Jer's Chocolates Supports City Year

Online, March 13, 2013 (Newswire.com) - Jer's Chocolates, based in Southern California, is pleased to announce that it will support City Year with proceeds from sales of their signature chocolate products. City Year is an education-focused national non-profit that deploys diverse teams of young people to serve a year in high-need schools, keeping kids in school and on track to succeed.

"It all started with a chance meeting," said Jerry Swain, Founder of Jer's Chocolates, who was recently named an "American Airlines Road Warrior," along with City Year's Chief Marketing Officer Gillian Smith. "Gillian and I struck up a conversation and immediately realized we shared a common goal of giving back to our community, and ensuring the next generation has equal opportunity to succeed."

Swain has volunteered at local schools for many years, delivering motivational talks to students about the importance of staying in school, the benefits of entrepreneurship, and the value of creative thinking. Through its values and roots, Jer's Chocolates has created the Jer's Cares initiative, focusing on giving. The collaboration with City Year supports that mission.

The partnership with City Year will contribute a donation directly to City Year with the purchase of any of Jer's Chocolates products purchased online during March and April, using the promo code CY3102.

"We are thrilled that this partnership fits so perfectly, and we are grateful to Jerry and the entire Jer's Chocolates family for this generosity," noted Gillian Smith, Chief Marketing Officer at City Year.

Swain and Smith were 2 of the 5 winners of "Road Warriors" by American Airlines as a result of the number of miles they traveled last year, their commitment to their businesses and communities, and an extensive application process. Swain wanted to turn the attention he has received from the American Airlines Road Warrior contest into something positive for the greater good. That's when he talked to Smith about working together to support City Year.

City Year has over 2500 corps members serving in 24 cities across the country. These young Americorps members are placed in classrooms where students need extra care and attention. They work alongside the teacher and provide assistance with math and literacy, and act as mentors to students who need extra emotional support to keep them in school and on track to succeed

About Jer's Chocolates

Jer's Chocolates was founded in 2004 and is the result of Jerry Swain's proprietary recipes, the first of which he created while to bring to a potluck in college. After graduating from college, Swain had a successful career working for IBM and in the high tech industry. During his high tech tenure, Swain threw several annual parties featuring his chocolate "balls" that raised money for local Food Banks. Swain left high tech and turned his passion into a business and has earned 11 International Taste Awards for his chocolate creations. Jer's uses only the highest quality all-natural ingredients for premium flavor. Jer's Chocolates are available in gourmet gift boxes (which feature the original Jer's Chocolates confections), Brittle Bites, Peanut Butter Bars and the brand new individually wrapped Jer's Squares. Based in Solana Beach, near San Diego, Calif., Jer's provides gourmet chocolate products to both large and small retailers across the country and overseas including Neiman Marcus, Whole Foods, Cost Plus World Market, Bristol Farms, Central Market, and Fresh Market. For more information, please visit www.jers.com or www.facebook.com/jerschocolates.

About City Year
City Year is an education-focused, nonprofit organization founded in 1988 that partners with public schools to provide full-time targeted intervention for students most at risk of dropping out. In more than 20 communities across the United States and through two international affiliates, our teams of young AmeriCorps leaders support students by focusing on attendance, behavior, and course performance through in-class tutoring, mentoring, and after school programs that keep kids in school and on track to graduate.
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