Feb. 18, 2010

Westport, Conn. -

Newman’s Own Foundation, in conjunction with the America East Conference, launched its first-ever Campus Community Service Challenge on Wednesday. Stony Brook University’s student group - Alternative Spring Break Outreach (ASBO) on behalf of SUNY Research Foundation under the guidance of Jeff Barnett – will participate for the top grant of $25,000 to be profiled at the 2010 America East Men’s and Women’s Basketball Championship at the University of Hartford from March 4-7.

"Paul Newman believed that giving back is the greatest opportunity and responsibility for making the world a better place," Bob Forrester, president and CEO of Newman's Own Foundation, said. "Continuing his philanthropic legacy, Newman's Own Foundation is proud to support the ideas, work, and partners of these exemplary student groups, who are making a difference in their communities today and who will continue to lead long after their university days."

The nine-member America East institutions will receive a total of $80,000. Second and third-place winners will get $15,000 and $10,000, respectively, and the other six will get $5,000 each.

The ABSO program was founded in 2005 at a Student-Faculty-Staff (SFS) Retreat event, held annually now for 25 years. The SFS Retreat serves as a university think tank bringing together Stony Brook’s best and brightest students, faculty and administrators to discuss high-value university pursuits and initiatives and craft a plan for enacting them. The theme for the 2005 SFS Retreat was Local Exchange for Global Change and an opportunity for the university to renew our commitment to community service and service learning. Participants left the retreat more motivated and inspired than ever to do more. This included a small band of students who felt compelled to join efforts in rebuilding communities left storm ravaged in the wake of Hurricane Katrina. The group worked passionately over the course of only a few months to raise funds, recruit over 40 other interested students, and arrange a mass of the logistics in order to organize the inaugural Alternative Spring Break to New Orleans.

A priority of Newman's Own Foundation is to encourage the practice of philanthropy among as broad a population as possible. To implement the challenge among college students, the Foundation partnered with the America East Conference to identify a leading, service-focused student group at each member university who is closely affiliated with a nonprofit. The final grant decisions will be made based on:

• The level of the student group's involvement with its affiliated nonprofit, and the degree to which that involvement reflects Paul Newman's philanthropic spirit of creativity and commitment.

• The actual mission and programs of the nonprofit, the populations and purposes it serves, and the impact the Foundation's grant will have on it.

"We are proud to partner with Newman's Own Foundation on this very generous initiative," Patrick Nero, commissioner of America East, said. "Our nine universities are committed to making a significant, positive impact on their communities. We thank Newman's Own Foundation for recognizing and supporting the good work our students are doing. Newman's Own Foundation, like our nine member institutions, puts a high value on encouraging students to find ways to better the lives of those around them."