CYBERCHASE

CYBERCHASE sm, THIRTEEN/WNET NEW YORK'S AWARD-WINNING ANIMATED MATH SERIES, PARTNERS WITH GIRLS INCORPORATED ' TO PROMOTE FINANCIAL LITERACY AT 50 SITES ACROSS THE COUNTRY

CYBERCHASE, Thirteen/WNET New York's award-winning animated math series, and Girls Incorporated (Girls Inc.) have joined forces to promote math, science and financial literacy to girls between the ages of six and eleven as part of the new CYBERCHASE: KNOW YOUR DOUGH financial literacy campaign. Thirteen, New York's flagship public television station, is a major producer for PBS. Girls Inc. is a national nonprofit organization that inspires all girls to be strong, smart and boldSM.

With support and training from CYBERCHASE, 50 Girls Inc. affiliates throughout the United States are incorporating CYBERCHASE materials and activities into their local programs. The Girls Inc. sites will use the CYBERCHASE series, cited for its fresh and engaging approach to a subject many youngsters find intimidating, as well as its popular companion Web site, which has generated more than 500 million page views since it launched in December 2001. The initiative is designed to enhance math skills and build math confidence among girls across the country, with a special focus on financial literacy as part of the CYBERCHASE: KNOW YOUR DOUGH campaign.

'On the air, Thirteen has long been a safe haven for children, a place where they can learn, grow and be entertained without commercial interruptions or questionable program ,' said William F. Baker, the station's president. 'Thirteen has also enjoyed a long history of service to the community, particularly for our youngest and most impressionable citizens. We're proud to partner with Girls Inc. in this innovative financial literacy campaign, which promises to build on the CYBERCHASE message that math is everywhere and everyone can be good at it.'

'In our centers, girls as young as six are introduced to financial concepts and they look at how money affects us locally and globally so that they aren't intimidated by it,' said Joyce Roch', President and CEO, Girls Inc. 'With practical support from CYBERCHASE, Girls Inc. is reaching out with information that relates to their real-life money experiences and teaches them the basics of saving and spending. And what girls learn now about money management will prepare them to make strong, smart and boldSM decisions about their financial futures.'

The CYBERCHASE: KNOW YOUR DOUGH campaign includes financial-themed episodes and engaging multimedia activities that take the learning experience beyond broadcast. A two-part cliffhanger, 'The Snelfu Snafu,' will premiere October 7 and 14 on PBS KIDS GO! (check local listings), exploring ways to make smart saving and spending decisions. Launching this November, CYBERCHASE: The Quest (at pbskidsgo.org/cyberchase) is an immersive, replayable Web game that lets kids go on action-packed quests throughout Cyberspace and customize their own cyber-room, all while developing money-management skills to help defeat the bad guys. CYBERCHASE will also team up with teachers, museums and after-school groups, including Girls, Inc., to involve kids in hands-on problem-solving and deepen the impact of the campaign.

CYBERCHASE was honored with the 2003 Cine Golden Eagle, 2003 Clarion Awards, and 2003 Parents' Choice Awards Silver Honor.

CYBERCHASE is produced by Thirteen/WNET New York and Nelvana Limited. Executive producers are Sandra Sheppard, director of children's and educational programming at Thirteen, and Kristin Laskas Martin, former executive producer of the award-winning Magic School Bus. Larry Jacobs, former director of Magic School Bus, is animation director for Nelvana Limited.

Major funding for CYBERCHASE is provided by the National Science Foundation, PBS and the Corporation for Public Broadcasting. Additional funding is provided by The Intel Foundation and The Volckhausen Family. Corporate funding is provided by Intel Corporation and Jif Peanut Butter. Jif is a registered trademark of The J.M. Smucker Company.

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Press Contacts:

Edward Gregory
Thirteen
212.560.3021
Gregory@thirteen.com

Jennifer Corrigan
Spectrum PR

Taiia Smart Young
Girls Inc.
212.509.2000 ext.229
Tsyoung@girlsinc.org
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Thirteen/WNET New York is one of the key program providers for public television, bringing such acclaimed series as Nature, Great Performances, American Masters, Charlie Rose, Religion & Ethics NewsWeekly, Wide Angle, Stage on Screen, Secrets of the Dead, and Cyberchase ' as well as the work of Bill Moyers ' to audiences nationwide. As the flagship public broadcaster in the New York, New Jersey and Connecticut metro area, Thirteen reaches millions of viewers each week, airing the best of American public television along with its own local productions such as The Ethnic Heritage Specials, The Thirteen Walking Tours, New York Voices, and Reel New York. With educational and community outreach projects that extend the impact of its television productions, Thirteen takes television 'out of the box.' And as broadcast and digital media converge, Thirteen is blazing trails in the creation of Web sites, enhanced television, CD-ROMs, DVD-ROMs, educational software, and other cutting-edge media products. More information about Thirteen can be found at: www.thirteen.org.

Girls Incorporated' is a nonprofit organization that inspires all girls to be strong, smart, and boldSM. With local roots dating to 1864 and national status since 1945, Girls Inc. has responded to the changing needs of girls through research-based programs and public education efforts that empower girls to understand, value, and assert their rights. In 2002, Girls Inc. reached 685,000 girls through Girls Inc. affiliates, our website, and educational publications.