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 New Rochelle, NY - Hallmark recently announced 67 finalists in the company’s latest greeting card competition, including Cindy Tangorra from New Rochelle, New York.
“YourPets,” a nationwide search for America’s funniest pet card concepts, provides Tangorra and the other 66 finalists with the chance to see their pets front and center on a Hallmark card to be sold online and in more than 13,000 retail outlets beginning June 16.
“YourPets” is the second contest in the new, ongoing card competition Hallmark launched last fall. Pet owners were encouraged to submit their funniest, most endearing, cutest, silliest, or most creative pet photos, along with a corresponding “birthday” sentiment for a chance to win.
“For years, Hallmark consumers have approached us with incredible ideas for greeting cards,” said Ingerlene Embry, editorial director at Hallmark. “We want to encourage that passion. People love to create and get great joy out of doing so. As a company built on creativity, communicating and connecting, we understand that. So with these competitions our goal is to provide creative people like Cindy with that opportunity and the chance to have fun at the same time.”
Of the more than 7,000 entries submitted in “YourPets,” the overwhelming majority were pictures of our loving and faithful companions: dogs and cats. Other animals included bunnies, turtles, horses, pigs, hamsters, guinea pigs, birds, and yes, even chinchillas. And the pet owners were just as diverse as the animals, ranging in age from 15 to 93 and hailing from all 50 states and Washington, D.C.
Tangorra’s winning photo card features her cat, Cassidy. Appropriately titled “Laughing Kitty,” the photo depicts the orange tabby with his mouth wide-open and is accompanied by the caption: “You crack me up!”
The entries were judged by both Hallmark creative staff and experts within the pet community. Outside pet expert judges included Dr. Wayne Hunthausen, a veterinarian and pet behavior specialist, and Brian Bengelsdorf, the Art Director of Dog Fancy magazine.
The finalists were selected based on:
• Sendability (how easily the card can be sent to multiple people)
• Theme (how well it fits the funny pet birthday photo theme)
• Humor/cohesiveness of caption (how well the photo and writing go together)
Meet the finalists and vote for the best pet card!
Tangorra and the 66 finalists will receive $250. In addition, each of their card designs will be produced by Hallmark and sold online and in more than 13,000 participating retail outlets beginning June 16, 2008.
Through an open online voting process, America will choose the winning design. One Grand Prize winner will be selected whose card will be available for sale at http://www.Hallmark.com/you for at least a year and may become part of another card collection. The Grand Prize also includes a $1,000 cash prize and trip to Hallmark (with the award-winning pet!) for a professional photo shoot and workshop with Hallmark’s creative team. Westchester residents can rally behind Tangorra and vote (once a day) starting now through Sept. 14, 2008, by logging on to: http://www.hallmarkcontestscom/vote
New Mini-Contest Runs through April 20
Hallmark has also added new monthly contests to supplement the grand prize competition. This month’s contest theme is: “Which card maker looks most like their pet(s)?” The winner receives an additional $250 and $250 to donate to a local pet charity. Tangorra’s local charity of choice is the New Rochelle Humane Society.
“I adopted my first cat from the New Rochelle Humane Society,” said Cindy Tangorra. “This mini-contest gives me an opportunity to give back to the shelter that provided me with my first pet. As a local animal shelter in my hometown, I think the New Rochelle Humane Society deserves this funding, which will help it continue to do important work in this community.”
Local residents can vote for Tangorra’s card in the mini-contest (which will also benefit the New Rochelle Humane Society) by visiting: http://www.hallmarkcontests.com/mini_contest/
About Hallmark Cards, Inc.
Kansas City-based Hallmark is known throughout the world for its greeting cards, related personal expression products, and television’s most honored and enduring dramatic series, the Hallmark Hall of Fame. The company’s Crayola® subsidiary provides fun and imaginative ways for children to colorfully express themselves. The company publishes products in more than 30 languages and distributes them in more than 100 countries. In 2006, Hallmark reported consolidated net revenues of $4.1 billion.
Meet the 67 YourPets finalists, who hailed from 30 states…
ALASKA
Angie Orr Rogers AK
ALABAMA
Joy Daly Florence AL
ARKANSAS
Cara Mohundro Greenwood AR
CALIFORNIA
Chris Davidson Carlsbad CA
Karean Chapman Laguna Niguel CA
Kathy Schuerman Long Beach CA
Victoria Bollinger Carmichael CA
COLORADO
Katy Kobs Arvada CO
Meghan Bardwell Thornton CO
CONNECTICUT
Sandra Boucher Moosup CT
DELAWARE
Gary Pinder Wilmington DE
Tori Carter New Castle DE
FLORIDA
Pati Twardosky Brooksville FL
Nichole Kelly Leesburg FL
Susana Rodriguez Miami FL
Susan Rodnite Tampa FL
Aj Stratemeyer Clearwater FL
Barbara McCormick Trinity FL
Elizabeth Shedlock Clearwater FL
GEORGIA
Linda Clement Morganton GA
Christine Stranz Morrow GA
ILLINOIS
Ross Bunton Bonnie IL
INDIANA
Ashley Howe Lawrenceburg IN
KANSAS
Dustin Weant Overland Park KS
Kristen Ball Mission KS
LOUISIANA
Susan McCoy Barksdale LA
MARYLAND
Christie Rackley Perry Hall MD
MICHIGAN
Joan Held Grand Haven MI
Andrea Boverhof Grand Rapids MI
MINNESOTA
Christina Cotter New Brighton MN
MISSOURI
Becky Anders Springfield MO
Lisa Kennedy Columbia MO
NORTH CAROLINA
Beth Knight Huntersville NC
NEW JERSEY
Melissa Wolff Medford NJ
Judith Hasson Egg Harbor Twnsp NJ
Janice Berryman Bloomingdale NJ
NEW YORK
Christopher Fatchett Astoria NY
Amanda Dunbar New York NY
Cindy Tangorra New Rochelle NY
OHIO
Amy Parrish Westerville OH
Lori Groger Perrysburg OH
Alison Baker Columbus OH
OKLAHOMA
Marcie Price Chickasha OK
Bonnie Marr Edmond OK
Julie Beierschmitt Enid OK
OREGON
Dawn Beaudreau Beaverton OR
PENNSYLVANIA
Nancy Maggitti Wayne PA
Brandy Benitt Aliquippa PA
Stephanie Campana Butler PA
Ginny Carter Pittsburgh PA
Michelle Trout Greensburg PA
SOUTH CAROLINA
Tracy Outlaw Pendleton SC
TENNESSEE
Jeanne Sharp Knoxville TN
Deana Tackett Nashville TN
TEXAS
Elizabeth Siegert Flower Mound TX
Jai Leigh Addison Austin TX
Meredith Budwin Austin TX
Todd Hubbard Pearland TX
Debbie Calianno Allen TX
Dustin Miller Dallas TX
Georgianna Harrison Greenville TX
Carol Pohlman Plano TX
VIRGINA
Jill Williams Lynchburg VA
Shari Bolouri Great Falls VA
WASHINGTON
Chrissy Wilson Bellevue WA
WISCONSIN
Melissa Diedrich Appleton WI
Kelly Lang Jackson WI
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