Actress Jennie Garth Urges One Million Families to Volunteer

Actress Jennie Garth Urges One Million Families to Volunteer

Star of the WB's 'What I Like About You' and National Service Expert Cathryn Berger Kaye Launch Angel Soft Angels in Action Days Tour

NEW YORK, Feb. 23 /PRNewswire/ -- Jennie Garth, star of the WB's "What I Like About You," is championing a new cause -- encouraging families to make volunteering a priority.

Garth, a mother of two, is the new spokesperson for the Angel Soft(R) Angels in Action(R) program and is leading the Angel Soft Million Family Service Pledge(TM), an effort asking families to pledge one hour each month to volunteer together as a family. Everyone who takes the pledge has the chance to win a $5,000 cash prize and $5,000 to put toward a charity of choice.

Garth was at the Manhattan Children's Museum in New York City today to launch the 12-city tour about volunteerism sponsored by the makers of Angel Soft toilet paper. This tour will be a series of free family volunteering events that show families how easy and exciting volunteering together can be.

"The list of ways we can turn our talents and interests into fun projects that benefit others is endless," Garth says. "I've discovered kids have tremendous compassion and desire to be of service. Sometimes they just need an adult to help support them in turning their ideas into action."

Young Angels Honored

For the past six years, the Angel Soft Angels in Action program has honored children for their exemplary acts of service. This year, Georgia- Pacific, the makers of Angel Soft toilet paper, are again recognizing children ages 8-18 with $45,000 in cash prizes. Details on the awards, the tour and the pledge can be found at http://www.angelsoft.com/ .

Making The Most of Family Time

Youth volunteerism is important in helping kids grow up to be responsible adults. In addition, children who volunteer are twice as likely to grow up to become adults who volunteer. According to a new survey of parents in major cities across the U.S., the majority(1) of families (84 percent) said they consider volunteering an important part of family life, yet they struggle to find the time (55 percent) and don't have enough resources and information on volunteer opportunities (38 percent). With nearly half of today's labor force living in a dual earner household, it is not surprising parents have limited time to give. That's why the experts say start small and keep it simple.

Expert Advice on Family Volunteering

Joining Garth in spreading the word about the Angel Soft Angels in Action program is national service learning expert Cathryn Berger Kaye. She is author of The Complete Guide to Service Learning.

Kaye suggests these tips to help families roll-up their sleeves and work together for a good cause:

-- Pick a Passion. Create a list of your child's hobbies or interests and
talk about ways to use those skills to help others.
-- Plan Time. Designate time on your calendar as "family service time"
and let your child lead the way in picking projects or causes that
interest them.
-- Participate. Demonstrate your support by joining in the project
planning. Let your child delegate tasks to you, ask questions about
how the project is going and provide support to help your child see
things through.


Earning Wings From Town To Town


Angel Soft Angels in Action Days is touring the country doing volunteer food drives and food packing parties in support of hunger-relief. At these events, families can participate in a meaningful project and also take the Angel Soft Million Family Service Pledge by signing the giant Angel Soft pledge wall exhibit. When they pledge, they'll automatically be entered for the chance to win $5,000 from the makers of Angel Soft toilet paper which they can then spend, share or donate -- the decision is up to the winner. The makers of Angel Soft will also contribute $5,000 to a nonprofit charity or service organization of the winner's choice.

The tour will visit cities including Phoenix, Ariz.; Dallas, Texas; Orlando, Fla.; Seattle, Wash.; Portland, Ore.; Chicago, Ill.; Detroit, Mich.; Minneapolis, Minn.; Pittsburgh, Pa.; Atlanta, Ga.; San Francisco and Los Angeles, Calif.

Do You Know An Angel Who Deserves to Be Honored?

The Angel Soft Angels in Action program honors children ages 8-18 for exemplary community service efforts. Nominators must submit an essay of 200 words or less on the nominee's service accomplishments. Nominators must be 18 years or older. Nominations will be divided into the following three age groups: 8-10 years old, 11-15 years old and 16-18 years old. All nominations must be postmarked by August 15, 2005. One grand prize winner from each age group will receive $10,000 and a trip to Florida to participate in a parade down Walt Disney World's Main Street. Additionally, five finalists in each age group will receive $1,000. To nominate an angel in your area, obtain details on pledge enrollment, find helpful volunteer resources or access motivational tools and community service tips from Kaye, visit http://www.angelsoft.com/ .

About Georgia-Pacific

Headquartered at Atlanta, Georgia-Pacific is one of the world's leading manufacturers and marketers of tissue, packaging, paper, building products and related chemicals. With 2004 annual sales of $20 billion, the company employs approximately 55,000 people at more than 300 locations in North America and Europe. Its familiar consumer tissue brands include Quilted Northern(R), Angel Soft(R), Brawny(R), Sparkle(R), Soft 'n Gentle(R), Mardi Gras(R), So- Dri(R), Green Forest(R) and Vanity Fair(R), as well as the Dixie(R) brand of disposable cups, plates and cutlery. Georgia-Pacific's building products manufacturing business has long been among the nation's leading suppliers of building products to lumber and building materials dealers and large do-it- yourself warehouse retailers. For more information, visit http://www.gp.com/ .

(1) This research project was conducted in order to learn about attitudes
towards volunteering in families with children aged 8 to 15. Two
surveys were conducted: a nationwide survey of 1,214 families in
December 2003, and a regional survey of 2,502 families in 12 major
cities in November 2004 -- all members of the CyberPulse(TM) Advisory
Panel. The Advisory Panel has been carefully selected to closely
match US population demographics. The margin of error for the
nationwide survey is +/- 3% at the 95% level of confidence. The
margin of error for each Chicago survey is +/- 7% at the 95% level of
confidence.



Source: Georgia-Pacific

CONTACT: Amy Pierson, +1-312-988-2429, apierson@webershandwick.com , or
Anna Umphress, +1-404-652-4627, acumphre@gapac.com , both for Georgia-Pacific

Web site: http://www.gp.com/
http://www.angelsoft.com/


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