From Tired to Inspired -- FrogTape(R) and DIY Television Stars Revamp an Inner-City School's Lunchroom

AVON, OH--(Marketwired - Feb 19, 2014) - On January 21, FrogTape^® brand painter's tape unveiled a brand new cafeteria design for a Cleveland elementary school as part of the brand's Love for the Lunchroom cafeteria makeover program. In October 2013, the FrogTape team evaluated five schools within the Cleveland Metropolitan School District that were in major need of a lunchroom upgrade. After extensive review, Benjamin Franklin elementary school's cafeteria -- which once served as a bomb shelter in the basement of the building -- was selected for the first-ever Love for the Lunchroom makeover.

To spearhead the design and construction work, FrogTape enlisted their spokespersons, DIY television personality and interior designer Taniya Nayak, and Tom Bury, construction manager on Food Network's "Restaurant: Impossible."

The expert designer and skilled carpenter packed up their tools and headed to Cleveland to create a new space for the students over the extended Martin Luther King Jr. holiday weekend. With help from numerous volunteers, the team at Curb Appeal Painting and with tools provided by Taylor Rental, Nayak and Bury transformed the lunchroom from drab to fab in three days. On the morning of Tuesday, January 21, students returned to school and saw their new lunchroom for the first time.

"When the students came in the cafeteria for lunch it was so depressing for them," explains Nayak. "So for Tom and me, it was really important that the makeover truly transformed the space into one that's lively and fun for the students. We used feedback from the kids as our inspiration -- from wanting to incorporate their school colors, as well as different patterns and designs, we let those insights serve as our guide, and their input is clearly visible in the final look of the cafeteria."

Before the makeover, Benjamin Franklin's cafeteria was dreary with chipped paint along the walls and was described by students as an unpleasant place to dine. The colorless lunchroom has only two windows that provide minimal light, and when combined with the dull colors, the atmosphere was gloomy.

Since the lunchroom is a place where students go to socialize, relax and re-energize for the day, FrogTape, Nayak, Bury and volunteers revamped the room into an inspiring space filled with bright hues and fun patterns, that were created using FrogTape brand painter's tapes. Inspiring panels with words of encouragement were also hung on the cafeteria walls, as well as message boards to share the day's menu, school news and compliments from fellow students. Pillars within the lunchroom were adorned with a chevron pattern using FrogTape Shape Tape^™ -- the brand's first pre-cut, patterned painter's tape -- for a unique, decorative touch. To motivate students to think beyond their location, a wall of nine clocks set to various international times was also added to the cafeteria's design, reminding students of all that's happening around the world.

"Our company has always been involved in community service," said Bill Kahl, executive vice president of marketing, ShurTech Brands, LLC. "We know the importance of giving back, especially to our local area. We decided that a great way to get involved would be to provide a cafeteria transformation for a Cleveland school.

"By adding fresh paint and design, the cafeteria at Benjamin Franklin elementary school is now a cheerful, vibrant and energetic space where students can enjoy their lunch period. Seeing their smiles and the excitement the new lunchroom is bringing to this school is what the Love for the Lunchroom program is all about."

To help create the one-of-a-kind designs throughout the lunchroom, Nayak, Bury and the team of volunteers used a variety of FrogTape products. FrogTape is the only painter's tape treated with patented PaintBlock^® Technology, which reacts with latex paint and instantly forms a micro-barrier to seal the edges of the tape. This creates crisp lines and helps prevent paint bleed. There are a number of tapes available within the popular family of FrogTape products, including FrogTape Multi-Surface, FrogTape Delicate Surface, FrogTape Textured Surface and FrogTape Shape Tape.

To see the entire transformation, the students' reaction to seeing the cafeteria for the first time, or to learn more about the Love for the Lunchroom program, visit frogtape.com/lunchroom. For more information about any FrogTape products, visit frogtape.com.

About Taniya Nayak
Taniya has been a regular on HGTV mainstays like "Designed to Sell," "House Hunters on Vacation" and had guest appearances on "The Oprah Winfrey Show," "The Today Show," "The View," "Good Morning America" and "The Talk." Taniya can be seen on the Food Network series, "Restaurant: Impossible," which is currently in its sixth season. With experience on Food Network, HGTV and regular appearances on "The Rachael Ray Show," Taniya has quickly become a respected and prominent figure in television's interior design world and has a knack for bringing unexpected finishes together with practical, real-life functionality.

About Tom Bury
With a bachelor's degree in architecture and master's degree in construction, Tom Bury has been designing and building spaces for more than a decade. His projects range from multi-million dollar public and private sector buildings to private residences and everything in between. With a well-rounded background in construction, architecture and design, Tom can do it all. Tom is the Founder/Partner in Division 9 Design + Construction, L.P. which is both a design firm and construction company. Tom is best known for his most challenging project to date, working with Chef Robert Irvine as the lead construction manager on the Food Network series "Restaurant: Impossible."

FROGTAPE^® BRAND PRODUCTS
The FrogTape^® brand, marketed by ShurTech Brands, LLC, offers premium-quality, innovative painting tapes that feature PaintBlock^® Technology, a super-absorbent polymer that seals the edges of the tape, which keeps paint out and keeps lines sharp. For more information on FrogTape^®, visit frogtape.com; Like us on Facebook^® (facebook.com/frogtape); Follow us on Twitter^® (@frogtape); Follow our boards on Pinterest^® (pinterest.com/frogtape) or watch us on YouTube^® (youtube.com/frogtapetube).

SHURTECH BRANDS, LLC
ShurTech Brands, LLC, markets do-it-yourself tapes, office and housewares products under the Duck^®, FrogTape^®, Painter's Mate Green^®, Caremail^®, Easy Liner^® and Shurtape^® brands. The company is a subsidiary of Shurtape Technologies, LLC, Hickory, N.C., an industry-leading producer of pressure sensitive masking, duct, packaging and specialty tape products, with facilities in the United States, Canada, United Kingdom, Germany, Mexico, Peru, United Arab Emirates and China. Shurtape services numerous markets, including industrial, packaging, HVAC, professional paint, auto, marine, aerospace, arts and entertainment, and retail. Shurtape also manufactures and markets the Shurtape^® and Kip^® brands. Visit ShurTech.com for more information.

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