Kick-off Assembly -- February 22nd

HOMESTEAD -- Media are invited to cover the kick-off assembly marking the start of a unique female mentoring program between Propel Schools propelschools.org, the Pittsburgh Passion, a member of the full-contact National Women's Football Association, and California University of Pennsylvania's Counselor Education Department. The assembly will commence at 1:30pm, Thursday, February 22, in the gymnasium of Propel Homestead, 129 E. Tenth Avenue, Homestead.

The pilot is formally named the DREAMS (Developing Responsible Empowered And Motivated Students) Mentoring Program. Several hundred male and female students from grades 5,6,7,8 will attend the assembly in which the mentors/athletes from the Pittsburgh Passion will be introduced to the female students from grades 6,7,8 who will participate in the mentoring program.

Propel Homestead is a tuition-free, independent public school serving nearly 400 students in grades K-8. It is the flagship school of Propel Schools, a Pittsburgh-based non-profit organization.

Administering the program is the Passion For Life Foundation in collaboration with California University of Pennsylvania's Counselor Education Department. Passion For Life is a growing non-profit organization recently formed by the Pittsburgh Passion in 2006 to extend the philanthropic mission of teaching life lessons through sports.

"We are thrilled to partner with Propel Schools and Cal U. We have been greeted with open arms from day one. Our team is comprised of women who want to give back to those children following behind. We all have had mentors in our lives. This program will enable us to reach young lives and instill the belief that they can accomplish anything they set their minds and hearts out to do", said Foundation head, Jen Moody. "Everyone is born to be a dreamer. At the center of every dreamer is heart. Find someone's heart, and you will discover their dream."

DREAMS is expected to expand to three other Propel schools in the 2007-2008 school year.