Rebecca P. Cohen to Host Mars Ambassador Program in South Africa

WASHINGTON and NEW YORK, Sept. 13, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- Gardening and outdoor lifestyle expert Rebecca P. Cohen, today announced that she will host the 2011 Mars Ambassador Program (MAP) this September in South Africa.

As part of the program, Cohen will be travelling to South Africa to host a series of events and training sessions on gardening, nutrition, and wellness. An advocate of incorporating healthy living and outdoor activities into an everyday lifestyle, Cohen has made it her mission to inspire others to leave the couch, and live active, healthy lives. In addition to running the Rebecca Plants brand of gardening and outdoor living products, she has inspired healthier families as a spokesmom for the National Wildlife Federation's Be Out There™ program and in how-to demonstrations across the United States.

The Mars Ambassador Program was created in 2008 with a mission to provide meaningful engagement opportunities for Associates in line with the company's core business objectives, corporate responsibility priorities and commitment to putting its principles of Quality, Responsibility Mutuality, Efficiency and Freedom into action to make a difference in communities throughout the world.  

As part of the 2011 Mars Ambassador Program visit to South Africa, Cohen will train Mars Associates from UK, Belgium, Brazil, US and South Africa on backyard gardening and creation of health and nutrition materials, allowing them to return to their home countries and create similar programs.

"I am honored to have been approached by Mars to lead their Mars Ambassador Program in South Africa," said Rebecca P. Cohen. "I've made it my personal mission to increase awareness about living a healthy, active lifestyle.  I look forward to working hands on with this community to equip them with tools to lead a better life that Mars Associates and I will continue in communities around the globe."  

For more information on Rebecca P. Cohen and to follow her as she embarks on the Mars Ambassador Program, please visit: http://www.rebeccaplants.com/

About Rebecca P. Cohen

Rebecca P. Cohen is a nationally recognized gardening and outdoor lifestyle expert and the go-to spokesperson for outdoor activities any time of the year.  Rebecca is author of the new book, 15 Minutes Outside: 365 Ways to Get Out of the House and Connect with Your Kids (Sourcebooks), which was named a 'Best New Parenting Book' by Scholastic Parent and Child (April 2011) and host of the television series, Get Out of the House, which shows fun ideas for time outside in every season.  In addition, she appears on live morning news shows around the country on the how-to's of gardening and outdoor lifestyle. Rebecca's work has been featured in Better Home and Gardens, Parenting, Redbook, Working Mother, Family Circle, Backyard Solutions, and Washingtonian magazines, as well as on Rachael Ray's website, Yum-o!, SheKnows,com , and WorkingMother.com and in countless social media outlets.  

Rebecca is also a proud ambassador of the Seeds of Change Sowing Millions Project and has been featured as a spokesmom for the National Wildlife Federation's Be Out There movement on PBS Wild Animal Baby.  She has inspired thousands with her public appearances and community and school events, and motivates still more to follow their dreams and passions as the host of Wish It, Dream It, Do It! radio.  For more information visit RebeccaPlants.com. 

About Mars, Incorporated:

In 1911, Frank C. Mars made the first Mars candies in his Tacoma, Washington kitchen and established Mars' first roots as a confectionery company.  In the 1920s, Forrest E. Mars, Sr. joined his father in business and together they launched the MILKY WAY® bar.  In 1932, Forrest, Sr. moved to the United Kingdom with a dream of  building a business based on the philosophy of a "mutuality of benefits" for all stakeholders – this vision serves as the foundation of the Mars, Incorporated we are today. Based in McLean, Virginia, Mars has net sales of more than $30 billion and six business segments including Petcare, Chocolate, Wrigley, Food, Drinks and Symbioscience.  More than 65,000 Associates worldwide are putting our Mars Principles in action every day to make a difference for people and the planet through our performance.

Mars brands include: Petcare – PEDIGREE®, ROYAL CANIN®, WHISKAS®, KITEKAT®, BANFIELD® PET HOSPITAL CESAR® and SHEBA®; Chocolate – M&M'S®, SNICKERS®, DOVE®, GALAXY®, MARS®, MILKY WAY® and TWIX®; Wrigley – EXTRA®, ORBIT®, DOUBLEMINT®, STARBURST® and SKITTLES®; Food – UNCLE BEN'S®, DOLMIO®, MASTERFOODS® and SEEDS OF CHANGE®; Drinks – ALTERRA COFFEE ROASTERS™, THE BRIGHT TEA CO.™, KLIX® and FLAVIA®; Symbioscience --COCOAVIA™, WISDOM PANEL® and SERAMIS®.

For more information, please visit www.mars.com.

Media Contact:
Matt Rizzetta
North 6th Agency
212-334-9754
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SOURCE Rebecca P. Cohen