Suite of TurboTax Mobile Apps Offer Easy Options at Tax Time

New Tax Apps Help Students That Still Need to File

SAN DIEGO – Mar. 17, 2011 – While most students are focused on mid-terms and Spring Break, another deadline is quickly approaching tax day. Fast, easy mobile apps are changing the way that students can tackle this annual task and they don’t need to pay someone a bundle to do them.

TurboTax (turbotax.intuit.com/), the nation’s No. 1-rated tax software, has a suite of new apps for mobile phones and the iPad to help people save time and money:

• SnapTax (turbotax.intuit.com/snaptax/mobile/?cid=int_pr_snptx): Designed for those filing a simple (1040 EZ) return, the SnapTax app allows them to prepare and file a federal and state return right from their iPhone or Android phone in minutes. With SnapTax, users can snap a photo of their W-2 with their smart phone and the app automatically enters the information into their tax return. Then they answer a few basic questions, review their return for accuracy and tap “File Now” to electronically file their federal and state tax returns in minutes. The app is free to download and customers pay when they are done. SnapTax is available through the Apple App Store (itunes.apple.com/us/app/turbotax-snaptax/id406364213?mt=8) and Android Market. To view a video and for more information, go to SnapTax.com.

• TurboTax : TurboTax just released a new app for the iPad (turbotax.intuit.com/support/iq/Working-on-My-Return/What-is-TurboTax-for-iPad-/GEN81004.html) that is the first and only app that lets taxpayers prepare and e-file both their federal and state taxes completely from their iPad. The new app combines the unparalleled ease and accuracy of TurboTax with the portability and convenience of an iPad enabling people to work on their taxes anytime and anywhere. Taxpayers can download the app for free from the Apple App store and begin in TurboTax Deluxe for $29.99. State tax preparation is additional.

• MyTaxRefund (itunes.apple.com/us/app/mytaxrefund/id365180396?mt=8): Getting a refund? About 75 percent of taxpayers do. After filing, taxpayers can check the status of their federal tax refund, based on Internal Revenue Service projections, with TurboTax MyTaxRefund. Available for iPhone or iPad, it’s free and easy to use.

• TaxCaster (itunes.apple.com/us/app/taxcaster-mobile/id346184215?mt=8): This free mobile app lets taxpayers quickly estimate what their refund or amount owed will be. Available for iPhone, Android and WP7 mobile devices.

For the latest information and helpful tax tips, visit Tax Break (blog.turbotax.intuit.com/), the TurboTax blog. Taxpayers can follow TurboTax on Twitter (www.twitter.com/turbotax) or become a fan on Facebook (www.facebook.com/turbotax).

About TurboTax
TurboTax is the nation’s No. 1 rated, best-selling, do-it-yourself tax preparation software. Available on desktop, online and mobile, TurboTax helps more than 20 million people a year easily and accurately claim every deduction and credit they’re entitled to, so they get their biggest tax refund possible. For more information, visit the TurboTax press room.

About Intuit
Intuit Inc. is a leading provider of business and financial management solutions for small and mid-sized businesses; financial institutions, including banks and credit unions; consumers and accounting professionals. Its flagship products and services, including QuickBooks®, Quicken® and TurboTax®, simplify small business management and payroll processing, personal finance, and tax preparation and filing. ProSeries® and Lacerte® are Intuit’s leading tax preparation offerings for professional accountants. Intuit Financial Services helps banks and credit unions grow by providing on-demand solutions and services that make it easier for consumers and businesses to manage their money.

Founded in 1983, Intuit had annual revenue of $3.5 billion in its fiscal year 2010. The company has approximately 7,700 employees with major offices in the United States, Canada, the United Kingdom, India and other locations. More information can be found at www.intuit.com.

Intuit, the Intuit logo and TurboTax, among others, are registered trademarks and/or registered service marks of Intuit Inc. in the United States and other countries.

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Contacts:
Colleen Gatlin
Intuit Inc.
858-215-7487
colleen_gatlin@intuit.com

Stephanie Pettinati
The OutCast Agency
415-392-8282
TurboTax@theoutcastagency.com

NORTH CANTON, Ohio (March 14, 2011) – The Invent Now Collegiate Inventors Competition is now accepting entries for the 2011 Competition

For the past twenty-one years the Collegiate Inventors Competition has recognized and honored student inventors whose inventions could one day make significant contributions to society. This year over $75,000 in cash prizes will be awarded to the winning undergraduate and graduate students and their advisors.

The deadline for the 2011 Competition is June 24. Entries are judged on their originality, their potential impact on society, and the level of student initiative. Expert judges select up to 12 finalists who receive an all-expense paid trip to the final judging round and awards ceremony in Washington, D.C., held in the fall. National Inventors Hall of Fame Inductees participate in the final round of judging and have included Thomas Fogarty, inventor of the balloon embolectomy catheter; George Smith, 2009 Nobel Prize recipient and inventor of the charge-coupled device; and James West, inventor of the electret microphone.

Alice Chen a Harvard/MIT Health Sciences and Technology Program student and the 2010 Graduate division winner of the Competition says that “participating in the Collegiate Inventors Competition was a phenomenal experience from beginning to end… it was a chance to get real-time feedback from engaged scientific and patent experts on both technical and commercial aspects of my work and above all, it was an opportunity to share my mutual passion for invention with other equally passionate students.”

Sponsors of the 2011 Competition include the Abbott Fund and the United States Patent and Trademark Office.

Entry forms and more information on the program are available at www.invent.org/collegiate.

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Release Contact:
Rini Paiva
rpaiva@invent.org
330.849.6916

WASHINGTON, February 22, 2011 – “Go Viral to Improve Health: IOM-NAE Health Data Collegiate Challenge” was launched today by the Institute of Medicine and National Academy of Engineering to promote interaction among future health professionals, engineers, and scientists and to spur interest in harnessing new technologies and data to solve vexing health issues. The challenge calls on university and college students studying engineering, computer science, and health disciplines to work in interdisciplinary teams to transform health data into new mobile apps, online tools or games, or other innovative products that can improve health at the community level.

The first place team will receive a $3,000 prize and the opportunity to demonstrate their product during the plenary session of the Health Data Initiative’s annual forum on June 9, 2011. The second and third place teams will receive awards of $2,000 and $1,000 respectively, and both will have the chance to display their winning technologies in the exhibit hall at this national gathering of software engineers, developers, and health leaders. Teams will be reimbursed for up to $1,000 of their travel costs to the forum.

Participating teams must develop a web-based or mobile product that tackles a health issue in a creative way and encourages people in a community to interact with one another. The launch of the challenge coincides with the debut of the Health Indicators Warehouse (www.healthindicators.gov ), a vast collection of health data and indicator sets made available by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. Teams must tap this online warehouse to create their interactive technologies. Entries will be judged on how well they integrate health data from the warehouse and other information sources as well as their creativity, design, usability, and potential for the product to make an impact on the health issue selected by the team.

Both undergraduate and graduate students may compete. Teams must consist of a minimum of two and up to five individuals and include at least one member pursuing a degree in engineering or computer science and at least one member pursuing a degree toward a career in any of the health professions. The submission deadline is April 27, 2011. A detailed description of “Go Viral to Improve Health: IOM-NAE Health Data Collegiate Challenge” can be found at www.iom.edu/goviral and on Facebook at www.facebook.com/goviraltoimprovehealth. Questions can be directed to goviral@nas.edu.

“The IOM-NAE Health Data Collegiate Challenge seeks to tap the creativity and skills of the nation’s brightest young minds because we believe they have the ability to harness health data in novel ways that will make a healthy difference to their communities and to the nation as a whole,” said IOM President Harvey V. Fineberg. “This challenge provides a unique chance to showcase the innovation that can result from interdisciplinary collaboration and also an opportunity for students to gain experience and skills that we hope they will carry into their careers.”

“The trove of health data made available by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services provides a wonderful opportunity for creative young people to design the next ‘viral app’ — one that can improve personal health and extend lives,” said NAE President Charles M. Vest. “‘Advancing Health Informatics’ was one of 14 Grand Challenges for Engineering identified by the NAE as game-changers in the 21st century, and the interdisciplinary collaboration being encouraged between the fields of engineering and health by this challenge is a key to meeting that goal.”

The Institute of Medicine and National Academy of Engineering along with the National Academy of Sciences and National Research Council make up the National Academies. They are private, nonprofit institutions that provide science, technology, and health policy advice under a congressional charter. For more information, visit www.national-academies.org.

Contacts:
Christine Stencel, Senior Media Relations Officer, Institute of Medicine
Randy Atkins, Senior Media Relations Officer, National Academy of Engineering
Office of News and Public Information
202-334-2138; e-mail news@nas.edu

Once-in-a-Lifetime Opportunity for One Lucky Viewer To Work for Groundbreaking Cable Network

NEW YORK, February 22, 2011 - Current TV’s “Bar Karma,” the world’s first community-developed television series, is on the hunt for a viewer with great creative ideas who will be offered a six month stint at the cable network.

The “Be a TV Programmer Challenge” launched on February 10^th, in time to usher in the premiere of the network’s highly anticipated series, Bar Karma (which airs Friday nights at 10PM ET/9C). The 12 episode series, the first to offer viewers a chance to control content before a program hits the air, was created by gaming icon Will Wright and is the network’s latest effort to create a new benchmark for viewer engagement.

“The launch of this challenge couldn’t be better timed,” noted David Cohn, Current TV’s Executive in Charge, Bar Karma. “Our goal is to find a very talented individual whose passion, enthusiasm and outside the box thinking can help elevate our own way of looking at our programming model. ‘Bar Karma’ is the perfect example of the kind of series we have always wanted to do – a show that celebrates storytelling while retaining their kind of edgy sensibility that you rarely see on television.” He added: “We hope that whoever is chosen for this role will be willing to go there with us in the coming months.”

The premise for the contest revolves around the use of the same Storymaker application utilized in the creation of Bar Karma – but instead of pitching Current TV execs about content for the series, viewers will be pitching themselves for the programming position. Through April 29th, entrants will be able to log onto www.Current.com/BeATVProgrammer and describe their first day on the job at Current TV. Entries must include between five and fifteen scenes, one of which much feature the potential winner at work and another which explains why that entry should be chosen winner of the challenge.

ABOUT CURRENT TV:
Current’s Programming
Current’s programming includes a slate of original and acquired TV series aimed at a broad adult audience. Current’s programming attracts viewers who seek authentic, thought-provoking and meaningful television and an alternative to the ‘scripted reality’ or hard news found on other non-fiction networks. Current engages its viewers by sparking debate and discussion, and via interactive formats that allow viewers to inform its stories. Some of Current’s 2011 programming includes: “Vanguard,” Current’s signature, hour-long investigative series; “Infomania,” a half-hour weekly comedy series; “Bar Karma,” the first community-developed TV series which is set in a bar at the edge of the universe; “4th and Forever” a docu-series premiering in April which goes inside the extraordinary Long Beach Poly High School football program, which has sent more players to the NFL than any other school in history.

About Current Media:
Current Media, the Peabody-and Emmy Award-winning television and online network founded in 2005 by Al Gore and Joel Hyatt, engages viewers with smart, provocative and timely programming –stories that no one else is telling in ways that no one else is telling them. Current’s programming shines a light where others won’t dare and boldly explores important subjects — opening minds, sparking conversations and forming deep connections with its viewers. The channel’s audience is comprised of affluent, curious, social and connected adults who crave the kind of entertaining, enlightening, witty and informative programming found on Current’s TV and online properties. Current is now available via cable and satellite TV in 75 million households worldwide – 60 million households in the US – through distribution partners Comcast (Channel 107); Time Warner ; DirecTV (Channel 358 nationwide); Dish Network (Channel 196 nationwide); Verizon and AT&T. In the UK and Ireland, Cur rent is available on BSkyB (Channel 183) and Virgin Media (Channel 155), and in Italy, Current is available on Sky Italia (Channel 130). Viewers can also find Current online at www.current.com.

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Press Contacts:
Cynthia Arntzen
FerenComm for Current TV
212-983-9898
cynthiaa@ferencomm.com

Amelie Tseng
Current TV PR
973.897.8868
atseng@current.com

Contact: Katherine Cruise
kcruise@mentalhealthscreening.org
Screening for Mental Health®
Phone: 781.591.5239

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

National Eating Disorders Awareness Week is February 20-26, 2011
Anonymous Screenings Available at www.CollegeResponse.org

Wellesley Hills, MA (February 21, 2011) – Screening for Mental Health® (SMH) is pleased to announce the top three winners of the first annual National Eating Disorders Screening Program® (NEDSP) public service announcement contest. SMH started the video contest to give college students a chance to educate their peers about the consequences of anorexia, bulimia and binge eating disorder and to encourage students to assess their risk by taking an online screening at www.CollegeResponse.org.

Students across the country will see the winning public service announcements as part of NEDSP, which is an education and screening program hosted by hundreds of colleges and universities nationwide. Schools participate in NEDSP by hosting in-person events and/or providing anonymous screenings online.

“Food concerns, body dissatisfaction and low self-esteem can keep a person from being successful at school or work, and hinders social activities like being with friends, family and functioning as a person. The National Eating Disorders Screening Program offers education and screening to help young men and women recognize unhealthy eating habits before they evolve into full-blown eating disorders,” says Douglas G. Jacobs, MD, associate professor of psychiatry at Harvard University Medical School and founder and president of SMH.

In the United States, as many as 10 million females and 1 million males are fighting a life and death battle with an eating disorder. Data reveals that nearly 20% of college students admit to having an eating disorder and nearly three-quarters have never received treatment (National Eating Disorders Association).

Eating disorders frequently co-exist with depression, anxiety disorders and substance abuse. A comprehensive new study from The National Center on Addictions and Substance Abuse reveals that nearly half of those suffering from an eating disorder also abuse alcohol or illicit drugs, compared to just nine percent of the general population. People suffering from eating disorders may use drugs or alcohol for the same reasons they engage in eating disorder behaviors, to control their weight or to self-medicate negative emotions.

“I seriously struggled with an eating disorder in high school,” says Sarah Garrett, a student at Auburn University in Alabama and producer of the winning PSA video. “It took literally hitting rock bottom to get me to a therapist, and I swore then I would one day make a difference for someone else through eating disorder awareness.”

The second place winning PSA comes from Danielle Rollins and Pamela Heim, nursing students at Aultman College of Nursing in Canton, Ohio. The video was selected because of its powerful message and supporting statistics.  “I struggled with an eating disorder in my late teens and early twenties, to the point that I required hospitalization,” says Danielle Rollins. “With the help of a nutritionist and the motivation of wanting to become a mother to healthy children, I was able to change my behaviors.”

Lauren Webb, an 18 year old studio art major at Virginia Tech, whose PSA took third place says, “I understand how difficult an eating disorder can be… I used to get sick a lot and over my teenage years my problem developed into bulimia. I also struggled with anxiety, and soon realized there was a connection with all of my symptoms. I was able to express my major battle with food to my parents through my drawings and artwork. With their help, I got into therapy and am now on my way to recovery.”

The winning PSAs can be viewed at http://www.youtube.com/CollegeResponsePSA.

About CollegeResponse: CollegeResponse®, a program of the nonprofit Screening for Mental Health, Inc., promotes the prevention, early detection and treatment of prevalent and often under-diagnosed mental health disorders. CollegeResponse programs are provided in-person and online and include the National Eating Disorders Screening Program, National Depression Screening Day®, National Alcohol Screening Day® and The DORA College Suicide Prevention Program. Learn more at www.MentalHealthScreening.org.

Foundation offers cash prizes for original student speeches, songs, short films and public service announcements on the U.S. Constitution

COLLEYVILLE, Texas, February 9, 2011 – Undergraduate college students with a passion for American history and our nation’s founding principles are encouraged to enter the “We the People 9*17 Contest,” the non-profit foundation Constituting America announced today.

Through the contest, college students across America are eligible to win a $2,000 cash prize by creating an original song, short film, public service announcement or speech addressing a variety of topics related to the U.S. Constitution. In addition to the cash prize, contest winners will receive a trip to Philadelphia and national exposure as “future leaders” in a video documentary on the contest winners. This is the first year college students have been eligible to enter the contest.

“After receiving so many wonderful entries during last year’s inaugural K-12 contest, we wanted to give college students an opportunity to think about the Constitution in fun and creative ways,” said Constituting America Founder Janine Turner, who noted that the contest takes its name from September 17, the date in 1787 on which the Constitution was adopted. “We hope college students will seize this opportunity to share their thoughts on America’s founding principles through music, film, video and oratory.”

The “We the People 9*17 Contest” is open to undergraduate students ages 17-24 who are carrying at least 12 credits and are working toward a degree at a U.S. college or university. For detailed information on the contest rules as well as the specific constitutional themes to be addressed in each category, visit www.constitutingamerica.org Entries may be submitted to: Constituting America, We the People 9*17 Contest, P.O. Box 1988, Colleyville, TX 76034. All entries must be postmarked by June 14, 2011.

A non-profit foundation, Constituting America was founded in 2010 with an ambitious mission: to get America’s citizens and youth excited and engaged about the U.S. Constitution. Founded by acclaimed actress Janine Turner (Northern Exposure, Friday Night Lights) and co-chaired by grassroots organizer Cathy Gillespie, this innovative non-profit campaign offers teachers, students and citizens a wide of variety of resources for learning more about America’s founding principles. For more information, visit www.constitutingamerica.org.

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‘Secrets to Winning a Scholarship’ offers practical advice for scholarship seekers; available for purchase today

MAYNARD, Mass., Feb. 8, 2010 – Fastweb, a Monster Worldwide, Inc. company, today announces the release of Mark Kantrowitz’s new eBook titled Secrets to Winning a Scholarship, which is available for purchase online today. With this new book, the Fastweb publisher helps to make college dreams a reality in this down economy where many parents and students are struggling with how to pay for college tuition. In fact the Student Loan Debt Clock, which reports an estimate of current student loan debt outstanding, is expected to hit $1 trillion in late 2011.

Available today via Amazon (amzn.to/hmFmPw ), the book is a guide for any parent or high school student looking to reduce the cost of going to college. It provides insider tips on the best strategies for winning scholarships, how students can make college more affordable and access to useful resources. It also helps students tailor their applications to the sponsor and encourages them to apply to every scholarship for which they are eligible. The book includes several top ten lists of the different types of scholarships, such as the most prestigious, most generous and most unusual scholarships.

“The total student loan debt exceeded the total credit card debt for the first time in 2010 and students are relying more and more on financial aid and scholarships to pay for college,” said Mark Kantrowitz, publisher of Fastweb and a nationally recognized expert on student financial aid. “This book offers insider knowledge to make the process of applying for scholarships easier and more successful.”

“Secrets to Winning a Scholarship is required reading for any family looking to keep the college bills as low as possible,” says international acclaimed financial expert Suze Orman and longtime friend of Kantrowitz. ” Every dollar you win in a scholarship is a dollar you (or your family) do not have to pay out of your own pocket or it is a dollar less that needs to be borrowed.”

Available for download starting today, “Secrets to Winning a Scholarship” can be purchased as an eBook at amzn.to/hmFmPw for $5.95. The book is also available in paperback for $9.95.

Since its launch as the first free scholarship matching site in 1995, Fastweb has helped more than 50 million users looking for a way to pay for college*. Fastweb offers personalized scholarship matches, internship and entry-level job opportunities, and expert financial aid advice at one convenient, online location.

About the Author
Mark Kantrowitz is the founder and publisher of FinAid.org, the leading source for clear and objective student financial-aid information, advice and tools. He is also the publisher of Fastweb.com , the most popular and most comprehensive free scholarship-matching web site. As a recognized financial-aid expert for more than two decades, Mark has been called to testify before Congress about financial aid on several occasions and is interviewed regularly by news outlets. Not surprisingly, he was able to pay for his undergraduate education through scholarships and summer employment and his graduate education entirely through fellowships and grants. Mark is a cancer survivor, is the author of five books and holds seven patents.

About Monster Worldwide
Monster Worldwide, Inc. (NYSE: MWW), parent company of Monster, the premier global online employment solution for more than a decade, strives to inspire people to improve their lives. With a local presence in key markets in North America, Europe, and Asia, Monster works for everyone by connecting employers with quality job seekers at all levels and by providing personalized career advice to consumers globally. Through online media sites and services, Monster delivers vast, highly targeted audiences to advertisers. Monster Worldwide is a member of the S&P 500 index. To learn more about Monster’s industry-leading products and services, visit www.monster.com. More information about Monster Worldwide is available at www.about-monster.com.

About Fastweb
Fastweb is the nation’s recognized leader in helping students pay for school, by providing scholarship and financial aid information, as well as information about jobs and internships. More than 50 million* members have benefited from Fastweb’s information and services. Fastweb lets students create a personalized profile that can be matched against its expansive databases of colleges and scholarships. As the oldest and most popular free online scholarship matching service, the database has more than 1.5 million scholarships totaling over $3.4 billion. For more information, visit www.fastweb.com.

*9 million are active users of the site

Press Contact
Zora Falkowski
617-897-8247
Zora.Falkowski@porternovelli.com

CONTACT: Monica Zimmer
301 987 4461
monica.zimmer@sodexo.com

ELMWOOD PARK, N.J./NEW YORK, February 3, 2011 – Marcal® Small Steps® today announces the launch of its inaugural Small Steps for Big Change Awards which will honor hometown heroes who are making environmental differences in their communities simply by taking small steps. Through February 25, 2011, people can nominate themselves or a hero they know at www.marcalsmallsteps.com/heroes. Five winners will be announced in April in honor of Earth Month, receiving a total of $10,000 in donations to be made in their names to environmental charities.

“The Marcal Small Steps brand is based on the philosophy that small actions can make a big environmental impact. Even something as simple as purchasing household paper products from 100% recycled paper makes a difference,” said MJ Jolda, Senior Vice President of Marketing at Marcal Small Steps. “This campaign is about honoring the everyday environmental heroes that normally fly under the radar, but are actually making a big impact in their communities and beyond.”

As we usher in a new year, Americans are resolving to be more eco-friendly. According to a survey by Opinion Research, 80 percent of Americans are planning to be greener in 2011, taking the type of small steps this program celebrates. Sixty-seven percent say they want to recycle more, 56 percent want to use more green products such as recycled paper or natural cleaning solutions, and 51 percent plan on making their home more energy efficient.

Prizes
Winners will be selected based on the creativity of their “small steps” for improving the environment, the impact of their actions and the ability to inspire other individuals to improve the environment. The prize structure follows:

• 1 GRAND PRIZE WINNER will have the honor to select a charity to receive $5,000 in his/her name.

• 1 FIRST PRIZE WINNER will have the honor to select a charity to receive $2,500 in his/her name.

• 1 SECOND PRIZE WINNER will have the honor to select a charity to receive $1,500 in his/her name.

• THIRD & FOURTH PRIZE WINNERS (1 each) will each have the honor to select a charity to receive $500 in his/her respective name.

Additionally, each winner and the person who nominated them will receive Marcal Small Steps paper products.

Green Judges
To kick-off the awards program, Marcal has selected five hometown heroes who embody the spirit of the Small Steps for Big Change Awards to act as judges.

• José Duarte – Boston, MA: As chef and owner of Taranta, a green restaurant focused on sustainability, José’s passion is food and the environment.
• Kathleen Margiotta – Morristown, NJ: Kathleen spearheads Morristown’s “Adopt a Spot” program. Volunteers adopt a part of the community for a year and are in charge of picking up trash, cleaning graffiti and clearing the area of weeds.
• Jennifer Newman – South Orange, NJ: Jennifer started an organic garden at Our Lady of Sorrows elementary school to provide a focus on healthy, sustainable living for the students and help the hungry of their community.
• Allison Shaewitz – Chicago, IL: With her motto of “add a little green to your daily routine,” Allison’s blog, Chicago Green Girl, offers readers easy and tangible ways to help the environment.
• Peter Stetson – Coventry, RI: A teacher at Coventry High School, Peter organized the school’s first paper and bottle recycling program.

Each judge is profiled on the Small Steps for Big Change Awards site at www.marcalsmallsteps.com/heroes to help raise additional awareness for their good works.

AUSTIN, Texas, January 31, 2011 – Dell and the University of Texas at Austin’s RGK Center for Philanthropy and Community Service are working together for the fifth consecutive year to help fuel the entrepreneurial spirit of the best and brightest young minds with the 2011 Dell Social Innovation Competition.

The program inspires university students to approach global social problems through entrepreneurship, technology and sustainability and empowers them with unique skills and opportunities to succeed in a globally competitive workforce. The contestants with the best idea and venture plan will be awarded a $50,000 grand prize.

The Dell Social Innovation Competition is open to higher education students across the globe who have a passion for a social issues and a plan to make a difference. All applications must be submitted online by Feb. 14, 2011.

Last year, more than 1,000 entries from teams in 55 countries representing 350 colleges and universities presented ideas that addressed issues such as environmental sustainability, poverty, health, women’s rights and housing.

“True change comes from the ground up. Many times it’s the small ideas that evolve into revolutionary organizations,” said Trisa Thompson, vice president of Corporate Responsibility, Dell. “Dell was founded on these ideals and we want to build on the entrepreneurial spirit these students possess and equip them with the tools they need to turn their innovative ideas for social good into a reality.”

“We like to create a culture that empowers students to think big,” stated Suzi Sosa, associate director for programs at the RGK Center for Philanthropy and Community Service, a research unit at the University of Texas’ LBJ School of Public Affairs. “This competition extends that opportunity to students worldwide, giving them a platform to share their idea on a global stage and possibly even the chance to fund and launch it. Our vision is a world in which thousands of students are daring to make a difference.”

New this year is a university partner network comprised of 100 higher education institutions that are leading the way in teaching social entrepreneurship and supporting student entrepreneurs. These organizations are given access to resources to help build their own social entrepreneurship program.

The Dell Social Innovation Competition is comprised of three stages:

• Stage One: Students must enter ideas online by Feb. 14, 2011. Projects will be accessible to the public online. A panel of judges will select 90 projects and an additional 10 will be chosen by online voters, which will be announced on March 1, 2011.
• Stage Two: Semifinalists will be invited to develop their ideas into detailed venture plans and create video pitches that are due April 1, 2011. The plans will be judged by leaders in academia, business, government and the non-profit sector. From these semifinalists, five finalist teams will be selected.
• Stage Three: The five finalists will be announced on April 15, 2011 , and invited to travel to Austin, Texas, in order to pitch their ideas live in front of a panel of expert judges.

The final event will be held on May 16, 2011, at The University of Texas at Austin. The grand prize winners will be announced at a reception following the presentations.
The first place winner will receive $50,000; second place, $20,000; and third place, $10,000. Each of these cash awards is given to help the contestants turn their ideas into a new business or non-profit organization. The first, second and third place teams also will receive two Dell laptops each and be granted access to the top social entrepreneurship networks and events. Additionally, entrants are eligible to win a $10,000 Dell Technology Award, $10,000 Tomberg Prize in Environmental Sustainability or $10,000 People’s Choice award.

Past winners of the Dell Social Innovation Competition include Shining Hope for Communities , the 2010 grand prize winner that links tuition-free school for girls to accessible, income-generating social services for all to combat gender inequality in places of extreme poverty. Gardens for Health, the 2009 winner, is dedicated to enabling people living with HIV/AIDS to improve their nutrition, health and treatment adherence through sustainable agriculture. Other ideas encouraged by the competition include Embrace, a $25 infant incubator for developing nations, and Waste to Watts, which creates innovative products from repurposed electronic waste to meet the energy dilemmas of the developing world.

To learn more about the Dell Social Innovation Competition and past winners, visit www.dellsocialinnovation.com, become a Facebook fan or follow the competition on Twitter.

About Dell
Dell (NASDAQ:  DELL) listens to its customers and uses that insight to make technology simpler and create innovative solutions that simplify daily activities and help people stay entertained, connected and in touch. Learn more at www.dell.com.

Related Links:
Dell Social Innovation Competition
Shining Hope for Communities
Gardens for Health
Dell Social Innovation Facebook page
Dell Social Innovation Twitter page

Contact Information, Media Contacts:
Amy King
Dell Communications
(512) 728-0487
Amy_King@Dell.com

Amanda Burke
AxiCom for Dell
(415) 268-1617
Amanda.Burke@axicom.com

Dell is a trademark of Dell Inc.
Dell disclaims any proprietary interest in the marks and names of others.