On Sunday night the Teen Choice Awards were held with much of young Hollywood out in force to attend the annual fete voted on by young and old adult (rule books be damned, right?) But what happened after the awards show that included the involvement of some of young Hollywood is what should be getting more attention. No, this isn’t going to be a story of scandal or intrigue among the young jet-set but a story of young Hollywood doing something right.
The DoSomething & Staples “Staples for Students” charity event, of which the cast of Pretty Little Liars are the spokespeople, took the traditional idea of the Hollywood swag bag and “spun it on its head”. Cast members of the popular ABC Family Channel series – Lucy Hale, Ashley Benson and Shay Mitchell – were joined not only by singers Jason Derulo and JoJo, Twilight actors Tinsel Korey and Booboo Stewart and actresses Olivia Munn (Perfect Couples) and Francia Raisa (The Secret Life of the American Teenager) [among others] but also teen volunteers to pack hundreds of backpacks with school supplies for the Boys & Girls Club of Los Angeles.
Ashley Benson and Shay Mitchell (Getty Images)
This event was meant to shine the spotlight on the season-long campaign to get school supplies into the hands of needy students all around the city. But that doesn’t mean that one event was the only way people can get involved. Parents and teens (or anyone who wants to get involved, in the program) can still help out by visiting their local Staples store from now through September 17, dropping off new school supplies or making a donation at the register (100 percent of the proceeds will benefit local students in need).
Additionally, teens can visit Staples for Students to get involved in the following ways:
• Request an Action Kit: Students can get tips, resources, and flyers on running their own school supply drives in their neighborhoods.
• Text SUPPLIES to 38383: Students will receive more information on how to begin their own school supply drive or find their nearest Staples drop-off location (standard text messaging rates apply).
• Pick Your Pretty Little Liar: When teens log-on and select their favorite star from the campaign, $1 will be donated by Staples to the cause and in turn, teens will get exclusive behind-the-scenes details from the actresses.
• Check in on Foursquare: Teens who check-in at any Staples store on Foursquare will also have a $1 donated on their behalf by Staples to the campaign.
As part of this fourth annual campaign, Staples will also provide 4,500 backpacks filled with supplies totaling more than $125,000 to Boys & Girls Club members in communities affected by this year’s devastating tornadoes, including Tuscaloosa, Alabama; Joplin, Missouri and Springfield, Massachusetts so children in those hard-hit areas can go back to school with the supplies they need to succeed and achieve great futures.
DoSomething.org is one of the largest organizations in the United States that helps young people work for causes for which they care about. A driving force in creating a culture of volunteerism, DoSomething is on track to activate two million young people in 2011. By leveraging the web, television, mobile, and pop culture, DoSomething inspires, empowers and celebrates a generation of doers: teenagers who recognize the need to do something, believe in their ability to get it done, and then take action. You can learn more about DoSomething.org here.
Doing their part are the stars of Pretty Little Liars, who starred in this year’s DoSomething public service announcement airing on television and radio stations nationwide, generating excitement online through Staples for Students and appearing in signs at Staples stores.
So, get out there and do your part, lend a hand and make a difference for a needy child.
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