BOOT CAMPAIGN’S PATRIOT LEAGUE DEBUTS THIS FALL
Vh1 Save the Music Foundation and ABC’s “The Middle” Star Atticus Shaffer Join Patriot League Initiative
DALLAS (August 17, 2015) – Boot Campaign announces a new groundbreaking educational program, Patriot League, aimed at helping teachers and educators foster patriotism in classrooms across the country. Joining the movement is philanthropic powerhouse Vh1 Save the Music Foundation and celebrity ambassador Atticus Shaffer, star of ABC’s “The Middle.”
Designed in conjunction with professional educators, Patriot League is a free K-12 curriculum empowering teachers to promote patriotism through classroom involvement, dedicated lesson plans, and an introduction to charitable giving and community service. Grade appropriate lesson plans are available to all public, private and home schools who register.
Knowing how important the role of music has to connect with kids, Boot Campaign has partnered with Vh1 Save the Music Foundation to develop patriotic music lesson plans; provide the campaign’s theme song “America” performed by seven-time Grammy Award-winning artist Gloria Estefan and featuring VH1 Save the Music’s Park Place Community Middle School Choir from Brooklyn, N.Y.; participate in Patriot League’s school parties; and much more.
“Teaching kids to love our country is extremely important in today’s times,” says Boot Campaign CEO Robyn Payne. “We are hoping that Boot Campaign’s Patriot League assists all teachers and parents in educating our youth about the power of freedom, appreciation for what their country provides, who provides it and from an early age learn about the importance of giving back.”
“We are really excited to be a part of the Boot Campaign’s Patriot League,” says Executive Director of Vh1 Save The Music Paul Cothran. “It offers us the chance to give back a little to those who give so much for our country – our military families. We are also thrilled to be part of an effort that inspires and educates young people to appreciate the unique freedoms and opportunities our country provides.”
Patriot League lesson plans were created by certified teachers with true patriotic spirit: Diana Rambaldi of Nutley, N.J., whose original classroom project inspired Patriot League; Susan Patterson, retired educator with more than 25 years serving students in Biloxi, Miss.; and Melissa Spencer, former teacher and current Boot Campaign executive with her finger on the pulse of promoting patriotism for all ages. Adding even more fun to the initiative, participants can elect to design and organize their own ‘Freedom Bracelets’ fundraiser to support U.S. military families. Top-earning teams in three categories will receive exclusive patriotic classroom parties and prizes. The competition runs from October 26 through December 15, 2015. Patriot League launches with more than 100 classes onboard for its pilot session.
Boot Campaign celebrity ambassador Atticus Shaffer, who stars as Brick Heck on the ABC‘s “The Middle,” and Boot Campaign COO Joey Jones appear in Patriot League’s public service announcements and program instructional videos, and will make several surprise school visits.
“Patriot League is an inspiring way to learn about our nation as a whole, to educate ourselves about the qualities of patriotism, and to understand what it truly means to be a patriot,” says Shaffer.
For information on how to register for Patriot League’s next semester, please visit bootcampaign.org/patriotleague.
About Vh1 Save The Music Foundation
The Vh1 Save The Music Foundation is a nonprofit committed to ensuring that music instruction is a core component to a complete education. Since 1997, we have partnered with more than 1900 public schools in 231 school districts to give children the tools and confidence to excel in academics and in life. #PassTheNote and get involved at vh1savethemusic.org join the conversation on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram @vh1savethemusic.
