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Monday, January 17, 2011

On this Martin Luther King, Jr. Day, USA TODAY is thrilled to announce the launch of the "Kindness Challenge"

On this Martin Luther King, Jr. Day, USA TODAY is thrilled to announce the launch of the "Kindness Challenge" -- a whole new type of challenge where five young difference-makers, all DoSomething.org alums with projects of their own, will be flexing their civic muscle rather than physical muscle for a specific philanthropic goal that they've set!

[Learn more about our Kindness Challenge participants!]

Like a fitness challenge in concept but entirely different in its execution, we've teamed up with the Rachael Ray Show to follow our participants' progress over six-weeks. Not only is the goal to help these inspiring teens take their service projects to the next level, but to encourage all Americans to take on their own Kindness Challenge no matter how big or small their goal may be, Rachael Ray says.

"I am so excited about the USA TODAY Kindness Challenge! Whether you live in a big city or a small town, it's important to find a way to give back that is meaningful to you," says Rachael Ray. "It's always so inspiring to see kids step up to the plate and help out others in their own special way!"

The plan of action? Starting today, our five inspiring participants -- who've already made incredible strides in philanthropy -- will be working towards a specific goal that they've set, documenting their progress online with weekly blog posts throughout the challenge here in the Kindness community and at kindnesschallenge.usatoday.com. (Feel free to bookmark this webpage where you can follow their progress and give them advice and support in the comments section of each blog post throughout the entire challenge!)

To give them an extra boost -- as a personal trainer might at the gym --each participant is getting one-on-one time with Carol Cone and the corporate citizenship team at Edelman, a global public relations firm. We'll be doing a Q&A with Cone's team in early February to provide additional information and resources on how you, too, can get your own Kindness Challenge project off the ground!

On February 28, the participants will have a full update on their progress, and at that point, you will have the opportunity to vote on which individual inspired you most. Of course, all of our participants are winners for having made a difference, but the participant who get the most votes will receive a special feature in USA TODAY on March 14.

So be sure to pick up a copy of USA TODAY and tune into the Rachael Ray Show today (check your local TV listings) to find out more about the challenge and our five inspiring teen participants. We can't wait to see what happens!

Don't forget! On-going Kindness Challenge coverage can be found online at www.kindnesschallenge.usatoday.com.

Click here to learn more about our five inspiring Kindness Challenge participants!

Follow the "Kindness Challenge" on Twitter, using this hashtag -- #KindnessChallenge!

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