Yoko Tiscareno, a 10-year-old student from Denver, Colorado will be honored at a school-wide assembly on Friday, August 9 at 10:00 a.m. for writing an inspirational essay that has earned a $5,000 grant for Harrington Elementary School's arts program and special recognition for teacher Alison Cox in the National Barbie Arts Teacher of the Year Search℠.

Presented by the Entertainment Industry Foundation (EIF), the Barbie Arts Teacher of the Year Search recognizes outstanding arts teachers whose talent and creativity have a lasting impact on children. The search is part of the Entertainment Industry Foundation's new National Arts Education Initiative, which raises awareness and funds to support arts education for children in schools and communities throughout the nation. Through its worldwide cause-related program "Barbie Cares Supporting Children in the Arts," Mattel's Barbie® Brand is a founding sponsor of Entertainment Industry Foundation's initiative.

Elementary school students, ages 6 to 12, were asked to nominate their favorite arts teacher in an essay judged on creativity, composition, organization, and the quality of the teacher's arts program. "Not only has Ms. Alison helped me and my class, but she also gave us a lot of opportunities," said Yoko about her arts teacher whose winning entry was chosen from among 2,500 essays. Ms. Cox is one of 20 regional winners selected for her personal commitment to arts education, and is eligible to win the National Barbie Arts Teacher of the Year award to be announced this fall. Judges included arts education experts and leadership within the entertainment industry.

"'Barbie Cares Supporting Children in the Arts' is committed to raising awareness for the importance of arts education," said Adrienne Fontanella, president, Mattel Girls Division. "The Barbie Arts Teacher of the Year Search furthers this cause by celebrating the incredible teachers across the country who have made a difference in inspiring creativity and sparking imagination in their classrooms."

"The Barbie Arts Teacher of the Year Award is our way of honoring great teachers, like Alison Cox, whose commitment to the arts has a profound and lasting impact on our children," said Lisa Paulsen, CEO and president of the Entertainment Industry Foundation. "With help from the entertainment industry and the Barbie Brand, we hope to offer children greater access to arts education in schools and communities throughout the nation."

The Entertainment Industry Foundation is awarding a total of $100,000 in grants to the winning teachers' schools. Students who nominated the 20 regional winners receive a Mattel® toy prize package. Additionally, each school will be given art supplies donated by Rose Art. The national-prize winner will be awarded a trip to Washington DC, New York City or Los Angeles for the announcement and an additional $10,000 grant for his/her arts program. For more information on Barbie Arts Teacher of the Year Search, log onto the Barbie website at www.barbie.com/arts or call 1.866.91.4ARTS.

Early this year, the Barbie Brand announced its worldwide cause-related program called "Barbie Cares Supporting Children in the Arts" dedicated to supporting arts education for children. This program includes a $2 million commitment to the Entertainment Industry Foundation's National Arts Education Initiative.

Together, the Entertainment Industry Foundation and "Barbie Cares Supporting Children in the Arts" have launched a national public service campaign, titled "Art Inspires," which speaks to parents and educators about the benefits of arts education and what they can do to become more involved. EIF ambassador Kelly Preston is the first of several celebrities to appear in the print campaign.

The Entertainment Industry Foundation's initiative also funds exemplary arts programs nationwide, including: Arts Education Partnership, California State Summer School for the Arts, Chicago Arts Partnerships in Education, Dallas Young Audiences: Arts Partners Dallas, Museum of Contemporary Art, Center for Arts Education, New York, P.S. Arts, Shakespeare Festival/L.A. and other centers of excellence, as well as numerous school-based programs throughout the country.

Entertainment Industry Foundation
Celebrating 60 years of giving, the Entertainment Industry Foundation represents the collective philanthropy of the entertainment industry. EIF has distributed hundreds of millions of dollars - and provided countless hours - to support charitable initiatives that address some of the most critical issues facing our society. Other EIF national programs include: EIF's National Colorectal Cancer Research Alliance, EIF's National Cardiovascular Research Initiative, EIF's Hunger Free America and EIF's National Women's Cancer Research Alliance.

Mattel's Girls Division
Since the Barbie® doll's creation in 1959 as a paper-doll-inspired friend, she has firmly established herself as the most popular fashion doll ever created. For more than four decades, Mattel has maintained Barbie® doll's popularity by adapting her look, lifestyle and fashions to meet changing times while evolving her world into an overall lifestyle brand for girls. While the Barbie® Brand represents Mattel's initial roots in girls' toys, the girls division now dominates the market with several best-selling brands including American Girl®, Diva Starz™; and Polly Pocket!™. A natural extension of the brands to the online world, Mattel's Girls Interactive Group provides girls of the 21st century a new way to interact with their favorite playmates. A natural extension of the brands to the online world, Mattel's Girls Interactive Group provides girls of the 21st century a new way to interact with their favorite playmates through web sites and licensed Mattel-branded interactive software and video game titles. Mattel, Inc., (NYSE: MAT, www.mattel.com) is a worldwide leader in the design, manufacture and marketing of toys and family products. With worldwide headquarters in El Segundo, Calif., Mattel employs more than 27,000 people in 36 countries and its products are sold in more than 150 nations throughout the world. Mattel's vision is to create and market the world's premier toy brands --- for today and tomorrow.

BARBIE, DIVA STARZ, AMERICAN GIRL and associated trademarks are owned by Mattel, Inc. © 2002 Mattel, Inc. All Rights Reserved.

Polly Pocket! under license from Origin Products Ltd. and Bluebird Toys (UK) Ltd. © 2002 Origin Products Ltd. All Rights Reserved.

Harrington Elementary School is located at 2401 E. 37th Ave.

CONTACTS: Susan Hagar
Hagar Communications
720/935-1777

Gerilyn Shorten
The Donahue Group
323/860-9166 or 818/429-8452