Advertisement
(Photo: http://www.ereleases.com/pr/2008-Hallmark.jpg)
Hallmark selected Ringling School of Art and Design student Erin McGuire'sdesign as one of 9 finalists in its national (PRODUCT) RED(TM) cardcompetition in December. Then, McGuire's design was made into a real Hallmarkgreeting card currently being sold online, with a portion of its salesbenefiting the Global Fund (http://www.theglobalfund.org) to help eliminateAIDS in Africa.
Advertisement
For years Hallmark consumers like McGuire have been clamoring to submittheir own greeting card designs to the company. The result is the launch ofthe first in a series of themed card competitions -- a competition inspired byHallmark's partnership with (RED)(TM). Online voters chose McGuire as theGrand Prize winner. In total, more than 75,000 votes were collected. Floridastudent McGuire -- originally from Port Richey, Fla. -- earned 34 percent ofthose votes.
McGuire's design features a girl handing a card to a bird to enable thecard's delivery. The colorful, whimsical design garnered more attention thanshe suspected.
"I was really overwhelmed by how far-reaching this competition was. PeopleI barely knew were letting me know they voted for me," says McGuire. "Ireturned to school from winter break the last week of voting, and the Ringlingcommunity really came together to support my work and help me win Hallmark'scard competition."
"Hallmark consumers are continually approaching us with incredible ideasfor greeting cards, and we love that passion," said Lindsey Roy, seniorproduct manager at Hallmark. "As a company built on creative expression, wewanted to see what might happen if we invited our fans to create whatever's intheir hearts. They didn't disappoint. It's been inspiring to see the unique,amazing ways Erin and the other entrants interpreted the theme."
McGuire entered the contest by logging on to http://www.Hallmark.com/youand shared her card design inspired by the theme of connecting and (PRODUCT)RED. Entrants were then judged -- based on representing the theme, creativityand ability to be sent for multiple occasions -- by representatives fromHallmark and (RED)(TM). The 10 finalists' designs were posted onhttp://www.Hallmark.com/you where consumers were encouraged to vote for theirfavorite design through Jan. 10, 2008.
Meet the other finalists
While McGuire's design was voted by consumers as best design in thecountry, she faced stiff competition from other creative consumers. Meet theother nine finalists, hailing from a variety of locales:
The 10 finalists received $250, with Hallmark matching that amount in acontribution to the Global Fund. Their designs also were made into actualHallmark cards currently for sale on http://www.Hallmark.com/you through theend of February. McGuire's card will be sold on http://www.Hallmark.com/youthrough the end of the year. Just like the entire Hallmark (PRODUCT) REDcollection, 8 percent of net wholesale sales of these cards will go to theGlobal Fund. As the Grand Prize winner, Erin received an additional $2,250,with Hallmark matching it in a contribution to the Global Fund.
"This first-of-its-kind creative endeavor is a perfect example of why weare thrilled to have Hallmark as a (RED) partner," said Susan Smith Ellis,chief executive officer, (RED). "With this competition, Erin and other (RED)fans everywhere were given the opportunity to put their inspired designs towork to put a smile on a friend's face -- and help people living with AIDS inAfrica at the same time. Beyond buying Hallmark (PRODUCT) RED, this is greatway for the (RED) community to get involv
