Student Ambassadors Meet in Washington with National Leaders on Tuesday

WASHINGTON, July 20 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- The Kuwait-American Foundation (KAF) today announced that one million middle school students have participated in its program to end youth violence. A delegation of students converged on Washington Saturday to meet with their Congressional Representatives as a call-for-action to stop youth violence, as part of the KAF's 'Do the Write Thing Program'.

According to the Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), homicide was the 2nd leading cause of death for young people ages 10 to 24 years old. Many of the students participating in the program have experienced violence in their own lives, and have written essays about how violence has impacted them and have made a personal commitment to change their lives to reduce violence. Their collective essays will be formally presented to the Library of Congress today.

"Our country has seen the effects of violence on youth, especially in time of military conflict," said Dr. Hassan Al-Ebraheem, Chairman of the Board of the Kuwait America Foundation. "Now we are working together with U.S. educators and community leaders to end violence in the lives of youth in the U.S."

Do the Write Thing is an initiative of the National Campaign to Stop Violence, a non-profit whose primary and founding sponsor is the Kuwait-America Foundation. The foundation was established after the Gulf War in appreciation of Kuwait's liberation by the Allied Coalition forces in February 1991. Contributions of more than $10 million have poured into the foundation from individuals and organizations across Kuwait.

"The relationship of KAF and NCSV is a unique partnership. Rarely has a country responded to the assistance of the United States in such a significant manner with such longstanding generosity," said Chairman Daniel Callister.

"Since its inception 15 years ago, nearly one million young people from 30 major cities in 16 states have participated in classroom discussions, and over 350,000 have contributed essays," said Callister. "Do the Write Thing has truly created a lasting impact on how parents, educators, community leaders and law enforcement think about and respond to youth violence."

The KAF will host a dinner celebrating 15 years of education to reduce violence on Tuesday, July, 21, at the National Press Club, with MSNBC's Chris Matthews and child advocate and author Bill Milliken, speaking.

About the Kuwait-America Foundation

The Kuwait-America Foundation (KAF) is a 501 (c)3 charitable organization. Founded in 1991, the organization's core mission is to express gratitude for American sacrifices during the Gulf War, and to strengthen ties between the United States and Kuwait.

SOURCE Kuwait-America Foundation

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