Old Navy Celebrates Ten Years of its Famous Flag Tees with a National Design Contest for Kids

Lisa Kudrow Kicks Off Program on June 12th in Los Angeles

SAN FRANCISCO, CA (June 12, 2003)—In celebration of the 10th anniversary of their Famous Flag Tee which has been proudly worn by millions of Americans since 1994, Old Navy is asking kids across the country to express their "individuali-tee" by entering its Yankee "Doodle" Flag Tee Contest.  Old Navy is teaming up with Americans for the Arts and P.S. Arts—two nonprofit organizations dedicated to restoring arts education to public schools—to invite kids 16 and under to design a special-edition Flag Tee.  As part of the contest, Old Navy will make a combined donation of $100,000 to Americans for the Arts and P.S. Arts  in an effort to bring more arts education to public schools. The winning artist will be awarded a $25,000 U.S. Savings Bond for their future dreams and his or her design will be sold in Old Navy stores all across the country in 2004.

“We are thrilled to be partnering with two great organizations dedicated to keeping arts education a part of the school day,” says Jonathan Finn, Director of Public Relations for Old Navy. “Public education has always been important to us, and we’re delighted to have our Famous Flag Tee spotlight the talent of kids across the country." 

Lisa Kudrow, Emmy-Award winning actress, mother and arts education supporter, will help Old Navy kick off the contest at a special event at Coeur d'Alene Elementary School in Venice, California. P.S. Arts Executive Director, Sheila Bergman, and Americans for the Arts VP of Development, Sonia Tower, will also be on hand at the press conference hosted by Principal, Dr. Rex Patton. Following the announcement, students will submit the first entries for Old Navy’s Yankee “Doodle” Flag Tee Contest. And as a special treat, all the students will receive a little slice of history with a giant cake to celebrate the Flag Tee’s 10th birthday!

“Arts education was a key part of my experience growing up,” says Lisa Kudrow. “It's difficult to imagine a childhood without the arts and it is wonderful to know that more children are being afforded this opportunity due to the hard work of Americans for the Arts and P.S. Arts as well as the generosity and support of Old Navy."

To participate in this patriotic contest, kids ages 16 and under can pick up contest details and entry forms at their local Old Navy store from June 12 through July 4, 2003. After that date, parents and teachers visit www.oldnavy.com/community to find out about how they can get their child or students involved and download an entry form. Customers can also call 1.800.574.6400 for information. The deadline for design submissions is November 6, 2003.

Old Navy makes shopping fun and fashion affordable for the whole family, with the best in denim, khakis, graphic tees, and more—plus the Old Navy Item of the Week, each and every week, a special item at a special price. Shop for great clothes at great prices for adults, kids, and baby at over 800 stores in the United States and Canada, including flagships in San Francisco, Manhattan, Chicago, and Seattle—or shop around the clock at oldnavy.com.

P.S. ARTS is a non-profit organization dedicated to restoring arts education to public schools. Having served over 33,000 students since 1991, P.S. ARTS provides comprehensive, skills based, sequential classes in dance, drama, music and visual arts. Every class is designed to engage and cultivate the imagination, to encourage individual creativity and to teach skills that are fundamental to all aspects of the human experience be it in school or the world at large. For more information, please contact our P.S. ARTS office at 310.586.1017 or visit their website at www.psarts.org.

Americans for the Arts is the nation’s leading nonprofit arts organization dedicated to advancing the arts and culture in America. With a forty-year record of service, Americans for the Arts is committed to creating opportunities for every American to participate in and appreciate all forms of art, and takes the lead in promoting positive cultural policies and informing the current dialogue on the arts and public and private sector support. Through partnerships with corporate and cultural leaders, corporations and foundations and thousands of arts agencies and organizations, Americans for the Arts conducts and disseminates research, provides leadership and professional development to the nonprofit arts field, and works to increase resources for the arts and arts-education programs in every community.

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