Teen Superstar Ariana Grande And Sharpie Fans Say "Hello" To One Direction And "Thank You" To Charitable Teen

OAK BROOK, Ill., Nov. 19, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- Sharpie® delivered a giant fan "hello" to One Direction along with a big heartfelt "thank you" to a special New Jersey teen during an event yesterday to officially welcome One Direction to their upcoming US Tour. 

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Sharpie, a sponsor of the first leg of the 1D tour, invited a select group of teens to offer up a giant-sized hello to the global music superstars.  Fans packed an event in midtown Manhattan to deliver a one-of-a-kind hello to Harry, Liam, Louis, Niall and Zayn.  They created posters, signed welcome walls, and offered video-captured hellos to be delivered to the boys later in a hello fan video mash-up.

Teen superstar Ariana Grande, a 1D fan herself, was also on hand to help fans create bold posters that would catch the boys' attention. In addition, she helped navigate the pandemonium that ensued when three lucky fans drew a "golden Sharpie" from a giant bin of personalized One Direction Sharpie markers to uncap tickets to 1D's sold-out Madison Square Garden show. "The event was absolutely incredible," Grande said.  "I've never seen anything like it.  I know the guys will love this outpouring of love and all these amazing fan hellos."

Hello 1D, Thank You Katelyn
The 1D fan frenzy was nothing compared to when 16-year-old Katelyn Darrow-Eystad received a standing ovation for her Hurricane Sandy relief efforts. Through the charity she founded, Angels Clothing Closet, Darrow-Eystad has delivered clothing, toiletries, school supplies and more to hundreds of families impacted by Sandy.  For her efforts, Sharpie presented Darrow-Eystad with a check for $10,000. Staples also matched the Sharpie donation with $10,000 in school supplies.  While Katelyn was overwhelmed with the donation, it wasn't until Grande stepped forward to present her with four tickets to One Direction's Madison Square Garden concert that she showed a true teen moment.   

"Sharpie celebrates self-expression in all its forms – from fans passionate about music to teens making their mark helping others," said Ryan Rouse, Sharpie Global Director of Marketing. "Katelyn's efforts have inspired us all and we're thrilled that we could help further her cause."

#SharpieHELLO
The event is part of the brand's new #SharpieHELLO campaign, which includes a national Facebook sweepstakes where two fans will win an all-expense paid trip for themselves and nine guests on the Sharpie corporate jet to a 1D concert. Other prizes include autographed guitars, CDs, t-shirts, and posters.

Sharpie will also be part of the first leg of One Direction's US Tour with unique #SharpieHELLO activations at the Nov. 30 and Dec. 1 Mohegan Sun concerts in Connecticut, and Dec. 3 at Madison Square Garden in New York City. 

Sharpie Says Hello in Times Square
Sharpie will deliver a giant-sized #SharpieHELLO on Dec. 3 in Times Square, to coincide with the band's Madison Square Garden concert.  Sharpie will debut the hello in a video mash-up comprised of hundreds of thousands of fan hello posters, notes, and messages on an 8-story digital billboard located in the heart of Times Square.

"One Direction fans are some of the most passionate fans in the world," said Rouse. "Sharpie has always been such an integral part of the celebrity autograph experience but we also show up in a big way in other fan expressions – posters, t-shirts, hats, shoes, backpacks, skateboards. Wherever there's a surface, there's Sharpie and a fan looking to show their fan love."

Start with Sharpie
The Sharpie-One Direction partnership is the result of the Sharpie brand team's gift sent earlier this year to the band to welcome them to their Chicago July concert.  Niall posted a picture of himself with one of the markers to One Direction's 7 million Facebook fans.  The resulting Facebook and Twitter explosion caught the brand's attention, and the rest is history.

For more information on the #SharpieHELLO sweepstakes and Sharpie products, please visit www.facebook.com/sharpie.

No purchase necessary. See official Terms and Conditions on Sharpie.com (link to official rules).  Open to legal residents of the 48 contiguous United States (excludes HI and AK) or District of Columbia 13+.  Ends 11/23/2012. Void where prohibited.

ABOUT SHARPIE®
For 47 years, Sharpie has been the popular brand of permanent marker associated with the autograph experience. Newell Rubbermaid, maker of Sharpie® products, is a worldwide leader in the manufacturing and marketing of writing instruments, art products, office organization and technology products, including such well-known brands as Paper Mate®, Sharpie®, DYMO®, Parker®, Waterman®, EXPO®, Prismacolor®, uni-ball® and Rolodex®, among others. Visit www.sharpie.com for more information.

SOURCE Sharpie