May 21, 2013

Monkeez Makes a Difference Awards Third Donation to Charity Partners, Receives National Parenting Honor

Monkeez Makes a Difference, the educational, charitable program for children from MVP Brands, announces it has presented its third round of donations of nearly $15,000 to its three nationally renowned charity partners including Alex’s Lemonade Stand Foundation, Samaritan’s Purse and Best Friends Animal Society. Donations are awarded to the three charity partners each quarter based on children across the country who select one of three charities to direct 10 percent of the wholesale cost of each product through the first‐of‐its‐kind program that teaches the importance of philanthropy. Thanks to the support of the program by independent retailers, children and families across the country, Monkeez Makes a Difference has donated a total of more than $82,000 to the three charities since the website launched in October 2012.

Monkeez Makes a Difference has also been awarded The National Parenting Center’s Spring 2013 Seal of Approval. The prestigious program features an independent testing procedure involving a multi‐step process conducted over an eight‐week period where testers are encouraged to play with, build, read about, and judge by the reactions of the children, each productʹs quality. Participants fill out questionnaires for each product they test, evaluating level of desirability, sturdiness, interactive stimulation and other ingredients essential in the make‐up of a quality product. Test results are based on both statistical averaging and comments received from the parent/testers.

The Monkeez Makes a Difference review states: “The sock monkeys of our grandparentʹs youth have been brought back, given a makeover with new colors and designs and they are as endearing as ever. But MVP Brands had much more than just a stuffed toy in mind when they reintroduced the genre. Monkeez is more like a mascot for character building.”

It continues with a review of the Monkeez Makes a Difference Do Good trading cards which contain challenges that consist of simple, but meaningful, tasks. “The lessons are about being a good citizen, being safe, conserving resources and so much more. The tasks are easy enough for a 4 year old to complete yet significant enough that a 10 year old can feel good about making a  real difference. Parents liked how the cards served to open up lines of communication about being responsible and doing the right thing.”

To read the complete TNPC review of Monkeez Makes a Difference, visit http://www.tnpc.com/search/tnpcarticle2.asp?rec=7982.

Monkeez Makes a Difference is an innovative and interactive program that teaches children the importance of helping others through kid‐friendly tools including the popular Genuine Monkeez and FriendsTM plush characters, online games and real‐life Do Good challenge trading cards all available to independent toy and gift retailers. A special donation of 10 percent of the wholesale price is made on the child’s behalf to one of the three charities of his or her choice.

“We thank our independent retail customers and parents, grandparents and educators for their amazing support of the program,” says Chrysti Carol Propes, founder and director of Monkeez Makes a Difference. “We’re hearing from customers about their outstanding success with the program, and look forward to continuing to partner with them not only with fun Monkeez characters for their customers, but even more importantly, to instill in children life‐long lessons of philanthropy. Together, we can empower the next generation to make the world a better place.”

The full line of more than 100 Monkeez Makes a Difference characters and Do Good cards are available for immediate shipping. For more information or to order, visit www.mvpbrands.com.

About Monkeez Makes a Difference
Monkeez Makes a Difference is an MVP Brands company. The first‐of‐its‐kind educational, philanthropic program is designed to empower children to think of others and make a difference at home, in their school and community, and in the world. For more information or to order, visit www.mvpbrands.com. MVP Brands is the parent division of Colonial CandleTM premium home fragrance products and Everybody’s AyurvedaTM natural and Ayurvedic® products.