September 12 marks the 3rd annual National Day of Encouragement, a day on which everyone is reminded to be deliberately encouraging to the people in their lives through words, actions and reactions.

Conceptualized by teens in 2007, the day counters the discouragement facing teens, and everyone, in society today. "If we will decide to encourage rather than criticize; if we will make kind acts and thoughtfulness a part of our daily lives; if for only one day of the year we will experiment by intentionally avoiding cynicism and negativity and choose instead encouragement, then we as individuals and also as a nation will change and in changing ourselves, we will change our world," said Andrew Baker, Director of the Encouragement Foundation and the National Day of Encouragement.

The 2009 National Day of Encouragement campaign, "7 Days Across America" put special emphasis this year on encouraging young people as the organization traveled to 14 cities in 7 days, covering 1,600 miles and honoring 70 teenagers who are making an impact for good.

The tour's last stop, was in New York City yesterday, and the "7 Days Across America" campaign will be capped off with a celebration of the National Day of Encouragement and what's RIGHT with American teenagers, at 6:30 p.m., tonight, September 12, at The Town Hall Theater at 123 West 43rd Street in New York City. The event includes:

* a celebration of what's right with America's teens;
* a performance by The Boys and Girls Choir of Harlem;
* the premier of "One Drop," a documentary created by a group of teenagers and the organization, Wishing Well Water for the World, that illustrates the impact of clean water on the lives of people around the world;
* a performance by the band, The NON; and
* the presentation of a $5,000 scholarship to the Most Encouraging Teen.

The celebration will honor teenagers and pre-teens from 15 states who are supporting causes and people in need by volunteering their time and talents, founding their own nonprofits, educating, advocating and more, to change to the world for good.

Judges will select finalists from among the group, and will award the winner of a $5,000 scholarship at the end of the night. Judges include:

* Mark Sanborn, Author of The Fred Factor: How Passion in Your Work & Life Can Turn the Ordinary into Extraordinary
* Leon Logothetis, Host of The Travel Channel's Amazing Adventures of a Nobody
* Colleen Johnson, Senior Associate, CNL Lifestyle Properties
* Jill Businelle, Director of Ashoka Youth Venture New York
* Jason Ashlock, Principal, Moveable Type Literary Group
* David Bornstein, Author of How to Change the World: Social Entrepreneurs and the Power of New Ideas
* George Reyes, Head of Company Management, The Boys and Girls Choir of Harlem Alumni Ensemble

The National Day of Encouragement is grateful for the sponsors and supporters of 7 Days Across America:

"Follow the Inukshuk" and Common Sense Success

Common Sense Success is a book. It is also a collection of online and hard copy resources for people desiring to achieve success in life. In ancient times Inuit Indians stacked rock cairns for use as navigation markers across the perilous arctic landscape. Over time the markers came to resemble a person and would point the way to the nourishment of the hunting ground, to a cache of food, or most importantly point the way home. Commonly called inukshuks, the markers came to symbolize hope for direction in life. Direction is what Common Sense Success is about. The book and website are an inukshuk pointing the way toward home to success, like a little stack of rocks marking a path among the noise and clutter, helping to guide your way.

The Encouragement Foundation exists to raise awareness about the benefits of encouraging others. The foundation provides tools and resources to create opportunities to encourage. The foundation also strives to challenge people of all ages to make encouraging others part of their daily lives.

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