Charles Schwab and Garfield Creator Jim Davis Team Up to Inspire Kids With Learning Disabilities

Charles Schwab and Garfield Creator Jim Davis Team Up to Inspire Kids With Learning Disabilities

SparkTop.org, First Website for Children with Learning and Attention Problems, Now Features Daily Garfield Comic Strip

SAN MATEO, Calif., Feb. 8 /PRNewswire/ -- Today Schwab Learning, a nonprofit program of the Charles and Helen Schwab Foundation dedicated to helping families of children with learning and attention problems, announced a partnership with cartoonist Jim Davis, creator of comic icon Garfield. Through the partnership with Davis' organization, Paws, Inc., a specially selected Garfield comic strip as well as original Garfield activities and content will appear daily at Schwab Learning's http://www.sparktop.org/, the first website designed exclusively for 8-12 year olds with learning difficulties.

"Jim and I work in very different worlds, but we discovered very quickly that helping children learn is an important issue for both of us," said financial pioneer Charles R. Schwab. "Comics played an important role in my own life as I learned to read, and I am honored to be working with Jim and his company to bring Garfield's distinctive brand of humor to help kids with learning difficulties all across the country."

Schwab and Davis found common ground in the issue of learning difficulties. Schwab himself suffers from dyslexia and often used comic books in school to study classic works of literature. Davis, who has spent over 25 years entertaining children and adults with the stories of Garfield and his friends, hears regularly from kids, parents, and teachers around the world who credit Garfield comic strips with strengthening their enthusiasm for learning. The comic strips and activities featured on SparkTop.org are designed to encourage self-esteem among kids who struggle with learning difficulties.

"No matter what the situation, Garfield is always comfortable in his own skin, and I think most kids admire that about him," said Davis. "I'm thrilled to be working with Schwab Learning to bring Garfield's inspirational confidence and humor to kids who struggle with learning -- sometimes laughter and fun is what they need most."

"Our organization is delighted to announce our alliance with PAWS as a wonderful example of effective business and not-for-profit collaboration," added Jodell Seagrave, Managing Director of Schwab Learning. "We expect this partnership to serve as a model for other joint efforts to address the needs of kids who struggle with LD."

The National Institutes of Health estimate that 15 percent of the U.S. population has some type of learning disability. Further, the U.S. Department of Education states that almost one-third of students with learning disabilities drop out of school - nearly twice the rate of students without learning disabilities. As the first website ever created expressly for kids with LD, SparkTop.org offers a variety of activities, games, and creative tools to help kids discover their unique way of learning and to develop their strengths and self-esteem. By providing means to express themselves and explore their interests, the site helps kids feel positive about the fact that everyone's brain works (or "sparks") differently.

In addition to viewing the Garfield comic strip each day, kids who visit SparkTop.org can celebrate their hobbies, talk about their talents, and learn what other kids love doing. They can also create a music mix, write a poem, or draw a story - and share it with others. They can ask questions about learning disabilities, friends, or school - and get answers they can trust from people who know what they're going through. And they can turn to "Dr. Bart," a learning disabilities expert, for tips on maximizing their learning strengths and managing their learning disabilities. The website is free of charge, carries no advertising, and is fully compliant with the Children's Online Privacy Protection Act (COPPA).

Commented Garfield, "What can I say? I can't help being the cat's meow!"

About Schwab Learning


Schwab Learning is a nonprofit program of the Charles and Helen Schwab Foundation dedicated to helping kids with learning and attention problems be successful in school and life. Headquartered in San Mateo, CA, Schwab Learning develops and delivers resources that provide parents of kids with learning difficulties, and kids themselves, with practical information, empathic support and trustworthy guidance. Schwab Learning services are delivered through two websites . one designed specifically for parents at SchwabLearning.org and another created expressly for kids ages 8-12 at SparkTop.org, as well as outreach and community services. More information on Schwab Learning can be found at http://www.schwablearning.org/ .

About Paws, Inc.

Paws, Inc. was founded in 1981 by cartoonist Jim Davis, as a creative house to support Garfield licensing. Today, the company, located in rural Indiana, handles not only the creative angle, but also the business concerns of the corpulent kitty worldwide. Paws, Inc. is a privately held company and the sole owner of the copyrights and trademarks for Garfield and Garfield Characters.


Source: Schwab Learning

CONTACT: Shirah Caughman, +1-212-453-2359 office, +1-202-409-0300 cell,
caughmas@fleishman.com, of Fleishman-Hillard, or Mary Sadeghy, +1-650-655-2607
office, +1-415-713-4246 cell, msadeghy@schwablearning.org, of Schwab Learning

Web site: http://www.sparktop.org/
http://www.schwablearning.org/

NOTE TO EDITORS: Photos are available for free editorial use at http://www.newscastonline.com

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