ArtStamps & The Flat Stanley Project Partner to Advance Literacy and Education.

FARMINGTON, Conn. -- ArtStamps, LLC, a national school fundraiser that turns student artwork into U.S. postage, and the Flat Stanley Project, an international literacy activity for students, today announced a partnership to help reverse the decline in literacy rates by supporting literacy, creativity and education in schools.

Under the partnership, ArtStamps will make regular monetary contributions to The Literacy Community, a not-for-profit charitable organization that supports the Flat Stanley Project. Teachers, students and parents participating in The Flat Stanley Project will have access to purchase five U.S. postage stamps provided by ArtStamps. Twenty percent of the proceeds from the sale of these stamps will directly support the Literacy Community.

The Flat Stanley Project has connected children from all over the world and increased their love of literacy. ArtStamps, currently used by schools in 49 states, leverages the creativity of children to create a unique and extraordinary fundraising experience designed to support creativity, literacy and education.

According to Dale Hubert, The Flat Stanley Project's creator and facilitator, the new partnership allows The Flat Stanley Project to introduce its first international literacy competition.

"This is a wonderful opportunity for a mutually beneficial partnership," said Hubert. "ArtStamps will allow The Flat Stanley Project to continue to grow and motivate children to write. We will provide ArtStamps with a platform to reach children, both nationally and internationally."

"Both organizations share a common mission and that's to support creativity, literacy and education," said George Castineiras, CEO of ArtStamps. "The partnership with the Flat Stanley Project allows us to promote the benefits of literacy globally with renewed enthusiasm."

The Flat Stanley Project and ArtStamps are passionate about reversing the decline in literacy rates worldwide by encouraging kids to read and reigniting the art of letter writing.

"Advancing technology has forced us to neglect our love for the written word and personalization," said Castineiras. "Children and adults have now been conditioned to send emails and text messages instead of the handwritten letter. Schools are now starting to recognize the problem and ArtStamps is passionate about provoking a renewed interest in writing and personalization. The reality is that everyday for everyone around the world, a handwritten card pulled from your mailbox will always trigger a priceless and rewarding smile."

"Since 1995 Flat Stanley has connected children from 47 different countries by maintaining the tradition of letter writing," said Hubert. "Kids are excited to receive something in the mail. This partnership couldn't be more fitting. ArtStamps encourages creativity as children design their own postage stamps, and Flat Stanley relies on postage to connect children from throughout the world."

To find out more about this partnership and to support the Literacy Community, please visit http://www.myaffinitystamps.com/flatstanley.

About ArtStamps

Based in Farmington Connecticut, ArtStamps, LLC is a privately held company that believes in supporting creativity, literacy and education by allowing students to experience school fundraising in a unique and extraordinary way. Its patent-pending fundraising process provides a way for schools to conduct fundraising that is safe, healthy and creative by converting original student art into U.S. postage, note cards and more. More information about ArtStamps can be found at http://www.myartstamps.com or by calling (877) 4 A STAMP.

About Flat Stanley

Hundreds of thousands of children from 47 countries have taken part in the Flat Stanley Project at www.flatstanley.com. The Picture Gallery shows Flat Stanleys with celebrities, politicians, athletes, actors and other people of interest, in addition to pictures of students and their classes. The website has many stories that children have created about the adventures their own Flat Stanleys have had. The Flat Stanley Project appeals to kindergarten students as they learn about their community by sending Flat Stanleys to mayors, police stations and fire halls, and at the same time high school students in Indonesia use it to develop their English skills and explore relationships.

Children create their own paper Flat Stanleys and mail them, along with an introductory journal, to another school or a person of special interest. The recipient treats the flat visitor as a guest and takes it places and writes about its adventures. After a time the Flat Stanley is returned to the sender who can plot the travels on a map and read the completed journal. Journals are often returned with photographs and souvenirs. It's a great way for children to reach out to other children throughout the world. We can recognize our similarities and celebrate our differences.