Washington DC- January 19, 2010 – One Economy Corporation responded today to the call from Usher’s New Look Foundation for young people around the world to support Haitians with donations, offering a simple tool for donating and learning about relief in this time of need— the Youth Respond to Haiti Toolbox. Designed for children and young adults, the toolbox features;

• An appeal from Usher to the global youth to take action,

• Opportunities to support the United Nation’s Foundation Central Emergency Response Fund by texting in $5 donations,
• A Twitter command that tracks young people’s contributions,
• A Google Map for identifying Haiti, and
• A visual hub for citizen journalists who can track and map incidents and relief for humanitarian services in Haiti.

One Economy and Usher’s New Look Foundation encourage youth development organizations and educational institutions around the world to embed the online toolbox on their websites and social networks to inspire a youth movement of service for Haiti.  Visit http://www.pic.tv/usher and click “share this toolbox.”

“One Economy’s online toolbox will help youth around the world understand how they have the power to respond to the disaster in Haiti,” said Shawn H. Wilson, President of Usher’s New Look. “With this toolbox and the digital connectors mobilized, thousands more young people will be able to raise funds for Haiti. If only 1% of the world youth population each raises $5 we can raise over $150 million for the UN Foundation’s relief efforts.”

Over 3000 current and alumnae Digital Connectors ages 14-21, and the young people from Usher’s New Look Foundation are partnering to launch the youth movement at the intersection of service and technology. The response to the disaster in Haiti must be Powered By Service.

“Young people are impacted greatly by this effort and we believe firmly in the power of technology to be used as a catalyst to save lives and restore hope in the rebuild of Haitian communities.”  Karla Ballard - VP – Social Innovations and Programs

People under the age of 25 make up half of the world’s population.  While many individuals and organizations have stepped up and contributed large sums of money, young people have the power to more than double the funds that have already been committed to bring much needed relief to Haiti.

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Usher Raymond IV Mobilizes Youth around the World to Raise Money for UN Relief Efforts

In a global, grassroots initiative, music legend and humanitarian Usher Raymond IV is announcing a partnership with the United Nations Foundation to help the victims of the Haiti earthquake. Through Usher’s non-profit, Usher’s New Look, Usher is challenging young people worldwide to raise $5 to help the United Nations' emergency response in Haiti.

Usher's New Look and the UN Foundation teamed up because they know youth have the power to make a difference and can help the United Nations help Haiti.

“If only 1% of the world’s youth population raised $5 each, we could raise $150 million to support the UN’s relief efforts,” said Usher.

“The United Nations plays a key role in humanitarian response and coordination,” said Ted Turner, UN Foundation founder and chairman.  “The coming days are critical to saving lives.  Contributions big or small can have a huge impact.”

Youth can raise funds and awareness through the ‘Powered By Service’ initiative, launched by Usher’s New Look. Young people can use their talents and creativity to raise dollars and cents from their peers and others to support emergency relief efforts in Haiti such as critical medical care.

Initial news reports indicate that one of Haiti’s biggest needs both now and in the long term is medical aid and support. Disaster relief that is ‘Powered By Service’ can unite young people around the world in a joint effort to assist their peers and families who need help. Usher’s charity, Usher’s New Look is partnering with global youth and international service organizations to give young people the opportunity to help Haiti.

“Disaster relief is an effort that can be ‘Powered By Service’ and young people can be key players in the effort,” continued Usher. “I’m challenging youth around the world to prove they have the power to have an impact on a humanitarian crisis.  I know that young people have the talent, creativity and energy to assist in supporting Haiti’s needs.”

Once youth raise dollars they can send donations of $5 or more directly to the UN Foundation for the United Nations Central Emergency Response Fund (CERF) on its website or by check. Youth can also text CERF to 90999 to donate $5, up to five times. The Usher’s New Look website  www.ushersnewlook.org is also linking directly to the CERF donation page.

Young people can log on to twitter and Facebook and share their fundraising activities and successes with pictures, videos and statements. The ‘Powered By Service’ twitter page will be used to recognize and track efforts. For each dollar raised, youth are being encouraged to tweet their efforts @powerbyservice to demonstrate their commitment.

Usher’s New Look Foundation and the United Nations Foundation previously partnered through the United Nations Foundation’s Nothing But Nets campaign for malaria awareness.

For information on fundraising for Haiti, please log ushersnewlook.org or poweredbyservice.org.  To view photos and video from UN Foundation staff in Haiti, visit www.unfoundaiton.org/haiti.

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Media Contacts:

United Nations Foundation- Amy DiElsi, This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it ; 202-419-3230

Usher’s New Look- Tanya Hayre, This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it

About Usher's New Look Foundation

Founded in 1999, Usher’s New Look (UNL) empowers youth from under-served communities to use their unique talents to become corporate and community leaders. UNL hopes to make service more diverse, relevant and accessible to all young people. As a result, young people can find their power in their ability to create change in their lives, their communities and the world. For more information about Usher’s New Look visit http://www.ushersnewlook.org

About the United Nations Foundation

The United Nations Foundation, a public charity, was created in 1998 with entrepreneur and philanthropist Ted Turner’s historic $1 billion gift to support UN causes and activities.  We build and implement public/private partnerships to address the world’s most pressing problems, and work to broaden support for the UN through advocacy and public outreach.  Through our campaigns and partnerships, we connect people, ideas, and resources to help the UN solve global problems.  The campaigns we conduct reduce child mortality, empower women and girls, create a new energy future, secure peace and human rights, and promote technology innovation to improve health outcomes.  For more information, visit www.unfoundation.org.

On October 17, 2009, “Extreme Makeover: Home Edition” traveled to Clarksville, Tennessee to give Trina Scott and her three daughters the good news that their problem-ridden home would be rebuilt in just seven days. This episode of “Extreme Makeover: Home Edition” will air SUNDAY, DECEMBER 6 (8:00-9:00 p.m., ET) on ABC.

Usher Raymond IV was on hand to help with the build, but mostly to recognize and support the family’s dedication to giving back. Usher’s non-profit foundation—Usher’s New Look—awarded the Scott family $25,000 to continue their legacy of service and give back to the community in an even bigger way. Usher’s New Look has been working for the past 10 years to support young people to use their talents and creativity to become corporate and community leaders.

The Scott Family story is one that has been Powered By Service from the beginning. Trina, 44, met her husband Dave while he was serving with U.S. Army Special Forces in Fort Bragg – and it was love at first sight. After his discharge, Dave became a Clarksville police officer. In 2002, he and his partner were on duty when their police car was violently struck by a truck. The car spun out of control, hit a guardrail, caught fire and killed both Dave and his partner almost instantly. Overwhelmed with grief, Trina turned to a group called Concerns of Police Survivors, Inc. (C.O.P.S.), which helps the surviving family members of officers killed in the line of duty. Inspired by the help she received from C.O.P.S., Trina devoted all of her free time to the organization and became its President in 2003. The time that Trina dedicates to C.O.P.S. represents essentially a full-time job, and that’s on top of the full time job she works to support her three daughters -- Leyla, 17, Deidie, 13, and Alethea, 11.

As a result of the work and inspiration of the Scott Family, Usher’s New Look is proud to expand its work to Tennessee where the Scott daughters and their peers at C.O.P.S. will use the funds provided by Usher’s New Look to give out small grants of $500 to other youth to start community service and social entrepreneurship projects. This youth to youth grantmaking project is a part of Usher’s New Look’s Powered by Service initiative, which encourages young people to utilize their talents and passions to make a difference in their community.

“The Scott Family embodies everything it means to live lives that are Powered By Service. It has been an honor to serve them by helping to build their house, but an even bigger honor to support them as service leaders. I know that this family will use their unique gifts and many inspire others to become Powered By Service. I can’t wait to see what creative projects come out of my home state!,” said Usher Raymond IV, Founder of Usher’s New Look.

In addition to youth in Tennessee, young people ages 12 through 20 around the country are eligible to apply for a $500 Powered By Service grant by logging onto poweredbyservice.org or ushersnewlook.org.  Grants will be awarded to exceptional service ideas so that youth are not only called to serve, but have the tools they need to create real change.  For more information about Usher's New Look or Powered By Service, please visit the Web site at http://www.poweredbyservice.org or http://www.ushersnewlook.org.

For more information on “Extreme Makeover: Home Edition,” visit ABC.com

One of Usher’s New Look former campers is using his talents to be Powered By Service this week. Brandon “TD” is using his talent and network as an athlete to get his community involved in flood relief. Read below as Brandon describes his project and motivation in his own words. Check back everyday this week for an update!

I want to give back to my community because I believe I am taking a big step in getting my football team and school involved. We have a growing football team and this being my senior year, I want to leave an impression on the younger guys as well as my entire school. I'm not doing this to rack up my community service hours, I already have enough. I'm doing this because it is the right thing to do and hopefully I have started something at my school.

My goal for this project is to not only help victims of natural disasters, but to also challenge other schools and athletic teams to get involved in their communities. I chose to do this with my football team because it bonds the team while helping our community. I know for a fact that a lot of my teammates don't get involved in the community as much as they should. This project will show them there is a lot that they can do and set an example for younger kids that look up to high school athletes such as ourselves.

Being a 5-year camper of Usher's Camp New Look, I have learned many things about the flow of business and how I can get involved in my community. This year at camp we learned how to take effective steps to starting our own projects. We learned strategies of networking with people and how we can get others to become involved with us. Learning all these skills at the camp really prepared me for putting together this service project. I reached out to Shawn Wilson, president of Usher's New Look Foundation, to assist with my project. With his help and support from the New Look Foundation, my project has taken off.

My project will take place at my school during our homecoming week. We will collect donations to give to families in need in our very own community. We will also collect donations at our homecoming game, and give the money to families in need. I believe this project will become a new movement in my community, and empower others. There is so much we can do in our communities and so many people in need. It all starts with the youth. Once we step up to the plate and make a difference in our communities, it makes a bigger difference in the world. I am proud to say that I am powered by service and I encourage every teen in America to find a cause that directly affects you, and use your talents and skills to change the world.

Day 1

Today was off to a good start. The school is starting to get into the project. I made a video for day 1 and it looks awsome, but my computer froze while creating the video. I will have to post it tomorrow because it is getting late. So far today we have collected $37. I'm sure there will be more on the way. Many people forgot to bring extra money today, but many said they will bring more during the week. I am working hard to make this project successful.