Protica Launches ProticaCares Sweet Treats Giveaway at Long Island Elementary School

WHITEHALL, Pa., April 12, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- Protica Inc. announced today it has established  the ProticaCares Sweet Treats Giveaway program, which will send a Carvel® Ice Cream cake and a variety of tasty, healthy treats to a different U.S. grade school or children's hospital unit every week for the next 75 years. The program has been initiated to help teach children the importance of balanced nutrition and the combination of healthy and sweet treats as part of a well-rounded diet and lifestyle.

(Photo:  http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20110412/PH81645-a )

(Photo:  http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20110412/PH81645-b )

The ProticaCares Sweet Treats Giveaway will be launched at the Brookside School in Baldwin, NY. Following the launch, Protica will select and deliver a similar "Sweet Treats" package to a deserving children's unit or school every week for the next 75 years. Parents, teachers, healthcare professionals and other adults can nominate a K-8 classroom or children's hospital unit by filling out the nomination form at www.ProticaCares.org. A recipient will be chosen each week by the ProticaCares Benefit Committee.

"2010 was a very good year for Protica, so I wanted to do something that speaks to the mission of the company – to enhance life through nutrition – and do it in a way that teaches our children about healthy diets and lifestyles. After placing the winning bid at a charity auction held by the Los Angeles Regional Foodbank for a 75^th Anniversary Carvel Black Card, we decided to make an ice cream cake giveaway the cornerstone of our new ProticaCares giving program. Our hope is that the program will provide an important teachable moment for kids as well as bring a smile to their faces," says Protica President Jim Duffy.

As part of the kick-off event for the program, Protica has invited Bill Kazmaier, three-time World's Strongest Man and kids' health advocate, to talk with kids about healthy eating and balanced diets. Kazmaier will also donate an original autograph collectible to each ProticaCares package. Dina Lohan will also be on hand to talk about healthy eating.

Continues Duffy, "The mission of ProticaCares is to create smiles and promote healthy eating habits for kids. It is our hope that the Sweet Treats Giveaway will allow kids from all walks of life across the country to have their cake and good nutrition, too."

About the Carvel 75^th Anniversary Black Card and Protica

To commemorate its 75th anniversary, Carvel Ice Cream issued "Black Cards" to 75 celebrities. The card entitles each celebrity to $25 worth of Carvel Ice Cream products every week for the next 75 years. Actor and comedian Patton Oswalt ('King of Queens', 'Ratatouille') received permission from Carvel to donate his card to The Comedy Death Ray 9th Annual Xmas Nativity Pageant Charity Auction. All proceeds benefitted the Los Angeles Regional Foodbank.

As a thank you to Patton Oswalt, Duffy has produced a Carvel Black Card video of his own. To see the video – with cameo performances by Dina Lohan and Bill Kazmaier – visit www.ProticaCares.com

After entering the winning bid for Mr. Oswalt's Carvel Black Card, Jim Duffy, President of Protica, chose to use the card as the centerpiece of a new giving campaign for children. From this beginning, the ProticaCares Sweet Treats Giveaway was born.

For more information about the ProticaCares program, please visit http://www.proticacares.org.

About Carvel Ice Cream

The United States' first retail ice cream franchise, Carvel Ice Cream has become one of the best-loved and most recognized names in its industry. The company is a leading provider of premium soft serve and hand dipped ice cream products, as well as the leading manufacturer of uniquely shaped ice cream cakes, including its signature Fudgie the Whale and Cookie Puss cakes. Carvel currently operates over 500 franchised and food service locations, and sells its famous ice cream cakes in over 10,000 supermarket outlets. The company is based in Atlanta, with its supermarket headquarters in New Britain, CT. For more information, visit www.carvel.com.

About Los Angeles Regional Foodbank

The Los Angeles Regional Foodbank is a non-profit, charitable organization established in 1973 and is one of the largest food banks in the United States. Through a network of 580 charitable agencies providing service from over 1,000 agency sites, the Foodbank supplies enough food for 800,000 meals each week throughout Los Angeles County. The Foodbank is a partner with Feeding America. For more information, visit www.lafoodbank.org.

About Protica

Founded in 2001, Protica Inc. is a research-based nutraceutical firm headquartered in Whitehall, Pennsylvania. In its privately owned 250,000 square foot facility, Protica manufactures capsulized foods, such as Profect®, IsoMetric®, Fruitasia®, Protein Gem®, Protein Twist®, Pediagro® and Proasis®, in ready-to-drink form. To learn more about Protica please visit www.protica.com.

About Patton Oswalt

After writing for MADtv and starring in his own 1996 comedy special for HBO, Patton Oswalt went on to garner notable roles in films and television shows. His most prominent and long-running role was as Spence Olchin on The King of Queens. His first starring film role was as the voice of Remy, the lead character in the 2007 Pixar film Ratatouille.

About Dina Lohan

Dina Lohan is a television and entertainment personality, as well a mom of four. She is the mother of Lindsay, Michael, Aliana and Cody. Dina co-starred with her children in the reality television series Living Lohan. She is the head of her own management company, and she is currently producing a movie on Long Island called Growing Defiant.

About Bill Kazmaier

Bill Kazmaier is the former reigning World's Strongest Man from 1980, 1981 and 1982. After retiring from powerlifting, Bill began a lifelong mission to educate children about healthy eating. Bill frequently speaks to young audiences at schools and other venues throughout country. Bill is also a regular commentator on ESPN for World's Strongest Man broadcasts.

About Comedy Death-Ray

"The world's best comedy night!" Comedy Death-Ray originated in 2002 and is the brainchild of performers / creators Scott Aukerman & BJ Porter (Mr. Show). It's a unique mix of stand-up comedy, characters & sketch that brought a sense of fun back to Los Angeles' alternative comedy scene. CDR is the place to see today's comedy greats (Bob Odenkirk, Patton Oswalt, David Cross, Louis CK, etc.) and tomorrow's innovators play in an ever-changing "anything can happen" environment!

SOURCE Protica Inc.