For Immediate Release
January 10, 2007

FOR MORE INFORMATION, CONTACT

Kelly Ellison                                                                            
Vice President of Marketing and Development                      
Camp Fire USA                                                                      
Telephone:  816 285 2028                                                     
E-mail:  kelly.ellison@campfireusa.org                                 

CAMP FIRE USA PARTNERS WITH METLIFE FOUNDATION FOR OUT-OF-SCHOOL EXPANSION BEST PRACTICES INITIATIVE

Kansas City, MO – MetLife Foundation has awarded a $200,000 grant to Camp Fire USA, one of the nation’s leading youth development organizations, to establish the Out-of-School Expansion Best Practices Initiative.  This initiative will help selected local Camp Fire councils expand out-of-school programs and the national organization to document and disseminate best practices for expansion throughout the organization. 

 “Out-of-school programs reinforce what young people learn in school and provide them with valuable opportunities to develop new skills, express their creativity and serve their communities, “said Sibyl Jacobson, president of MetLife Foundation.  “We are pleased to partner with Camp Fire USA to increase access to out-of-school programs for the young people and communities that need them most.” 
Ten Camp Fire USA councils across the United States that work with underserved communities will be selected to receive $10,000 MetLife Foundation grants to expand out-of-school programs.  The programs implemented by each council will be highlighted in a best practices handbook that will be available in hard copy and online for training purposes.

MetLife Foundation was established in 1976 by MetLife to carry on its longstanding tradition of corporate contributions and community involvement. Grants support health, education, civic and cultural programs.  For more information about the Foundation, visit www.metlife.org.

Camp Fire USA is one of the nation’s leading nonprofit youth development organizations, serving 750,000 boys and girls each year.  Founded in 1910, Camp Fire provides all-inclusive, coeducational programs in hundreds of communities across the United States.  By design, Camp Fire USA programs, which include small group experiences, after-school programs, camping and environmental education, family strengthening, childcare and service-learning, build confidence in younger children and provide hands-on, youth-driven leadership experiences for all participants.  For more information about Camp Fire USA, visit www.campfireusa.org. 

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