For Immediate Release
Starbridge Media Group, Inc. secured an NCAA grant on behalf of the University of South Carolina athletics department to be used to promote women’s basketball through customized children’s literature and related community events, Starbridge CEO Jamie Crittenberger announced today.
Building on a successful 2008-09 statewide literacy initiative featuring “Reading Heroes,” a customized graphic novel produced by Starbridge which highlighted South Carolina head women’s basketball coach Dawn Staley, the University has again partnered with Starbridge to develop a multi-layered, integrated program which will engage thousands of students and families across the state of South Carolina.
As part of the integrated program, Starbridge will create three new graphic novels, each one presenting a different set of core values important to South Carolina athletics, which will include: hard work and perseverance, health and fitness, and literacy and education. The books will be distributed to schools at three select times over the course of the 2009-10 season as part of the Statewide Literacy Initiative (why in CAPS?). Included in the book will be a ticket voucher for children ages 12 and under to attend one of three designated South Carolina women’s basketball games when accompanied by an adult. In addition, Starbridge will assist in the implementation and execution of three events which will coincide with the release of each thematic graphic novel.
On June 18, the NCAA announced South Carolina as one of the 18 recipients of the NCAA Division I Women’s Basketball Grant Program. Approximately $750,000 in grant money was awarded to schools and conferences.
“The selection committee was impressed with the South Carolina proposal and is quite interested in seeing the positive impact of the grant resources and efforts during the upcoming season,” said Sue Donohoe, NCAA Division I Women’s Basketball Vice President.
“Starbridge is thrilled that South Carolina has been selected by the NCAA as one of the recipients of the grant program,” said Starbridge President Ken Hutman. “This grant will enable South Carolina and Starbridge to expand on the success of last year’s program and help promote the women’s basketball program and its core values to children across the state.”
Starbridge Media Group, Inc. is a Washington, DC-area based producer, publisher, rights owner, licensee, and sports marketing consultancy that is focused on the convergence of entertainment and sports, and in bridging domestic and international star sports brands with new and traditional forms of media.
Starbridge provides teams, athletes, brands, and rights owners with opportunities to drive incremental revenues, extend brand awareness and build fan loyalty via the creation of unique programming platforms and the maximization of core property assets. For more information on the company, visit www.starbridgemedia.com.