Burbank, CA (May 23, 2010) - The Entertainment Industries Council, Inc. (EIC) co-sponsored a Women's Empowerment (WE) Build today with Habitat for Humanity, San Fernando/Santa Clarita Valleys and The Gas Company, with the focus on encouraging young women from local high schools and colleges to pursue careers in science, engineering and technology through mentorship. The EIC Build Team included women actors, singers, writers, producers, publicists, and representatives from aerospace. EIC recently launched a comprehensive project on science, engineering and technology in coordination with The Boeing Company under the theme "Ready on the S.E.T. and...Action!"
 
The EIC Team included Cassidy Freeman (Smallville), as well as singer Jessica Sierra (American Idol); actresses Kate Linder (The Young & the Restless), T'Keyah Crystal Keymah (That's So Raven), and Christina Fulton (actress/singer); TV personalities Ananda Lewis (The Ananda Lewis Show), Susan Coolidge (The Bachelor), and Britt Hysen (Scene with Britt);  producer Lori Anderson; publicists Staci Wolfe and Linda Jones; astronaut James Kelly; and engineer Julie Zingerman from United Technologies/Rocketdyne. Zingerman and Kelly delivered the lunch keynote.
 
According to Cassidy Freeman who served as captain of the team and plays the high-tech Luthor Corporation CEO on the hit CW series Smallville, "This event poses a great opportunity for those of us in entertainment and aerospace, both technology and engineering reliant industries, to talk to young people about the huge potential to let their imaginative minds pursue their dreams in these fields while working together to also change lives for low income working families. We're building houses and building futures here. I can't think of a better way for us to invest our day."
 
"Increasing young people's interest in studies and careers in the science, engineering and technology fields is a high priority in the U.S. in order to secure the nation's continuing role in the global economy," said Brian Dyak, President & CEO of EIC. "One way to ensure the next generation in these fields is ready for the paradigm shift is to help communicate to young people that engineers and technologists are dreamers, visionaries and problem solvers who help to make lives easier, more productive and more enjoyable through a myriad of industries and crafts, including the engineering, technology and skills that go into building a house."
 
In addition to the EIC Team, the daytime dramas Days of Our Lives and The Bold & The Beautiful each had a Build Team comprised of cast and crew members. All three teams competed in various build challenges over the course of the day.
 
Entertainment Industries Council, Inc. (EIC), a non-profit organization, was founded in 1983 by leaders of the entertainment industry to bring the power of the industry to bear on health and social issues. The organization is considered to be the chief pioneer of entertainment advocacy outreach and one of the premiere success stories in the field of entertainment education and information resources for entertainment creators, through innovative and time-proven services and methods of "encouraging the art of making a difference" from within the entertainment industry. EIC also produces the simulcast national television special PRISM Awards Showcase which addresses issues such as drug, alcohol, and tobacco use and addiction; mental health and mental illness. It has also launched an initiative to increase the public profile and interest in science, engineering and technology under the theme "Ready on the S.E.T. and...Action!"
 
EIC also addresses issues such as; firearm safety and injury prevention; sun safety and skin cancer prevention; human trafficking; terrorism and homeland security; eating disorders, obesity and diabetes; seat belt use and traffic safety; foster care; women's health; and HIV/AIDS prevention. For more information, go to www.eiconline.org.
 
Habitat for Humanity, SF/SCV serves North Los Angeles County with one of Habitat for Humanity's most innovative models-Habitat Enriched Neighborhoods. Unique in the world of HFH, these neighborhoods go far beyond previous affordable home ownership projects. Life skills are provided to families that enable them to become self-sufficient, productive members of the community. The Enriched Neighborhood model brings social and educational services into the neighborhoods along with Habitat teaching programs including home ownership and repair, and money management. By building homes with the help of volunteers (keeping the price low) and by holding the interest free loan - families are able to buy a home for less than what they would pay in rent. In addition families commit 500 hours of sweat equity to the building of their neighborhood. For information, visit www.HumanityCA.org.