Softscribe to Sponsor Youth Birding Competition for 4th Year

Committed to Helping Young People, PR Firm Helps Georgia DNR Program Soar

. November 18, 2008

ATLANTA, GA, November 18, 2008. Softscribe Inc., a technology public relations firm focused on driving sales for companies targeting the green hospitality and tourism, U.S. government and related vertical markets, today announced it will sponsor the Georgia Department of Natural Resources' annual Youth Birding Competition again next year. 2009 will mark Softscribe's fourth consecutive year to sponsor the Competition, beginning with the event's inception in 2006.

The 2008 competition drew more participants than ever-126 young people ages three to 18. All across Georgia, they spotted or heard approximately 200 bird species during the 24-hour event in May, and raised $3,642 to support the state's conservation efforts. The event concluded with a banquet and awards ceremony at the Charlie Elliott Wildlife Center near Mansfield, Georgia, for which Softscribe provided prizes-copies of the popular reference book, The Sibley Guide to Birds by David Allen Sibley (ISBN 0-679-45122-6).

"Our program would not be possible without the generous support of our sponsors, including Softscribe, The Environmental Resources Network, The Georgia Ornithological Society, and the Atlanta Audubon Society," said Tim Keyes, Georgia DNR wildlife biologist in charge of the Youth Birding Competition and founder of the event. "Thanks to them, the Competition continues to grow every year. We added an art competition this year for T-shirt designs, and next year we will add a journaling component to encourage writing, sketching and careful observation of species throughout the year." The 2009 Youth Birding Competition is scheduled for April 25-26.

Julie Keyser-Squires, vice president of Softscribe Inc. which does marketing for hospitality and tourism, said the firm's sponsorship reinforces its commitment to help young people develop good habits in the digital age. "We love technology. It is our livelihood," she said. "But we also understand that technology is meant to free us, not consume us. When children devote all their after-school hours and Saturdays indoors with video games or TV, they are losing something very precious-not only a connection to the natural world, but also the ability to nurture lifelong learning skills that can enrich their lives into adulthood."

A birder herself, Keyser-Squires volunteers at the events, as does Michael Squires, Softscribe's president. "Everyone has seen the movement toward 'green' today, as corporations do their part to protect the environment and parents and teachers encourage fitness and healthy eating habits among children," said Michael Squires, who co-founded and volunteered at the School by the Chattahoochee River science program for teens several years ago. "To help children carry the green movement with them into the future, they must interact with the natural world around them now; programs like the Youth Birding Competition can help. We are also big fans of Tim and Alice Keyes, and appreciate their work with young people."

Keyes' motivation for launching the Georgia Youth Birding Competition was frustration in being the youngest person at birding events, until he competed in the World Series of birding in New Jersey several years ago. He was impressed by the number of children also competing; there were about 20 youth teams. Shortly afterwards, he secured grant funding for the Georgia event.

For more information on the Youth Birding Competition and how to participate in the 2009 competition, contact Tim Keyes: (478) 994-1438 or [email protected].

Business Contact: