New Jersey Authors Introduce Inspiring the American Dream Educational Initiative

GREENVILLE, S.C., Aug. 14, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- Emerald House Publishing today announced the introduction of the Inspiring the American Dream Educational Initiative. Developed by Robert and Kathleen Basmadjian, co-authors of the recently released children's book, Abraham's Journey: A Celebration of the American Dream, the initiative is designed to teach children about the American dream and the skills and virtues necessary to achieve it.

"Our goal is to support schools, churches and local and national children's charities and foundations by providing them and their partners with an educational platform to inspire the American dream," said initiative co-founder Robert Basmadjian. "Today, children growing up in America have inherited one of the worst economic environments in our nation's history and leaders in Washington, D.C. who have literally mortgaged their future, putting their American dream at risk. Unless we, as parents, educators and community leaders, teach our children about the American dream, and the skills and virtues necessary to achieve it, this unique American ideal could be lost forever."

Developed around three guiding principles - teach, share and empower, the new initiative is designed to:

• Teach children about the American dream, while making reading fun and interesting
• Share with children the necessary skills and virtues to achieve their American dream
• Empower children by helping them to visualize their American dream journey 

The initiative provides philanthropists and corporate sponsors with the tools and resources necessary to teach, educate and empower today's youth by donating books and/or contributing to a participating school, charity or foundation. In addition to their financial contribution, sponsors can share lessons learned and inspire participants by helping them to visualize their American dream through a series of motivational reading events and soon-to-be introduced What's Your Journey lesson plans.

"Since the launch of our new children's book, we've had the opportunity to meet with a variety of community leaders, including educators, not-for-profit directors and corporate executives," said initiative co-founder Kathleen Basmadjian. "We've found that all the individuals expressed a genuine interest in our Inspiring the American Dream mission. We believe this new educational initiative has the capacity to bring all stakeholders together in a meaningful way; one that will preserve our heritage and the unique American ideal we call the American dream."   

To date, the Basmadjians have donated copies of Abraham's Journey: A Celebration of the American Dream to the Albert R. Lewis Elementary School, Big Brothers Big Sisters of Essex, Hudson & Union Counties and the My Stuff Bags Foundation.

Book Cover: http://www.ereleases.com/pic/2012-Abrahams-Journey-Cover.jpg 

About Robert and Kathleen Basmadjian

Husband and wife authors and initiative founders Robert and Kathleen Basmadjian currently live in New Jersey. Robert holds a Master's in communications from William Patterson College and Kathleen has a PhD in biology from The Catholic University of America. For more information, visit www.inspiringtheamericandream.com.  

Photo: http://www.ereleases.com/pic/2012-Kathleen-and-Robert-Basmadjian.jpg

About the Albert R. Lewis Elementary School

Located in Pickens, South Carolina, Albert R. Lewis Elementary School strives to provide its students the opportunity to become strategic readers, critical thinkers, and problem solvers to enable them to be successful beyond the classroom and participate in a global community. For more information visit, http://arl.pickens.k12.sc.us/

About Big Brothers Big Sisters

Big Brothers Big Sisters is the oldest, largest and most effective youth mentoring organization in the United States. They have been the leader in one-to-one youth service for more than a century, developing positive relationships that have a direct and lasting impact on the lives of young people. Big Brothers Big Sisters serves children, ages 6 through 18, in communities across the country. For more information, visit www.BigsAndKids.org

About the My Stuff Bags Foundation

The My Stuff Bags Foundation provides new belongings, comfort and hope to thousands of children each year who must be rescued from abuse, neglect and abandonment across the United States. By rallying widespread individual and corporate involvement through its unique "My Stuff Bags" program, the organization addresses the immediate physical and emotional needs of rescued children, and helps support the agencies caring for them. For more information, visit www.mystuffbags.org 

For information on participating in the Inspiring American Dream Educational Initiative, contact Bob Basmadjian at (908) 823-9400 or via e-mail at [email protected].

For interview requests, please contact publicist Alison Storm at [email protected].

For more information, contact:          

Alison Storm
Emerald House Publishing
E-Mail: [email protected] 

- or -

Bob Basmadjian
E-Mail: [email protected] 
Phone: (908) 823-9400

This press release distribution was issued by PR Syndication.

SOURCE Emerald House Publishing