Fourth-Grader's Essay Earns Cynthia Archibald the 2003 National "Barbie Arts Teacher of the Year™" Title from the Entertainment Industry Foundation and a $15,000 Grant to Save Her School's Arts Program

DORCHESTER, MA.- June 18, 2003 - As thousands of America's schools suffered budget cuts to the already dwindling arts programs this past year, one determined teacher kept the arts alive in her school with a unique curriculum that focuses on her students' creative abilities rather than their limitations. Honored today with the help of Boston Mayor Thomas M. Menino for her unusual use of the arts in the classroom, Cynthia Archibald from Patrick O'Hearn Elementary School in Dorchester, Massachusetts was named the national "Barbie Arts Teacher of the Year™," part of an arts education awareness initiative from the Entertainment Industry Foundation (EIF) and "Barbie Cares Supporting Children in the Arts™." The recognition is accompanied by a $15,000 grant.

At Patrick O'Hearn, where more than one-third of the children have special needs and several have severe disabilities, including Down syndrome and Cerebral palsy, Ms. Archibald is recognized for creatively using the arts to help empower students of all abilities to learn. Many American children, especially those with disabilities, are never given serious instruction or performance opportunities in music, dance, art or theater - even though research shows that arts education helps all children succeed in school and life.

One of Ms. Archibald's unique programs is teaching the alphabet through dance and music, broadening her students' thinking, and illustrating the positive affect that the arts has in empowering children. Because of Ms. Archibald's "multi-sensory" approach to learning, her students with disabilities have been moving more and getting stronger - not only in body, but also in other academics.

"I am overwhelmed with gratitude by this recognition from the Entertainment Industry Foundation and Barbie Cares Supporting Children in the Arts," said Cynthia Archibald. "What makes me most proud is that the children look forward to using their bodies and senses to learn in my class -- engaging in the lessons with huge smiles on their faces."

"When we allow children to learn in a variety of ways, they often excel because they are likely to retain the knowledge as it is embedded deeply into their bodies and souls. So instead of just reading a story, we dance or act it out after reading it, because that's when the story truly comes to life for them."

Ten years ago, O'Hearn's scores in reading were well below the national average. Today, O'Hearn's scores have put the school above the national average and near the top of Boston's elementary schools, a milestone for which Ms. Archibald's program is credited. Because of its success, this exceptional arts program is now fully integrated into O'Hearn's curriculum and is being rolled out nationally.

A Grateful Student Speaks Out

Ms. Archibald's touching program not only garnered attention within her community and country, but caught the attention of the Entertainment Industry Foundation and the Barbie® Brand when her fourth-grade student, Annika Nielsen, submitted a heartwarming essay in response to Barbie.com's search for outstanding arts teachers across the country as part of the "Barbie Cares Supporting Children in the Arts™" teacher recognition program. Nielsen wrote: "She is the best arts teacher in the world… because she is very inclusive… There are children in wheel chairs, with Cerebral palsy and Down syndrome at my school and she always finds a way to fit them in."

Nielsen's essay was chosen among more than 4,000 entries that poured into Barbie.com from elementary school students across the country, hoping to earn grants for their schools' arts programs and special recognition for their arts teachers.

"Cynthia Archibald's extraordinary program stood out among the thousands of touching stories we received from children about their arts teachers," said Lisa Paulsen, CEO and president of EIF. "Her program offers proof that when the arts are integrated into the classroom curriculum, students perform better in all subject areas."

"As a result of our current economy, arts programs are usually the first to lose funding when budget cuts strike the education system," said Jamie Cygielman, vice president, Mattel Brands. "That's why the Barbie® Brand is proud to honor outstanding teachers, like Cynthia Archibald, for their devotion to inspiring creativity and sparking imagination in their classrooms."

The Winning Teacher's Program

Ms. Archibald's arts program stood out above the rest because of the unconventional way she integrates arts into the classroom, empowering students to connect the arts with their academic curriculum. Her exceptional program includes the following lessons:

Ms. Archibald has been dazzling students, staff and families at O'Hearn Elementary since 1995, but her influence goes far beyond O'Hearn. Her students have performed in several Boston venues, including the Boston Public School's Dance Festival; Mayor's Private Industry Council's meeting; Bank of Boston; Massachusetts College of Art; TASH International Conference at The Hynes Convention Center; and Wang Center for the Performing Arts.

The Second Annual "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 EIF's 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 EIF's initiative. For the second year, elementary school students ages 6 to 12 submitted essays explaining why their teachers should win the honor of this year's "Barbie Arts Teacher of the Year™."

Judges included arts education experts and leadership within the entertainment industry. The 20 finalists were awarded a $5,000 grant and the chance to be the national "Barbie Arts Teacher of the Year™," which is accompanied by an additional $10,000 school grant.

"Barbie Cares Supporting Children in the Arts™"

In 2002, 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, made possible by a $2 million commitment to the Entertainment Industry Foundation's National Arts Education Initiative, includes the "Barbie Arts Teacher of the Year™ Search," the creation of innovative, relevant products and a national PSA campaign. Titled "Art Inspires," the print PSA campaign communicates the benefits of arts education to parents and educators and what they can do to be more involved in making arts education more readily available for kids. EIF ambassadors Kelly Preston and Sela Ward were the first of several celebrities to appear in the print campaign that ran in People, Entertainment Weekly, Good Housekeeping and Redbook. The PSA campaign will be expanded later this year with broadcast spots featuring Lisa Kudrow.

About The 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.

About Mattel Girls Brands

Since the Barbie® doll's launch in 1959 as a paper doll inspired friend, she has firmly established herself as the most popular fashion doll ever introduced. 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, Mattel Brands has several best-selling girls brands including My Scene™, Polly Pocket!® and ello™. A natural extension of the brands to the online world, Mattel Interactive Group provides girls of the 21st century a new way to interact with their favorite toys through web sites and licensed Mattel-branded interactive software and video game titles.

Polly Pocket! ® Used under license from Origin Products Ltd. and Bluebird Toys (UK) Ltd. © 2003 Origin Products Ltd. All Rights Reserved.

Sbout Mattel

Mattel, Inc., (NYSE: MAT, www.mattel.com) is the worldwide leader in the design, manufacture and marketing of toys and family products, including Barbie®, the most popular fashion doll ever introduced. The Mattel family of toys and games is comprised of such best-selling brands as Hot Wheels®, Matchbox®, American Girl®, and Fisher-Price®, which also includes Little People®, Rescue Heroes™, Power Wheels®, as well as a wide array of entertainment-inspired toy lines. With worldwide headquarters in El Segundo, Calif., Mattel employs more than 25,000 people in 36 countries and sells products in more than 150 nations throughout the world. The Mattel vision is to be the world's premier toy brands --- today and tomorrow.

Media Contact:
Sally George
EIF
(818) 760-7722