The four schools participating in HandsOn Network and American Express' year-long "Travel with Your Mind" HandsOn Schools program have completed their kick-off projects. Volunteers took action to begin integrating travel themes into the schools.

HandsOn Network Action Center United Way for Southeastern Michigan coordinated 277 volunteers at Osborn College Preparatory Academy to paint 10 travel-themed murals; construct, paint and install six benches in the courtyard; and refresh the courtyard with new paint. American Express also donated four video cameras, geography books and subscriptions to travel and news magazines.

Seattle Works mobilized 130 volunteers to paint 40 international flags on the playground and pillars in the entryways, landscape and re-organize the theater room of Concord Elementary School. American Express also donated video cameras for students to use to document cultural experiences.

Volunteer Mid-South leveraged 337 volunteers to paint 36 directional signs indicating distance between Memphis and various world destinations, landscape and construct four outdoor classrooms at KIPP Diamond Academy and Cypress Middle School. American Express also donated a collection of international books and flags for the library.

Northeast Middle School in Minneapolis was revitalized by 110 volunteers who painted 12 travel-themed murals, built four mosaic benches, reorganized the library and landscaped the courtyard of the school. HandsOn Twin Cities coordinated the project, and American Express donated $2,000 for books with international themes and computer equipment.

"Travel With Your Mind" is an excellent example of corporations using their resources to make a difference, and the program presents an opportunity for two business partners to come together in volunteerism. Students at these schools will now have access to materials and information about other cultures. American Express and Delta/Northwest are introducing them to places, people and ideas that they might not have had the opportunity to explore otherwise.