New Website and Google Map to Help Reach More Than 200,000 Teachers Nationwide in Fight Against Childhood Pneumonia 

WESTPORT, Conn. (Nov.16, 2009) — Save the Children, the global humanitarian organization, today announced "Knock Pneumonia Off the Map," a new educational program with Scholastic, the international children's publishing, education and media company. The joint effort will educate children, teachers and parents nationwide about childhood pneumonia. 

A preventable and easily treatable illness, pneumonia is the number one killer of children under 5, claiming more lives each year than measles, malaria and AIDS combined.

The new "Knock Pneumonia Off the Map" website that launched today at www.scholastic.com/savethechildren, provides lesson plans and printables that engage students on the issue of childhood pneumonia, while helping to teach essential standard-based skills in math, science, reading comprehension and geography.

Teachers can "Put Your Classroom on the Map!" to register their participation on a special Save the Children Google map page. The site also includes a poster map, and other educational materials such as videos, stories about U.S. children volunteering to help others and children around the world beating pneumonia, and a take-home family newsletter to engage families on this important global issue. This program aims to reach more than 200,000 teachers, 6 million children and 9 million parents.

"Kids can make a huge difference in the fight against childhood pneumonia and the Scholastic materials are a great way to get children and their families to help raise awareness," said Mary Beth Powers, chief of Save the Children's Survive to 5 campaign.  "Nearly 2 million children around the world die every year from pneumonia, yet very few people are aware that it is the number one killer of children.  We are hopeful that our new youth advocates will increase awareness among their communities that will help to reduce the number of deaths from pneumonia."  

10,000 Classrooms to Receive Program Kits in December

In the first week of December, 10,000 classrooms nationwide will receive the "Knock Pneumonia Off the Map" program kit that will include a poster, teaching guide and student take-homes. These kits are designed for students in fourth to sixth grade with lessons about the importance of helping others, and being more active and engaged participants in the global community.  Teachers will be encouraged to register their participation on Save the Children's virtual online map where they can be featured as a school helping to "Knock Pneumonia Off the Map" through education and activism. 

"Scholastic has a 90-year history of helping children understand their world, and that includes healthy living and disease prevention," stated Ann Amstutz-Hayes, Vice President of Scholastic InSchool Solutions. "The 'Knock Pneumonia Off the Map' program helps to raise awareness about a global issue, while providing teachers and families with core materials to help further conversations with their children in school and at home." 

Global Coalition Urging Governments to Fight Pneumonia

Save the Children is one of several global health organizations that have joined forces to urge governments to take steps to fight pneumonia. Advocates from six continents planned activities on November 2, 2009 and commemorated the first-annual World Pneumonia Day. The Global Coalition against Childhood Pneumonia, a group of nearly 100 influential global health organizations, including Save the Children and academic institutions, held the World Pneumonia Day symposium in New York City.

Save the Children has health programs to treat pneumonia in Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Dominican Republic, Guatemala, Indonesia, Malawi, Mozambique, Myanmar, Nepal, Nicaragua, Pakistan, Southern Sudan and Zambia. The organization also supports pneumonia prevention programs in many more countries.

Save the Children is the leading independent organization that creates lasting change for children in need in the United States and around the world. Save the Children USA is a member of the International Save the Children Alliance, a global network of 29 independent Save the Children organizations working to ensure the well-being and protection of children in more than 120 countries. Follow us on Twitter and Facebook.

For more information, visit Scholastic on the web at our online media room.