On Saturday January 30th, Alana Ethridge (profile) hosted a private screening for the film Tooth Fairy. The screening was held for over 80 kids in Alana’s Achievers “reading for life” program and other Athletes for Education programs. Her guest of honor was a co-star from the film, Chase Ellison. In Tooth Fairy, Chase plays Randy (Ashley Judd’s son). The kids were surprised and thrilled to get to meet the young actor and take part in a little Red Carpet experience! Check out the video of Alana’s Q&A interview with Chase HERE. You can also take a look at a video of Alana taking photos with the kids from the event HERE.

In other news, Alana is continuing to be very busy in the community! She will be partnering with the San Diego USD for their high school girl’s pilot program 10-to-Succeed. The program targets at risk girls to help them improve attendance and the drop-out rate in low income area high schools. The program will also support them in setting positive goals and focus on getting a good education. Alana will be speaking at several assemblies in the coming weeks to kick off the program. Although Alana is only 12, the school district feels that she can inspire the older girls by what she has already accomplished at her young age. Let’s hope the new program is a big success!

Alana Ethridge (profile) is doing her part in the community by giving back. Alana is offering twenty $50 scholarships, through her organization Alana’s Achievers, to help less fortunate youth pay the cost for after school programs. The scholarships will be offered to kids from ages 4 to 16. Gas cards will also be awarded to parents who transport their kids to and from extra curricular activities. Alana, who believes that “You have to give back, always,” is very active in her own organizations which involve helping others and instilling a love for education in her peers. Steven Haynes, President of Athletes for Education, says of Alana:

In so many ways she’s a young adult, but she never forgets to have fun. She’s able to roll into her personality the dynamic duo: Alana the entertainer who acts and is in commercials and on television; and Alana the kid, who just relates to other kids on a level that is so amazing. She makes them feel special; every one of them.

Youth wanting to apply for Alana’s Scholarship have until the end of August. For more information and/or an application, you can visit AlanaEthridge.net. Take a look at the attached video of Alana speaking about how she came up with the idea to give back in such a way.

GENV.NET

ASHOKA’S YOUTH VENTURE ANNOUNCES NATIONAL AMBASSADORS

ALANA ETHRIDGE of SAN DIEGO, CA , Youngest Ambassador Selected

ARLINGTON, VA – June 30, 2009. Ashoka’s Youth Venture has named seventeen young changemakers as national ambassadors. The young people who have been selected are transforming their communities through the launch of their own ventures – a business, club or organization to benefit the community. Teams focus on problems related to the environment or education, poverty or civic engagement; some tackle global topics, others the digital divide or technological solutions to pressing problems. This year’s seventeen ambassadors came from thirteen states.

ALANA ETHRIDGE launched ALANA’S ACHIEVERS, an ATHLETES FOR EDUCATION PROGRAM, a 501 (c) (3) non-profit organization in JUNE 2008. Alana’s Achievers Youth Venture program was created in FEB 2009 to provide scholarships for financial assistance to deserving students from San Diego County that are excelling in their daily school responsibilities to include good grades, citizenship, and attendance to participate in after-school activities that require fees. Scholarship recipients are students that exhibit the desire and drive to work hard & go the extra mile to touch others while excelling in their own personal lives. This reward for their dedication & hard work is a small token of my appreciation for their kindness & generosity. This assistance will be provided to students that participate in after-school activities to include: sports (at a club, team or individual), a class in the arts (dance, music, acting, art class, youth theater), or educational (tutoring).

ALANA ETHRIDGE was selected at the Global Youth Venture Summit in Boston, Massachusetts. The young people participated in workshops led by other Venturers on topics such as social media, fundraising and marketing strategies. “We are thrilled to welcome these young people,” said Gretchen Zucker, executive director of Youth Venture. “By identifying problems and finding solutions through the launch of their own Ventures they are defining a future generation of leadership.”

Presented by Verizon, Best Buy, Hasbro and Staples Foundation for Learning, the Youth Venture Summit was held on the campus of Massachusetts Institute of Technology in Cambridge, Massachusetts from June 26-June 29, with some sessions held at Harvard’s Kennedy School of Government.

About Youth Venture
Ashoka’s Youth Venture is a global movement of young changemakers. Youth Venture inspires and invests in Teams of young people to start their own sustainable social Ventures and connects them into a powerful global network. Collectively, these young changemakers are redefining the youth years as a time of initiative and positive change. For more information, please visit www.genv.net.

ALANA’S ACHIEVERS has been set up for two main reasons:
The first is to help young kids between the ages of 4 and 16 achieve their dreams and help set positive goals in life. We will reward those working hard: to keep their grades up, perfect attendance, good citizenship. Whatever is in our power to make their journey a little bit easier, whether it monetary or mentorship we hope to play a big part in their road to their personal stardom.
“I have been very fortunate to be able to pursue my dream to be an actress, my career has provided me the opportunity to have been cast a hit TV show, and meet many famous people, gone to really cool events, and given back to my community. None of this would have ever been possible without the support and love from my family and friends.”

Secondly Alana’s Achievers will focus on promoting the importance of a good education and a healthy lifestyle. Our goal is to reach out to our youth and keep them focused on education, eating healthy and getting exercise.
Alana’s Achievers teamed up with fellow AFE pro athlete, Tra Battle, Battle for Success” to create “Tra & Alana’s Reading for Life Literacy Program” increase the sense of urgency among school-age children to learn to read. The goal is to encourage children to read as much as they can while at school – as well as at home, to help increase each child’s reading level, vocabulary, and comprehension, plus the wealth of knowledge that reading provides.
www.afefoundation.org/alana-ethridge.html

A Press Release for Alana Ethridge’s (profile) recent US Ambassador selection for the Youth Venture organization has been added. She attended their National Youth Venture Summit in Boston from June 26th – June 29th. Check out the press release HERE. Alana is also working on her own show pilot! More details will be shared once received.

Today Alana Ethridge had her first fundraiser for her mentorship program, Alana’s Achievers (an Athletes for Education Program)! The fundraiser was held in San Diego at 3 different Rubio’s locations. Rubio’s was selectd because they stress the importance of healthy lifestyle choices just as Alana does as part of her program. Alana was also interviewed recently on San Diego’s 6 News about the event to help raise money for her program. Alana was joined by Spencer and Kyle from Are You Smarter Than a 5th Grader for the event. To read more about Alana’s Achievers, visit HERE.

Also, Alana & Tra Battle (who was with the San Diego Chargers, recently signed with the Dallas Cowboys), created Tra & Alana’s Reading for Life Literacy Program. The program has been a success so far!

Keep up the great work Alana!!

Thanks to Mrs. Hill for the updates!