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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
30,000 ELEMENTARY SCHOOLS TO USE NFL PLAYER TRADING CARDS AS EDUCATIONAL TOOLS IN STAY COOL IN SCHOOL PROGRAM NFL, PLAYERS INC, YMI Launch Nationwide Effort in NFL Cities to Reach 2 Million Students The National Football League, PLAYERS INC, and YMI announce the launch of the Stay Cool in School program, a nationwide effort to provide educational tools to 30,000 schools utilizing NFL player trading cards to support teaching topics in mathematics, geography and language arts. Targeting 4th and 5th graders, the program’s goal is to encourage learning by bringing interactive and exciting tools into the students’ classroom and home. “The idea is to introduce a new generation of young people to collectible football cards by involving kids and parents with NFL players and the excitement of one of America’s greatest sports by creating cross-curricular materials that match subjects taught in the grade,” said Joel Ehrlich, President of YMI, and former award-winning 4th grade teacher. Headed by YMI, a leader in curriculum-based programs, the Stay Cool in School with NFL Player Trading Cards program meets national education standards and provides teachers with cross-curriculum activities for multiple class lessons. Each kit includes a teachers’ guide, lesson starters, resource lists, take-home activities, Web site resources, an interactive wall poster that tracks classroom statistics, and a pack of trading cards for every student in the class. YMI has used creative learning techniques to meet a wide variety of National Education Standards. Students are able to learn mathematical graphic techniques by using statistics on the cards, geography by learning where National Football League cities are located and what is unique about each one, and language arts and journalism by writing their own sports reports. Over the past nine years, PLAYERS INC and its sponsors have partnered with the Super Bowl Host City for a localized Stay Cool in School program. This year, the concept was reinvented as a national program with the partnership of the NFL and YMI. The program will be distributed to 30,000 schools and is targeted to reach 90,000 teachers and 2 million students nationwide. NFL- and PLAYERS INC-licensed trading card companies Fleer, Donruss/Playoff, Topps and Upper Deck are participating sponsors in the Stay Cool in School with NFL Player Trading Cards program. PLAYERS INC Formed in 1994, PLAYERS INC is the for-profit licensing and marketing subsidiary of the NFL Players Association. Representing over 1,800 active and 3,000 retired NFL players, PLAYERS INC “takes the helmets off” the players and markets them as personalities as well as professional athletes. PLAYERS INC activities include retail licensing, corporate sponsorships, special events, radio and television projects, publishing and other promotional programs. PLAYERS INC schedules more than 2,500 NFL player appearances each year. For more information, please visit www.nflplayers.com. YMI YMI is an award-winning education specialist in the creation of in-school curriculum-based programs. It is owned and operated by two former award-winning school teachers—experts in the field of educational motivation—Joel Ehrlich and Roberta Nusim. YMI understands how to inspire teachers with creative materials that are utilized in the classroom. The materials correlate with curriculum standards and provide innovative, creative tools and methods that teachers embrace, students love, and parents appreciate. YMI’s management team encompasses 26 years of experience directing over 1,600 in-school programs for all ages (pre-school through college). All programs are reviewed by YMI’s special teacher advisory board and are sent to teachers who desperately need creative tools and innovation in the nation’s classrooms. As the leader in curriculum-based programs, YMI understands what motivates teachers and kids and appreciates the role of parents in their child’s education. This program is a result of YMI’s experience, creativity and passion for its credo, “Young Minds Inspired.” ###
Contacts: Matt Hill, NFL (212) 450-2080
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