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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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

PHILADELPHIA, Nov 16, 2011 (BUSINESS WIRE) -- At Thanksgiving, most people take a few moments to say thanks for their many blessings and think about the things for which they are grateful. For all those looking to share their thoughts with others, check out A Better World, an uplifting Facebook game that's all about being positive and encouraging others to do good deeds and acts of kindness. The goal: collect one million expressions of thanks by the end of the holiday season.

Just in time for the holidays, ToonUps is offering the A Better World Gratitude Challenge. To participate, just visit the game and type in something that you're thankful for! ToonUps hopes to drive a million expressions of thanks and enrich the lives of thousands of families.

Psychologists and Preventative Medicine experts say expressing gratitude improves one's well-being.

In Thanks!: How the New Science of Gratitude Can Make You Happier, Dr. Robert Emmons of U.C. Davis discusses "a scientifically groundbreaking, eloquent look at how we benefit -- psychologically, physically, and interpersonally -- when we practice gratitude."

Stephen Post, author of Why Good Things Happen to Good People, talks about how being grateful for the little things in life can instantly change people's attitude and have a major impact on how they view the world. He talks about it in a video at http://www.5min.com/Video/Impact-of-Being-Grateful-for-Things-in-Life-516939622 .

To join the game, sign up for A Better World on Facebook, pick a character and start exploring. Then go to the Gratitude Grotto, where players can express their gratitude for any aspects of their lives, see what other players are thankful for and share the things they are most grateful for with their friends. Just click on the Monk character and you get rewarded with Do-Good Gold and Positive Points each time, which you can use to improve your game experience. And you can do it as often as you like!

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

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

SOURCE: ToonUps

Contacts

ToonUps
610-902-0070      
press@toonups.com

PHILADELPHIA - (BUSINESS WIRE) - A new, uplifting game that rewards players for acts of kindness in the real world as well as the virtual world of online play is attracting attention on Facebook. A Better World, a fun, engaging online place where all good deeds get rewarded, encourages positive thinking, compassion and support for others.

More than 100,000 Facebook players have discovered how fun it is to explore a world that focuses on positive messaging and family values, as well as reflecting on things one might be grateful for in life.

In a section of the game called the Sanctuary of Hope, users are greeted by an angel character asking them to reflect for a moment. In this safe environment, players can post their hopes and dreams for themselves or others. They can also read other entries and light a candle to show support for other members of the community.

Another featured location is the Gratitude Grotto, where users can express what they are thankful for and also give support to others. Messages posted by members of the community slowly cascade down a waterfall. Players can also view all their past personal entries engraved on a “My Expressions” rock next to the flowing water. Gamers receive “Do-Good Gold” for each hope, dream or thankful thought they support, in effect rewarding them for creating a better world for themselves and others.

Players report that being encouraged to think about things they are thankful for and performing good deeds that provide encouragement to others improves their mental, emotional and spiritual well-being.

“The players in our community tell us that they don’t just come back because A Better World is fun, but because the game has had a transformative effect on their lives,” MarySue Lucci, president, ToonUps, said. “Community members encourage each other. Players create a feedback loop of goodwill that spreads virally.”

A Better World was created by ToonUps, a digital entertainment company that has focused for more than a decade on developing digital products that encourage a positive outlook and altruistic behavior.

Sign up to play A Better Worldfree at http://www.facebook.com/ABetterWorld

Screens at http://www.flickr.com/photos/47559592@N05/sets/72157627272296509/

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

Contacts

PHILADELPHIA - (BUSINESS WIRE) - A Better World,a game that rewards players not just for in-game activities but also for real world acts of kindness and expressions of gratitude, is launching on Facebook.

A Better World,which has soared to more than 78,000 players in beta, adds a new layer of social activity to casual gaming. Gameplay activities are designed to help everyone who participates feel better about themselves, be supportive of others and make positive choices in their everyday lives. Players also can play mini games with inspirational themes; have fun shopping; and personalize their characters and virtual spaces.

The game offers more than 15 locations to explore, including:

• Department of Do Good – Share real world good deeds you’ve performed and see what other members of the community have done
• Gratitude Grotto – Reveal what you are thankful for and express your support for messages left by others
• Sanctuary of Hope – Communicate your hopes and dreams and send encouragement to other players
• Arcade – Play uplifting mini-games alone or with friends

“The model for Facebook games has always been virtual activities – even when the games deal with real world issues,” Gregory Hansell, VP of product development, ToonUps, explains. “A Better World breaks that mold. We encourage players to take positive actions that affect those around them – both in the virtual world and in the real world.”

A Better World’s original approach could usher in a new genre of “do good gaming.”

Beta players report that being encouraged to think about things they are thankful for and doing activities that provide encouragement to others improves their mental, emotional and spiritual well being.

“Our beta players tell us that they don’t just come back because A Better World is fun, but because the game has had a transformative effect on their lives,” MarySue Lucci, president, ToonUps, said. “Community members encourage each other. Players create a feedback loop of goodwill that feeds on itself.”

A Better World was created by ToonUps, a digital entertainment company that has focused on developing digital content that encourages a positive outlook and altruistic behavior for more than a decade.

Play A Better Worldat http://www.facebook.com/ABetterWorld

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

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

Photos/Multimedia Gallery Available: http://www.businesswire.com/cgi-bin/mmg.cgi?eid=6728288&lang=en

Contacts