WEST PALM BEACH, FL, May 14, 2008 - The Do the Write Thing Challenge recognized 120, Palm Beach County 6 th, 7 th and 8 th grade students at a recent banquet at the Raymond J. Kravis Center for the Arts for their writings regarding youth violence. Twenty finalists, representing various schools in the area, read brief quotes from their essays or poems written for the competition. Congressman Tim Mahoney spoke to the 375 students, teachers and parents assembled, about leadership and taking personal responsibility to provide a positive alternative to youth violence.

Six winners - three, young men and three, young women were awarded for their writings. The first place winners will travel to Washington, DC to be honored in a national ceremony by The National Campaign to Stop Violence.

The winners are: First place, young men - Nicholas Galarza, CongressMiddle School and first place, young women - Madeleine Kaye, BakMiddle School of the Arts. Second place went to Thomas Baker, Watson B. Duncan Middle School and Caroline Sans, BakMiddle School of the Arts and in third place, Ryan Roy, CongressMiddle School and Bridgette Gamble, Palm SpringsMiddle School. Over 7,000 entries were received in Palm BeachCounty. Many more participated in classroom discussions.

"We were delighted to be able to honor these young people who participated in this program to address this very important issue in our community and throughout the country," said Bill Bone, Esq., the Palm Beach Chairman of the Do the Write Thing Challenge.

Lourdes Fanjul chaired the young women's final judging committee. Circuit Court Judge, Ronald Alvarez, chaired the young men's final judging committee. Submissions were judged on the content of the work, not grammar, spelling or structure.

The Kravis event was underwritten by Florida Crystals. They will also sponsor the costs for the two winners to attend the national ceremony in WashingtonDC.

Palm Beach Newspapers, Inc. underwrote the cost of publishing the writings of the 120 Do the Write Thing Challenge finalists. William H. Pitt Foundation provided $500 grants to each school principal who committed their school to full participation in the program. Larmoyeux & Bone provided administrative support for organizing and directing the efforts of the Steering Committee. The steering committee included judges, congressmen, county and city officials and business leaders.

The goal of the program is to reduce violence in homes, schools and neighborhoods by encouraging students to make a personal commitment to take a stand against violence and support others to make the right choices.

For more information about the Do the Write Thing Challenge call Molly McCormick at (561) 832-9434.

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