American Greetings Properties Announces the Strawberry Shortcake™ Berry Biggest Talent Show Contest

NEW YORK, Nov. 8, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- To celebrate the debut of the newest Strawberry Shortcake character, singing superstar Cherry Jam, American Greetings Properties, the intellectual property and outbound licensing division of American Greetings Corporation (NYSE: AM), has announced the Strawberry Shortcake Berry Biggest Talent Show Contest. From October 24 through November 21, parents can submit a short video of their child showing off their dance moves for the chance to win a family vacation of a lifetime.

Families can submit entries to the "Strawberry Shortcake Berry Biggest Talent Show Sweepstakes" by uploading a short video of their child dancing to the Strawberry Shortcake's "Sunshine Girls" song at http://www.facebook.com/StrawberryShortcake. Entries will be judged on creativity, originality, strength, dance moves, body language, performance, and stage presence. To help inspire families, an instructional dance video to "Sunshine Girls" is available on the Official Strawberry Shortcake Facebook fan page.  

One berry lucky and talented winner will be selected by an esteemed panel of judges from the television and children's entertainment industry including Emmy Award-winning television personality and host Victoria Recano, former Nickelodeon casting agent Jill Greenberg Sands and American Greetings Properties President Jeffrey Conrad. The grand prize winner will be announced on December 9, 2011 and awarded a JetBlue vacation for a family of four (valued at $5,000) while three runner-up finalists determined by the judges will receive product prize bundles valued at $500 each.

"We're very excited for Cherry Jam's big debut in Berry Bitty City this season and we thought there would be no better way to celebrate than with a fun dance contest that families can do together," said Gabrielle Oliff, marketing director for American Greetings Properties. "We know  kids everywhere have always enjoyed dancing and singing along with Strawberry Shortcake and now they will have a chance to showcase their talents with friends and fans."

Season two of "Berry Bitty Adventures" began on The Hub on Saturday, November 5 and the world premiere of Cherry Jam's video, "Anything is Possible" will air on Saturday, November 19. Cherry Jam comes to Berry Bitty City because she has longed for a place to call home and she quickly discovers that Strawberry Shortcake and her berry best friends are just who she has been looking for all along. She also finds that Strawberry is the best friend she never imagined she would find--whether they are singing together or just hanging out, they are always in perfect harmony.

Strawberry Shortcake, who recently celebrated her 30th anniversary, debuted in 1980 as a line of social expressions products, as well as toys, videos, games, crafts and books.  The character quickly catapulted from being a little girl with a mop of red yarn curls into superstardom. Today, a whole new generation of young girls and their moms are rediscovering the berry wonderful world of Strawberry Shortcake!

About American Greetings Corporation

For more than 100 years, American Greetings Corporation (NYSE: AM) has been a creator and manufacturer of innovative social expression products that assist consumers in enhancing their relationships to create happiness, laughter and love.  The Company's major greeting card lines are American Greetings, Carlton Cards, Gibson, Recycled Paper Greetings and Papyrus, and other paper product offerings include DesignWare party goods and American Greetings and Plus Mark gift-wrap and boxed cards.  American Greetings also has one of the largest collections of electronic greetings on the Web, including cards available at AmericanGreetings.com through AG Interactive, Inc. (the Company's online division).  In addition to its product lines, American Greetings also creates and licenses popular character brands through the American Greetings Properties group.  Headquartered in Cleveland, Ohio, American Greetings generates annual revenue of approximately $1.6 billion, and its products can be found in retail outlets worldwide.   For more information on the Company, visit http://corporate.americangreetings.com.

About American Greetings Properties

American Greetings Properties (AGP) is a creator and producer of popular children's entertainment and the outbound licensing division of American Greetings Corporation. Nearly 40 years ago when American Greetings Properties introduced Holly Hobbie™, a licensing sensation ensued that revolutionized the licensing and consumer products industry. AGP then went on to create some of the most beloved evergreen brands in history. Since the successful re-launches of Strawberry Shortcake and Care Bears franchises which are televised in over 100 countries around the world, the brands have garnered over $6 billion in retail sales worldwide since 2002. AGP's portfolio includes Strawberry Shortcake, Twisted Whiskers, Maryoku Yummy and TinPo – all airing on The Hub Network – as well as other classic properties such as the Care Bears, Madballs and Holly Hobbie. Children can experience AGP online at www.agkidzone.com

SOURCE American Greetings Corporation