Scooby-Doo Joins With School Children Nationwide To Help Educate Americans About Adopting Shelter Pets, Also Known As Mutt-i-grees® - By Entering PSA Contest For A Chance To Win $2,500!

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Feb 12, 2013, 11:08 ET

Mutt-i-grees® "America Adopts" PSA Contest Offers Great Opportunities, Including Surprise Visit to Winning School by Publishers Clearing House (PCH) Prize Patrol and Appearance by Scooby-Doo

PORT WASHINGTON, N.Y., Feb. 12, 2013 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- "Scooby-Doo is a Mutt-i-gree®, too!" was proudly announced to the world last year. This year, the beloved cartoon canine is inviting school children across the nation to raise awareness about shelter pets, otherwise known as Mutt-i-grees, by participating in the third annual Mutt-i-grees "America Adopts" Public Service Announcement (PSA) Contest.

(Photo: http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20130212/DC58631)

The PSA Contest, a nationwide initiative to raise awareness of the availability and desirability of Mutt-i-grees, reflects the essence of the Mutt-i-grees Curriculum. The Mutt-i-grees Curriculum is a unique approach to teaching children social and emotional skills, while also highlighting the individual characteristics and needs of Mutt-i-grees. The Mutt-i-grees Curriculum was developed by The Pet Savers Foundation, in collaboration with the Yale University School of the 21st Century, and is funded by The Cesar Millan Foundation.

The PSA Contest is open to schools that teach children in any, or all, of the following grades: Pre-K through Grade 12, with submissions being categorized by grade levels: Pre-K & Kindergarten; Grades 1-5; and Grades 6-12.

Schools can get creative and help make a difference in the lives of homeless animals by entering this exciting contest. The PSA is a compelling message that can be broadcast, with the goal to increase awareness of Mutt-i-grees. The PSAs will be judged by a panel of experts based on sincerity, creativity& originality and persuasiveness of encouraging animal lovers to adopt a pet from a shelter.

To participate, eligible schools must submit a creative Mutt-i-grees PSA video that motivates Americans to adopt a pet from a shelter. Each video will include a mention or inclusion of America's favorite character canine, Scooby-Doo.

Within the three categories Pre-K & Kindergarten, Grades 1-5, and Grades 6-12, there will be a 1^st, 2^nd and 3^rd Place Prize, each winning educational grants in increments of $2500, $1500 and $1000, respectively. Support has been generously provided by Warner Bros. Consumer Products and Publishers Clearing House (PCH).

Exciting prizes include:

Three (3) First Place Prize Winners: The winning schools will win a package consisting of:

$2,500 Educational Grant
A surprise visit to the winning school by the Publishers Clearing House (PCH) Prize Patrol, Scooby-Doo and the Mutt-i-grees Team
100 Mutt-i-grees T-Shirts

Three (3) Second Prize Winners: The winning schools will win a package consisting of:

$1,500 Educational Grant
50 Mutt-i-grees T-Shirts

Three (3) Third Prize Winners: The winning schools will win a package consisting of:

$1,000 Educational Grant
25 Mutt-i-grees T-Shirts

The 2012 winning video from Carrie Palmer Weber Middle School in Port Washington, NY portrayed two parallel stories - one of a homeless dog and the other of a lonely, bullied boy. In the end, the two find friendship in one another as onlookers witness their story and become motivated to learn more about pet adoption. To view last year's winning videos visit www.education.muttigrees.org.

For complete entry details and complete Official Rules, educators, parents and students may visit www.education.muttigrees.org.

Parents & Students…
The Mutt-i-grees Curriculum is an innovative curriculum that capitalizes on the affinity between children and animals, and teaches children to be calm, confident and caring. The Curriculum also teaches the wonderful and unique traits of shelter pets and promotes shelter adoption. Ask your Teacher or School Administrator to sign up for the Mutt-i-grees Curriculum today at education.muttigrees.org/signup.

Teachers & School Administrators…
If you're not yet teaching the Mutt-i-grees Curriculum in your school, learn how you can receive this groundbreaking curriculum for grades Pre-K – 12 at education.muttigrees.org/signup.

This contest is open to Accredited Schools in the U.S. and the District of Columbia that educate children in any, or all, of the following Grades: Pre-K, Kindergarten, Grades 1-12 ("Eligible Schools"). An entry must be submitted by a School Administrator or Teacher from an Eligible School and as outlined in the Contest Official Rules. Limit one (1) entry per grade category per Eligible School. Contest is void where prohibited and the deadline for entries is 5:00 p.m. EST on Thursday, April 4, 2013.

ABOUT THE MUTT-I-GREES CURRICULUM
The Mutt-i-grees Curriculum is an innovative program that builds on the affinity between children and animals, providing a unique context to teach compassion, empathy and social responsibility. Developed by the Yale School of the 21^st Century in collaboration with North Shore Animal League America, and graciously funded by the Millan Foundation, the Curriculum highlights the unique characteristics and desirability of shelter dogs, known as Mutt-i-grees.

ABOUT THE CESAR MILLAN FOUNDATION
World-renowned dog behaviorist Cesar Millan officially established the Cesar Millan Foundation with the mission to create and deliver community humane education programs and promote animal welfare. Since its inception in 2007, the Cesar Millan Foundation has provided grants and materials to hundreds of non-profit animal organizations to support the rescue, rehabilitation, and rehoming of abused and abandoned dogs; donated emergency assistance through the Daddy's Emergency Animal Rescue (DEAR) Fund, and contributed critical funding and professional insight to develop The Mutt-i-grees Curriculum with The Pet Savers Foundation, in collaboration with the Yale University School of the 21st Century. For more information visit www.millanfoundation.org.

ABOUT WARNER BROS. CONSUMER PRODUCTS
Warner Bros. Consumer Products, a Warner Bros. Entertainment Company is one of the leading licensing and retail merchandising organizations in the world.

ABOUT SCOOBY-DOO
Scooby-Doo is one of the few classic properties to maintain top on-air ratings across the globe and is consistently ranked as one of the top properties in the Warner Bros. Consumer Products licensing portfolio. Scooby-Doo is the only dog with human characteristics who can live and play in a kid's real and imaginative world. Scooby loves to solve mysteries, is hip and cool and makes 'spooky' fun; he truly is the dog that can Doo it all!

ABOUT PUBLISHERS CLEARING HOUSE
Publishers Clearing House (PCH), headquartered in Port Washington, NY, is a multi-channel direct marketer of value-based merchandise, magazines and promotional offers and a leading provider of digital "play and win" entertainment. Founded in 1953 by Harold and LuEsther Mertz, PCH has come to be known as the sweepstakes company whose famous Prize Patrol surprises screaming winners on their doorsteps with oversized checks in amounts anywhere from $1,000.00 to $10,000,000.00 while TV cameras are rolling – www.pchtv.com. These memorable, real-life reactions of stunned sweepstakes prize winners have entertained audiences all across America and spawned a number of good-natured skits on such TV shows as Saturday Night Live and The Tonight Show. The company has awarded over $239 Million in prizes and has evolved to greatly expand its offerings to include many ways to win online and through social media and mobile access.

ABOUT NORTH SHORE ANIMAL LEAGUE AMERICA
Animal League America has saved more than 1,000,000 lives. As the world's largest no-kill rescue and adoption organization, we understand that a rescue isn't complete until each animal is placed into a loving home. Our innovative programs provide education to reduce animal cruelty, and advance standards in animal welfare. Our staff and volunteers work tirelessly in the pursuit of our vision of a world where all companion animals find permanent homes to end euthanasia. For more information, visit www.animalleague.org.

MEDIA CONTACT
Devera Lynn
516.474.5332
[email protected]

SOURCE Mutt-i-grees Curriculum