DISCOVERY GIRLS’ 12 TWEEN ROLE MODELS MET IN SAN FRANCISCO

DISCOVERY GIRLS’ 12 TWEEN ROLE MODELS MET IN SAN FRANCISCO
The girls will participate in a photo shoot for a special edition of the magazine, featuring them as real role models for tweens and celebrating 10 years of DG!

SAN JOSE, CALIF. (December 1, 2010) – Not many young girls can say they started their own charitable organization at the age of 7, reported live from the middle of a hurricane, or were raised in Madagascar – but for some of the 12 girls who recently won Discovery Girls magazine’s Role Model contest, these experiences are just a part of growing up.

Now these 12 girls, all between the ages of 9 and 13, can add being featured in a national magazine to their lists of accomplishments. For the first time since being chosen as DG Role Models in October, the 12 met as they arrived in San Francisco for their photo shoot on Dec. 6 and 7, 2010.

A trip to San Francisco was just one of the prizes for the tweens, who traveled from 11 different states and Nova Scotia to meet at the photo shoot. The real prize: being featured in a special 10-year anniversary edition of the magazine, scheduled for release in the summer of 2011. Their accomplishments will be highlighted in the issue, giving them the chance to inspire their peers—an entire generation of girls.

Get to know our Role Models:
Abigail, 11, Missouri– Created www.CreationsByAbby.com, where she sells her hand-made t-shirts and original art to raise money for children in the Cardinal Glennon Children’s Hospital in St. Louis.

Calista, 11, Pennsylvania– Determined to make a difference, she founded Calista Cares at the age of 7 to raise money for Special Olympics and the Make-a-Wish Foundation. She makes and sells crafts, holds bake sales, runs lemonade stands and hosts raffles.

Cameron, 12, California– A talented writer, Cameron has already had a story published in an international children’s magazine. She plays tennis and lacrosse, and makes the world a better place by baking cupcakes for the elderly and packing food at her local food pantry.

Cannelle, 11, Arizona- Born in Africa, adopted by an American mother and a French father, Canelle speaks 4 languages and has moved 7 times, on 3 continents.Her personal experiences fuel her passion for helping others adapt to new lives—including volunteering for a local group that assists African refugees (Iskashitaa).

Carmel, 11, Illinois– A “friend magnet” who has a gift for making people laugh, Carmel loves to write, andhas been creating her own stories since kindergarten. She also plays two instruments and is in her school band.

Erica, 11, Nebraska– Erica is an actress and singer who is active in local theater productions, plays the cello in a youth orchestra, and sings in a choir that gives performances around her state. She also volunteers for Operation Christmas Child.

Jenna, 11, Iowa –Teaches baton twirling at a studio she runs with her sisters. Loves to teach girls baton because it boosts their self-confidence and raises their self-esteem. Frequently donates her time as an entertainer at fund-raisers.

Kate, 11, New Jersey– With a smile that lights up a room, Kate is known for persevering when things get tough, and always going that extra mile to brighten someone else’s day. She plays the violin and loves basketball.

Kennedy, 13, Pennsylvania– At age 6, she founded Kisses for Kaeden, an organization named for her baby brother, who was born with a hole in his heart. To date, the group has raised over $100,000 to help children with hear defects and special needs.

Maia, 13, Nova Scotia, Canada– Canada’s youngest-ever co-chair of the junior board of CISV, an international peace organization that promotes children’s cross-cultural friendships. Maia reported live on Hurricane Earl for her own video blog.

Mary Margaret, 12, Maryland– The founder of Kids Are Heroes, a non-profit organization that inspires kids to start community projects that help people, animals, and the environment. MaryMargaret has also spearheaded efforts to raise thousands of dollars for her own causes.

Sophia, 9, Michigan– Our youngest role model, Sophia loves playing piano at senior centers and volunteers for a variety of causes, including raising money for Haiti and helping out at a local food bank. She even picks up trash on her school’s playground during recess!

About Discovery Girls and the Role Model search:
The San Jose, Calif. based magazine has an international readership, is produced bi-monthly and is in its 11^th year of production. The magazine strives to empower girls to celebrate who they are and to realize their potential.

The Role Model contest was announced in the June/July 2010 issue of the magazine. The editors invited readers who believed they embodied the mission of the magazine to enter. After receiving thousands of entries and narrowing the choices to 30 finalists, the magazine waited as the world voted daily for their favorite role models. Voting concluded on Sept. 30, 2010 and the winners were announced the first week of October