PRESS RELEASE

Sandy Springs Education Force Presents The Fat Boy Chronicles

August 31, 2011, Atlanta, GA - Sandy Springs Education Force (SSEF) is pleased to present a screening of The Fat Boy Chronicles, September 15, at 7PM, in North Springs High School Auditorium. This screening will coincide with Childhood Obesity Education Month.

Adapted from the award-winning novel, this movie tells the painful yet heartwarming story of an overweight and bullied 9th grader, Jimmy Winterpock. It has received praise from students, parents and educators for its realistic, yet hopeful, depiction of life in today's thin-obsessed society.

The actors, director and writers will attend the screening and participate in a panel discussion on the issues, along with experts in bullying and obesity.

There is an excellent multi-discipline curriculum guide that accompanies the book and used throughout the nation by schools in their anti-bullying and healthy lifestyle efforts. Authors Diane Lang and Michael Buchanan will be the keynote speakers at the National Anti-Bullying Convention in New Orleans.

Featured on CNN Headline News, the book won the Mom's Choice Gold Award and the National Parenting Publication Gold Award for teens.

• Students who read the book, targeted to 10 to 16 year old students, experience a longer-lasting positive effect from the discussion of Jimmy and his world.

  • Student: "After seeing the impact of bullying on Jimmy, I thought twice before I made fun of someone. I would think of Jimmy crying and knew I couldn't stand to be the person who caused that sadness."

  • Principal, PA: "I have never seen a book have as much impact on students as The Fat Boy Chronicles!"

  • Dr. Avossa, Superintendent of Fulton County, GA: "Reading or viewing The Fat Boy Chronicles is a great way to raise awareness of two important issues facing our schools: bullying and childhood obesity."

• Special discount book price (~30% off $9.95) for school purchases. Contact person for books/school visits is Audrey Mitnick at Audrey.mitnick@cengage.com 

• Watch the movie trailer and read more about the book at www.thefatboychronicles.com 

• Curriculum guide at www.gale.cengage.com/pdf/TeachersGuides/FatBoyChronicles.pdf 

• Purchase movie tickets: http://sseffatboychronicles.eventbrite.com 

###

CONTACT:
Irene Schweiger
Executive Director
Sandy Springs Education Force

PRESS RELEASE

Sandy Springs Education Force Presents The Fat Boy Chronicles

July 11, 2011---Atlanta, Georgia - On September 15, 2011 Sandy Springs Education Force will screen the movie, The Fat Boy Chronicles, a heartwarming and realistic view of high school life told through the journal of a bullied 9th grader.  Inspired by a true story, The Fat Boy Chronicles reveals the emotionally painful world obese teens experience in the face of a thin-obsessed society.

At age fourteen. 5'5" Jimmy weighs 187 pounds.  Outside the comfort of his family and church, life for Jimmy is a constant struggle.  The cruel taunts of his classmates make going to school or playing sports a humiliating experience.  Yet, he still manages to focus on his goals -- to lose weight and win over the girl of his dreams.

The movie is both entertaining and educational, and will be followed by a roundtable discussion featuring the author, actor, and experts in obesity and bullying.  The author of the novel, Michael Buchanan, will be signing and selling books prior to the movie.

The Fat Boy Chronicles screening will be held at North Springs High School Auditorium at 7pm on September 15th. Tickets are $10 and can be purchased online at http://sseffatboychronicles.eventbrite.com.

Sandy Springs Education Force is a non-profit organization that partners with community organizations to provide Sandy Springs public school students with the opportunities and tools to graduate and pursue meaningful and productive options beyond high school.

###

Irene Schweiger
Executive Director
Sandy Springs Education Force
Office: 770-399-6181
Cell: 404-431-7985