PHILADELPHIA, PA--(Marketwire - Feb 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.
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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
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Michael Becce
MRB Public Relations
(732) 758-1100 x104