National Peanut Board Awards Big Prizes in Its Peanuts: Energize Your World Sweepstakes

ATLANTA, Sept. 17, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- Nicholas Disanto of Florida is the grand prize winner of a fuel-efficient 2012 Ford Focus in the Peanuts: Energize Your World sweepstakes of the National Peanut Board.  Also named as a top prize winner is Kathleen Pagac, whose family will receive a trip to Six Flags Over Georgia, $500 and plenty of long-lasting memories. 

(Photo: http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20120917/CL75446 )

Of the more than 1.3 million entries from across the nation, Disanto and Pagac were the lucky winners to take home the big prizes. Dozens of other winners also received 'instant prizes' that ranged from mp3 players and t-shirts to products provided by the program co-presenters Hampton Farms (in-shell peanuts), Planters (snack peanuts) and Peanut Butter & Co. (peanut butter).

"We designed this sweepstakes to educate and remind Americans that peanuts have more energy boosting protein than any nut, and more than 30 nutrients and phytonutrients," explained Raffaela Marie Fenn, president and managing director of the National Peanut Board.  "We had high expectations, but never did we imagine that we'd receive 1.3 million entries.  We hit on the right combination of a much loved product and great partners."

In need of a car, Disanto, 55, had been considering the Ford Focus and admired the car's features, particularly its gas mileage.  "The biggest perk was the fuel because I travel more than 50 miles to work and it was an important consideration for me," said Disanto, who lives in Boca Raton, Fla. but commutes to Miami.  He enjoys entering sweepstakes, but this is the biggest prize he's taken home.  He's also a big peanut butter fan.  "I put it on everything – crackers, smoothies. I eat a lot of peanut butter," he added.

Pagac, also 55,  of Waterford, Mich. entered the contest online and was excited to learn she won the Six Flags family vacation.  "The trip will give my family an opportunity to take a much-needed extended family trip."  Pagac could choose any Six Flags theme park in the U.S. and she settled on Atlanta's Six Flags Over Georgia.

The message behind the energizing power of peanuts truly resonated with the thousands of consumers that were able to register in person at New York's Grand Central Terminal and the Six Flags theme parks in Atlanta, Dallas and Los Angeles. They also enjoyed the peanut and peanut butter samples, many raving about the delicious of peanuts and the energy boost that comes with them. 

The National Peanut Board represents all USA peanut farmers and their families. Through research and marketing initiatives the Board is finding new ways to enhance production and increase consumer demand by promoting the great taste, nutrition and culinary versatility of USA-grown peanuts. For more information, visit www.nationalpeanutboard.org.

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SOURCE National Peanut Board