FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Jewish Renaissance Foundation Tel: (732) 324-2114 Email: [email protected] Website: www.jrfnj.org JRF AND OUR LADY OF MT CARMEL SCHOOL MOTIVATE YOUTH TO PAY IT FORWARD 158 students to participate in local community service initiative Asbury Park, NJ. 4/28/2016 –The Jewish Renaissance Foundation’s (JRF) AmeriCorps members will host a three-hour activity centric event for 158 students of the Our Lady of Mt Carmel School (OLMC) in honor of Pay It Forward Day; an international movement aimed to inspire acts of kindness around the world. Pay It Forward will take place on at OLMC’s school grounds located at 1220 First Avenue, Asbury Park, NJ in place of their afterschool program on Thursday, April 28, 2016. Inspired by Catherine Ryan Hyde, author of the 1999 novel, Pay It Forward, the initiative took national momentum with the success of the motion picture Pay It Forward, which starred Mr. Kevin Spacey, Ms. Helen Hunt, the adorable Haley Joel Osment and Jon Bon Jovi. In 2015, people from 75 countries participated in Pay It Forward Day with individuals working on proclamations in 42 states & 48 cities. For 2016, Pay It Forward Day (PIFD) aims to inspire over 10 million acts of kindness around the world. This will be AmeriCorps second year at OLMC participating in PIFD. “We are honored to serve the students and community of Asbury Park with an event that promotes kindness and strengthening communities through giving back in small gestures” stated Shakila Woltz, AmeriCorps Program Manager. “We hope the students will be encouraged and inspired to Pay It Forward as often as they can.” On Pay If Forward Day Event 12 of JRF’s AmeriCorps members will facilitate seven activities to the students by grade level. A pep rally will kick off the event followed by breakout sessions into the activities. For grades 1-3, approximately 24 students will participate in each of the following activities: Helping Hands Special People For grades 4-8, approximately 22 students will participate in each of the following activities: Book Exchange Free Rice.com Operation Smile Hashtag Lunch Bag Operation Gratitude Each activity will have students take part in a specific act of kindness by providing an opportunity and enhance their understanding of giving by doing a good deed for someone and expecting nothing in return. Instead the receiver is encouraged to “Pay It Forward”. Event activities include an online game giving 10 grains of rice to a world food program to help end hunger for every correct answer; sewing smile dolls for Operation Smile’s medical mission, craft sandwiches for Asbury Park’s local soup kitchen, making cards for U.S. troops, and a decorating a book exchange library. “Our Lady of Mount Carmel School’s All Star enrichment program is proud to welcome back the Jewish Renaissance Foundation for a second year of Pay It Forward event,” stated Justin Artenant, Project Director of the 21st Century Community Learning Center at OLMC. “The students are more excited than ever to continue to give back to people all over the world. They will be substituting their day of enrichment activities that include, Astronomy, Career Exploration, High School Prep, face off, and Cake Decorating to take part the wonderful activities planned by the AmeriCorps team. We cannot think of better way to spend this Thursday afternoon. Thanks the JRF’s AmeriCorps team for all of the prep work to ensure that the students have a successful day today.” For more information about the event, contact the PIFD committee at (732) 324-2114 x120 or at [email protected]. (more) About the Jewish Renaissance Foundation The Jewish Renaissance Foundation was established in 1995 as a faith-based, nonprofit corporation with central offices located at The Proprietary House, 149 Kearny Avenue in Perth Amboy, New Jersey. As a Community Action Agency, we strive to overcome poverty and hopelessness throughout Middlesex County East; an area that encompasses the cities of Carteret, Edison, Highland Park, Metuchen, Perth Amboy, Sayreville, South Amboy and Woodbridge. We believe in changing lives by creating hope and self-sufficiency, and we succeed by providing individuals, children and families with essential health and human services, community development and youth programs. For additional information on the Foundation, please visit www.jrfnj.org About Our Lady of Mount Carmel School Our Lady of Mount Carmel School located in Asbury Park New Jersey is approaching the end its 93rd year of operation. A school that focuses on building student capacity, while enriching their faiths to take them to the next level of their lives. Our Lady of Mount Carmel school has grown with the city of Asbury Park, remaining a beacon of hope for all that would like attend. ### .