ENTERTAINMENT
20th Century Fox; Jeffrey Godsick, President, Consumer Products; 10201 W. Pico Blvd., Bldg. 88, #328, Los Angeles, CA 90035; 310-369-0751; jeffrey.godsick@fox.com; www.fox.com
The film studio aligns with Toys R Us to support the July 13 release of Ice Age 4: Continental Drift. Specially designed Ice Age in-store boutiques feature exclusive toys from Just Play and The Promotions Factory. Just Play’s offerings include plush and novelty toys. The Promotions Factory features playsets and figurines. Cardinal Games is introducing an exclusive Memory Match game, an Ice Fishing game, and several themed puzzles. Accessory Innovations is introducing a line of Scrat-branded backpacks and lunch bags. Ice Age merchandise program is also available online at ToysRUs.com and internationally, with programs tailored to individual territories. (Toys R Us, Lisa Harnisch, SVP, General Merchandising Manager, One Geoffrey Way, Wayne, NJ 07470; 973-617-5791; harnischl@toysrus.com; www.toysrus.com. Just Play, Geoffrey Greenberg, Founder, 401 Fairway Dr., Deerfield Beach, FL 33441; 561-988-2323; www.justplayproducts.com. The Promotions Factory, Rob Hilton, Creative Director, 75 High St., Prahran, Australia 03181; 61-3-9520-1111; rhilton@tpf.com.au; www.tpf.com.au. Cardinal Industries, Joel Berger, President, 21-01 51st Ave., Long Island City, NY 11101; 718-784-3000; joelb@cardinalgames.com; www.cardinalgames.com. Accessory Innovations, Karyn Weiss, VP Licensing, 139 E. 35th St., #4A, New York, NY 10016; 212-842-3102; kweiss@accessory-innovations.com; www.accessorynetwork.com)
20th Century Fox; Mary Daily, President, CMO Worldwide Marketing, Home Entertainment; 2121 Avenue of the Stars, #1110, Los Angeles, CA 90067; 310-369-3249; mary.daily@fox.com; www.fox.com
The film studio teams with the non-profit National Children’s Oral Health Foundation to support the direct-to-DVD release of Tooth Fairy 2 (out March 6). The “America’s ToothFairy” initiative includes a PSA featuring the movie’s star Larry the Cable Guy to teach at-risk children about the importance of oral health. Kids are also invited to join the America’s ToothFairy kids club at www.americastoothfairy.com; members receive a “personalized letter from the tooth fairy” as well as quarterly activities to encourage good oral health. (National Children’s Oral Health Foundation, Jill Malmgren, 4108 Park Rd., Charlotte, NC 28209; 704-350-1600, x105, jmalgren@ncohf.org; www.americastoothfairy.org)
PBS Kids; Lesli Rotenberg, SVP Children’s Media; 2100 Crystal Dr., Arlington, VA 22202; 703-739-5032; lrotenberg@pbs.org; www.pbs.org
The children’s network teams with the trade group National Recreation and Park Association (NRPA) for the “Explore The Outdoors” initiative. PBS is running on-air programming and online content encouraging kids to explore nature and play outdoors. NRPA members, which include city parks and recreation centers, are hosting events featuring educational activities designed by PBS Kids. Examples include measuring wind gusts and nature treasure hunts. Local event information is accessible at PBSParents.org/outdoors. (National Recreation and Park Association, Barbara Tulipane, President/CEO, 22377 Belmont Ridge Rd., Ashburn, VA 20148; 800-626-6772; btulipane@nrpa.org; www.nrpa.org)
TeenNick; Anne Mullen, On-Air Creative Strategy & Brand Communications; 1515 Broadway, New York, NY 10036; 212-846-8000; anne.mullen@nick.com; www.teennick.com
Nickelodeon embarks on the Big Time Summer Tour to promote its teen franchise Big Time Rush. The reality series follows four teen boys who are singers; songs featured on the show are produced and released through an alliance with Columbia Records.. The tour travels to select cities in Canada and the U.S. through August 3. Columbia Recording artists Cody Simpson and Rachel Crow will open for Big Time Rush on select dates. American Express and Citi Bank cardholders have the opportunity to purchase presale tickets, and VIP Nation is offering VIP packages that include meet-and-greets, photo opportunities, and premium seats. The BigTimeTour.com website features additional tour information, video posts, and the ability to purchase Big Time Rush merchandise. (Columbia Records, Steve Barnett, Co-Chair, 550 Madison Ave., New York, NY 10022; 212-833-5335; steve.barnett@sonymusic.com; www.columbiarecords.com)
NON-PROFIT
Common Vision; Megan Watson, Project Director; PO Box 480, Ukiah, CA 95482; 707-843-1617; megan@commonvision.org; megan@commonvision.org; www.commonvision.org
The non-profit theater troop produces the “Fruit Tree Tour,” an annual tour that transforms schoolyards into tree orchards. The program makes one-day visits to California public schools in February and March and features entertainers and musicians who use music and arts to teach students about tree care, teamwork, health, and wellness. A similar event during the school tour teams with the National Park Service’s Rails to Trails program to turn an overgrown rail yard at Rosie the Riveter Memorial Park into an edible food trail. Sponsors of this year’s effort included Kashi, Organic Valley, Netafim, and Nutiva. The troop has planted more than 5,000 fruit trees at 180 school orchards in nine years. The group won an Emmy Award for the PBS documentary tracking previous Fruit Tree tours.
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