"MAPS – Pro-Bono: Giving Back to the Community"

Do you ever wonder what young people do after the school bell rings? Well, about 50 of them are students in Ravalli County’s MAPS Media Institute http://www.mapsmediainstitute.com/ after-school program.

Founded in 2004, MAPS combines classroom instruction with business skills. Serving five county high schools, the September 2011 curriculum will include: Dramatic Film, Commercials, PSA’s, Photography, Graphic Design, Documentary, "YouTube" style projects, Screenwriting, Music Videos, and Podcasts et al.

Contributing to MAPS longevity is its financial sustainability model. For the last seven years, MAPS has combined public/private grants, benefit concerts, film festivals with revenues from fee-based clients. 2010-’11 clients and grantors: Montana’s Office of the Governor, Ravalli County Health Department, 21st Century Learning Centers, Dennis & Phyllis Washington Foundation, Montana Arts Council, Montana Student Assistance Foundation and the Public Value Partnership.

These multiple revenue streams allows MAPS and its student filmmakers to work pro-bono with a variety of Ravalli County organizations including: The Valley Veterans Service Center, The Corvallis Cooking Connection and The Corvallis American Legion Post 91.

Said MAPS President Peter Rosten: "This year, MAPS continued to attract businesses to hire us to do their media work. Our public/private partnership enables us to choose projects on a ‘no charge’ basis."

In addition, MAPS Program Director Laura Henderson, has guided the students into a wide variety of ‘outside the classroom’ community service projects including: The "Lights On" parade celebrating all Ravalli County after-school programs; K-Mart’s Christmas "Gift Tree" program that raised money for Child and Family services foster youth; and "After-School Matters", a short video produced for the annual Rotunda Day in Helena, MT.

"The great thing about working with our students is their enthusiasm for projects outside the classroom and in the community", said Laura. They are a terrific example of the best our young people have to offer."

Other MAPS news: PBS/Montana will air a statewide, 30 minute program (April 2011) dedicated to the MAPS program. Titled "AFTER THE BELL: Inside the MAPS Media Institute", the documentary – hosted by MAPS teacher Ian Marquand – will show the many faces and facets of the program.

For more information:

Contact: Peter Rosten (406) 370-3745

Laura Henderson (406) 381-7230