HEARTHSONG 25th ANNIVERSARY SCHOLARSHIP SWEEPSTAKES
HearthSong (a national toy catalog and one of America’s most trusted children’s toy brands • www.hearthsong.com) is giving away $25,000 in scholarships on the occasion of its 25th anniversary.
The contest, which runs until the end of December 2008, will award three college scholarships – including a $15,000 grand prize scholarship – and 25 other prizes. Winners will be selected at random from among eligible entries. [More details are available at www.hearthsong.com.]
Despite near universal acknowledgment that playtime is a vital component of a child’s development, 62 percent of parents engage in “active play” with their children for six hours or less per week, or less than an hour a day on average. Sixteen percent admit that their playtime interaction with their kids averages less than one hour each week. The HearthSong Sweepstakes is designed to celebrate the inherent connection between play and learning.
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THE TOYS OF OUR LIVES PHOTO SWEEPSTAKES
This holiday season, Back to Basics Toys invites all classic and vintage toy fans to share their toy memories.
Toy enthusiasts can go online to www.backtobasicstoys.com and upload a photo of their favorite toy from childhood and say why they love it. Toys can be ‘classics’ that have been lovingly preserved in Grandma’s attic or toys that have weathered years of love. Each week leading up to December 25, Back to Basics Toys will select a winning photo and the winner will receive a $100 shopping spree at Backtobasicstoys.com.
In addition, this holiday season, Back to Basics Toys will celebrate its 20th Anniversary by bringing smiles to the faces of ill and hospitalized children around the country through toy donations over $20,000 distributed through the Kids Wish Network. The Kids Wish Network is an organization that gives hope to kids with severe medical problems as well as those who face tremendous adversity in their lives.
For more information on the sweepstakes and great holiday gift ideas for the classic toy enthusiast in your life, visit www.BacktoBasicsToys.com.
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THE 3rd ANNUAL SIMPLY MANISHEWITZ® COOK-OFF COMPETITION
With the holidays right around the corner and ethnic cooking on the rise, consumers across the nation can learn how to put a contemporary spin on traditional everyday dishes with kosher products in a cooking contest designed to encourage home cooks to prepare a simple, yet delicious kosher entrée using any Manischewitz product.
U.S. residents 18 or older are invited to submit an original, easy-to make entrée. All recipes must be original, must be kosher and must include at least one Manischewitz product, have no more than a total of eight ingredients and be prepared and cooked in one hour.
Six finalists will be selected to compete live in the New York City finals in February 2009 and one Grand Prize Winner will be selected at the final cook-off event. A panel of food experts will judge the recipes on site based on the following criteria: taste, 50%; ease of preparation, 20%; appearance, 15%; and originality, 15%.
All finalists will win a $2,000 (ARV) prize package including a trip to New York City to compete for the grand prize. The Grand Prize winner receives a $25,000 (ARV) prize package including: state-of-the-art GE Profile Kitchen appliances, a $5,000 check from Manischewitz; inclusion in a future Manischewitz or web cookbook; Manischewitz product and more!
The contest runs through December 31, 2008. Finals to be held in NewYork City in February. For official contest details and to register, log onto www.manischewitz.com and complete the official entry form online and submit a recipe or enter by mail: Simply Manischewitz Cook-Off, c/o BHGPR, 546 Valley Road Upper Montclair , NJ 07043. Entries must be received by December 31, 2008.
And to inspire you, try this original creation by previous Grand Prize Winner - Candace McMenamin:
Sweet Potato Encrusted Chicken
Ingredients:
1 item Manischewitz Extra Virgin Olive Oil Cooking Spray
1 box (6oz) Manischewitz Sweet Potato Pancakes
1 tsp Manischewitz Poultry Seasoning
6 piece Boneless, skinless chicken breast
1.5 cup Manischewitz apricot preserves
3 tbsp Manischewitz Premium Niagara White Grape Juice
1 clove Garlic, minced
1 item Jalapeno pepper, seeded and minced
Preparation:
Preheat oven to 350º. Prepare a 13-inch by 9-inch glass baking dish with cooking spray. Combine sweet potato pancake mix and poultry seasoning in a shallow dish. Dredge chicken breasts through mixture, turning to coast thoroughly. Place in prepared baking dish. Place in oven and bake for 30-40 minutes or until internal temperature is 175 degrees.
Meanwhile, in a small saucepan, combine apricot preserves, grape juice, garlic, and pepper. Cook over low heat until mixture is heated through. To serve: Place chicken breasts on serving platter. Drizzle 1&Mac218;4 cup sauce over breasts and serve remaining sauce on the side for dipping.
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FREE CHILD SAFETY HANDBOOK
The National Center for Missing & Exploited Children (NCMEC) and Duracell are partnering to offer new, FREE Child Safety Handbook. The handbook has been developed for parents of children who are infant through high school ages. It is available on www.powerofparentsonline.com.
The Power of Parents Child Safety Handbook provides safety tips from the experts at NCMEC for four key child development stages: infant to toddler, ages 4-6, ages 7-11 and ages 12-17. Understanding that with these different stages of development a child’s behavior pattern changes, the handbook outlines age-appropriate tips and scenarios that parents need to be aware of, as well as some outside influences that may be impacting their child’s actions. A sampling of current technologies such as applications of GPS, wireless and Radio Frequency Identification technologies used for child safety precautions also are highlighted.
The Power of Parents program launched in April 2006 with the goal of helping parents prepare, protect and empower their children by providing useful safety tools and information for families. The Power of Parents program Web site (www.powerofparentsonline.com) contains a variety of important safety tools for families including a free downloadable child photo ID guide, seasonal safety tips, a six-month photo ID reminder service, a free children’s book designed to help 4-6 year olds understand safety concepts and Teachable Moments Guides.
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REVIEWS 4 SHOES
Soles4Souls, the international shoe charity, and the online consumer review site Epinions.com, have created a program to provide shoes to needy people worldwide.
Epinions is looking for anyone to write a paragraph or two on your favorite (or least favorite) pair of shoes in your closet. As an incentive, they will donate $5 for EACH REVIEW to Soles4Souls. That equals about 3 pairs of shoes for 3 minutes of work!
To get started, visit www.epinions.com/shoes and sign up to become a member (it's fast and free). Then write some reviews about your pairs of shoes (and if it's a bad review, you can always donate them to Soles4Souls). But please, don't wait too long - this promotion will end on December 31st. So break out your critiquing skills and start writing...some bare soles will thank you for it.
If you have any questions about this promotion, please visit www.giveshoes.org for details.
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TIPS, RESOURCES, AND DOWNLOADABLE EXTRAS FROM MEAD®
The newly relaunched Mead® Web site -- www.mead.com -- features a product recommender, ideal for those who have a specific need but aren't looking for a specific product, and also separate sections with tips and resources for students, parents, teachers and other users.
Among the featured sections:
• For Students – study tips, organizational tools, quiz creators and downloads for Facebook wallpaper, music playlists, planning pages and much, much more. Plus, students can play fun online games with the chance to win cool prizes.
• For Parents – articles and advice, at-home project ideas, a quiz corner and more.
• For Teachers – lesson plan ideas, project templates and educational articles, as well as award and quiz creators. Teachers also can sign up for Mead's partner in education program, Mead4Teachers, for the opportunity to receive free products for use in the classroom.
• For Home Managers - helpful hints and downloads to organize the desk and the home office, plus articles and advice.
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SCIENCE FAIR RESOURCE AND CONTEST
According to a rap song and animated video on the web site www.super-science-fair-projects.com:
It’s cool to study math and science
Cause they will prepare you for self reliance.
And even if you don’t win the Nobel Prize
The things you do will make you wise.
The web site routinely sponsors its own virtual science fair contests and serves as a 24/7 resource for students, teachers and parents. The site features:
* Over 600 free science fair projects and ideas
* A new search box to make finding subjects and supplies easy
* An explanation of all 6 steps of the scientific method
* Special information for home-schooling families
* Articles and pages especially for teachers
* Discounts for supplies
Contest Rules: For the latest contest, students can choose any subject that interests them; they may include a video with their project. The project must either (1) follow the 6-steps of the scientific method or (2) implement a “green” effort into their community. Everything but the entry form must be sent via email. To see the Science Fair Rap, directions and further details, go to www.super-science-fair-projects.com/science-fair-contest.html.
All entrants receive a specially designed certificate acknowledging their participation; they will also have their project featured on their own page on the web site. There are additional amazing prizes as well. The deadline is December 15, 2008.
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FLU DOCUMENTARY
A new, short documentary, "Why Flu Matters: Personal Stories of Families Who Lost Children to the Flu." has been created by the CDC together with Families Fighting Flu, Inc., and directed by Emmy award-winning Mustapha Khan, creator of "House on Fire" and Tommy Walker, award-winning producer and co-director of "God Grew Tired of Us: The Story of Lost Boys of Sudan."
The six minute film is part of an aggressive grassroots effort to educate parents on the dangers of influenza.
Flu takes a big toll on young children. Each year in the United States, an average of 20,000 children younger than 5 are hospitalized because of flu-related complications. As many as 1 in 5 children younger than 5 may have to see the doctor, visit the ER or other urgent care for treatment for flu. Tragically, around 100 children die from this serious disease each year. Vaccination is the best and most effective way to prevent and spread the disease, especially for children ages 6 months through 18 years.
The film has been made available online at http://www.youtube.com/cdcflu.
For more information about the flu and the influenza vaccine, please visit www.cdc.gov/flu. For more information on Families Fighting Flu, please visit www.familiesfightingflu.org.
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DRINK POUCH RECYCLING
Families are invited to send in empty Honest Kids pouches to be reused and remade into pencil pouches. The finished school supplies will be sold this fall in select Target, Walgreens and Office Max stores.
Honest Tea and Honest Kids are working toward a healthy environment by partnering with TerraCycle. As an eco-friendly innovator, TerraCycle is converting used Honest Kids drink pouches into unique pencil bags that will be sold in Office Max stores this fall. Not only will TerraCycle recycle the used pouches into environmentally friendly pencil bags, Honest Kids will donate $.02 per drink pouch and $.01 per drink pouch that is not Honest Kids brand to a charity of the donator's choice.
More information regarding TerraCycle can be found online at www.terracycle.net/dpb/dpb.htm.
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DESIGN YOUR LOOK SWEEPSTAKES
American Blinds, Wallpaper and More has launched a major sweepstakes on www.americanblinds.com. The Great American Design Your Look Sweepstakes awards monthly prizes and a grand prize at the end of the sweepstakes.
Each month one lucky winner wins a $500 American Blinds Gift Card. At the end of the six month period, one Grand Prize winner wins a $2,000 American Blinds Gift Card and up to $300 of window blind installation services!
The Grand Prize’s installation services will be provided by Nationwide Blind Installation, Inc., an independent window covering installation provider that works with American Blinds’ customers.
Enter online at www.americanblinds.com.
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WRITE THE BOOK ABOUT MRS. BUTTERSWORTH
To inspire that creativity in children, Mrs. Butterworth’s, in cooperation with Scholastic, is on the lookout for children ages 7-12, to tell their stories by entering the “Write the Book about Mrs. Butterworth” contest.
Entering is easy. Starting on May 31, 2008, children ages 7-12 can enter the contest by writing a 400 word story about their family breakfast traditions. Kids can include photos or illustrations in their book, as long as they aren’t personal photos or photos of the contestant or any identifiable person: all such photos will be discarded. In addition, kids can include recipes and cooking tips as well. The contest will be judged by an independent panel of experts including Scholastic education experts, executives, educators and children’s book authors. For information about the rules and contest submissions, visit www.mrsbutterworthsyrup.com/contest
Ten Finalists will be selected and each will receive $500 US Savings Bonds and a supply of Mrs. Butterworth’s Syrup. The grand prize winner will receive a $5,000 US Savings Bond have their book published by Mrs. Butterworth’s as well as see their book online at www.mrsbutterworthsyrup.com. They will also receive over $100 worth of Scholastic books. Entries can be submitted online at www.mrsbutterworthsyrup.com/contest or by mail to: “Write the Book about Mrs. Butterworth” c/o BHGPR, 546 Valley Road , Upper Montclair , NJ 07043 postmarked by December 1, 2008. Contest culminates December 1, 2008 and is open to kids ages 7-12 with parental consent.
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SYLVAN DELL PUBLISHING ANNOUNCES EDUCATIONAL RESOURCE GRANT
Children's book publisher Sylvan Dell is reaching out to schools and school districts nationwide with an unprecedented educational resource grant offer. The grant is for a free, one-year site license, providing unlimited access to all 35 Sylvan Dell eBooks, featuring flipviewer technology with selectable English and Spanish text and audio. The license can be used on all school computers and may be placed on secure school websites, enabling students and their families to log in and have access from their homes.
Grants will be awarded to one elementary school per district and are open to every district in the United States. To facilitate submission, individual schools may submit the grant application directly. When more than one school from a single district applies, Sylvan Dell will ask the district contact to make the selection.
An easy online grant application is available at www.SylvanDellPublishing.com/ResourceGrant.htm.
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NOT IN MY HOUSE
A recent national survey reported that one in five teenagers are now abusing a prescription medication to get high. More than half of teens who reported abusing prescription medications said they got the medications in their own home (15 percent) or from a parent or relative (11 percent) or friend (24 percent).
Not In My House is a new initiative from the Partnership for a Drug-Free America® and Abbott, urging parents to open their eyes to the dangers surrounding teen prescription drug misuse and abuse. At the heart of Not In My House is a new educational video appearing on www.NotInMyHouse.com that showcases real-life tips that parents can take to help secure their homes. It also offers insight on talking about the dangers of prescription drug misuse and details the teen drug culture and lingo.
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HEART HEALTH
Heart disease is the number one killer of women. In fact, heart disease kills eight times as many women as breast cancer. Maintaining a low cholesterol level and leading a healthy lifestyle are the first steps in preventing heart disease. Women in need are at even greater risk of heart disease, because they often do not have access to resources for proper preventative care.
To help provide free cholesterol screening for women in need and to raise awareness for heart disease, Cheerios and 8th Continent soymilk will donate up to $500,000 to WomenHeart, the nation’s only patient advocacy organization serving women with heart disease. Starting in January 2008, Cheerios will donate $1 to WomenHeart for every code entered at www.cheerioshelpinghearts.com by January 30, 2009. 8th Continent will donate $1 for every code entered at www.8thcontinent.com by December 31st, 2008. By entering codes to these sites, Americans can direct up to $300,000 towards cholesterol screenings. Codes will be featured inside specially marked boxes of Cheerios and on 8th Continent bottles.
Cheerios and 8th Continent will donate an additional $200,000 to help raise awareness and provide education about the risk of heart disease in women. This donation, combined with the donations based on code entries, brings the total potential donation to WomenHeart to a half million dollars. For more information on the Cheerios Circle of Helping Hearts program visit www.cheerioshelpinghearts.com. For more information about WomenHeart: the National Coalition for Women with Heart Disease, visit www.womenheart.org.
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LUXURY VACATION GIVEAWAY
Grand Velas All Suites & Spa Resort, the only AAA Five-Diamond Award winning all-inclusive family-friendly resort in North America , is running an online scavenger hunt where families that correctly answer a series of short questions will be entered in a drawing for one free stay for a family of four. The prize package includes three nights in a 1,000 sq. ft. ocean-view Governor suite, with private terrace; access to the Grand Kids’ club, where young travelers can participate in Huichol Indian crafts, interactive animal shows, cooking classes, and Spanish lessons; dining at five restaurants; 24-hour in-suite service; access to Grand Velas’ all-inclusive services and amenities, and all taxes and gratuities. Interested families should head to the web (http://tinyurl.com/grandvelas) to enter the Grand Velas Scavenger Hunt Sweepstakes. For more information, please visit http://www.vallarta.grandvelas.com.
Retail value of the prize is over $3,300 USD. The drawing will be made by February 15, 2008. Only one entry per family is accepted. Entries must be received by February 1, 2009, and travel must take place by March 1, 2010. The prize is non-transferable and cannot be redeemed for cash. Travel is based on availability; blackout dates and holidays apply. Airfare, transfers and spa services are additional. For a complete list of official rules, please visit http://tinyurl.com/grandvelas.
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"POPCORN ADVENTURES"
A Popcorn Adventure Is a free weekly email for parents from the folks at
www.kidsoffthecouch.com. It uses what kids love (movies, books, even You Tube links) to connect families to culture and the world. In October 2008, Kids Off The Couch will help their subscribers learn how use movies to engage kids in the voting process. For fall, Kids Off The Couch has slated "Legally Blonde" to educate kids about passing a bill, and "All the President's Men" to shed light on the power of the press. (During the primaries, they suggested screening "Mr. Smith Goes to Washington" for elementary schoolers and "Great Debaters" for middle schoolers and then taking kids to vote.) With creative Kids Off The Couch tie-ins like picture books on the voting process and I-Pod downloads, kids will be sure to put on their campaign buttons this fall.
In autumn, Kids Off The Couch also plans to run Back-To-School editions featuring family films that tie in to elementary school curriculum, like how to educate your kids about the Civil War or Ancient Egypt. It is amazing what you can teach kids without them even realizing that they are learning!
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LISTEN TO A LIFE
This annual contest is run by the Legacy Project at www.legacyproject.org, a national education initiative that offers parents and teachers ideas and activities for building closer relationships across generations.
To enter the Listen to a Life Essay Contest, young people 8-18 years interview a grandparent or grandfriend 50 years or older about the older person's hopes and goals through their life, how they achieved their goals and overcame obstacles, or how dreams may have changed along the way. The young person then writes a 300-word essay based on the interview.
The Grand Prize is a Lenovo ThinkCentre computer, and $800 in Orchard software and an iPod Classic with video from Orchard Software. The school of the winning young person also receives $25,000 of Orchard educational software. Twenty runner-up prizes include $400 of Orchard software and an iPod Shuffle from Orchard Software.
To read all the inspiring winning stories of previous participants in the contest and get free online Across Generations activity ideas, visit www.legacyproject.org.
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LIVING IN HD PROGRAM
Panasonic has created a program that studies how real American families experience what it really means to live in high definition. The Living in HD program has already provided thirty families with a full suite of HD products to experience everything from watching their favorite TV show, to capturing priceless family moments in high definition. Through this program, Panasonic has, and continues to gain feedback about product functionality, design concepts and how “living in High Definition” has influenced how consumers think and use technology. All families get to keep the products at the end of the study. Panasonic will handle shipment and installation of the HD products.
Panasonic is increasing the number of participating families to 60 by 2009 and further growing the Living in HD community to eventually include 100 families. The Living in HD program is open to families across the country. At www.livinginhd.com families can sign up and get more information about the study. The deadline for submitting an application is January 1, 2009.
