National Institute for Responsible Online and Cell-Phone Communication Inducts Yoursphere Founder Mary Kay Hoal into 2010 ‘Hall of Heroes’

NAPA, CA – Nov. 30, 2010 – The national Institute for Responsible Online and Cell-Phone Communication (IROC2) recently inducted Yoursphere Founder Mary Kay Hoal into its “Hall of Heroes.” IROC2 presented Hoal with its “2.1C Award of Excellence” for her dedication to empowering families through the social networking site she created, acclaimed for its unparalleled commitment to youth safety and privacy.

Hoal joins other IROC2 Hall of Heroes cited for their exemplary dedication to responsible digital citizenship, including Congresswoman Yvette D. Clarke (N.Y.), Chair of the House Homeland Security Subcommittee on Emerging Threats, Cybersecurity and Science and Technology, New Jersey Assemblywoman Pam Lampitt and MTV’s “Thin Line Campaign.”

“I’m honored to receive the prestigious IROC2 Award of Excellence,” Hoal said. “The Institute for Responsible Online and Cell-Phone Communication leaders share the belief we have at Yoursphere, that education and empowerment of both youth and parents is crucial to having a positive online experience. The IROC2 curriculum is guiding the next generation of good digital citizens through its engaging outreach and educational programs.”

IROC2, dedicated to promoting positive digital citizenship and educating youth about the permanence of Internet activity, honored Hoal November 14, 2010 at the "I Rock the Napa Valley Concert Fundraiser" in Napa, California. IROC2's Executive Director Richard Guerry said: "We commend Mary Kay for her continuous efforts to raise awareness about the importance of digital safety and privacy issues. Our organization is inspired by her perseverance in holding media companies accountable by asking the probing and vital questions to ensure that corporations understand their responsibilities to young people who visit their sites.”

ABOUT YOURSPHERE
Yoursphere is a fun, rewards-based and content appropriate online interactive experience for young people that is nationally acclaimed by leading safety experts for its unparalleled commitment to youth privacy and safety. Free and exclusively for kids and teens through age 18, Yoursphere offers the ability to blog, play hundreds of games, foster shared interests through its innovative “spheres,” interact with other kids, and benefit from a scholarship program. Yoursphere leads the global social media industry in online safety through its approach of verifying identities, requiring parental consent, performing a predator check and using technology and human oversight to monitor site activity. Yoursphere is the sole youth-only social network for kids and teens through age 18 approved by the Privacy Vaults Online Safe Harbor of the Federal Trade Commission. For more information, visit Yoursphere.com.

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This release was published on openPR.