Ontario Reign produced a video documenting the minor league hockey team's participation in "Miles of Change"

Front Office Staff at the Ontario Reign, a minor league hockey team that makes its home in the Inland Empire, produced this video account below of the team's participation in THINK Together's "Miles of Change" project. The video features Blaze the Dragon, the Ontario Reign's mascot. Blaze was among those in attendance at the unprecedented "Miles of Change" event on March 25th at Auto Club Speedway.

Blaze the Dragon was there to encourage, support and celebrate the work of nearly 2,000 THINK Together students and fans who worked almost 6.5 hours to lay down a 65 mile chain of pennies on the racetrack at Auto Club Speedway. Their efforts established a new World Record for the longest chain of pennies.

Click arrow below to view video

"Miles of Change" made its way to the heart of New York's Times Square

Southern California students in THINK Together's after-school programs laid down a 65 mile chain of pennies on the racetrack at Auto Club Speedway in Fontana, CA on March 25th; and in doing so, the students believe the project they called "Miles of Change" has established a new World Record for the longest chain of pennies.

Among the many unanticipated highlights, the students and their World Record accomplishment were featured 3,000 miles away on Reuter's electronic news screen at the corner of Broadway and West 43rd Street in New York City's Times Square (pictured below).



TV news stories heralding the students' success aired in major media markets throughout the country from Boston, New York and Washington, D.C.; across to Dayton, Toledo and Chicago; south to Savannah; westward to Springfield and Denver; down to Phoenix; and then up the Pacific Coast from San Diego to Los Angeles, Bakersfield, Fresno, Sacramento, Eugene and Portland; and several dozen places in between.

The 35,000 students who participate in THINK Together's after-school programs launched the "Miles of Change" penny drive in early February as part of educational activities designed to recognize and honor the Bicentennial of Abraham Lincoln's birth. They collected almost 16 million pennies and then used close to 5.5 million of the coins to lay down the 65 mile chain. All the pennies collected, approximately $160,000 worth, will go back into funding THINK Together's academically-focused free after-school programs.

Southern California Students Set New World Record With 65 Mile Chain of Pennies

Southern California Students Set New World Record With 65 Mile Chain of Pennies

Southern California Students Set New World Record for Longest Chain of Pennies

On March 25, 2009, students and fans of THINK Together after-school programs used more than 5,491,720 pennies they collected to lay down a chain of pennies 65 miles long on the racetrack at Auto Club Speedway in Fontana, CA. It took nearly six and a half hours to complete the feat. Pending official word from England, they expect to have set a new World Record for the longest chain of pennies.

The previous World Record established in July 2008 by youth in Fort Scott, Kansas, was set with completion of a 40-mile chain of pennies.

Beginning in February -- to mark the Bicentennial of Abraham Lincoln's Birth -- students in THINK Together after-school programs across Southern California launched a penny drive. They set out to collect 100 miles of pennies (nearly 8.5 million) to commemorate the Centennial of the Lincoln Penny. After they completed the six week penny drive they actually realized nearly 16 million pennies.

All the funds collected, nearly $160,000, go back into funding THINK Together's free after-school programs.

PR Newswire: Press Release

Photos: Flickr

Students Win Grand Prize Field Trips to MLB Game by Participating in "Miles of Change"

Five after-school program sites across THINK Together's Southern California network have won "Miles of Change" Grand Prize trips to either a Los Angeles Dodgers or Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim Major League Baseball game.

The sites winning MLB field trips are:

• Walnut Elementary (Baldwin Park) - Lisette Pena, site coordinator
• Telechron Elementary (South Whittier) - Veronica Vaca, site coordinator
• Gladstone Street Elementary (Azusa) - Nina Diaz, site coordinator
• Muir Fundamental Elementary (Santa Ana) - Natalie Bates, site coordinator
• Susan B. Coombs Middle School (Banning) - Melissa Lopez, site coordinator

Students at the winning schools will be allowed to take one parent/guardian along with them to the baseball game as well as their school Principal and other local staff members.

In all, these five schools collected 1,404,664 pennies or more than $14,000 during the six week southland penny drive.

Students at more than 200 after-school program sites and staff across the enterprise collected a total of nearly 16 million pennies. They used 5,491,720 of the coins collected to lay down a 65-mile chain of pennies on the racetrack at Auto Club Speedway in Fontana; and in doing so, set a new World Record.

All of the pennies collected go back into funding THINK Together's free after-school programs.

Chivas USA midfielder stars in first big match four days after "Miles of Change"

Chivas USA midfielder Gerson Mayen attended "Miles of Change" on March 25th, to talk with students and sign autographs (see pics below). Then four days later later, on Sunday, March 29th, Mayen made his 1st Team debut with Chivas USA in a match against F.C. Dallas in Frisco, Texas.

Mayen, a Southern California native who attended schools in Los Angeles, was a critical part of Chivas USA's win over F.C. Dallas!

"Miles of Change" streamed via www.ustream.tv

On March 25th, THINK Together provided live streaming Web coverage of its "Miles of Change" event at Auto Club Speedway in Fontana, CA. The streaming webcast was also captured and archived, and can be viewed in the player below.

Click below to view archived webcast< align="center">

Live TV: Upstream

OC Register crew documented "Miles of Change" with Article, Slideshow & Video

The reporting team for the Orange County Register documented THINK Together's "Miles of Change" project with an article, "Students set record for lining up pennies," an online slideshow, and the timelapsed video embedded below:

Click on arrow below to play video

Matt Mullins, star of The CW's Kamen Rider to appear at "Miles of Change"

World Champion Karate star and actor Matt Mullins (pictured right) will participate at THINK Together's "Miles of Change" event March 25th at Auto Club Speedway in Fontana, CA.

Matt is the leader of Sideswipe, a martial arts based performance team which travels the country performing their combination of martial arts moves, aerodynamics, and gymnastics. Matt still performs live with "Sideswipe" around the world. After finishing in the semi-finals of NBC's hit show America's Got Talent, Sideswipe signed a multi-million dollar deal to perform permanently inside the Caesar's Palace Hotel in Las Vegas. (See YouTube video)

Sideswipe has appeared on such shows as The Jerry Lewis Telethon, The Wayne Brady Show, and The Ellen DeGeneres Show, as well as sporting events, live action shows and karate tournaments.

Matt also has pursued an acting career. He has appeared in national commercials for Motorola, America Online, Applebee's, Nike and Pepsi as well as a lead actor in several films including Kung Fu Love Triangle, Bloodfist 2050, and The Adventures of Johnny Tao. In 2003, Matt received national notoriety by being featured in Discovery Channel's award-winning documentary XMA: Xtreme Martial Arts.

Currently he is portraying the character Len/Kamen Rider Wing Knight in The CW TV production of Kamen Rider: Dragon Knight.

Mullins will perform karate demonstrations, talk with THINK Together kids about self-confidence and self-esteem, and sign autographs for the more than 2,000 students expected at the "Miles of Change" event.

Since early February, thousands of students across Southern California who participate in THINK Together after-school programs have conducted a penny drive. They've collected more than 8 million pennies in all and tomorrow, March 25th, 2,000 of those students plan to lay down a 100-mile chain of pennies on the racetrack at Auto Club Speedway; and, in doing so, set a new Guinness World Record for the longest chain of pennies -- creating "Miles of Change."

America's Next Top Model alum to participate at "Miles of Change"

America's Next Top Model alum Michelle Babin will appear at THINK Together's "Miles of Change" event on Wednesday, March 25th at Auto Club Speedway in Fontana. Babin and her twin sister Amanda were both part of Top Model's Season #7. Tyra Banks is the host of the reality-based TV show which airs on The CW.

Michelle Babin (pictured below) is now a program leader (PL) at one of THINK Together's after-school programs in Los Angeles County. As part of the "Miles of Change" event, Babin will talk with students about self-confidence and self-esteem, provide modeling tips and sign autographs.

Since early February 35,000 THINK Together students across Southern California have been conducting a penny drive -- they've collected more than 8 million in all. On Wednesday, March 25th, 2,000 of those students will lay down a 100-mile chain of pennies on the racetrack at Auto Club Speedway and, in doing so, plan to set a new Guinness World Record for the longest chain of pennies. After, the penny lay down exercise, students, staff and fans of THINK Together will have the chance to enjoy food, entertainment, and interactive exhibits as part of a "Miles of Change" festival staged to celebrate the students' accomplishments.

Chivas USA to support "Miles of Change"

Chivas USA will participate in THINK Together's "Miles of Change" project at Auto Club Speedway in Fontana, CA on March 25th. Students and fans of THINK Together have been conducting a penny drive since early February. They hope to lay down a 100-mile chain of pennies on the racetrack at Auto Club Speedway on Wednesday afternoon and establish a new Guinness World Record.

Representing Chivas USA at the event will be player Gerson Mayen (pictured right), a native of Los Angeles and veteran of local youth clubs Arsenal FC and the Chivas USA U-18's. Mayen was signed by the Red-and-White on March 27, 2008 after training with the club throughout preseason. Born in Los Angeles, Calif., on February 9, 1989, Mayen attended Manual Arts High School. His parents, Raúl Armando and Aldanubia, are natives of El Salvador; Mayen is fluent in English and Spanish and is the youngest of five children.

Cresson Elementary promotes "Miles of Change" on YouTube

Students and staff at Cresson Elementary School in Norwalk, CA have created this promotional video to promote their "Miles of Change" penny drive.

Hats off to Cresson Elementary's THINK Together Site Coordinator Amanda Pentecost and the crew there that pulled this terrific video spot together. Nice Job!

Click below to view video here

Visit: Cresson Elementary School's "Miles of Change" Web page

Students need another 10-miles of pennies toward World Record goal

Students in THINK Together after-school programs across Southern California are trying to collect 100 miles of pennies so they can set a new World Record; and, as of today, they're just 10 miles short of their goal. That's 10 miles closer than they were last Sunday when they'd collected nearly 79 miles of pennies.

The students have until 4:45 p.m. next Wednesday to collect the remaining ten miles.

When the students lay down their 100-mile chain of pennies on the racetrack at Auto Club Speedway in Fontana, CA next Wednesday, March 25, 2009, they expect to set a new Guinness World Record. And are planning to be known from that point forward as "World Record Holders!"

Anyone wishing to help the students achieve their goal can contribute by going to http://www.milesofchange.com/.

UPS Gets behind Miles of Change

The team at UPS Southern Cal East is working hard to deliver a crew of employee volunteers on March 25th to help students lay down a 100-mile chain of pennies at Auto Club Speedway in Fontana, CA. UPS is promoting "Miles of Change" and providing the volunteer opportunity via its employee portal.

The Security Team at UPS in Ontario has also contributed approximately 3 miles worth of pennies or 250,000 pennies!

Miles of Change: 79 miles and counting

With ten days left, before THINK Together students, staff and fans visit Auto Club Speedway to set a new World Record for the longest chain of pennies, the "Miles of Change" penny drive has collected approximately 79 miles of pennies toward the goal of 100 miles.

To achieve the 100-miles goal, students need to collect nearly 8.5 million pennies. To contribute pennies to THINK Together's "Miles of Change" project visit www.FirstGiving.com/MilesOfChange.

Univision' KMEX 34-TV promotes "Miles of Change"

The largest Spanish language broadcast television station in the Los Angeles media market, Univision's KMEX TV Channel 34, visited Walnut Elementary School in Baldwin Park, CA to learn about THINK Together's "Miles of Change project.

Click below to view video in Spanish

Ontario Reign Hockey Team backs THINK Together

The Ontario Reign hockey team -- an EHCL Premier AA hockey team affiliated with the Los Angeles Kings -- is backing THINK Together's "Miles of Change" project.

During each home game held at Ontario's new Citizens Business Bank Arena, Reign fans are encourged to drop their coins in "Miles of Change" boxes. THINK Together students and their families will be in attendance at Reign home games to bring attention to their efforts to set a new World Record -- creating a chain of pennies 100 miles long.

"Miles of Change" is a an unprecedented community engagement project developed by the team behind THINK Together after-school programs. The project is to designed to demonstrate to children the collective power a group of people can have when they come together, each one doing his/her individual part.

Students in THINK Together after-school programs across a four-county area of Southern California (Los Angeles, Orange, Riverside and San Bernardino Counties) are conducting a penny drive hoping to collect at least 8.5 million pennies because on March 25th the students plan to lay down a 100-mile chain of pennies on the race track at Auto Club Speedway in Fontana, CA; and in doing so, the students plan to set a new World Record and be recognized in the Guinness Book of World Records.

Reign players and representatives are expected to be on hand at the March 25th "Miles of Change" event to help students set a new World Record.

Ryan Bowness, Reign player #21 (pictured above left), is one of those supporting THINK Together and the "Miles of Change" project.

Jersey Elementary students "Rising Up" with "Miles of Change" on YouTube

With their "Rising Up" video posted on YouTube, students and staff at Jersey Avenue Elementary School's THINK Together after-school program in are in the race for "Miles of Change." Jersey Elementary is located in Santa Fe Springs, CA.

Congrats to THINK Together Site Coordinator Diana Phetxoumphou for this outstanding effort!

Kids at Jersey's after-school program have collected more than 120,923 pennies as part of a Southern California effort that has 200+ schools attempting to collect nearly 8.5 million pennies in all in order to create a chain of pennies 100 miles long and set a new World Record. The kids plan to have their feat reconized in the Guinness Book of World Records.

Ms. Phetxoumphou has collected another 29,077 pennies through online contributions and in all the school has collected more than 1.75 miles of pennies!

Click on the video below to view

Visit: Jersey Avenue Elementary School's "Miles of Change" Web page

Telechron Elementary School takes "Miles of Change" to YouTube

Veronica Vaca, Site Coordinator at Telechron Elementary School's after-school program in Whittier, CA, has created this terrific video which engages her students to promote THINK Together after-school programs and the organization's "Miles of Change" event.

Ms. Vaca and her students at Telechron have brought in more than 170,933 pennies as part of their local "Miles of Change" penny drive. That's more than 2 miles worth of pennies. By March 25th, THINK Together's 200+ after-school programs across Southern California hope to collect 100-miles of pennies in all. If they reach their goal they'll set a new World Record to be recognized by the famed Guinness Book of World Records.

Click the video below to view

Visit: Telechron Elementary's "Miles of Change" Web page.

Abraham Lincoln Bicentennial Commission recognizes "Miles of Change"

The Abraham Lincoln Bicentennial Commission has recognized "Miles of Change," a community engagement project developed by the team behind THINK Together after-school programs and designed in part to recognize both the Lincoln Bicentennial and the Centennial of the Lincoln Penny.

Students across Southern California who take part in THINK Together after-school programs kicked off a penny drive in early February to mark the 200th birthday of America's 16th President, Abraham Lincoln. And by March 25th, those students plan to have collected at least 8.5 million pennies so that they can lay down a chain of pennies 100 miles long on the race track at Auto Club Speedway in Fontana, CA.

The March 25th event will honor the Centennial of the Lincoln Penny and is expected to set a new World Record for the longest chain of pennies to be published in the Guinness Book of World Records.

About the Lincoln Bicentennial Commission

The Abraham Lincoln Bicentennial Commission (ALBC) commemorates the 200th birthday of Abraham Lincoln, emphasizing the contribution of his thoughts, ideals to America and the world, and serving as a catalyst for strengthening freedom, democracy and equal opportunity for all.
About the Commission

The fifteen members of the Abraham Lincoln Bicentennial Commission were appointed by the President, the Senate and the House of Representatives following the passage of the Abraham Lincoln Bicentennial Commission Act in 2000 (Public Law No: 106-173).

This diverse and accomplished group was chosen based on their knowledge and study of President Lincoln and their dedication to educating others about Lincoln and that time in our history. In addition, two of the Commissioners are U.S. Senators and two are from the U.S. House of Representatives who represent states where Lincoln lived, practiced law, and served in the legislature. The Commissioners are focused on informing the public about the impact Abraham Lincoln had on the development of our nation, and finding the best possible ways to honor his accomplishments.

NASCAR Driver Kyle Busch backs THINK Together's "Miles of Change"

KOLA 99.9 FM radio promoting "Miles of Change"

KOLA 99.9 FM listeners are learning about "Miles of Change." Management at the radio station has pledged more than $10,000 worth of on-air promotions during the last two weeks of February. The announcements encourage the radio station's listeners to visit the KOLA Web site and type in the keyword "THINK."

KOLA promotions manager Doug Mize said, "The minute we heard about 'Miles of Change' we jumped on board. This is a great project to help kids and a terrific way to bring together the greater Inland Empire community at this particular time."

The Southern California radio station is promoting "Miles of Change," an unprecedented community engagement project developed by the team behind THINK Together after-school programs. The project is to designed to demonstrate to children the collective power a group of people can have when they come together, each one doing his/her individual part.

Students in THINK Together after-school programs across a four-county area of Southern California (Los Angeles, Orange, Riverside and San Bernardino Counties) are conducting a penny drive hoping to collect at least 8.5 million pennies because on March 25th the students plan to lay down a 100-mile chain of pennies on the race track at Auto Club Speedway in Fontana, CA; and in doing so, set a new World Record to be recognized in the Guinness Book of World Records.

"Miles of Change" @ FirstGiving.com

FirstGiving.com will be an integral part of "Miles of Change" on the Web.

"Miles of Change" is a community engagement project designed by the team behind THINK Together, California's leading and largest provider of academically-focused after-school programs.

Students from throughout Southern California are conducting a penny drive so that on March 25th they can set a new World Record by laying down a 100-mile chain of pennies -- they need 8.5 million pennies in all -- on the race track at Auto Club Speedway in Fontana, CA. In doing so, students hope to have the feat published in the Guinness Book of World Records.

Teams have been set up on FirstGiving.com's Web based service for each of THINK Together's four regional offices and the organization's Home Office in Santa Ana.

School Site Coordinators and those running other after-school programs for THINK Together have set up individual Web pages under those various teams in order to collect funds online and track the success that students are having in the penny drive.

Anyone interested in contributing to the penny drive online can do so at www.firstgiving.com/MilesOfChange

Auto Club Speedway to host "Miles of Change"

On March 25, 2009, Auto Club Speedway in Fontana, California -- home of NASCAR's Auto Club 500 -- will be host to "Miles of Change," a community engagement project designed by the team behind THINK Together, California's leading and largest provider of academically-focused after-school programs.

It's commonly recognized that when people, doing their individual part, come together; they have the collective power to create dynamic change. And this unprecedented community engagement project, “Miles of Change,” is designed to let students experience that first-hand.

During February & March 2009, more than 20,000 students who attend THINK Together programs will conduct a penny drive at 200+ Southern California schools. They hope to collect at least 8.5 million pennies.

Because on March 25th, THINK Together's students plan to lay down a 100-mile chain of pennies on the racetrack at Auto Club Speedway. And in doing, so set a new World Record to be published in the Guinness Book of World Records.

Proceeds from selected ticket sales for NASCAR's 2009 Auto Club 500 will be directed toward "Miles of Change."