PHILADELPHIA, PA, Apr 11, 2012 (MARKETWIRE via COMTEX) -- ToonUps, cause gaming pioneer and creator of A Better World game on Facebook, today announced a campaign with CURE International to send messages from within the game to real world disabled children who are surgical patients in CURE hospitals around the world. Once 1,000 custom messages are sent, ToonUps will release funds that will provide life saving care for three babies suffering from Hydrocephalus. The new campaign represents the first time that a game on Facebook reaches directly out to children to improve their lives and uplift their spirits.

"This is a monumental breakthrough in the cause gaming genre. It is where we see the market heading, so it's nice to be first to the party," said Ray Hansell, CEO of ToonUps. "Our desire is to have game play directly impact real people in a positive way in the real world."

A Better World players can now go to the Positive Post in Town to read about each disabled child's story and to write a customized get-well message of encouragement. Those messages are delivered digitally to a CUREkids coordinator in the region who will share it with the child via iPad or laptop. Positive Post messaging is just one example of the do-good activities players can perform in A Better World. Others include expressing gratitude and sharing hopes and dreams. You can also shop, decorate your home, care for a virtual pet, and much more.

"These children get such a thrill imagining that someone on the other side of the globe cares about what happens to them," noted Joel Worrall, vice president of CURE.org. "Giving A Better World gamers a chance to deliver customized messages to these children and put a smile on their face is truly a special gift for not only the kids but the people delivering the message as well. The game is a catalyst of kindness."

About CURE CURE International heals the sick and proclaims the Kingdom of God. It is the largest provider of reconstructive surgery to disabled children in the emerging world. Since opening the doors of its first surgical teaching hospital in Kijabe, Kenya in 1998, CURE's focus on bringing healing to developing nations has resulted in more than 1.5 million patient visits and over 121,000 surgeries to correct physically disabling conditions. CURE has also trained more than 5000 medical professionals raising the standard of care in the countries where it operates. Also, check out CURE's plans to work with the Tim Tebow Foundation to build a children's hospital in the Philippines.

About ToonUps ToonUps is a digital entertainment company whose mission is to create online games and apps to brighten the world. ToonUps has created a rich array of products designed with the purpose of uplifting people through optimism, altruism and fun. From social gaming to business training, their innovative content brings these core themes to a variety of markets. ToonUps is headquartered in Wayne, PA.

Tweet This ToonUps Blurs the Lines of Online Gaming and the Real World http://www.toonups.com/Blogengine/default.aspx?cat=pressreleases

Websites

A Better World Game: http://bit.ly/CUREABW

CURE: http://bit.ly/CUREorgABW

ToonUps: http://bit.ly/ToonUpsWebsite

Contacts

ToonUps
610-902-0070      
press@toonups.com

 

PHILADELPHIA, PA and SACRAMENTO, CA--(Marketwire - Mar 1, 2012) - ToonUps, cause gaming pioneer and creator of A Better World Facebook game, today announced that it will work with the non-profit charity Wish Upon a Hero to grant a wish for Gracie's Place, a special needs school for children, based in a Sacramento suburb. Gracie's Place is hoping for a transport van to assist more children and families in need. Anyone with a Facebook account can help grant this wish by simply signing into A BetterWorld and visiting the Sanctuary of Hope section of the game. Players can post a dream or hope, or support those of others. If 100,000 hopes are posted or supported, ToonUps will answer the wish of Gracie's Place in order to help them fulfill the hopes and dreams of these special needs kids.

A Better World's March "Reach the Stars" challenge is part of a monthly program that encourages people to do good deeds inside the game, which translates to helping real world causes. The March campaign is being done in cooperation with Wish Upon a Hero, a website that lets people grant the wishes of others. The site is endorsed by Hall of Fame Quarterback Dan Marino and has granted nearly 90,000 wishes to date. ToonUps has chosen to grant the wish of Gracie's Place. The progressive child care home teaches responsibility, kindness, time-and-place, courtesy, self control and life skills to all types, including children with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD), developmental delays, behavioral issues and children in foster care. The addition of a vehicle will enable Gracie's to expand day services to assist more children and families in need.

"Like A Better World, we are providing a conduit for people to help others," said David Girgenti, founder of Wish Upon a Hero. "It's incredibly encouraging to find companies that are succeeding in collecting and expanding the numbers of people that want to make the world a better place."

A Better World is a free, uplifting Facebook game that's all about being positive and encouraging others to do good deeds and acts of kindness. Like other Facebook games, you create your character, play games, care for a virtual pet, and grow a virtual garden, but in A Better World players progress by doing kind things for others inside and outside the game. Areas in the game include the Gratitude Grotto, the Sanctuary of Hope and the Department of Do Good. Players can share their good deeds, notes of encouragement, thoughts or gifts with their Facebook friends.

"Our players are absolutely extraordinary in their support and desire to do the right thing," said Gregory Hansell, vice president of product development, ToonUps. "We're excited that this month, our players can make real world dreams come true for special needs children by sharing their own hopes and dreams inside the game."

About Wish Upon a Hero
The Wish Upon a Hero Foundation is a non-profit organization that grants the wishes of those in need. In 2011, WUAHF partnered with Hike for Our Heroes to raise funds and awareness and grant the wishes of military families in need. The Foundation and Wish Upon a Hero.com were founded by Girgenti following the catastrophic events of September 11th and Hurricane Katrina. Communities and individuals helped each other during those difficult times. Girgenti created a platform where anyone can post a wish, and everyone can be a hero. For more information, go to www.wishuponaherofoundation.org.

About ToonUps
ToonUps is a digital entertainment company that created the popular Facebook game A Better World. In the free game, players create characters and live in a virtual world where all good deeds are rewarded and real world causes are impacted. The game creates a fun environment that inspires players to help others, become better people and make the world a better place. A Better World is creating a powerful legion of do-gooders and the secret is spreading. ToonUps is headquartered in Wayne, PA.

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Wish Upon a Hero using A Better World Facebook Game to Grant Wish of Special Needs School
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Websites
A Better World Game: http://bit.ly/PlayABWgameHero

Wish Upon a Hero: www.wishuponahero.com

ToonUps: http://bit.ly/ToonUpsWebsite

Photos and Screen Shots Available

Contacts

ToonUps
610-902-0070
press@toonups.com

PHILADELPHIA – February 14, 2012 – ToonUps today announced that they will fund the installation of solar powered generators to light two Guatemalan schools in villages that have never had electric power. ToonUps has challenged their players to send 50,000 virtual hearts from within their A Better World Facebook game. The game allows players to send digital hearts themed around love, friendship, fun, and good will to friends, family, and loved ones. If A Better World players meet the goal by February 29, ToonUps will fund this initiative to light up the lives of Guatemalan kindergarten students.

The challenge is the latest in their “Reach the Stars” initiative that encourages its Facebook gamers to do good for others. Reaching the 50,000 mark will unleash funds that can provide sufficient light for a school building, a community center or medical center. It will provide eleven hours of light to the Mano De Leon Kindergarten and the San Mateo Kindergarten in Guatemala. The Mano De Leon School has just one teacher for 50 students of all grades. The San Mateo facility is connected to a school for older students and will provide light for those classrooms as well.

“There are more than 500,000 people without electricity and the cost to bring that infrastructure into many villages is prohibitive,” said Mick Quinn, co-founder of Integral Heart. “The kids from these villages are sent to work at age 6 or younger, picking fruit, hoeing fields, picking up wood—all before they ever know what school is. We try to get to them early to train them to value education. We have kids from these towns that are staying in schools into their teens for the first time.”

A Better World is a free, uplifting Facebook game that's all about being positive and encouraging others to do good deeds and acts of kindness. Like other Facebook games you create your character, play games, keep a virtual pet, grow a virtual garden, but in A Better World players progress by doing kind things for others inside and outside the game. Areas in the game include the Gratitude Grotto, the Sanctuary of Hope and the Department of Do Good. Players can share their good deeds, notes of encouragement, thoughts or gifts with their Facebook friends.

“Simply sending a heart to your spouse, friend or family on Valentine’s Day—or any day—is a nice gesture in itself, now it can have a global impact,” said MarySue Hansell, co-founder and COO, ToonUps. “It literally costs nothing but a few minutes of time to change the culture, capabilities and lives of the children of two Guatemalan towns forever. We believe A Better World can change the world for the better. Here’s another example of that kind of change.”

About Integral Heart Education Program: The Integral Heart Foundation is focused on connecting hearts and has no religious or political affiliation. We are currently working on the ground in Guatemala, aiming to overcome poverty by allowing children and their families to dream through education and will expand our work to other Central American countries as we establish a successful, flexible and scalable model.

About ToonUps: ToonUps is a digital entertainment company whose mission is to create online games and apps to brighten the world. ToonUps has created a rich array of products designed with the purpose of uplifting people through optimism, altruism and fun. From social gaming to business training, their innovative content brings these core themes to a variety of markets. ToonUps is headquartered in Wayne, PA.

Tweet This: Send a Heart to Facebook Friends and Help Provide Power to two Kindergartens in Guatemala

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Websites: A Better World Game: http://bit.ly/PlayABWgameIHF

Integral Heart: http://bit.ly/IHFwebsite

ToonUps: http://bit.ly/ToonUpsWebsite

Contacts

ToonUps
610-902-0070      
press@toonups.com

PHILADELPHIA, January 30, 2012 – ToonUps today announced that they have logged well over one million good deeds in just short of two months in their Facebook game, A Better World. The company challenged its players to do something positive and share it with others within A Better World by posting about their good deeds in various sections of the game. The campaign started on December 1 and reached its goal on January 22 (over a week before the January 31 deadline). By meeting that goal, ToonUps will provide funding to CURE.org that will enable ten children to undergo surgeries that will help them walk upright for the first time.

“We learned the heartbreaking story of Misozi Felix, a beautiful three year old girl whose right leg has been destroyed by a bone infection,” said MarySue Hansell, COO of ToonUps. “She has very little of her femur left, and her knee is completely non-functional, if it even exists anymore. Incredibly brave and resilient, she has learned to walk using her hands and one good leg, and though she is not quick, she gets the job done. She will walk and run with the other kids, thanks to CURE and our players.”

A $10,000 donation will fund medical operations for 10 children that might otherwise never receive the medical attention they require. CURE.org was chosen as the first beneficiary of A Better World’s “Reach for the Stars” feature. ToonUps will continue to run “Reach for the Stars” in A Better World selecting a variety of charities/organizations that fit their do-good mission. Interested organizations should contact ToonUps to learn more.

“We were impressed and deeply impacted by the sheer numbers of people willing to help out through A Better World,” noted Joel Worrall, vice president of CURE.org. “Everyone can visit http://cure.org/abetterworld to see the children that will be helped and follow their progress through email or with Facebook.”

To join A Better World on Facebook, create a character and start exploring. Areas in the game, including the Gratitude Grotto, the Sanctuary of Hope and the Department of Do Good provide opportunities to post “do-good” activities that contribute to the “Reach for the Stars” community goal. Players can share their good deeds, notes of encouragement, thoughts or gifts with their Facebook friends within the game. Good deeds posted in A Better World include:

• "I gave all my change to a poor lady on the street! - (Liberty)
• "I joined a club in school where we go to homeless shelters and give them food and blankets" - (Davin)
• "Bought a homeless man a sandwich and a hot drink" - (Ashleigh)
• "Helped my lil sister with her homework" - (Ashley)
• "I won a stuffed kitty in the claw machine. A little girl only about five didn't. So I gave her mine." - (Lily)
• "I raised $2500 to support the hungry kids in Rwanda." - (annie pop)
• "Looking after my baby brother when my mum is ill." - (Erin)
• "I read to the blind!" - (Megan)
• "I rescued two puppies from being put down" - (Ix)
• "I helped my friend make up with another friend" - (Jasmyn)
• "i volunteer at my school with the special needs children” - (Bambii)

“There are a great many people in this world that do a whole lot of good, in this case one million instances. A Better World was created as a way to make positivity contagious,” said Gregory Hansell, VP of product development, ToonUps. “We like to think that each of the one million good deeds lead to a million others. As more users join our community of kindness, we really can create a better world for us all.”

About CURE: CURE International heals the sick and proclaims the Kingdom of God. It is the largest provider of reconstructive surgery to disabled children in the emerging world. Since opening the doors of its first surgical teaching hospital in Kijabe, Kenya in 1998, CURE's focus on bringing healing to developing nations has resulted in more than 1.5 million patient visits and over 121,000 surgeries to correct physically disabling conditions. CURE has also trained more than 2400 medical professionals raising the standard of care in the countries where it operates. Also, check out CURE’s plans to work with the Tim Tebow Foundation to build a children’s hospital in the Philippines.

About ToonUps: ToonUps is a digital entertainment company whose mission is to create online games and apps to brighten the world. ToonUps has created a rich array of products designed with the purpose of uplifting people through optimism, altruism and fun. From social gaming to business training, their innovative content brings these core themes to a variety of markets. ToonUps is headquartered in Wayne, PA.

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Facebook Gamers Do 1,000,000 Good Deeds to Help Kids Walk http://www.toonups.com/Blogengine/default.aspx?cat=pressreleases

Websites

A Better World Game: http://bit.ly/playABWgame

CURE: http://bit.ly/CUREorgABW

ToonUps: http://bit.ly/ToonUpsWebsite

Contacts

ToonUps
610-902-0070      
press@toonups.com

PHILADELPHIA, Dec 14, 2011 – During this time of year, most people look for ways to give back to those who are in need. How about a way to help children with disabilities across the world with simple acts of kindness?

A Better World, an online game focused around being positive and encouraging members of its community to support others in both the game and in the real world, has challenged its community to come together and do just that.

The “Reach for the Stars Community Goal” is to generate one milliongood deeds, acts of kindness or expressions of gratitude for positive things in their lives by Jan. 31, 2012. When the community reaches the mark by simply performing “do-good” activities and then reporting them within the game, $10,000 will be donated to CURE.org.  

The gift will fund medical operations for 10 children, allowing them to walk again or even for the first time. CURE.org identifies and helps children in third world countries who might otherwise never receive the medical attention they require. Visithttp://cure.org/abetterworldto see the 10 boys and girls the A Better World community will help to be able to walk when the goal is met.

“Our new ‘Reach for the Stars’ activities have been designed to promote a sense of goodwill and camaraderie among players. At least once a quarter, we will offer an opportunity for community members to work together to achieve something positive in the real world through activities within the game,” MarySue Hansell, COO of ToonUps, creator of A Better World, explains. “Our members have told us they love the idea of doing good for others, of being a part of an online community that is uplifting and values driven.”

CURE.org was chosen as the first beneficiary of the A Better World’s “Reach for the Stars” feature.

“We are thrilled to bring the positive emotional involvement that players love about A Better World to the real world to benefit children who have little hope of receiving the medical care they need,” Joel Worrall, Vice President, CURE.org, said. 

To join the game, players simply sign up for A Better World on Facebook, pick a character and start exploring.  All the areas in the game, including the Gratitude Grotto, the Sanctuary of Hope and the Department of Do Good provide opportunities to post “do-good” activities that contribute to the community goal. Examples could be donating groceries to a shelter, stopping by to talk to a lonely senior citizen, a household discussion about values with children or simply posting expressions of gratitude. All earn points for the player in game as well as counting toward the current community goal and donation to CURE.org.

An angel, holding a tracking meter, lets players see the progress of the community in reaching the goal with every “do-good” activity performed in game.  

CURE.org is a non-profit organization that operates hospitals and programs in 20 countries since 1998 for more than 80 million physically disabled children. Patients receive surgical treatment regardless of gender, religion, ethnicity or ability to pay.

A Better World was created by ToonUps, a digital entertainment company whose mission is to create online games and apps to brighten the world. Since the turn of the century, ToonUps has created a rich array of products in the business, prosumer and consumer marketplaces, all designed with the purpose of uplifting people through optimism, altruism and fun. From social gaming to business training, their innovative content brings these core themes to new markets. ToonUps is headquartered in Wayne, Penn. For more information, visit www.toonups.com.

Play A Better World at http://www.facebook.com/ABetterWorld

Screens at http://www.flickr.com/photos/47559592 @N05/sets/72157626620138503/

Trailer at http://www.youtube.com/user/ToonUpYourWorld 

SOURCE: ToonUps

Contacts

ToonUps
610-902-0070      
press@toonups.com