Bounty Kicks Off Nationwide Contest at 11th Annual Art For Life Benefit

EAST HAMPTON, N.Y., July 26 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Procter & Gamble's (NYSE: PG) Bounty brand, Platinum Sponsor of Russell Simmons' 2010 Art For Life East Hampton benefit, announced the launch of the Make a Clean Difference contest. The nationwide contest will award one school with a $25,000 classroom makeover designed by, Cortney and Robert Novogratz of Bravo's "9 By Design."  Bounty will also award 10 finalists with $5,000 grants to use toward transforming their school art rooms and a visit from the Bounty Make-A-Messterpiece art bus, an experiential art studio on wheels.  Potential winners can head to Bounty Facebook page (www.facebook.com/bounty) to submit a deserving school.  

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The 11th Annual Art For Life East Hampton benefit served as the perfect launch event for the Make a Clean Difference Contest since Bounty and Art For Life's beneficiary, Rush Philanthropic Arts Foundation, share the same brand purpose of inspiring hands-on learning and creativity among children.  Additionally, Rush Philanthropic has developed art lessons for teachers and parents that will be available to download on the Bounty Facebook page to keep children inspired.  At the winning school, a Rush Philanthropic teaching artist will be on-site to lead one of the art lessons with the children.

Through the Make a Clean Difference contest students, teachers and parents are encouraged to nominate an elementary or middle school art room by submitting a 500-word essay describing why their school is in need of a Bounty "clean" makeover.  The entry process will run through August 9 after which 11 finalists will be selected and announced on August 20.  The grand prize winner and 10 finalists will be chosen by a public vote hosted on the Bounty Facebook page.  Official notification of the grand prize winner will be announced on August 27.  

"We are thrilled to be designing a new art space for a deserving school," says Cortney Novogratz, Bounty contest spokesperson.  "Creativity is the basis of our design background and having seven children, we understand the importance of making sure their learning environment is clean, to spark their curiosity and allow them to be hands on in their projects."

To enter a school, go to www.Facebook.com/Bounty and click on the Contest tab.

About Bounty

Bounty has been America's most popular paper towel for more than 30 years.  In the U.S., P&G offers the following premium two-ply paper towel products: Bounty Select-a-Size; Bounty White; Bounty Extra Soft; and Bounty Fun Prints.  Additionally, P&G offers Bounty Basic, a quality one-ply paper towel as well Bounty Quilted Napkins. For more information on Bounty, visit www.facebook.com/bounty.

About Procter & Gamble

Four billion times a day, P&G brands touch the lives of people around the world. The company has one of the strongest portfolios of trusted, quality, leadership brands, including Pampers®, Tide®, Ariel®, Always®, Whisper®, Pantene®, Mach3®, Bounty®, Dawn®, Gain®, Pringles®, Charmin®, Downy®, Lenor®, Iams®, Crest®, Oral-B®, Duracell®, Olay®, Head & Shoulders®, Wella®, Gillette®, Braun® and Fusion®. The P&G community includes approximately 135,000 employees working in about 80 countries worldwide. Please visit http://www.pg.com for the latest news and in-depth information about P&G and its brands.

About Rush Philanthropic Arts Foundation

Founded in 1995 by brothers Russell, Danny and Joseph "Rev. Run" Simmons, Rush Philanthropic Arts Foundation, a 501(c)(3) organization, is dedicated to providing disadvantaged urban youth with significant exposure and access to the arts, and to offering exhibition opportunities for underrepresented artists and artists of color. Over the past 15 years, Rush has developed a broad base of friends, collaborators and supporters dedicated to supporting its mission. In addition to the 2,300 students served in its education programs, each year Rush exhibits the work of 40 to 50 emerging and community-based artists in its galleries; welcomes over 10,000 gallery visitors; and provides unique opportunities for young galleries and arts education programs in Chelsea, Manhattan (Rush Arts Gallery) and Clinton Hill, Brooklyn (Corridor Gallery). Rush Education Programs are designed to inspire students, provide positive alternatives to high-risk behaviors, and support increased academic performance. For more information visit www.rushphilanthropic.org.

SOURCE Procter & Gamble/Bounty