICE 2008.
"We think young people aren't just tomorrow's leaders; many young people are doing amazing things right now," said Nancy Lublin, CEO of Do Something, Inc.
The Do Something category will recognize a young non-celebrity leader who is devoted to making a positive impact on social issues such as human rights, poverty, medical advancement and environmental sustainability. The winner will receive the coveted surfboard award and $100,000 for his/her cause. Nominees were identified by an online application process and in-person interviews with national not-for-profit Do Something.
"DO SOMETHING" AWARD NOMINEES:
Chad Bullock (19), ANTI-TOBACCO ACTIVIST � Bullock is the leading youth anti-tobacco activist in the country. He works with politicians, corporations, not-for-profits and other teens to stamp out smoking. One of Bullock's biggest successes was turning the Durham Bulls Arena into a smoke-free building.
Caitlin Cohen (22), MALI HEALTH ORGANIZATION PROJECT (MHOP) � Cohen founded the Mali Health Organization Project after she did volunteer work in Mali's slums. Her organization has reached 60,000 people with programs on health outreach, microfinance, literacy and peer education.
Kathryn Cunningham (22), POWER UP GAMBIA � While in Gambia, Cunningham witnessed a newborn die because an incubator lacked electricity. Upon returning to the U.S., she founded Power Up Gambia with the mission of providing sustainable solar energy to hospitals and clinics in Gambia. By this summer, 72 life-giving solar panels will have been installed in Gambia.
Kjerstin Erickson (24), FORGE � After Erickson spent time volunteering in a refugee camp in Botswana, she decided to dedicate her time helping refugees. Frustrated with government programs, she founded FORGE and has since implemented more than 60 community-development projects and served more than 60,000 refugees from five African countries.
Dallas Jessup (16), JUST YELL FIRE � After reading about a string of assaults in her area, Jessup decided to use her skills as a black belt in Tae Kwon Do and Filipino Street Fighting instructor to help teens defend themselves. Her program has been distributed to over 415,000 teens worldwide.
Pat Pedraja (13), DRIVING FOR DONORS � Pedraja contracted leukemia when he was 10 years old, and due to the lack of Latino donors, doctors were unable to find a bone-marrow match for him. Determined to increase awareness and recruit more Latino donors, Pedraja and his mother started "Driving For Donors." Since then, 8,000 names have been added to the registry and three life-saving bone marrow matches have been made.
Zander Srodes (18), TURTLE TALKS � Srodes works with marine biologists, educators and politicians to raise awareness and change policies to help endangered sea turtles. He has also written a book about the plight of sea turtles that has been translated into more than four languages.
Adam Sterling (25), SUDAN DIVESTMENT TASK FORCE (Part of Genocide Intervention Network) � Sterling comes from a family of Holocaust survivors, so he knows the horror of genocide. When he learned of the atrocities occurring in Darfur, he knew had to act. He successfully drafted and lobbied for the Sudan Accountability and Divestment Act, which was signed by President Bush in December 2007. As a result of his efforts, nine major companies have ceased operations in the Sudan, and he is the subject of the documentary film "Darfur Now."
Daniel Zoughbie (23), GLOBAL MICRO-CLINIC PROJECT (GMCP) � Zoughbie's family is from Palestine and because there weren't any adequate health clinics in Palestine, his grandmother died from diabetes. He began the Global Micro-Clinic Project in her memory, which has established 50 community-based "micro-clinics" serving poor people in the Middle East.
DO SOMETHING (DoSomething.org) believes teenagers have the power to make a difference. Do Something leverages 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 DoSomething.org.
TEEN CHOICE 2008 celebrates the hottest teen icons in film, television, music, sports and fashion. This year the coolest stars will receive coveted Teen Choice Surfboard awards in categories such as Choice Reality Dance TV Show, Choice Movie Bromantic Comedy, Choice Movie Chick Flick, Choice Breakout Artist, Choice Male Hottie, Choice Female Athlete, and Choice Movie Villain. Every year, the special presents performances by some of pop music's hottest stars. Fans ages 13-19 can vote once each day for their favorite TEEN CHOICE 2008 nominees at TeenChoiceAwards.com.
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