Media Contact: Ria Brown, Public Information Specialist, Lee County Animal Services
(239) 432-2090 Ext. 241
Fort Myers, Florida, 4/20/04—The Lee County Animal Care Trust Fund is interested in finding civic-minded businesses, clubs, and individuals to sponsor the Adopt-A-Classroom program. Through this program Lee County public schools will receive monthly subscriptions to KIND (Kids in Nature’s Defense) News. KIND News, published by the National Association for Humane and Environmental Education, is a monthly newspaper that teaches youth respect for self, others, and the earth; and kindness to animals.
Lee County classes from kindergarten through 5th grade currently receive KIND News but, won’t be receiving the publication next year if sponsors are not found to continue covering the cost of the program before July 1, 2004. The generous support of businesses and individuals will enable the Animal Care Trust to provide this program as a gift of supplementary materials to elementary school classrooms and teachers in Lee County. Teachers and students alike have enthusiastically endorsed the program this current school year!
The Adopt-A-Classroom program includes 32 KIND News newspapers, arriving monthly during the school year; a classroom poster and teaching magazine; KIND Club ID cards; and suggested optional curriculum uses. KIND News is published at three reading levels to accommodate a range of abilities among elementary school students. A classroom can be adopted for only $25 per year. The average cost to sponsor a whole grade level is $125 and the average cost to sponsor an entire school is $800.
KIND News is a winner of the Merit for Collaborative Alliances, awarded by the Partnerships in Education Journal. The PIE Journal hails the Adopt-A-Classroom program as “exemplary” and as a “goal-oriented program that has had a positive effect on students and staff.” KIND News is also a five-time winner of the APEX Award of Excellence.
All interested parties can learn more about participating in the program or obtain information and samples of KIND News by contacting Ria Brown, Public Information Specialist and Animal Care Trust Liaison, at (239) 432-2090, ext. 241 or visit Lee County Animal Services’ website at www.LeeLostPets.com.