Hope Light

HOPELights Ranked in top 5 by American Express

Tue, 05 Jul 2011 09:32:11 +0000

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

July 25, 2011 02:44 PM Eastern Daylight Time

Five Small Businesses Win Digital Facelift from American Express OPEN at Facebook®

Fans Tell American Express OPEN and Facebook Who Deserves a
“Facebook Big Break for Small Business”

NEW YORK--(BUSINESS WIRE)--The voting is over and the results are in. Five small businesses are headed to Palo Alto, CA to get personal tutorials to learn how to make social media work for them at Facebook. Out of more than 11,000 entries, five winners of the “Facebook Big Break for Small Business” contest can rest easy knowing they are headed to Facebook with $20,000 to help them optimize their social media presence and grow.

The winners are:

Winner	Name of Business & Location	Type of Business
Dawn S. Grosvenor	HOPELight Media, LLC in Plano, TX	Activity magazine for children with special needs
Darquia and Gordon Biffle	Big Daddy's Bar-B-Que in Gary, IN	BBQ eatery services
Lisa & Bud Lefevre	Distinctive Gardens Inc. in Dixon, IL	Garden center
Mark A. Carson & Karen Carson	Fat Brain Toys in Elkhorn, NE	Toy retailer
Stephen D. Fraser & Gart Davis	Spoonflower in Durham, NC	Fabric design and printing service

Background:

American Express OPEN and Facebook teamed up to create the“Facebook Big Break for Small Business” contest to give five small business owners access to social media experts. Through one-on-one consultations in a classroom setting, the five winners will receive valuable insights that they can implement in real-time while they’re at Facebook. American Express will also package lessons from the contest to help educate other small businesses on how to better leverage Facebook for their marketing efforts. The content will be available on OPEN Forum, American Express’ award-winning online resource and networking site for small business owners.

“Social media marketing is rapidly moving from nice-to-have to must-have for small businesses,” said Julie Fajgenbaum, Vice President, Brand and Social Media, American Express OPEN. “These five businesses have great potential and will make excellent case studies for the millions of small business owners out there who are looking to accelerate their social media marketing efforts in order to grow.”

“We’ve always been committed to small businesses, and we’re inspired by their initiative to adopt Facebook and use it to find new customers, grow new communities and bring people into their stores,” said Adele Cooper, Director of Global Customer Marketing and Communications at Facebook.“Any company, big or small can use Facebook to be more social and harness the power of word-of-mouth marketing at scale.”

The Specifics

Each winner will be tutored on how to maximize the power of Facebook to better market their businesses, products and services to their existing customer base, and target new customer segments. Each will get practical and personal training on best practices for using Facebook Pages, Ads and Social Plugins, and will also receive consultation about their current use of Facebook. All expenses will be covered.

To enter the “Facebook Big Break for Small Business” contest, small business owners submitted answers to a short questionnaire describing how they would utilize the competition’s winnings to better their business. From the more than 11,000 entrants, a panel of judges including Laura Fink of American Express, Adele Cooper of Facebook, Guy Kawasaki of Alltop and John Battelle of Federated Media chose ten finalists based on the following criteria: commitment to their business and growth; overall social media need where Facebook could improve their business; and energy and enthusiasm for small business. Fans of American Express OPEN’s Facebook page then voted for their five favorite small businesses based on videos of the business owners explaining why they deserved to win. All ten finalists won $2,500 in Facebook advertising to help them target and acquire new customers.

American Express and Facebook

Earlier this year, American Express OPEN and Facebook teamed to offer OPEN Cardmembers the ability to pay for Facebook Ads using Membership Rewards® points, marking the first time any company has connected a rewards program to advertising spend in this way. Cardmembers can redeem Membership Rewards points for Facebook Ads through American Express OPEN’s Facebook Page at facebook.com/OPEN or the Membership Rewards program website at membershiprewards.com.

American Express OPEN also unveiled a first-of-its-kind marketing tool, “Go Social,” for small business merchants to create and distribute coupon-less cardmember offers for mobile users of Facebook Places and other location-based social networks, this past week. The announcement was a part of American Express’ “Link, Like, Love,”the unique application on Facebook® that delivers cardmember deals and experiences based on the likes, interests and social connections of cardmembers and their Facebook friends.

In 2010, American Express and Facebook partnered on Small Business Saturday, a day designed to recognize the importance of shopping at small, independently owned businesses. Small Business Saturday falls on the day after Black Friday. Small Business Saturday 2011 will be held on November 26.

About American Express OPEN

American Express OPEN is the leading payment card issuer for small businesses in the United States and supports business owners with products and services to help them run and grow their businesses. This includes business charge and credit cards that deliver purchasing power, flexibility, rewards, savings on business services from an expanded lineup of partners and online tools and services designed to help improve profitability. Learn more at www.OPEN.com and connect with us at www.openforum.com,www.facebook.com/open and www.twitter.com/openforum.

American Express is a global services company, providing customers with access to products, insights and experiences that enrich lives and build business success. Learn more at www.americanexpress.com and connect with us onwww.facebook.com/americanexpress, www.twitter.com/americanexpress and www.youtube.com/americanexpress.

Facebook® is a registered trademark of Facebook Inc.

Contacts

Media:
M Booth for American Express OPEN
Sal Della Monica
212-539-3272
sald@mbooth.com
or
American Express OPEN
Rosa M. Alfonso
212-640-1712
rosa.m.alfonso@aexp.com

For more information, visit www.hopelightmedia.com | press@hopelightmedia.com

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HOPELights™ Wins Coveted PTPA Parent Tester Award

Sun, 06 Feb 2011 16:33:45 +0000

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

CONTACT: Leslie Marcus | HOPELights Media, LLC

(888) 503-7553 x203
leslie@hopelightmedia.com | press@hopelightmedia.com | www.hopelightmedia.com

HOPELight Media, llc is pleased to announce that HOPELights™ Monthly Activity Magazine for Children with Special Needs has been awarded the PTPA Winner’s Seal of Approval. PTPA Media is North America’s largest parent community, with over 40,000 volunteer parent testers.

PLANO, TX. – February 8, 2011 – Consumers looking for high-quality products and services can rest assured when they see the PTPA Winner’s Seal; it is evidence of product excellence as evaluated by unbiased parent consumers.

HOPELights™ was among many entries from across North America competing to earn the PTPA™ Seal. Because independent parent volunteers evaluate these products in their own homes, PTPA winners are chosen based on merit and consumer experience–not on commercial considerations. As a result, the PTPA Media™ Seal has quickly gained recognition as an international leader in certifying consumer products for quality, effectiveness and value. Their CEO has appeared on over 40 morning shows as a reliable source for the latest and greatest in family products. The media and parents alike trust the collective opinion that PTPA Media represents.

HOPELights™ provides a ground-breaking approach for inspiring joy and learning for children with special needs like Autism, Cerebral Palsy, Down syndrome or any diagnosis that presents communication or cognitive delays. The monthly activity magazine is customized for every child's name on the cover and inside and utilizes a unique blend of real-world photography, gestalt learning methodology and harmonic color synchronization that provides self-confidence, fun and anticipation of a monthly magazine built just for that child.

“HOPELights™ is improving the quality of lives for children all over North America and our growing inspirational community with more than 6,500 Parents of Children with Special Needs on Facebook tells us that we are on the right track...rolling out the red-carpet for families that love children with special needs and focusing on the child as an individual - not their disability," said Dawn Grosvenor, Founder of HOPELight Media. “The parent valuations were insightful, validated our mission and has provided the compass points we need to follow in the future - focused on the heart and the individual involved in the unique journey of loving someone with special needs. We are delighted that the parent testers at PTPA have validated and honored HOPELights™ with the Seal of Approval.”

Being honored with the influential Seal of Approval from PTPA Media Inc. is a huge achievement for a product geared to families, children and parents. “At PTPA Media, we are proud to play a role in certifying innovative products that families can trust,” said Sharon Vinderine, CEO and founder of PTPA Media Inc. “When consumers search for our Seal of Approval on product packaging, they are essentially searching for validation from their peers. Their peers will have objectively tested and approved these products based on their performance in a real life environment. That type of resource for families is priceless.”

About HOPELights™

HOPELights™ contact information: Leslie Marcus, (888) 503-7553 for more information.

HOPELight Media, LLC was founded by Dawn Grosvenor, mother of a daughter who was diagnosed with autism. HOPELights serves the purpose of developing materials and activities for special needs children that motivate and educate through positive, holistic stimuli. The materials are well suited across the range of special needs and provides support to many levels of Autism, Down syndrome, Cerebral Palsy, MR, Spinal Bifida, Muscular Dystrophy and any child experiencing sensory or cognitive delays. The HOPELights magazine is the first of its kind targeted specifically to support the sensory needs of “differently-abled” youth. The company strives to support the unique population of parents, families, and children with an uncompromising, sustained effort of inclusion and joy.

For more information, visit www.hopelightmedia.com

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Buying for Special Needs Kids in the Holiday Season: 5 Tips

Thu, 02 Dec 2010 03:47:40 +0000

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

CONTACT:

Leslie Marcus

HOPELights Media, LLC

(888) 503-7553 or (972) 822-6754

leslie@hopelightmedia.com

press@hopelightmedia.com

www.hopelightmedia.com

Buying for Special Needs Kids in the Holiday Season: 5 Tips
HOPELights™ Provides Holiday Purchasing tips for families that have children with special needs

PLANO, TX. – December 1, 2010 – With the holiday's right around the corner the intensity of the holiday shopping season will be bestowed upon us very shortly. Finding that perfect toy or computer program for a child with special needs can often times be a challenging hunt. Depending on what type diagnosis a child has, is not nearly as important as communication with parents and understanding the scope of interests for that child. Most toys for children with special needs toys are designed to educate along with entertain, but it is also important to look at the child separate from the goal of education, so that the holidays are not just loaded with gifts to help that child learn and progress through their challenges, but gifts that make them smile, just because. These kiddos have intense therapy all year round and sometimes a gift that focuses on smiles can far outpace expensive electronic learning aids in quality, value and results.

Understand Their Special Need Is A Must

It doesn't require a great deal of research to understand what the best toy is for that child with a special need. A little bit of reading and some online web surfing can yield a multitude of results that can help you understand exactly how that child interacts with their toys or computer programs. It could be the difference between that child using and benefiting from that toy or simply leaving it alone and not using it. For example a child with autism would much rather play with a simple basic toy rather than a flashy noisy toy. Basic wooden or plastic toys work best for children with autism spectrum disorders and without knowing that a person might purchase the wrong type of gift, as hectic as the holidays can get you don't want to find yourself running around returning gifts prior to the actual holiday or be faced with contributing to a tearful meltdown at the most wonderful time of the year.

Think Comprehension Level not Age Group

There are many children who have Down syndrome, Cerebral Palsy, Spina Bifida and other cognitive or communication delays which impact basic comprehension levels. For instance, ask the parents what reading level the child is in school. A child with Down syndrome may be 14 years of age, but at a 2nd grade reading comprehension level. This will help when you are thinking about books, puzzles or boxed games.

Understand the Area of Interest for that Special Needs Child

Some children with special needs really have their likes and dislikes clearly defined. A typical symptom of a child with Asperger's syndrome will be that they really have one area of focus that they certainly tend to obsess over and understand inside and out. Whether it is astronomy or the ocean they will understand everything there is to know about that specific area of interest. Understanding and realizing this could help you really pin point that perfect special needs holiday gift much quicker.

Understand the Mobility and Motor Skill Development of the Child

Some children with special needs can be far behind in motor skill development. A good cue is knowing if they can tie their shoes. If a child is unable to tie shoes, they will be unable to enjoy threading little beads or sophisticated arts and crafts gifts. The question to the child's parent about the state of their motor skill development is almost important as the gift itself. Some parents might burst into tears if you aggressively ask if their child can tie their shoes, because it is a source of sadness for them. A good way to approach this for a parent is to simply suggest the type of gift and relevant activities associated with the purchase and ask if it is appropriate or if the child would prefer something else that is soft and cuddly. Children with special needs spend most of their time struggling in school, navigating wheel chairs through complicated busy hallways or frustrated with themselves because of delays in communication. Help make the holidays fun for them and don't worry so much about "learning toys" simply focus on what would make the child smile.

Think About Safety At All Times

This should go without saying but you should consider the safety of the child with any particular special needs toy you are planning to purchase because ultimately that is one of the most important areas of concern. If the child gets frustrated with the toy and decides to send it airborne you have to make sure it won't hurt anybody else in the room or even themselves. In order to sometimes understand completely which type of toy to get you have to understand the frustration levels of the child and try to anticipate how they might react with that specific toy. Purchasing the right toy for a child with special needs is not like purchasing a toy for a typical needs child. Much more thought and compassion needs to go into that toy for a variety of reasons.

Don't stress yourself out thinking about what type of gift is best for the child. Do some research online and communicate with the parents prior to any purchase because it could be the difference between that child really enjoying their special holiday gift and not using it at all.

About HopeLights Media

For more information, visit hope@hopelightmedia.com

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HOPELights Holiday Top Five Tips for Children With Special Needs

Sun, 24 Oct 2010 18:44:18 +0000

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

CONTACT:

Leslie Marcus

HOPELights Media, LLC

(888) 503-7553 or (972) 822-6754

leslie@hopelightmedia.com

press@hopelightmedia.com

www.hopelightmedia.com

HOPELights™ Holiday Top Five Tips for Children With Special Needs

Studies show there are over 10 million families in the U.S. that have children with special needs who experience some form sensory processing dysfunction, making all children special this holiday season

PLANO, TX. – October 25, 2010 – Holidays are a busy time of year, full of activity from people to places that can easily over stimulate children, especially those with special needs. A survey by the Health Resources and Services Administration, part of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, found 10.2 million U.S. children in the have special healthcare needs, or 14 percent of all U.S. children. More than one-fifth of U.S. households with children have at least one child with special needs. HOPELights holiday tips are designed to aid the families that love and support special needs children—having guidance on high-sensory events like the upcoming holidays are critical.

According to the Center for Disease Control, Autism Spectrum Disorder dials in at an average of 1 in 110 children, while Down Syndrome occurs 1 in every 800 births. [See related data at: http://www.cdc.gov/ncbddd/autism/data.html and http://www.cdc.gov/ncbddd/bd/ds.htm]. Many other children experience a variety of issues from Mental Retardation to Developmental Delays, Down Syndrome to Obsessive Compulsive Disorder, Anxiety to Fragile X, ADHD and so on.

Even typical needs children go into over-drive. For example, one study (Ahn, Miller, Milberger, McIntosh, 2004) shows that at least 1 in 20 children (with or without any other diagnosis) are affected by SPD, a term that refers to the way the nervous system receives messages from the senses and turns them into appropriate motor and behavioral responses.

“This means millions of children in the United States have some sort of challenge with things like loud noises, environmental or event transitions, crowds, sensitivities to taste or touch just to name a few,” said Dawn Grosvenor, founder of HOPELight Media. “Which is why putting special emphasis on how to help children and their families through the holiday hustle and bustle is critical in ensuring they have a positive, healthy and loving interaction with friends and family. Holidays should be cherished and foster positive memories that last a lifetime. ”

HopeLights Holiday Top Five Tips for Children With Special Needs:

1. Make a Visual Schedule – Many children are used to routine, structure and consistency, but much of this is lost during the holidays. If your child can see it coming for days, hours and minutes before it happens, transitions from place to place or even events in your own home will be more welcoming to your child.

2. Identify “Anchor” or Transition Items – Most children have an attachment to a favorite blanket, stuffed animal, toy or other item. Make sure your child has his or her favorites nearby especially if you are traveling. Let them carry a special bag of their favorite goodies. It is a little piece of home and helps them feel grounded and secure.

3. Establish Warm Up Times and Personal Space Parameters – Holidays bring in visitors or not-so-familiar faces that your child only sees once or twice a year. It is important these visitors give your child time to warm up and re-establish a connection. Great Aunt Betty may not be familiar right away, but she will be rewarded with a warm interaction 20 minutes or so into her visit if Aunt Betty and your child are prepared for the event.

4. Create and Communicate Code Words – Special needs or not, every child hits a melting point. Too many people, too many presents, skipping or moving a nap time can lead to the uncomfortable fit. As a parent, we can sometimes see these coming or at the very least we can intervene at the beginning. Talk with your family members before everyone gets together and establish a “Code Word” and ask them to help when you say this word or phrase. It can be as simple as “Houston, we have a problem.” By establishing code words with friends and relatives, this lets them know when you and your child need a private moment. You will be amazed how well they understand and cooperate without hurt feelings and it takes the pressure off of you.

5. Set Your Own Expectations in Advance – As parents we sometimes expect too much of ourselves, and put even more expectations on the “perfect” holiday. Remember you are only one person with only one goal, to love your children and ensure they are safe and happy this holiday season. Create your own To-Do lists and schedule plenty of time between events and preparation of visitors so you are not rushing through the holiday, but savoring each moment.

In honor of this holiday season, for every new annual HOPELights Children’s Activity Magazine subscription for children with special needs purchased in December 2010, a new subscription will be donated to a child in pediatric hospice for the coming 2011 calendar year. [See related announcement at: http://tinyurl.com/25a2wgm].

HOPELights magazine is available in three subscription options starting as low as $6.70 an issue with an annual subscription. To order a subscription for your child or give to a child you know this holiday season, go to www.hopelightmedia.com.

About HopeLight Media

The HOPELights magazine is the first of its kind targeted specifically to support the sensory needs of “differently-abled” youth. The company strives to support the unique population of parents, families, and children with an uncompromising, sustained effort of inclusion and joy.

For more information, visit www.hopelightmedia.com or email hope@hopelightmedia.com

# # #

The Story

Wed, 26 May 2010 20:50:31 +0000

HOPELights™ Story – The SCOOP

When Dawn Grosvenor’s daughter was born prematurely and stuck in NICU, her whole word shrunk to the size of the incubator where her daughter, Ashley Channel, was nestled in. Weeks turned into months and Ashley grew stronger, healthier and near normal weight where she was finally ready to come home. For over two years her daughter seemed to progress naturally, if not ahead of other children and possess a striking love for music so much that her mother took her expensive electronic keyboards and placed them on the floor so that Ashley could play frequently.

Shortly after a terrible illness, still unexplainable, Ashley began to sink into a new set of behaviors. Alarmed, her mother whisked her away to many doctors and was finally given the diagnoses of PDDNOS as an Autism Spectrum Disorder. With the internet relatively at early stages in 1999, the diagnosis was frightening and devastating - with little information available. On top of this, in less than a year later Ashley’s parents were divorced and her mother, Dawn, found herself struggling as a single full-time working mother with limited resources to provide her daughter both financially and academically.

Refusing to take “No” for an answer led her on a search through the halls of special needs children all over the world.
She found that not only did children with autism suffer challenges in various academic and social issues involving reading comprehension, mathematics, etc. but there were even larger segments of children who also had milder or more chronic issues that spanned the global community.

Without ever a thought before about the quality of parent’s lives in regards to caring for children with special needs, she found herself struggling with the numbers and the enormous knowledge of this community at-large and virtually unseen. Where are all these children? Rarely spotted in malls or public activities the families would hide away in a world that was not made for them. From Cerebral Palsy, Down syndrome and other crippling childhood diseases, a need sprang forth in her mind not only to reach out and help the parents and children of autism, but to reach out across all segments. The label suddenly became irrelevant and providing hope, solutions and comfort became paramount.

Surely, she thought, the basic building blocks of reading comprehension can be taught through a simplified activity-based medium that provides customization for the child and inspires success. Success is a key often over-looked in regards to children with special needs. Her searches proved that many curricula in schools for autism are also used for a variety of other learning challenges and that there was not one single "silver bullet" to be found. Special Needs populations across diagnosis all used the same curriculum, or variations thereof. The one thing in common she found in the children? These children rarely experienced success.

Children with Special Needs spend months and years in therapy after therapy - struggling for independence, cognitive expansion and just trying to wrap their minds around a world that is fundamentally incongruent with their own. It is grueling, hard-work and intimidating work. Imagine the frustration of child who is unable to express himself or herself, the long days blend into months... then into years of an uphill climb. The things other children do in a blink of an eye may take 8 months to master.

Suddenly, her daughter’s needs became much larger and represented the needs of an entire global community, unmet and of critical urgency… and the vision of HOPELight Media came to be.

After years of professional dedication and success in executive marketing and business development roles for a variety of firms ranging from consumer product goods, B2B commerce and even a Science Museum, Dawn decided to activate her marketing prowess and set her sights on finding solid strategic partners to help make the Hopelight Media vision into reality. After 4 years of research, numerous attempts of website versions, printers, curriculum modules and therapists, she was ready to devote herself completely to the vision. She threw herself wholeheartedly into carving out a solution. With passion, integrity and a fine-tuned plan, the first product, Hopelights™, was launched.

Hopelights™, an activity-based monthly subscription for special needs children is based on a few principles:

Customize the monthly publication with the child’s name, a sure-fire way to catch a child’s attention
Keeping it simple as far as curriculum and let children experience the joy of success
Unique Exercises – Using Gestalt and Gentle Methods(tm) theory learning, which reaches across all reading comprehension levels, to reach a number of children with special needs.
Remembering the parents and caregivers – Send encouraging notes of hope and offer inspiration daily, provide free content on-line

Somehow, the world was not so big and scary anymore. Dawn now has many tools in her belt to reach stranded parents in isolated communities of children with special needs - bringing hope, smiles and moments of joy to thousands of families throughout the world.

Spread the Word - Help a Child - Make Some HOPE Today!

Complete Press Kit

Mon, 17 May 2010 14:31:03 +0000

Sample Magazine

Mon, 17 May 2010 14:30:25 +0000

{pdf=http://www.hopelightmedia.com/images/JuneHOPELights.pdf|500|647}

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HOPELights™ Monthly Activity Magazine for Special Needs Children Offers Matching Donation of Magazine Subscriptions to Children in Pediatric Hospice

Mon, 17 May 2010 14:28:24 +0000

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

CONTACT:

Leslie Marcus

HOPELights Media, LLC

(888) 503-7553 or (972) 822-6754

leslie@hopelightmedia.com

press@hopelightmedia.com

www.hopelightmedia.com

HOPELights™ Activity Magazine for Children with Special Needs Offers Matching Donation of Magazine Subscriptions to Children in Pediatric Hospice

For Every New HOPELights Magazine Subscription Made in the Month of December A Child in Hospice Will Benefit

PLANO, TX. – October 21, 2010 – HOPELights Media announced today a special donation to children in pediatric hospice. For every new annual HOPELights™ Children’s Activity Monthly Magazine subscription for children with special needs purchased in December 2010, a new subscription will be donated to a child in pediatric hospice for the coming 2011 calendar year customized with the child’s name on the cover.

According to the Journal of Palliative Medicine, each year in the United States over 500,000 children are coping with life-limiting conditions. With the help of parents and families who purchase an annual subscription for their own child, the HOPELights donation will give these children joy, creative inspiration, as well as hope in their courageous journey.

“Through the HOPELights donation we want to give children and their families support, compassion, encouragement, and inspiration,” said Dawn Grosvenor, founder of HOPELight Media. “These families are precious and unfortunately underserved as they struggle with circumstances that are profoundly traumatic.”

HOPELights™ magazine, launched earlier this year [see related announcement at: http://www.prlog.org/10945910-hopelights-introduces-new-magazine-for-children-with-special-needs.html] empowers children to learn, grow and succeed despite learning challenges due to autism, cerebral palsy, down syndrome, and other cognitive or sensory related disorders.

HOPELights magazine for kids customizes the front cover with the child’s name and is available in three subscription options starting as low as $6.70 an issue.

About HopeLights Media

For more information, visit hope@hopelightmedia.com

# # #

HOPELights Introduces New Magazine for Children with Special Needs

Mon, 17 May 2010 14:27:35 +0000

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

HOPELights Introduces New Magazine for Children with Special Needs

New monthly activity magazine empowers children with autism, down syndrome, cerebral palsy, cognitive delays and sensory related challenges to learn, grow and experience success

PLANO, TX. – September 20, 2010

HOPELights magazine uses Gentle Methods™, Customizable Variable Print and Gestalt Learning practices proven to stimulate independent learning for special needs children. The publication immediately intrigues these children through name recognition and ownership upon arrival as it is customized with their name on the front and back cover utilizing Variable Data Print (VDP) technologies.

HOPELights takes from the Gestalt theory that learning consists of grasping a structural whole and not just a mechanistic response to a stimulus and even rejects that learning

takes place through breaking down a sum of the parts. Special needs children all learn based on their own personality, processing of information and interpretation. For example a child may learn though recognizing a letter rendered in a wide variety of different fonts or type styles, or the apparent motion created by a rapid sequence of imagery that gives the illusion of movement. This empowers the child to learn within the parameters of their own reality or elements that positively stimulate their unique senses.

"The difference between HOPELights and periodicals for typical children is in our use of colors, graphics, and language concepts that is easier for a special needs child to view, comprehend and rehearse," said Dawn Grosvenor, founder of HOPELights Media and the mother of an autistic daughter. "We are transforming learning into positive, independent, successful learning experiences for these children."

Readers of HOPELights magazine develop the following skills:

• Math: Numeric sequencing, number recognition, music note recognition

• Reading and Language Arts: Vocabulary recognition, reading, music note recognition and reinforcement into reading text

• Motor Skill Development: handwriting, hand-eye coordination, and visual tracking

• Character Development: accomplishment, pride in completion, reinforcement of identity, independence

Specific elements of the magazine include:

• Customization of each issue with the readers name on the front and back covers to create joy in ownership and reinforcement in name recognition

• Rhythmic patterns blending harmonic colors to synchronize neurological framework and simplify visual learning

• Full color photography to integrate real world identification and learning

• Music patterns that reinforce reading as well as character and word recognition

• Smoother, attainable bridges of skill development to boost confidence and motivation through achievement

"Children with special needs seek identity anchors, HOPELights steps in to fill an unmet gap by reaching them through reinforcement of their name through a publication designed specifically to enhance their own name recognition, this is critical in learning, to generate an immediate enthusiasm once the publication hits their mailbox," added Grosvenor.

HOPELights magazine is available in three subscription options starting as low as $6.70 an issue with an annual subscription. To order a subscription for your child or give to a child you know, go to www.hopelightmedia.com

Five percent of all proceeds are donated back to a charity supporting children of special needs. For a list of charitable interests go to:
– HOPELights Media announced today a new magazine specifically for children with special needs. HOPELights™ magazine empowers children to learn, grow and succeed despite learning challenges due to autism, cerebral palsy, down syndrome, and other cognitive or sensory related disorders. Through gentle learning approaches readers can succeed and thrive without being over stimulated or overwhelmed during the learning process. www.hopelightmedia.com. The website includes a Free Test Drive to check out how the publication would look on the front cover with the child’s name. http://www.hopelightmedia.com/index.php/main/special-kids/giving-back.html
Magazine images available for the publication and creative imagery in our press room under the image library:
http://www.hopelightmedia.com/index.php/news-and-press/images/hopelight-image-library.html as well as a sample pdf copy on-line.
About HopeLights Media

HOPELight Media, LLC was founded by Dawn Grosvenor, mother of a daughter who demonstrated signs of autism after three years of age. After formally being diagnosed as PDD-NOS, recognized as an Autism Spectrum Disorder, a new search for autism treatments, materials, classes and teachers ensued. Dawn’s search for appropriate materials and activities went from frustration to passion. HOPELights serves the purpose of developing and recommending such materials and activities for special needs children that motivate and educate through positive, holistic stimuli. The materials are well suited across the range of special needs and provides support to many levels of Autism, Down Syndrome, Cerebral Palsy, MR, Spinal Bifida, Muscular Dystrophy, Pediatric Hospice and any child experiencing sensory or cognitive delays.

The HOPELights magazine has harnessed the power of customizable print to transform learning experiences for children. The periodical is the first of its kind targeted

specifically to support the sensory needs of "differently-abled" youth. The company strives to support the unique population of parents, families, and children with an uncompromising, sustained effort of inclusion and joy.

Five percent of all proceeds are directed to the charities that support these childhood conditions. For more information, visit

# # #

© 2010 HOPELights Media. All rights reserved.
www.hopelightmedia.com or email hope@hopelightmedia.com

Leslie Marcus

HOPELights Media, LLC

(888) 503-7553 or (972) 822-6754

leslie@hopelightmedia.com

www.hopelightmedia.com

HOPELight Image Library

Mon, 17 May 2010 14:27:00 +0000

If you would like to use any of the photos simply right click and save the image.

Magazine and Logo: (please email dawn@hopelightmedia.com for color correction/publication)

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Notes of Hope

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Creative Mission:

(our children include ASD - Autism, PDD-NOS, SI, CP, MD, SB, MR and any child needing a bit of a boost)

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Vision, Mission, Values

Mon, 17 May 2010 14:26:09 +0000

The Vision
Hope Lights™ will change the world's perspective on children with special needs and help us all to learn their language.
We have learned that we must, humbly, join a child in their world before we expect them to join us in ours.

The Mission
Our goal is to touch every child, parent and sibling with the light that hope can bring every month.

With this joy, more funding can be directed to help all of those less fortunate than ourselves in meaningful ways that improve humanity. For every subscription we will donate 5% of the proceeds to organizations that transform the quality of life for real people in need as well as those institutions that bring about scientific discovery and change.

Our Values: Giving Back

5% of all proceeds are donated to the following initiatives:

• Genetic Research to support new effective treatments for our children.
• Autism Support Programs
• Down syndrome Charities
• Cerebral Palsy Medical Research
• Adult Mental Retardation Residential Programs
• Equine Rescue - Special Horses for Special People
• Free Music Therapy sessions for children
• Pediatric Hospice – Free Copies of Magazine
• To all those children less fortunate than our own

To request a grant application, email grants@hopelightmedia.com

You can also sponsor a child with a HOPELight’s™ monthly subscription, our focus is on single working mothers.
Please email sponsor@hopelightmedia.com for more details!

Spread the Word - Help a Child - Make Some HOPE Today!

Fact Sheet

Mon, 17 May 2010 14:24:36 +0000

What is the scope of HOPELights™ and its products?
HOPELight Media, llc provides a customized activity-based magazine for ALL children with special needs and offers Notes of Hope™ for parents, guardians and teachers. These products are low-cost, flexible monthly subscriptions that are affordable and integrate within any family’s treatment program for their children with special needs.

What sets HOPELights™ apart from others in the industry?
Our company, HOPELight Media, has harnessed the power of Customizable print to transform learning experiences for children. There has never before been a publication that is targeted specifically to support the sensory needs of “differently-abled” youth. It is about time we support the unique population of parents, families and children with an uncompromising, sustained effort of inclusion and joy. We offer “best of class” products and with every purchase, 5% is directed to the charities that support these childhood conditions. Making a difference, one family at a time, is what we are all about.

What started this idea?
The founder's daughter was diagnosed with autism and her search for materials and activities had become exhausting and frustrating. Rather than complaining about it, she took matters into her own hands and put together a team of people that could provide exactly what she had always looked for in one simple turn-key website. It took her several years of planning and road-blocks to bring HOPELights to fruition, but well worth the wait!

How does HOPELights™ and its products rank compared with other companies in similar categories?
The support literature developed for children with special needs is fragmented. Books, CDs, toys and other materials have to be hunted down by caretakers. As of this writing, there seems to be few sources available that consolidates a child’s information and provides a targeted, customized enjoyable publication. We are hoping that HOPELights™ brings more attention to the child audiences needs and that the world responds with expanded programs for all children.

Who is the Founder?
Where is HOPELight Media headquartered?
Dawn Grosvenor
2300 McDermott Rd., Suite 200, Plano, TX 75025

When was HOPELight Media established?
In October, 2008, HOPELight Media was founded. After miles of research, and many bumps and bruises along the road with technology and printing, in June 2010 the final prototype of the customized, variable children’s activity magazine is released. Initially the focus is predominantly on the monthly activity magazine for children; however in Summer, 2010, HOPELights is expanding with a new line of therapeutic toys, approved by Moms and teachers alike, just in time for Christmas!

What are HOPELights main distribution channels?
•On-Line / e-commerce, affiliate programs, children’s catalogs
•Samples Copies available in Pediatrician’s Offices, Medical Facilities, Hospice and Therapeutic Centers for Children
•Education Supply for Special Needs Teachers, Private Schools and Home-Schooling Programs

How can I get free samples for my patients/students if I’m a Physician, Educator or Therapist?
Email hope@hopelightmedia.com

If I am a parent, what is the quickest way to get a copy?
Visit www.hopelightmedia.com and take a test drive on-line today!

I am confused about pricing, can you please outline this for me?
Save a bit of cash by signing up annually, or just choose to be a monthly or quarterly customer, the choice is yours!
We also offer the Notes of Hope program seperately for other individuals, a combined Toy of the Month + the
HOPELights subscription, so check out our store and pick the plan that is right for you.

Some of the Children with Special Needs Groups We Proudly Serve:

Mild Education Gaps:
Expressive Language Disorder
ADHD, ADD
Sensory Integration

Childhood Chronic:*
Autism Spectrum Disorder: Aspergers Syndrome, PDDNOS, Mild to Severe Autism
Down syndrome
Muscular Dystrophy
Spinal Bifida
Cerebral Palsy
Cystic Fibrosis
Fetal Stroke
Long-term Leukemia Patients
*Some conditions do not present cognitive delays, however, months and years in the hospital may put a child behind in simple academics like reading, writing and math.

Emotional Challenges:
Bi-Polar
Depression

We believe that every child, regardless of diagnosis, label or challenge deserve
moments of hope. Believe. Inspire. Making a Difference.

Spread the Word - Help a Child -

Make Some HOPE Today!

News & Press

Mon, 29 Mar 2010 13:38:32 +0000

Thanks for stopping by our press room.

Our goal is to provide you with turn-key information and royalty-free images to use for your article that make writing about us as easy as 1-2-3!

1 - Individual Press Kit Pages:
We have developed a variety of pieces for your review and use located on the left menu bar.

2 - For the Full Press Kit, Downloadable pdf click here: HOPELIGHT MEDIA PRESS KIT

3 - For an interview please contact us to schedule and include your address for a full PressKit via UPS!

Leslie Marcus

Email: leslie@hopelightmedia.com or
press@hopelightmedia.com

Phone: (888) 503-7553 Ext. 203

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Spread the Word - Help a Child -

Make Some HOPE Today!