‘By Kids For Kids Announces ‘INVENTION DIMENSION’
America’s youth set to invent next toy craze
‘By Kids For Kids Announces ‘INVENTION
DIMENSION’
America’s youth set to invent next toy craze
Stamford, CT – October 1, 2009—Did you know JENGA®
was invented by a 17-year-old British girl? Or that the trampoline was invented
by a teenager? Young people have been responsible for some of the most
astonishingly successful and useful inventions. To unleash innovative ideas for
new toys, games and sporting goods, By Kids for Kids (BKFK), in collaboration
with sponsors Toys“R”Us, The World’s Greatest Toy Store®, and leading U.S.
toymaker JAKKS Pacific, today announced ‘INVENTION DIMENSION,’ a new competition
that honors this rich history of inventiveness in young people.
Open to all American youth ages of 6 through 19, young inventors are encouraged
to submit their own concepts for future toys, indoor and outdoor games, board
games and sporting equipment. One National Grand Prize winner will receive a
JAKKS Pacific Prize Pack valued at $1,000 and a trip to JAKKS Pacific
headquarters in Malibu, California for an opportunity to pitch his/her invention
to JAKKS’ development team. Further, a special celebration event will be held at
the Toys“R”Us international flagship store in Times Square, New York City where
a $1,000 gift card for a toy lover’s shopping spree will be awarded to the
winner.
Youth contestants in all 50 States and the District of Columbia and possessions
are eligible to participate. No purchase is necessary and all entries must be
received online at www.bkfk.com beginning October 1, 2009, noon EST through
January 29, 2010, noon EST. More than one toy concept can be submitted and up to
three media uploads are allowed in support of each. Additionally, entrants must
answer seven questions about the invention through the online entry form to make
the entry official.
Four criteria will be used to evaluate each entry and choose the top five
finalists - 1.) Originality of concept, 2.) Development and description of idea
3) Marketability and 4.) Potential for commercialization. Expert judges from the
Toy Industry, combined with the results of an online vote that will give friends
and family an opportunity to support their favorites, will determine one Grand
Prize winner.
To spark creativity and inventive thinking, special educational materials have
been custom-created for America’s teachers in support of ‘Invention Dimension’
and are available free for download at
www.bkfk.com/teachers.
The Grand Prize winner will be given the opportunity to name the teacher or
mentor who was most inspirational in their invention process. That
teacher/mentor will receive $500 worth of JAKKS Pacific School/Classroom
supplies.
“We are excited to sponsor the ‘Invention Dimension’ challenge and to encourage
young people to be innovative and to push the boundaries of their imagination,”
said Stephen Berman, President and Co-CEO, JAKKS Pacific. “We are looking
forward to bright ideas and discovering the young toymakers of tomorrow.”
“We’ve seen many times the amazing self-esteem elevation and creative results of
youth who apply themselves to invention challenges,” says Norman Goldstein, the
founder and CEO of By Kids for Kids “All kids who engage in ‘Invention
Dimension’ are winners and will benefit through the process of unleashing their
creativity. We appreciate the support of Toys“R”Us and JAKKS Pacific, and
together look forward to this competitive joust for emerging new product ideas.”
Official rules for the ‘Invention Dimension’ challenge are available at
www.bkfk.com.
Notes to Editors
About By Kids for Kids Co.
By Kids for Kids® (BKFK®) is a platform that empowers youth invention,
innovation and entrepreneurship. BKFK promotes youth social innovation and
partners with leading corporations to inspire product development, crucial
technology skills, invention, and innovation in young people from 8 to 22. BKFK
provides a unique platform for young people to develop, showcase, and
commercialize their products, inventions and entrepreneurship. BKFK’s ‘cycle of
innovation’ develops critical 21st century skills in our nation’s youth. The
company provides educational resources- curriculum and challenges that promote
social change, product development and entrepreneurial endeavors. Learn more:
www.bkfk.com
About Jakks Pacific
JAKKS Pacific, Inc. (NASDAQ: JAKK) is a leading designer and marketer of toys
and consumer products, with a wide range of products that feature some of the
most popular children's toy licenses in the world. JAKKS’ diverse portfolio
includes Action Figures, Art Activity Kits, Stationery, Writing Instruments,
Performance Kites, Water Toys, Sports Activity Toys, Vehicles,
Infant/Pre-School, Plush, Construction Toys, Electronics, Dolls, Dress-Up, Role
Play, and Pet Toys and Accessories, sold under various proprietary brands
including JAKKS Pacific®, Play Along®, Flying Colors®, Creative Designs
International™, Road Champs®, Child Guidance®, Pentech®, Funnoodle®, Go Fly a
Kite®, Color Workshop®, JAKKS Pets®, EyeClops®, Plug It In & Play TV Games™,
Girl Gourmet®, Kids Only®, Tollytots® and Disguise. JAKKS is an award-winning
licensee of several hundred nationally and internationally known trademarks
including Disney®, Nickelodeon®, Warner Bros.®, World Wrestling Entertainment®,
Ultimate Fighting Championship®, Graco® and Cabbage Patch Kids. JAKKS and THQ
Inc. participate in a joint venture that has worldwide rights to publish and
market World Wrestling Entertainment video games. For further information, visit
www.jakks.com.
# # #
Press contacts:
BKFK
John Forrester
(323) 702-3684
media@bkfk.com
JAKKS Pacific, Inc.
Anne-Marie Feliciano
(310) 455-6245
anne-marief@jakks.net