PRESS RELEASEFor Immediate Release

The Leapyear Projectwww.leapyearproject.orgContact: Victor SaadPhone: 417.459.2864hello@leapyearproject.orgTwitter // Facebook // Instagram // YouTube // Vimeo

The Leapyear Project is redefining leap year as a global call to action.Chicago, IL - December 14, 2011 - Every four years we take time to celebrate and reflect as a society. The excitement of an Olympic or World Cup year is cause to recognize good sportsmanship, healthy living and pride in one's country. Every four years the U.S. holds a presidential election that causes Americans to reflect on public issues, personal values and good citizenship. So what about leap year? Leap year comes every four years too, but until now, it's just been an extra day on the calendar. There hasn't been a reason to rally around leap year. But, The Leapyear Project is determined to redefine not only the extra calendar day, but the entire year, as a time to take a risk in order to change things for the better.

The goal of The Leapyear Project is to ask people worldwide to commit to taking a risk for good in 2012 that will change something and make a difference. Risks for good (aka: Leaps) can be big or small, take place on one day or everyday. Anyone can get involved in taking a risk for good right now. Everyone has had ideas, dreams, and thoughts about creating change in their lives or around the world, and the project is focused on turning these ideas into a firm commitment. Risk-takers can participate in the project in three steps: Choose your Leap. Tag your progress by using the hashtag #lyproject via social media avenues (i.e: Facebook, Twitter, Youtube, Flickr, Instagram etc.) Inspire others to attempt their own projects. The project is using social media not only to help people stay accountable to their ideas, but to inspire others by making these changes easily visible and shareable through social media.

The project will culminate with the creation of a book that documents the collective risks taken in 2012 and the curation of an art exhibit that will serve as a physical representation of the project.

And even though the project is starting as year-long campaign, The Leapyear Project team ultimately hopes the project gains enough traction to redefine this globally recognized term (leap year) as a call to action every four years. The movement is already gaining traction. In the first six days of the project launch, the site was visited nearly 2,000 times by people from 23 different countries.

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For more information or to schedule a conversation with Victor, email hello@leapyearproject.org or call Victor directly at 417.459.2864

Will You Take a Leap by Spreading the Word?The Leapyear Project is a human-interest story that will impact lives all over the world in 2012. We'd love for you to help spread the word. We've included some story ideas, questions and quotes, but feel free to write about whatever makes sense for your audience. And don't hesitate to get in touch: hello@leapyearproject.com.

Story IdeasProfile risk takers in your area and ask them what risks they're willing to take (get in touch and we'll connect you!)How to use social media for goodIs it possible to calculate the effects of paying it forward?Unique way to remind people that 2012 is a leap year

Questions to Ask Your ReadersWhat one action would you commit to in order to make your community a better place?How will you get your community involved?What would happen if just three readers of this column/blog/etc. committed to participating?

Questions to Ask Victor Saad, Project FounderWhat criteria would you use to consider this project a success?How big do you imagine the impact of this project to be?What are some examples of risks being taken?

Quotes"After some conversations with a few close friends & realizing that this year is a leap year, we decided to create this project in order to ask people to take risks for good and share their stories. Publishing these stories in 2013 will be documentation of what we accomplished in one year."

"I began sharing the idea of LYP with people and asking them, what would you do if YOU could take a risk to make something better?"

"This project is not about what I have done, am doing, or even will do. People have taken far greater risks for good, and there are people who will come up with more amazing risks than I can even imagine. I simply hope that this year creates the space for you to take your risk—small or large, short or long. I hope that this project becomes a part of how you tell your story, motivate others, and—more than anything— than anything—change your life for the better."

@Michelincoln  What would happen if all of these people (and YOU) attempted at least one #lyproject for good & shared it?! on.fb.me/rwHIZe

@David_C_Cook RT @lyproject: 1,700 visits from 23 countries in our 1st wk! What would happen if all of us did a #lyproject & shared it?! ||great to hear!

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Ready, Set, Risk!Our idea of taking a risk for good revolves around generosity, caring for others, instilling hope, overcoming fear, or improving something that is broken. Here are some risks that have inspired us:

Liza // Seattle, WALiza has always wanted to be part of creating change. That curiosity led her to study politics and government and even landed her a job on Capitol Hill. After a few years, she found herself unsettled and not sure how to best mesh her passions and skills. Upon hearing about The Leapyear Project, Liza shared that she has decided to leave her post on Capitol Hill to join a project called DeforestACTION in the rain forests of Borneo. The project will focus on education through social media, building a new nursery, monitoring illegal logging, and rescuing and rehabilitating wildlife (i.e: the orangutan). Liza has been inspired that 2012 needs to be her year of leaping away from everything that is known and comfortable in order to work towards something that will benefit others for years to come.

Sean Astin // Los Angeles, CAActor and director, Sean Astin (Lord of the Rings, Rudy, The Goonies), is preparing for the biggest risk of his career -- directing a movie based on a children’s book “Number The Stars” by Lois Lawry. For Sean, this risk is not only financial, but it is also a risk for his reputation as he declines other offers to focused on a movie aimed at communicating wholesome values and important events in history.

Elaine // Westmont, ILElaine is a successful young business woman in the IT and sales world. The Leapyear Project inspired her to offer pro-bono services to women searching for jobs. Her first client was actually the mother of one of our very own The Leapyear Project teammates. Elaine refreshed her resume, offered advice for the interview process, and ultimately helped her first client find employment! Elaine will continue helping women gain confidence and find employment throughout 2012, while sharing the story with Leapyear.

Tony // Oklahoma City, OKA pastor at a well known church, Tony finds himself increasingly interested in refreshing the conversation around health and wellness in his community. His passion for mountain biking has caused him to explore if and how he could start his own bike shop and an annual bike race to start the conversation and give people practical tools to pursue healthier living.

Erin // Chicago, IL A budding creative director and designer, her and husband Chris have started inviting designers to help rebrand non-profits. Erin and her husband Chris called this idea EPIC and have worked with some of Chicago's most elite creatives. The next year will focus on expanding the idea on a larger scale and exploring other avenues for creatives and non-profits to work together.

Marcell // Chicago, ILMarcell is a middle school student residing in Chicago’s inner city. After he and a small group of friends heard about The Leapyear Project, Marcell decided that his Leap would be to collect 100 pairs of new or slightly worn shoes in order to give them to those in need. Marcell has a clubbed foot and believes that this is his opportunity to care for others. He doesn’t know if he can accomplish his project, but he is all in and has already received his first pair!

Also, check out our social media profiles to see risks in action and new pledges to make a difference.

Twitter // Facebook // Instagram // YouTube // Vimeo

Victor Saad, Leapyear Project Founder3

While the Leapyear Project started with 26 year-old, Egyptian American Victor Saad, he cautions, "This project is not about what I have done, am doing, or even will do. People have taken far greater risks for good, and there are people who will come up with more amazing risks than I can even imagine. I simply hope that this year creates the space for you to take your risk—small or large, short or long. I hope that this project becomes a part of how you tell your story, motivate others, and—more than anything—change your life for the better."

And while Victor did a lot of legwork to get the project off the ground, he was actually inspired to start the project after talking with others. Earlier this year, Victor was at a crossroads in his career, and started seeking out "ways to change the world practically," and to "create avenues to help my friends develop their ideas." Victor took action and began connecting with people in order to learn about the topics he was most passionate about. Through their conversations, Victor realized that most people have dreams and ideas of doing (or creating) something that would make their life, family, industry or their world better. Victor always ended his interviews by asking, "What would you do if YOU could take a risk to make something better?" Their responses were incredible – and the catalyst for the project.

So, when a friend mentioned that 2012 is a leap year, Victor began to wonder how — and if – there was a way to invite people around the globe to actually take their own leap, or risk for good, to make something better and share what they learned with others. Victor ended up answering his own question by launching the Leapyear project.

You can answer Victor's question, "What would you do if YOU could take a risk to make something better?" for yourself by participating at www.leapyearproject.org.

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MEDIA PAGE: www.leapyearproject.org/media

Video Introduction into The Leapyear Project:www.vimeo.com/lyproject/2012

Video to teach people how to share and track their ‘Leap’ via the hashtag (#lyproject):www.vimeo.com/lyproject/tag

Two of the Long Shots invitations (private):Howard Schultz Invitation Oprah Invitation

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