Tennessee Organization Announces Grant Winners for Destination ImagiNation

Online, December 23, 2009 (Newswire.com) - Franklin, TN, December 21, 2009: Tennessee Association, Inc, a nonprofit organization that provides the Destination ImagiNation® program in Tennessee, has announced winners of grants to support a START A TEAM initiative. The grants will provide "start up" funds for schools or other organizations to help establish new Destination ImagiNation teams in Tennessee.
The grant recipients are:
Circle of Friends: A Nashville-based cooperative educational cooperative.
Thursday Connection: A Knoxville-based home school cooperative.
Laurel High School: A private high school in the Fort Sanders area of Knoxville.

The grant proceeds will help provide support to the winners for starting their Destination ImagiNation teams. The Tennessee grant program is associated with the two-year Destination ImagiNation START A TEAM recruiting initiative, designed to make the program more accessible to more students. More than 1.3-million young people from first grade through college have participated in Destination ImagiNation programs. More than 30 countries currently participate. The international tournament called "Global Finals" is held annually on the campus of The University of Tennessee in Knoxville.
Destination ImagiNation is an exhilarating activity in which students work in teams to solve mind-bending Challenges and present their solutions at Tournaments. Teams are tested to think on their feet, work together, and devise original solutions that satisfy the requirements of the Challenges. Linda Chambers, director of Destination ImagiNation in Tennessee said, "Participants gain more than just basic knowledge and skills - they learn to unleash their imaginations and take unique approaches to problem solving. It's an excellent way for schools and other organizations to strengthen their programs."
Over 1,000 students and 400 volunteers participate in Destination ImagiNation in Tennessee each year. "We were very impressed with applications submitted by our grant winners", said Rick Wimberly, Chairman of the Board of Tennessee Association, Inc. "They demonstrated enthusiasm and solid plans for helping students become better prepared to creatively solve problems they face in their personal lives, their communities, and their work places through Destination ImagiNation", said Wimberly.

Those interested in starting Destination ImagiNation teams can do so by visiting http://www.IDODI.org.

NOTE TO EDITOR: Please contact Rick Wimberly to arrange winner interviews or additional information.

About Destination ImagiNation START A TEAM
Start a Team with Destination ImagiNation today at http://www.IDODI.org. Destination ImagiNation is an exhilarating after-school activity in which students work in teams to solve mind-bending Challenges and present their solutions at Tournaments. Destination ImagiNation, Inc. is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization with more than 1.3 million alumni and a global network of 35,000 volunteers.

About Tennessee Association, Inc.
Tennessee Association, Inc. is a non-profit, fully-volunteer organization that sponsors the Destination ImagiNation program in Tennessee. Well over one-thousand students from throughout the state participate in the program, and are supported by over 400 volunteers each year. Tennessee Association, Inc.'s Board of Directors is made up of representations from throughout Tennessee, including alumni of the program.

Contact:
Rick Wimberly
rick.wimberly@galainsolutions.com
615-207-5074
Taidi.org

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