HOFFMAN ESTATES, Ill., Aug. 5 /PRNewswire/ -- Sears, Roebuck and Co. and the Backstreet Boys joined forces with Youth Service America (YSA) to honor outstanding young people who demonstrate a commitment to community service and a dedication to the volunteer spirit. The Sears/YSA ``Larger Than Life Awards'' are a centerpiece of Sears sponsorship of the Backstreet Boys fall North American tour, Sears Presents The Backstreet Boys Into The Millennium.
The Backstreet Boys linked the song Larger Than Life, from their record- breaking new album Millennium, to the awards, which will recognize one outstanding young volunteer, age 9-20, in each of the Backstreet Boys U.S. tour markets. The group's song Larger Than Life also is exclusively featured in Sears advertising in the August back-to-school campaign and in spots to air throughout the fall tour.
The Larger Than Life Awards will recognize a total of 36 winners, who will receive a $2,000 grant to fund a project for National Youth Service Day, four tickets to their local Backstreet Boys concert and the opportunity to meet the Backstreet Boys backstage before the concert. Two national Larger Than Life Award winners will be selected from all award winners to receive an additional $10,000 grant for their volunteer organization.
The Larger Than Life Awards will be administered by YSA, the nation's largest alliance of youth service organizations. Nominations in each market will be judged on applicants' dedication to service, ability to motivate others to serve and the positive impact of their service on the community. Applicants must also submit a plan for a project for National Youth Service Day, scheduled for April 14-15, 2000.
Winners will be announced one day prior to the concert in each U.S. tour market. The first Larger Than Life Award presentation will be made at the Backstreet Boys first tour stop, Sept. 15 in Ft. Lauderdale. The Sears sponsored tour will visit 39 cities in the U.S. and Canada in 11 weeks before the final show in Tampa on Dec. 2.
Next spring, Sears and YSA will announce the two national winners, to be selected by a special committee, based on the impact and scope of National Youth Service Day projects.
``Sponsoring the Backstreet Boys North American concert tour provides Sears with the unique opportunity to reach the important teen market and their moms during back-to-school and throughout the fourth quarter,'' said John Lebbad, Sears director of event marketing and sales promotion. ``Sears hopes the Larger Than Life Awards will spark innovation among service-oriented youth, as well as provide the catalyst for community participation among our nation's young people.''
``Each member of the Backstreet Boys realizes the importance of youth volunteerism in local communities,'' said Michael Green, co-founder and partner of the Backstreet Boys management, The Firm. ``The Larger Than Life Awards represent the group's goal to reach out to youth and encourage them to take an active role in the youth volunteer movement.''
YSA will publicize the awards through its network of affiliate organizations and SERVEnet.org, the largest site on the Internet for service and volunteering. Applications are available online at www.SERVEnet.org and by calling YSA at 202-296-2992 x23.
"This partnership combines the resources and efforts of three parties committed to recognizing young people as everyday heroes in their cities and neighborhoods," said Steve Culbertson, president and CEO of Youth Service America. "Sears brings to the table considerable dedication to the youth service movement, while the Backstreet Boys help to drive interest in promoting the importance of community involvement among youth today.''
Founded in 1986, YSA is committed to increasing the quality and quantity of youth volunteer opportunities on a local, national and global level. YSA is building a strong youth service field that will create healthy communities and will foster citizenship, knowledge and personal development of young people.
Sears, Roebuck and Co. (NYSE: S - news) is a leading U.S. retailer of apparel, home and automotive products and services, with annual revenue of more than $41 billion. The company serves families throughout the country through 851 full-line department stores and more than 2,100 specialized retail locations nationwide. More information about the company is available on the Sears Web site, www.sears.com .
