Trick or Treat so Kids Can Eat

Trick or Treat so Kids Can Eat

"Because hunger is a very scary thing"

A community service initiative of the International Thespian Society

2343 Auburn Avenue, Cincinnati, Ohio 45219-2815

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

CONTACT: Kathleen Taylor, ext. 232, ktaylor@edta.org

Local High School Theatre Students Fight Hunger in National Food Collection Drive

The International Thespian Society (ITS), a division of the Educational Theatre Association (EdTA), just completed the sixth year of its national community service initiative, Trick or Treat So Kids Can Eat (TOTS-EAT). Thespian troupes from New Smyrna Beach Senior High School and Windermere Preparatory School helped make this year's TOTS-EAT program a success by collecting 1,020 pounds of food for local charitable food programs. They joined more than 320 Thespian troupes from across the United States in collecting a record-breaking total of 308,069 pounds of canned and non-perishable food in this year's campaign.

"Theatre teaches the importance of working together to accomplish a goal and the TOTS-EAT program is a perfect example of this," says EdTA Executive Director Michael J. Peitz. "Our Thespian troupes receive support from their communities, and TOTS-EAT is just one way for troupes to give something back. The current economic downturn means that food pantries are being called upon to serve even greater numbers of people. Members of the International Thespian Society joined together and answered the call to help. Thespian troupes continue to make a difference."

About the International Thespian Society

The International Thespian Society (ITS) is an honorary organization for high school and middle school theatre students located at more than 3,700 affiliated secondary schools across America, Canada, and abroad. The mission of ITS is to honor student excellence in the theatre arts. High school inductees are known as "Thespians" and junior high/middle school inductees are known as "Junior Thespians." ITS is a division of the Educational Theatre Association (EdTA).

About the Educational Theatre Association

The Educational Theatre Association (EdTA) is a professional organization for theatre education founded in 1929. EdTA's mission is to create a network for theatre arts educators, students, professionals, and enthusiasts to share ideas and support the effort to have theatre arts education (including film, television, and other related media) recognized in all phases of education and lifelong learning. EdTA operates the International Thespian Society (ITS), an honorary organization for middle school and high school theatre students. The organization also publishes Dramatics magazine, a monthly magazine for high school theatre students, and Teaching Theatre, a quarterly journal for theatre education professionals.

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