APPROXIMATELY 3,000 PIECES OF CHILDREN’S ART DEPICTING SLANT 45 PROJECTS TO TRAVEL THROUGHOUT NORTH TEXAS AND TO STATE CAPITOL NOVEMBER 30, 2010 – APRIL 24, 2011

Vibrantly colored art works reflect efforts of 35,000 children who logged more than 405,000 hours

of community service as part of historic service-learning initiative

WHAT A vibrant sampling of the thoughts, ideas and reflections of more than 35,000 youth who participated in SLANT 45 service-learning projects will be on view beginning Tuesday (November 30) at NorthPark Center as part of the SLANT 45 Community Heroes Touring Art Exhibition presented by Neiman Marcus and the Ted and Shannon Skokos Foundation.

On hand for a first look will be former Dallas Cowboy Daryl Johnston, the chairman of SLANT 45; project sponsors; and representatives of the North Texas Super Bowl XLV Host Committee and creative learning nonprofit Big Thought.  Joining them will be students from Valley Ranch Elementary School in Coppell ISD and The Hockaday School whose works are part of the touring exhibit.

Between now and April 24, 2011, approximately 3,000 pieces of children’s art will travel to four North Texas locations – NorthPark Center, DFW International Airport Rental Car Center, Fort Worth Museum of Science and History, and Neiman Marcus Downtown Dallas.  The exhibit then heads south to Austin for several stops at the Texas State Capitol in February and April (see detailed schedule below).  The Austin exhibits are hosted by Texas Senator Florence Shapiro, District 8.

Between February and November 2010, more than 35,000 youth participated in SLANT 45: Service Learning Adventures in North Texas, a program designed to inspire youth to become champions of community service.  The SLANT 45 program was created in partnership with the North Texas Super Bowl XLV Host Committee and Dallas-based Big Thought.  SLANT 45 is believed to be the largest youth-education program in NFL history and one of the largest community-wide service-learning initiatives in U.S. annals.

Youth participating in SLANT 45 formed teams in 32 school districts, 12 counties and 51 cities in the North Texas region. Together, the SLANT 45 teams logged more than 405,000 hours of service in their communities.  Each team had an idea and from that idea came a service project—many bigger and more fantastic than imaginable. All were designed and implemented by kindergarten through high school-aged children.

WHO                            Daryl Johnston, former Dallas Cowboy and SLANT 45 chair; Bill Lively, president/CEO of the North Texas Super Bowl XLV Host Committee; Gigi Antoni, president/CEO of Big Thought; Lisa Glasgow, exhibition chair and Big Thought board member; Cris Worley, exhibition project manager; Shannon Skokos of the Ted and Shannon Skokos Foundation; Karen Katz, president/CEO of The Neiman Marcus Group; and Vail Tolbert, Public Relations and Events Manager, NorthPark Center will attend Tuesday.  Students from local participating schools will explain their service projects and art works.

WHEN                          Tuesday (November 30) from 10 a.m. to 10:45 a.m.

WHERE:                       NorthPark Center, 8687 N. Central Expwy., Dallas.  Exhibit is located in the corridor by Bookmarks between XXI Forever and LOFT.  Parking is available by Kona Grill between Nordstrom and Macy’s.

EXHIBITION DATES AND LOCATIONS:

NorthPark Center – November 12, 2010 to January 24, 2011

8687 N. Central Expressway, Dallas, Texas 75225, located in the corridor by Bookmarks between XXI Forever and LOFT.

Free admission and parking.

Monday – Saturday: 10 AM to 9 PM; Sunday: Noon to 6 PM (hours extended during the holidays)

northparkcenter.com

DFW Airport Rental Car Center  – December 3, 2010 to February 12, 2011

2424 E. 38th St, DFW Airport, Texas, in the main level lobby near central sculpture

Free admission and parking

dfwairport.com/rac

Fort Worth Museum of Science and History – December 17, 2010 to February 6, 2011

1501 Montgomery Street, Fort Worth, Texas

Free admission and $5 parking

Monday—Thursday 9 AM to 5:30 PM; Friday-Saturday 9 AM to 8 PM; Sunday 11:30 AM to 5:30 PM

fortworthmuseum.org

Neiman Marcus, Downtown Dallas – January 26 to February 11, 2011

1618 Main Street, Dallas, Texas 75201

Free admission.  Paid parking is available in the self-park garage, surrounding street meters or valet.

Monday—Wednesday 10 AM to 6 PM; Thursday 10 AM to 7 PM; Friday—Saturday 10 AM to 6 PM; Sunday Closed

neimanmarcus.com

Texas State Capitol- North Central Gallery, February 15-18, 2011

1201 San Jacinto, Austin (Visitor’s Parking)

Free admission; for parking details go to tspb.state.tx.us/spb/plan/Parking.htm

Monday—Friday 7AM to 10 PM; Saturday – Sunday 9AM to 8PM

Texas State Capitol-Ground Floor Rotunda*-  April 16-24, 2011

1201 San Jacinto, Austin (Visitor’s Parking)

Free admission; for parking details, go to tspb.state.tx.us/spb/plan/Parking.htm

Monday—Friday 7 AM to 10 PM; Saturday – Sunday 9 AM to 8PM

*Austin exhibits are hosted by Senator Florence Shapiro, Texas State Senate, District 8