Hallmark and (RED)™ Announce Winner of National Greeting Card Competition
Winning card creation features sweater-wrapped globe
KANSAS CITY, Mo. (Jan. 15, 2009) — Hallmark Cards and (RED) today announce America voted Leah Seydel – an Iowa State University College of Design graduate – the best holiday (RED) card, beating 19 other finalists to be named the Grand Prize winner in the company’s national “yourHoliday” card competition.
This was the second (RED) card competition. Eight percent of net online sales of all (RED) cards go to the Global Fund to help eliminate AIDS in Africa.
Hallmark selected Seydel as one of 20 finalists in its national yourHoliday card competition in August. The competition encouraged consumers to submit designs appropriate for holiday sending and inspired by (RED). Seydel’s design, as well as those of other 19 finalists, was sold online at Hallmark.com/you as both folded cards and flat cards (traditional holiday photo-cards). Consumers were able to customize the cards by adding their own photographs and holiday messages, as well as vote for their favorite design. At the end of the voting period, online votes and sales votes (one vote per card sold) gave Seydel 13.3% of the votes, making her the winner.
Seydel’s card features a design of a warm sweater encompassing a globe. The cover says “Warm Holiday Wishes” and the inside reads, “Happy Holidays.”
“The card is a great visual depiction of sharing warmth and cheer, which people want to do during the holiday season,” notes winner Leah Seydel.
This was the second card competition in which a portion of the proceeds benefit the Global Fund. Eight percent of net sales online of these cards will go to the Global Fund.
Seydel will receive $1,000 cash, a trip to (RED)™ headquarters in New York and a matching donation will be made to the Global Fund in her name.
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 U.S. 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.
About (RED)™ and (PRODUCT) RED™
(RED)’s primary objective is to engage the private sector in raising awareness and funds for the Global Fund, to help eliminate AIDS in Africa. Companies whose products take on the (PRODUCT)RED mark contribute a significant percentage of the sales or portion of the profits from that product to the Global Fund to finance AIDS programs in Africa, with an emphasis on the health of women and children. Current partners are: American Express (U.K. only), Apple, Converse, Gap, Emporio Armani, Starbucks, Hallmark, Dell and Windows.
Since its launch in the spring of 2006, more than $120 million has been generated by (RED) partners and events for the Global Fund. (RED) money is already at work in Swaziland, Rwanda, Ghana and Lesotho. For more information, visit www.joinred.com.