LifeSmarts, UL bring Safety Smart® initiative to high school student leaders – National Consumers League

September 24, 2013

Contact: Ben Klein, NCL Communications, (202) 835-3323, benk@nclnet.org

Washington, DC—Just after the start of the new 2013 program year, which has been marked by a completely redesigned and improved LifeSmarts.org, the National Consumers League (NCL) is announcing a major expansion to its LifeSmarts program: a new opportunity for high school students to conduct service learning programs in their communities as the result of a partnership with the global safety science company UL (Underwriters Laboratories).

LifeSmarts is an educational competition, run by the 114-year-old nonprofit NCL, that tests middle school and high school students nationwide on real-life consumer issues through online quizzes and live competition. It will culminate with the 20th anniversary national LifeSmarts championship in Orlando in April 2014, where winning teams and individual students are awarded academic scholarships and prizes.

By combining efforts on a joint educational project, this new opportunity expands UL’s decade-long support for NCL and the LifeSmarts competition. Joining UL’s knowledge of safety science with LifeSmarts consumer and marketplace knowledge, the team developed classroom curricula designed to complement and extend the LifeSmarts model. Utilizing UL’s Safety Smart® Program, an initiative aimed at improving awareness and understanding of safety, health, environmental stewardship and societal well-being, the team created turn-key lessons on health and the environment for LifeSmarts participants to deliver to elementary-school children in their own communities. In addition to adding this new service-learning component to the program, LifeSmarts is expanding its content for safety science and the environment and creating new resources and challenges for LifeSmarts competitors.

“We are excited to partner with UL to provide the student leaders involved with LifeSmarts a relevant, hands-on way to give back to younger students in their communities, ” said Sally Greenberg, NCL Executive Director. “The new lessons aimed at younger kids about ‘going green’ and being ‘healthy and fit’ are a win-win, providing high school LifeSmarts participants a dynamic leadership opportunity and their younger counterparts important lessons about being healthy and environmentally-conscious.”

Starting this month, LifeSmarts participants can become Safety Smart Ambassadors, an opportunity to fulfill community service requirements or to simply give back on a voluntary basis. Participants documenting their experiences will have the chance to receive post-secondary scholarships, and win monthly giveaways and iPad minis.

“UL has been a long-time supporter of the LifeSmarts program because we value equipping young people with relevant, real-world knowledge,” said Barbara Guthrie, Vice President, Public Safety Advocacy, Education and Outreach for UL. “We’re thrilled that this partnership gives us an opportunity to recruit new, highly-motivated Safety Smart Ambassadors, and share our safety science knowledge and expertise with all LifeSmarts participants.”

Safety Smart’s guiding principle is that unintentional injuries are avoidable and preventable through Safety Smart choices. When Safety Smart Ambassadors share Safety Smart concepts with children they help to build a consciousness and knowledge by raising awareness and inspiring action. Safety Smart Ambassadors help cultivate children to be safety advocates…safety scientists…safety smart.

The addition of the Safety Smart program is part of a series of recent expansion efforts for the program, including the revamped online competition and learning home, LifeSmarts.org, as well as numerous partnerships in new states: Georgia 4-H, the Louisiana Attorney General’s Office, the Maine Jump$tart Coalition, and Family, Career, and Community Leaders of America in Idaho. LifeSmarts now has formal programs established in 30 states, with partnerships with Better Business Bureaus, credit unions, consumer protection agencies, and Councils on Economic Education. Interested students and adults can visit the LifeSmarts Web site to connect with the program in their state.

For more information about LifeSmarts and the Safety Smart Ambassador program, visit https://www.lifesmarts.org/resources/safety-smart/

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About the National Consumers League and LifeSmarts

The National Consumers League, founded in 1899, is America’s pioneer consumer organization. Our mission is to protect and promote social and economic justice for consumers and workers in the United States and abroad. For more information, visit www.nclnet.org.

LifeSmarts is a program of the National Consumers League. State coordinators run the programs on a volunteer basis. For more information, visit: www.lifesmarts.org, email lifesmarts@nclnet.org, or call the National Consumers League’s communications department at (202) 835-3323.

About UL

UL is a premier global independent safety science company that has championed progress for 120 years. Its more than 10,000 professionals are guided by the UL mission to promote safe working and living environments for all people. UL uses research and standards to continually advance and meet ever-evolving safety needs. We partner with businesses, manufacturers, trade associations and international regulatory authorities to bring solutions to a more complex global supply chain. For more information about our certification, testing, inspection, advisory and education services, visit https://www.UL.com.