Nickelodeon to Award Half-Million Dollars in Grants to Schools and After-School Programs

"New York, NY - June 4, 2004 - Nickelodeon's pro-social 'Let's Just Play' campaign, which celebrates active, healthy lifestyles for kids, is announcing its first call for entries for a newly established 'Let's Just Play' grants program, offering a half-million dollars in awards to schools and after-school programs to provide resources to create and expand opportunities for physical play. Elementary schools, middle schools and after-school programs across the country are eligible to enter the grants program by participating in "Let's Just Play" events within their own local communities. Criteria for entries, step-by-step details about how to apply and other information is now available at

http://www.everythingnick.com

In addition to the grants program, 'Let's Just Play' plans local market events this summer; public service announcements and interstitials; a televised on-air event in October; and multi-platform information available at Nickelodeon on-air, online and magazine.

Launched in June 2003, the multi-platform 'Let's Just Play' campaign is Nickelodeon's national, grassroots effort to get kids more physically active and to encourage more positive, healthy and playful lifestyles for kids across America. The first year of the campaign featured community events with The Boys and Girls Clubs of America in local markets including Atlanta, Hartford, Houston, Kansas City, Los Angeles, Miami and Spokane; a star-studded on-air event featuring appearances by Clay Aiken, Hilary Duff, Romeo and Frankie Muniz; and on-air, online and magazine 'Let's Just Play' dedicated content.

Nickelodeon has a long history of empowering kids through grassroots initiatives, beginning with 'The Big Help,' Nickelodeon's first pro-social grassroots campaign. During its 10-year run, the program led to 50 million kids pledging 383 million volunteer hours to clean up community parks, help restore waterways, plant new trees and more."