Break.com offers Dream Trip To Mardi Gras To College Students Raising Money For Hurricane Katrina Vi

Internet’s Top User-Generated Media Site Challenges College Organizations to Raise Money for New Orleans’ Ben Franklin High School

[USPRwire, Wed Jan 25 2006] Ever dreamt of partying on the famed Bourbon Street Balcony at Mardi Gras? Break.com, the leading cross-platform, user-generated digital entertainment network, is dedicated to making that elusive dream a reality. Starting today, Break.com is holding a fundraising contest to raise money for the Hurricane Katrina victims of the Ben Franklin High School, which was completely destroyed and recently re-opened amidst the devastation. Whichever fraternity, sorority or group of 10 friends raises the most money will win a mind-blowing trip to Mardi Gras in New Orleans this February. To top it all off, Break.com will match the winning group’s donation up to $5,000.

“After the unfortunate tragedy of Hurricane Katrina, Break.com recognizes the importance of Mardi Gras this year and the role it plays in the rebuilding and rebirth of New Orleans,� said Keith Richman, CEO of Break.com. “However, we not only want people to join us in returning to the city, but also to use their imaginations to raise money on behalf of those living in the city.�

Break.com has rented the infamous Bourbon Street Balcony on Saturday, February 25th and Sunday, February 26th to host the winning group at one of the most renowned parties in the world. Altogether, the winning trip will include:

* 5 hotel rooms for the weekend
* $1000 for expenses, including gas and food money
* Envy-inducing privilege of partying on the acclaimed balcony in the heart of Mardi Gras Saturday night and all day Sunday
* Ability to bring 10 other partiers from the street up to the balcony


“We are inspired by the determination of the Ben Franklin High School community,� said Rob Nolte, Chief Content Officer of Break.com. “To re-open just a few months after the Hurricane with over 500 students is an amazing accomplishment and a story we felt needed to be shared. We thought it would be great to tap into our monthly audience of 10 million unique visitors to promote the philanthropic spirit through the encouragement of fundraising for a much needed cause.�

Additionally, because Break.com is all about user-generated video, participating groups are invited to videotape their fundraising efforts to showcase their humanitarian adventures on the site. If the video appears legitimate, Break.com will give them each $100 for their contribution.

If interested in competing, students must send an email to support@break-inc.com. Just for trying, participants will receive t-shirts and bottle openers.

About Break.com
Founded in 1998, Break.com is the Internet’s leading cross-platform, user-generated digital entertainment network offering funny, original short-form content to millions of Internet users and mobile subscribers around the world. With more than ten million unique monthly visitors tuning in to enjoy the Web’s largest and rapidly growing library of original videos and images, Break.com offers advertisers tremendous opportunities to market directly to a young, male demographic. Break.com empowers its audience to become content providers with an easy to use platform that allows them to upload, distribute and monetize their original content, whether it is homegrown or commercial-grade. Break.com shows greater than 150,000,000 video clips monthly. For more information, please visit http://www.break.com .

About Ben Franklin High School
Benjamin Franklin High School, located on the University of New Orleans campus is the top public high school in Louisiana and one of the top public high schools in the country. Its mission, to educate students of high academic potential, serves as the foundation for a vigorous academic curriculum, a supportive nurturing environment, and a dedicated superbly educated faculty led by a dynamic, committed principal. Ninety nine percent of each graduating class enters college, winning acceptance to the most prestigious universities in the country and collecting significant numbers of merit scholarships. After suffering devastating damage during Hurricane Katrina, the school recently re-opened and is leading the re-building process for the city. As a new charter school, Ben Franklin High School is governed by a nonprofit board, Advocates for Academic Excellence in Education, Inc. Dedicated to maintaining and excelling past its proven reputation for excellence, Ben Franklin High School is a beam of light for education in New Orleans.


Contact Info:
Yasmeen Coning / Chris Blake
mPRm Public Relations for Break.com
(323) 933-3399
yconing@mprm.com / cblake@mprm.com