Save the Children youth art contest supported by actor Julianne Moore and American Federation of Teachers

WASHINGTON, DC — October 30, 2009 — In an effort to promote kids unity as a force against the childhood poverty crisis in the United States, Save the Children and the American Federation of Teachers (AFT) today announced a Valentine's Day art contest for students across America. The contest and rules are live today at www.savethechildren.org/cardcontest.

Open to students in pre-K through 12th grade, the contest encourages children to create card designs and submit them through their schools to Save the Children by December 1, 2009. Select cards will be posted online in mid-December where kids will vote for their favorite in each of five grade categories. The five winning designs will be printed on Valentine's Day cards available in January and offered as part of a gift with a donation to benefit Save the Children's anti-poverty programs in the United States.

Themed "Uniting a Generation," the contest is promoted through an AFT lesson plan on childhood poverty, which is available to teachers across America now at http://go.aft.org/contest. Actor and Save the Children Artist Ambassador Julianne Moore conceived Save the Children's Valentine's Card project and acted as its spokesperson for the last two years, during which professional designs were featured on the cards.

"There are no better or more credible advocates for kids than kids themselves," said Moore. "I hope this contest helps educate kids about poverty here at home and inspires them to unite and take action."

Winners in each category will receive a $500 savings bond and the student whose card receives the most votes during the online voting will have an opportunity to meet Moore and join her during press appearances promoting the cards in January.

This year's first-ever art contest is designed to engage kids by asking them to design cards using the heart image as a symbol for values like unity, loyalty and responsibility.

"Public school teachers play a fundamental role in providing educational opportunities for children. Too many of our students live in poverty, yet many of their peers aren't aware of this sad reality," said AFT president Randi Weingarten. "The Save the Children art contest and AFT-created lesson plans help students develop the skills and values they need not only to succeed academically, but also to better understand poverty issues and social injustice."

"Empowering young people to fight a poverty crisis that affects one in six of their peers could help make this generation one of the greatest yet," said Mark Shriver, managing director of Save the Children's U.S. Programs. "I hope this art contest will help educate and activate young people to open a new front against childhood poverty in America."

Designs must be received by December 1. Five designs in each of five grade categories (Pre-k-2, 3-5, 6-8, 9-10,11-12) will be chosen for the online contest in mid-December. Teachers and students interested in participating can visit savethechildren.org/cardcontest for official rules and more information.

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.