Hallmark Announces Card Creation Contest for Mother’s and Father’s Day
Consumers can submit their photos and ideas for the company’s latest greeting card competition
KANSAS CITY, Mo. (Nov. 18, 2008) — Hallmark today announces the latest card creation contest, “yourParenthood.” Consumers are invited to submit their best kid photos with a message to make a mom or dad smile on their special day.
The competition is Hallmark’s fifth, but the first featuring kid photos. Consumers can submit a photo through the website at www.hallmarkcontests.com now through Dec. 7. Hallmark creative staff members and two celebrity judges — Author Robert Wilder and Comedian Anita Renfroe — will judge submissions. The competition will result in 16 Mother’s Day and 12 Father’s Day cards to be sold in 2009.
“We are excited to see cute kid photos start pouring into www.hallmarkcontests.com,” notes Hallmark editorial director Sarah Mueller. “We’ve given them quite a writing challenge. The card has to work for any parent and be sent by anybody, not just their kids. But we know our contestants are up to it.”
Hallmark will reveal 16 finalists in the Mother’s Day competition beginning Jan. 12 and 12 finalists in the Father’s Day competition beginning Feb. 3. Each of the 28 finalists will receive $250 cash and a $250 donation to a charity of their choice.
Beginning April 6, America will vote online for the best of the Mother’s Day finalists. The Father’s Day finalist voting will begin May 11. Each card purchased will also count as a vote.
The Mother’s Day finalist with the most votes by May 18 and the Father’s Day finalist with the most votes by June 29 will each receive $2,500 cash.
Finalists will be selected based on the following criteria:
• Sendability: how easily the card can be sent to a variety of moms and dads.
• Authenticity: how well the card expresses the real experience of parenting.
• Cohesiveness: how well the photo and sentiment go together.
About Hallmark Cards, Inc.
Kansas City-based Hallmark has been helping people communicate, celebrate and connect for nearly 100 years. Hallmark greeting cards and other products can be found in more than 43,000 places in the United States alone, with the network of Hallmark Gold Crown® stores providing the very best selection. The Hallmark brand also reaches consumers online at Hallmark.com, on newsstands through Hallmark Magazine, and on television through Hallmark Hall of Fame original movies and the top-rated Hallmark Channel. In addition, Hallmark publishes products in more than 30 languages and distributes them in 100 countries across the globe. The company’s Crayola® subsidiary provides fun and imaginative ways for children to colorfully express themselves. In 2007, privately held Hallmark reported consolidated net revenues of $4.4 billion. Charitable giving of $16 million a year focuses on the well-being of children and families, vibrant arts and cultural experiences, and basic services for people in need in the communities where Hallmark operates. For more information about the company, visit http://corporate.hallmark.com.