Marvel's Captain America: Civil War - Girls Reforming the Future Challenge

Know a girl in 10th through 12th grade that dreams of making our world a better place?  Encourage her to enter the MARVEL'S CAPTAIN AMERICA: CIVIL WAR - GIRLS REFORMING THE FUTURE CHALLENGE between now and March 26, 2016.  This challenge invites girls from across the United States, ages 15 - 18, to submit innovative STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, or Mathematics) based projects that have the potential to change the world.  Each applicant will be asked to submit a short video demonstrating her project and explaining how her science and technology-based project would make the world a better place.  Five finalists will be selected to visit California and present their projects to a panel of experts.  One grand prize winner will be selected from the five finalists to receive an internship at Marvel Studios.



In Captain America: Civil War, each hero is forced to take a stand and choose a side in their fight to reform the future.  Although the Avengers become divided they remain united by the same goals:  the commitment to safeguard humanity, protect the Earth at all costs and make the world a better place for future generations.  Marvel is launching the GIRLS REFORMING THE FUTURE CHALLENGE to engage young women to further the goals of these fictional super heroes within real life.

Disney, Marvel Studios, Dolby Laboratories, Synchrony Bank, Broadcom MASTERS, and the Science & Entertainment Exchange, a program of National Academy of Sciences, are all working together to help encourage young ladies to reach for their potential to become real life super heroes.  Finalists will have the opportunity to inspire other girls around the world by participating in a LIVE global Broadcom MASTERS webinar during which they will discuss how STEM skills enabled them to craft the project proposals which led them to becoming a finalist in the CAPTAIN AMERICA: CIVIL WAR - GIRLS REFORMING THE FUTURE CHALLENGE.  The Grand Prize Winner will also share during the webinar details about how she utilized STEM skills during her Marvel Studios internship experience to show practical applications outside of a lab or class room.

Each of the five finalists will receive: Two round-trip tickets to Southern California for the Challenge participant and a parent or guardian (including scheduled meals, ground transportation to and from organized activities, and hotel accommodations from April 10 through April 13, 2016); an opportunity to be on the red carpet for the World Premiere of Marvel's Captain America: Civil War at the Dolby Theatre on April 12, 2016; a tour of the Walt Disney Studios in Burbank, California; and $500.00 deposited into a High Yield Savings account with Synchrony Bank.

For application forms, eligibility requirements, official contest rules and more information about MARVEL'S CAPTAIN AMERICA: CIVIL WAR -- GIRLS REFORMING THE FUTURE CHALLENGE, visit CaptainAmericaChallenge.com

Get those entries in for the chance to win that Grand Prize that will allow you to go behind the closed doors at Marvel Studios!

 

Shield Your Family from Fire Danger with 3 Simple Safety Steps

Did you know fire fighters are expected to be able to be fully suited up with their gear within 40 seconds of getting a call for assistance?  Kidde Fire Safety Products, a division of United Technologies Corporation, challenged me and other fathers in attendance at the recent Dad 2.0 Summit to see how fast we could get suited up in fire fighting gear to highlight to us the importance of having our families prepared for a house fire.  A quick response to a fire or carbon monoxide threat, whether it is the fast arrival of the fire department or a family being alerted to the danger and getting out of a house to safety, can truly be a matter of life or death.  Each one of us can be a safety hero by taking steps to make sure our families are prepared for a fire or carbon monoxide emergency.

Ready, Set, Go!!! Can I get this gear on in 40 seconds?

Jump in the boots and throw on the head wrap

Pull up the overall & throw on the heavy jacket

Throw on the oxygen tank

Don't forget to put on your helmet and gloves

Time to rock & roll! Yeah, I was no where near 40 seconds and when lives are at risk every moment matters

A fatal house fire occurs every three hours in America and more than 18,000 are injured or die from carbon monoxide (CO) poisoning every year.  In fact, I returned home from the Dad 2.0 Summit to news that a family of six in a neighboring community ( a mom and dad along with 11, 9 and 2 year old boys and a 7 year old girl ) were found dead from carbon monoxide poisoning linked to running a portable generator in the basement when a storm had knocked out their home's power.  The county sheriff noted to the media that "it took rescue crews nearly two hours to clear the home of toxic fumes."

You don't want your family to be a statistic!  Be a safety hero by following these 3 simple safety steps to help  shield your family from danger:

1.  REPLACE SMOKE ALARMS every 10 years, test them monthly, and change batteries once a year (unless you get the Kidde i9010 sealed lithium battery smoke alarm which guarantees a 10-year life span)

2. PLACE FIRE EXTINGUISHERS within reach on every level of your home.

3.  INSTALL CARBON MONOXIDE ALARMS on each floor and near bedrooms.

Here are some suggestions from Kidde on the proper placement of smoke alarms, carbon monoxide detectors and fire extinguishers:

Because there are so many preventable deaths and injuries each year from house fires, the American Red Cross also recently made #firesafety a top priority launching a public awareness campaign on the topic called "2 Steps 2 Minutes."  According to the American Red Cross, 65% of people believe they have twice as long to escape a burning home than they really do.  So the Red Cross is education people on how to be prepared in order to avoid deaths and injuries due to fire.  CLICK HERE for more information on the "2 Steps 2 Minutes" campaign.

Thank you to Kidde for reminding all of us fathers at the Dad 2.0 Summit on the importance of fire safety preparation for our families and giving us a chance to walk in the boots of fire fighters for a moment.  Wow those suits are hot and heavy and think about it these people are running wearing this gear into a fire.  Have to give kudos to all the men and women fire fighting professionals who put themselves at risk while wearing this gear to get others out of danger.  Remember not only are you putting your family at risk when not being prepared for a fire or carbon monoxide incident at your home but also the people who come to your rescue.  Be a safety hero and be proactive when it comes to protecting your family from these dangers.

#StepUpStandOut