Nestl? Very Best In Youth Program Honors 23 Teens For Their Outstanding Achievements

Glendale, Calif. (PRWEB) March 29, 2011

Twenty-three teenagers have been selected to receive the title of ?2011 Nestl? Very Best In Youth? for their academic achievements and exceptional community service, ranging from humanitarian relief efforts to protecting endangered species. In its 14th year, the program recognizes young people who have demonstrated leadership and initiative to positively impact the world.

The Nestl? Very Best In Youth winners will be profiled in a book ?Making a Difference Today for a Better Tomorrow,? which will be distributed to schools and community organizations in the U.S. Additionally, each teen will receive $ 1,000 to contribute to a charity or project of their choosing and flown to Los Angeles, California in July for the red-carpet award ceremony.

Nearly 3,500 entries consisting of essays and letters of recommendation were submitted to Nestl? USA for consideration in this year?s competition. In-depth coverage of this year?s finalists can be found at http://www.nestle-verybestinyouth.com/winners.

Nestl? is also proud to recognize two elementary school students from its national Adopt-A-School program as the recipients of the Nestl? Very Best In Youth/Adopt-A-School Essay Competition award. Isaac Taylor from East Elementary School in Pendleton, IN and Taite Pierson from Eagle Rock Elementary School, Los Angeles, CA were chosen for their strong academic records, good citizenship and leadership skills. Each 6th grader will receive $ 1,000 to donate to a charity of their choice, be profiled in the Nestl? Very Best In Youth book, and join in the Nestl? Very Best In Youth festivities.

Nestl? USA has selected NBA All-star Blake Griffin as this year?s Nestl? Very Best In Youth spokesperson. Blake, only 22 years old himself, is passionate about using his success to be a positive role model for kids. ?It takes a strong work ethic to get people rallied behind a cause, and I am excited to join Nestl? in celebrating the inspiring accomplishments of these incredible kids.?

?Blake?s dedication to helping kids mirror Nestl??s commitment to deliver Good Food, Good Life to the neighborhoods where we live and work through education and community programs,? said Kenneth Bentley, Vice President of Community Affairs & Workforce Diversity for Nestl? USA. ?These teens are dedicated and motivated to improve the world around them through impactful community programs and accomplishments,? continued Bentley.

Accomplishments like those of Emily Zauzmer of Dresher, PA., who created a web-based charity to raise awareness and funds for food allergy research. Or Rujul Zaparde of Plainsboro, NJ, who has enlisted dozens of schools to provide easier access to drinking water in India though the purchase of water tube-wells.

About Nestl? USA

Named one of ?The World?s Most Admired Food Companies? in Fortune magazine for fourteen consecutive years, Nestl? provides quality brands and products that bring flavor to life every day. From nutritious meals with LEAN CUISINE? to baking traditions with NESTL? TOLL HOUSE?, Nestl? USA makes delicious, convenient, and nutritious food and beverage products that make good living possible. That?s what ?Nestl?. Good Food, Good Life? is all about. Nestl? USA, with 2010 sales of $ 10.4 billion, is part of Nestl? S.A. in Vevey, Switzerland ? the world?s largest food company with a commitment to Nutrition, Health & Wellness ? with 2010 sales of $ 105 billion. For product news and information, visit Nestleusa.com or NestleNewsroom.com.

About Blake Griffin

Selected first overall by the Los Angeles Clippers, rookie Blake Griffin is taking the NBA by storm and breaking records every step of the way. Known for his high-flying dunks and unwavering physicality, Griffin competed on the 2011 NBA All-Star Team, the first rookie All-Star voted to the game by coaches since Tim Duncan in 1998. He also took first prize in the Sprite Slam Dunk Contest and participated in the T-Mobile Rookie Challenge & Youth Jam. A highlight reel sensation equipped with the size, strength, quickness and skill to keep his household name buzz-worthy for many years to come, Griffin has transformed the Clippers into a must-watch franchise. A native of Oklahoma City, Okla., the 6?9? power forward attended the University of Oklahoma, where he was one of the highest rated and most decorated recruits in Sooners history. A media magnet, Griffin already has earned numerous accolades, including the Oscar Robertson Trophy, Adolph Rupp Trophy, John Wooden Award, Naismith Award, Sports Illustrated Player of the Year, multiple NBA Western Conference T-Mobile Rookie of the Month honors and many more. Follow Blake on Twitter @blakegriffin or go to http://www.blakegriffin.com to learn more.

The 2011 Nestl? Very Best In Youth Award Recipients are:

Carah Austin, Whiteland, IN - Age 17 - Carah, who suffers from spinal meningitis, is an avid reader and award winning writer. She is actively involved in several foundations including Find A Book A Home, which establishes libraries in local hospitals and other venues. Her History Makers Of The Future program sends needy children to a National Landmark District to study Indiana history.

Amy Chyao, Richardson, TX - Age 17 - This National AP Scholar and cellist was a guest of President Obama?s White House Science Fair. She is currently researching a cancer treatment while donating countless hours to her Spell Success community service study group for kids.

Matthew Ferguson, Hillsboro, OR ? Age 16 - After suffering the loss of a childhood friend, and his mother?s diagnoses with invasive breast cancer, this Sophomore Class President, 4-H member and school football player established Matt?s Chemo Bags Foundation which provides amenity kits to women undergoing chemotherapy treatments.

Samantha Fernandez, Coral Gables, FL ? Age 16 - Featured in a Lifetime Television program, A Balancing Act, about the lives of inspirational teens; Samantha founded Pick-a-Pick, a guitar pick jewelry line whose proceeds are donated to underprivileged ill children. A guitar player herself, she organized the Rock Steady Concert event to further benefit her cause.

Walid Halty, Revere, MA ? Age 16 - Achieving academic excellence in science, Spanish language and mathematics, Walid, who suffers from Crohn?s disease, is the founder of Global Awareness: Global Action which supplies aid to the needy in third world nations.

Armani Hawes, Bloomfield Hills, MI ? Age 18 - A special needs advocate at an early age, Armani?s compassion for children with autism and other disabilities led her to spearhead multiple fundraisers that raised over $ 10K for local organizations such as the Judson Center and the Salvation Army.

Hillary Hughes, Bedford, NH ? Age 16 ? Hillary is the Founder of Color My World: Kids Who Care, a charity that has provided thousands of humanitarian kits to families in Haiti and Chile. She has received numerous accolades for her environmental projects as well as her volunteer work.

Samantha Malis, Merrick, NY ? Age 17 - Recipient of President Obama?s Volunteer Service Award and member of the National Honor Society, this varsity athlete founded the charity One is Greater than None (1>0) to provide funds for the rescue and care of enslaved children in Ghana.

Abigail Mariam, Apple Valley, CA ? Age 17 - An AP Scholar with Distinction and Jr. Statesman of American Director of Debate, Abigail received a scholarship from the Holocaust Remembrance Project. She is a familiar face at St. Mary Medical Center where she volunteers her time to comfort patients and their families.

Mary McGlynn, Belleville, IL ? Age 17 - Recognized as a finalist for the World of Children Youth Award, Mary Claire has logged over 5,000 hours of community service, including serving as the founder of NETWork Against Malaria, providing bed nets to combat this disease.

Clay McMullen, Chesterland, OH ? Age 16 - Winner of multiple awards for environmental conservation projects, Clay was named Ohio?s Youth Conservationist of the Year. An academic all-star and athlete, he participates in fencing, football and golf for his school teams.

Kylan Nieh, Fremont, CA ? Age 18 - Valedictorian, Student Body President, and 6-Varsity Letter athlete, this UC Berkeley freshman co-founded the non-profit organization Internetting Family to teach senior citizens basic computer skills, enabling them to communicate with loved ones.

Carissa Ortega, Littleton, CO ? Age 17 - An athlete, singer and A student, Carissa?s mission to Sierra Leone, West Africa provided materials and moral support to their school for the blind. Her fund-raising efforts benefit the Kabala School for the Blind.

Stevie Peacock, Venice, FL ? Age 17 - An Olympic Torchbearer and Ambassador Girl Scout, this multi-Congressional award winner helped fund a school in Cambodia and also created Project KINDNESS, which provides school supplies to victims of disasters like Hurricane Katrina.

Parth Singh, Jenks, OK ? Age 16 - Key Club Lieutenant Governor and debate team leader, Parth co-founded the Youth United Program for Tulsa?s Habitat for Humanity. Additionally, his Soles for Souls foundation aims to provide those in need with 10,000 pairs of shoes.

Kylie Tumiatti, West Melbourne, FL ? Age 15 - A Duke TIP (Talent Identification Program) Scholar and accomplished writer, Kylie has received the President?s Academic and Service Awards. Kylie?s spirit and drive have led her to participate in numerous community service projects including Operation Hope, benefiting the children of migrant workers.

Alec Urbach, Roslyn Heights, NY ? Age 15 - A columnist, film maker and cellist, Alec founded Giving From The Ground Up which creates educational videos for children worldwide. He is currently working on a documentary about a boy?s struggle to survive in a poverty-wracked village in Ghana.

Max Wallack, Natick, MA ? Age 14 - An award winning inventor of several aid-giving devices like the Home Dome, a disaster-relief shelter, Max is also the founder of Puzzles To Remember, an organization that distributes puzzles to Alzheimer?s patients at Veterans? facilities and nursing homes.

Carson Wigley, Salisbury, MD ? Age 17 - A Congressional Award winner, Carson is an honor student, Varsity athlete and accomplished writer. Her foundation Shine Now conducts reading fairs and provides books to neighborhoods statewide.

Warren Wilson, Destin, FL ? Age 17 - As an Eagle Scout, Warren?s community service project started with refurbishing a Battered Women?s Shelter and soon expanded to involve work at orphanages in Haiti. Scoring a perfect 36 on the ACT, he is also a member of the FL Academics Tournament and National Forensics League.

Christopher Yao, Jericho, NY ? Age 14 - The founder of Kids Change America, Christopher inspires and directs kids to start their own initiatives and non-profit organizations. Through his own website development and design talents, Christopher has raised thousands of dollars, some of which benefit Smile Train, a group that provides cleft palate surgery to children worldwide.

Rujul Zaparde, Plainsboro, NJ ? Age 16 - A scholar of Latin and Classic literature, Rujul, along with a classmate founded Drinking Water For India to build tube-wells in villages where the nearest potable water was miles away. His group has enlisted dozens of U.S. schools to raise funds for over 30 of the tube-wells which cost nearly $ 1,000 each.

Emily Zauzmer, Dresher, PA ? Age 14 - Suffering from severe food allergies, Emily started EZ Greetings, a web-based charity that raises awareness and funds for food allergy research. She not only lends her voice to the program, but has performed at pro ball games and similar large venues.

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All Snugpak?s Sleeping Bags are Now Supplied in Their Own Compression Stuff Sacks

(PRWEB) March 8, 2011

Snugpak, Europe?s sole sleeping bag manufacturer, now include their entire range of sleeping bags in the products supplied with their own compression stuff sack.

Snugpak have an enviable reputation for the quality of their sleeping bags and outdoor clothing and equipment. They are the last European manufacturer of sleeping bags within Europe with the renowned Softie range.

Snugpak make their Softie high-quality sleeping bags in the UK using state-of-the-art machinery for quilting and traditional sewing techniques for assembly.

The Softie sleeping bag ranges use combinations of high-tech Paratex fabrics, space-age Reflectatherm technology and exclusive Softie Premier insulation to ensure years of effective use.

The Snugpak Softie Chrysalis range, including the Snugpak Softie Autumn Three-Season Sleeping Bag, is the most versatile in the Snugpak catalogue.

The Chrysalis sleeping bags offer the ability to respond to warmer conditions by expanding the bag considerably. A stretchy panel of insulated material can be unfolded to give more room and therefore to have cooler air around the body. The reverse operation is then also of course available should you wish to counter a drop in temperature.

Like all Snugpak sleeping bags, the Softie ranges are supplied in compression stuff sacks.

Snugpak sleeping bags cater for all needs and price ranges.

There are very popular entry-level Snugpak sleeping bags such as The Sleeping Bag and the Navigator but despite their lower price, these bags still show off their Snugpak heritage with the quality of the materials and construction, integrated pocket and left and right hand options.

The Snugpak Sleeper series introductory bags for the Performance range feature highly siliconised synthetic fibres that give a soft touch and prolonged lifespan compared to traditional hollowfibre-filled products.

Travellers are very well catered for by Snugpak sleeping bags through the TravelPak range of lightweight bags (from 850 to 1100 grams).

Families are not forgotten either with the Snugpak Laponie collection of sleeping bags for adults. The range includes female-specific and child-specific bags with appropriate anatomical and length adjustments to the standard fit and the junior version has a choice of square or mummy shape.

Snugpak have an enviable reputation among the armed forces for their Code Green range of military sleeping bags that includes the stunning Antarctica RE with its extreme temperature rating of -50?C.

Finally, Snugpak support their sleeping bags with a range of liners in different materials, such as fleece, silk, Thermalon and cotton, to increase the versatility and temperature range of any of their bags.

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HeatedTowelRails.co.uk Warm Some Towels With Their Latest Product Additions

(PRWEB UK) 3 January 2012

The company specialises in a range of heated towel rails for the bathroom. With varieties including electric towel rails and central heating towel rails, there?s something for everyone. Heated Towel Rails even stocks a range of designer rails with some fantastic sleek, modern designs. There?s definitely something to meet all tastes.

Scott Morris, E-Commerce Manager, at Heated Towel Rails said: ?When uploading new products to the website we want to ensure we provide as much detail as we can. That obviously includes high quality images and technical specifications as well as descriptions. We really want to make the customer feel comfortable when buying from us, so we keep this in mind when organising the products on our site.?

Heated towel radiators provide a touch of elegant design to any bathroom and will certainly be desired by those who see them. Often used in place of a traditional radiator, they provide the perfect combination of functionality and good design, allowing you to hang towels over them to warm up or dry. They will definitely be appreciated, especially during the colder months. They are available in a range of finishes including chrome, stainless steel and white.

The new range of products now available on Heated Towel Rails includes some fantastically designed central heating towel rails. These can be mounted at ground level as you would a radiator or higher up on the wall providing a beautiful and sleek point of focus for your bathroom.

Lee Taylor, General Manager, at Heated Towel Rails said: ?These towel rails are great. There are some seriously beautiful models and I find it extremely hard to pick a favourite. They all do their job brilliantly and look amazing. They?re also really durable so you can be confident about buying one. We offer models from excellent manufacturers such as Reina and The Sussex Range so customers are getting really high quality when they buy from us.?

Tim Hodge, Website Administrator, added: ?These new models fit in perfectly with the existing website taxonomy. Once we ensured the descriptions and images for each product were as good as they can be they were placed seamlessly into the correct groups and categories, meaning customers can navigate the site effortlessly. By employing our knowledge of the products as well as internet marketing strategies such as search engine optimisation, we believe we?re onto a winning formula. Not only that, but customers should love the products we?re now offering, especially as we provide all the detail and information to make buying from us as comfortable an experience as picking out a model from a store or showroom.?

Heated Towel Rails is part of the Plumbworld Network. Plumbworld was an early pioneer of online trading, started by James and Anita Hickman in 1999 and was sold to the Grafton Group PLC in December 2006, Plumbworld now employs more than 50 people in its purpose built warehouse and offices and boasts an astonishing 50+ websites selling everything from decorating tools and bathrooms to barbecues and even a multifuel stove. The business has a turnover in excess of ?18 million and is growing at more than 20% year on year.

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London Calling! Americana Manhasset Presents Their 2010 Fall Fashion Campaign and Video

Manhasset, Long Island, NY (PRWEB) August 11, 2010

This month, Americana Manhasset debuts its ultra-mod, 64-page Fall Fashion Book, shot entirely in London. Fall ready-to-wear, accessories and jewelry from the most luxurious brands in the world are captured in a vibrant and stylish look book. Beginning in August 12th, the images will also be featured front and center on Americana?s website. In conjunction with the still images, Americana Manhasset will debut on the website a 30-second cinematic video entitled, ?Chelsea Girl.?

The campaign, photographed, produced and styled by Laspata/DeCaro, stars top editorial models Edita Vilkeviciute and Andrew Cooper. Embodying London?s metropolitan looks, Americana?s gal and guy about town seamlessly transform from chic Westminster highbrows to stylish West End hipsters. The Beatles, the Queen and Winston Churchill all make "cameo" appearances, adding cheeky humour to the sophisticated imagery.

"The powerful and diverse looks prevalent on the runways provided us with inspiration for Americana Manhasset's Fall Book,? said Charles DeCaro. ?We envisioned a strong, energetic and creative woman with a confident style all her own. We chose different settings throughout London depending on each look, allowing the fashion and respective designers' messages to shine." From Fendi and Chanel to Tory Burch and Theory, each brand enjoys a unique image that also works as part of the whole.

The book is direct-mailed exclusively to 150,000 households. The print campaign will also appear in a 4-page insert in W Magazine?s September issue as well as in a spread in the Women?s Fall Fashion issue of The New York Times T Magazine.

Video has become an integral part of Americana?s campaigns. ?Chelsea Girl,? inspired in part by the classic British film, ?Georgy Girl,? is a fun and flirty short film that epitomizes the energy of the season. In addition, the pages of the book come to life via a video look book on americanamanhasset.com, where the looks can be viewed in motion, up-close and from multiple views.

Additional images from the 2010 Fall Book are available upon request. For more details, don?t forget to check Americana Manhasset?s Blog and Facebook page.

About Americana Manhasset:

Americana Manhasset is a premier collection of over 60 fine shops, including Prada, Gucci, Ralph Lauren, Cartier, Louis Vuitton, Herm?s, Van Cleef & Arpels, Dior, Hirshleifers and more, all within a unique outdoor environment designed by renowned architect Peter Marino and landscape designer Oehme van Sweden. Americana Manhasset offers a complimentary Personal Shopping Service, a remarkable luxury fashion and gift resource. Located on Long Island?s beautiful North Shore, Americana Manhasset is 20 miles from Manhattan and 50 miles from the Hamptons.

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Online Specialty Retailer Bows-n-Ties Guides Groomsmen to Their Perfect Wedding Outfit

San Francisco, CA (PRWEB) February 10, 2010

Newly launched retailer Bows-n-Ties.com makes it easier for couples to coordinate their wedding colors. The website features thousands of neck and bow ties that are sorted into 19 popular wedding color categories. As exciting it is to get married planning a wedding gives most couples plenty of head and heartache. From day one on there is pressure that everything has to be perfect -- from the dress to the floral arrangements. To add to the complexity most weddings follow a strict color theme.

"As great as it may seem at first, having everything fit a few specific colors really limits people's choices", says Hendrik Pohl owner and founder of Bows-n-Ties.com. Pohl has been in the necktie business for half a decade, and he has always noticed that couples had a difficult time matching the groomsmen's neckties to the color of the bridesmaids' dresses. Then, just in time for the wedding season 2010, he launched his latest website Bows-N-Ties.com - a website that will make it easy to find the perfect matching necktie or bow tie. By now the site features over a 1,000 different neckties which are sorted into 19 different color families. Also expanding is the selection of extra long ties and kids ties. That way "the entire wedding party, regardless of age, height, and weight can wear the exact same necktie", explains Pohl.

"We noticed that we give customers almost too many choices", says Pohl who points to the company's flexible return policy. "Now, for the first time customers have so many options on mens ties that we have to offer a '60-day no questions asked' return policy. We actually encourage our customers to order as many ties as they like and then return the ones that are not the perfect match," says Pohl.

To ensure that the website always features the most recent color trends, Bows-n-Ties.com attends annual bridal shows, has formed partnerships with several other online bridal retailers, and regularly writes for online wedding blogs as well as participates in wedding forums and message boards. When we asked Pohl about the most popular wedding color he points to a bright orange tie. "In the past few weeks almost 40% of all our sales are for bright orange neckties followed by the colors bright apple green, fuchsia, hot pink, and the common classics such as champagne, ivory, and cream," says Pohl.

Even though ties and bow ties is the websites main focus, customers can also choose from a wide range of handkerchiefs and cuff links. In addition, the site features a growing section with information on how to tie a necktie, how to fold a handkerchief, tying bow ties, dress code advice, and general men's fashion tips and style trends.

Bows-n-Ties.com is a wholly owned subsidiary of San Francisco based company United E-Commerce, LLC. For more information on Bows-n-TIes.com please contact Hendrik Pohl.

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The Newest Fad for This Year?s Back-To-School in Jewelry? OrientalPearls.Net Thinks It's Got a Handle on It for Teens and Preteens Girls on Their Way Back To School

San Diego, CA (PRWEB) August 24, 2011

Whether there?s a dress code or not at any given school, whether the current rage is emo, hip or glam, teen girls on their way back to school always give the freshwater pearl jewelry business a little bump.

One year it?s all about the earrings, and pearl studs, pearl drop earrings and even gorgeous chandelier pearl earrings drip from the lobes of middle-schoolers up to seniors. The next season may trend to chunky pearl bangles or simple pearl bracelets, or rows of peanut pearls twisted to blend shimmering colors around adolescent wrists.

?We?ve seen fads take hold and suddenly every girl in the country is dying for that one special look,? says Lan Toma, spokesperson for wholesale pearl jewelry and freshwater pearls company OrientalPearls.net. ?Maybe it?s long strands of multi-colored rice pearls to loop around their neck one day, and then a few months later everyone?s wearing pearl chokers to the school dance. It?s a challenge to anticipate what the next big trend will be!?

That?s a challenge OrientalPearls.net is prepared to face, with a stock of thousands of pearl jewelry pieces and the ability to produce any custom order a client can imagine. In honor of back to school, the company has also made some of their most popular items even more affordable for the back to school sale.

Teens and pre-teens can choose from a selection that includes pearl drop silver earrings for $ 3.97 a pair only, which features green baroque pearls with a pewter charm depicting a flower, ladybug, teddy bear or purse, with 925 sterling silver ear wires dangling for sensitive ears. Alternately, they can pick a dangling cluster of pearls in light green, baby pink, or cranberry.

?These colors did really well in plain stud pearl earrings this past spring,? says Toma. ?Teens love the fresh colors and we think the new designs will be perfect for fall and back to school.? The sale ends on September 10, 2011.

http://www.OrientalPearls.net is a branch of C.D. Plus, Inc., an established California corporation, which also operates a wholesale pearl division. OrientalPearls.net provides the marketplace with freshwater pearls and fine pearl jewelry directly from pearl farms and operates an in-house manufacturing unit. Its headquarters are in San Diego with offices in China and representatives worldwide. The organization has an impeccable record with the BBB. For more information, log on to http://www.OrientalPearls.net or call Lan Toma, spokeswoman, at (619) 405-8044.

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Local Community Heroes Receive their 2012 New Beetle from Oprah and LAcarGUY

Los Angeles, CA (PRWEB) October 14, 2011

LAcarGUY?s Volkswagen Santa Monica and Pacific Volkswagen dealerships handed over the keys to the newly redesigned 2012 Beetle to three local Oprah Winfrey fans as part of the show?s ?Ultimate Favorite Things? giveaway.

These lucky fans were given the surprise of their lives during a November 2010, Oprah ?Ultimate Favorite Things? episode, when audience members, all specially selected community heroes, found out that they would be receiving a brand new 2012 Beetle.

Excited to participate in such a deserving promotion, LAcarGUY?s Volkswagen Santa Monica was proud to give Gina Elise, the ?calendar angel,? her new, Silver 2012 Beetle. Gina is the founder of http://www.PinUpsForVets.com, a project that supports hospitalized Veterans and deployed troops. The other local recipients were a couple, Evelyn and Rob Calib, who picked up their Red and Blue 2012 Beetles at Pacific Volkswagen. Evelyn is a breast cancer survivor who started a non-profit, Evelyn?s Breast Friends Forever! to provide support to other women going through the same journey (http://www.evsbff.org). See video of winners here.

Redesigned for only the second time in history, the sportier 2.5L 2012 Beetle is a modern interpretation of the iconic Beetle design. Balancing classic beauty with a contemporary edge and enhanced performance, the 2012 Beetle provides an exhilarating driving experience.

?LAcarGUY is thrilled to offer Los Angeles the 2012 Beetle, reborn and re-engineered for the 21st century,? said Mike Sullivan, Owner of LAcarGUY. ?I?m especially pleased that we are giving these Beetles away to such a deserving group of local heros.?

About LAcarGUY

The LAcarGUY family of dealerships has been a Los Angeles fixture since "Sully" Sullivan opened his first dealership, Volkswagen Santa Monica in 1964. Today, LAcarGUY includes 10 award-winning dealerships throughout Los Angeles and a state-of-the-art body shop. Known for its outstanding customer service, long-term relationships, and word-of-mouth marketing, LAcarGUY is the first choice when shopping for a new or used car. As a local family-owned business, LAcarGUY is recognized as a prominent supporter of community events, charitable organizations and environmental causes. As the number one hybrid dealer in the world, LAcarGUY is proud to lead the industry to a greener automotive future. For more information about the Oprah New Beetle giveaway at Pacific Volkswagen and Volkswagen Santa Monica, contact Brad Burlingham at 310-531-9400.

The 2012 Beetle

Featuring a lower, more aggressive stance, and an increased width for better handling, the 2012 Beetle was built to perform. The 2012 Beetle is also longer for increased interior space, and customizable through Volkswagen?s second skin program which allows customers to design their 2012 Beetle with an array of accessories for interior and exterior personalization (i.e. customers can ?wrap? their vehicle in race-inspired graphics).

The 2.5L Beetle has a starting MSRP of $ 18,995 plus destination fees, and comes standard with a split folding rear seat, aux-in for portable audio players, a leather steering wheel, unique and customizable17-inch alloy wheels, and an eight-speaker audio system. Attractive options include a kaeferfach additional glove box, Bluetooth? technology, iPod? connectivity, heated front seats, three-color interior ambient lighting, a panoramic sunroof, 18-inch alloy wheels, the Fender? Premium Audio System, and leatherette seating surfaces.

The 2.0L Turbo Beetle, which has a starting MSRP of $ 23,395, comes standard with a six-speed manual transmission, with the option of Volkswagen?s DSG? dual-clutch automatic transmission. In addition to the standard equipment found on the Beetle, this model adds Bluetooth? technology, iPod? connectivity, three-color ambient lighting, larger brakes with red calipers, the kaeferfach additional glove box, sport seating surfaces, 18-inch alloy wheels, a rear spoiler, fog lights, three additional gauges in the dashboard, and alloy pedals.

The all-new Beetle is covered under the no-charge Carefree Maintenance Program. All scheduled maintenance is covered for the length of the New Vehicle Warranty?three years or 36,000 miles, whichever occurs first.

For more information on the 2012 Beetle models, including additional trim options, vehicle specifications and images, visit http://media.vw.com/models/beetle.

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Minted Announces the Winners of their '$1000 Blogger Wedding Program Challenge'

San Francisco, CA (PRWEB) June 08, 2011

To celebrate the launch of their new wedding program offerings, Minted (http://www.minted.com ), the online store powered by a global design community, hosted the ?$ 1,000 Blogger Wedding Program Challenge?. Minted mailed bloggers uniquely designed, folded, do-it-yourself wedding programs, each designed by a Minted designer, to see what they could come up with - what was turned in was nothing short of brilliant.

Minted is pleased to announce the grand prize winner of the ?$ 1,000 Blogger Program Challenge?, Iowa-based designer Meg Gleason of Moglea for her Washi tape entry. ?Meg?s entry is elegant with just a touch of edge,? says Minted CEO and founder Mariam Naficy. ?We love that the work of our indie designers inspired such a high-level of participation and so much creativity from the vibrant blogging world.?

Meg Gleason, grand prize winner, loved the idea of customizing a Minted wedding program to reflect a bride?s personal style. ?Minted's unique wedding programs offer a perfect blank canvas for each couple to build upon and apply their own personal style and creative expression,? says Gleason, who also happens to be a Minted designer.

?Often the programs are one of the last tasks the bride and groom complete, so I loved how easy it was to put my Washi tape entry together,? says Gleason. ?It is simple, and the layering of multi-patterned tapes is beautiful. Something even the groom can do!?

Meg Gleason of Moglea will receive $ 1,000 for her silver Washi tape entry, which also featured program pages resembling lace at the bottom.

Minted offers brides three wedding program formats for a gorgeous, pulled-together look:

????The Minibook? Cards feature four separate pages bound by grommets with four to seven photos. The Minibook? Cards and DIY options offer more room for reading text, song lyrics, detailed ceremony explanation or a note from the couple.
????Flat cards are a very easy and elegant way to share the important people and readings of a couple?s special day, and perfect for brides with minimal text.
????The folded, do-it-yourself programs offer room for creative binding and embellishment and have a cover for pages that brides can print themselves from Minted?s online templates.

?We are excited to be able to offer brides a wide assortment of uniquely designed wedding paper pieces?from save the date cards and wedding invitations programs, place cards and thank you notes. Minted is the one-stop shop for brides who want perfect coordination, but not a cookie-cutter wedding,? says Naficy. ?We give brides a wedding designed just for them with endless options for personalization.?

The two runner-ups, in no particular order, were entered by Sarah Matthews of Orange Blossom Ink and Victoria Hudgins of A Subtle Revelry. Sarah?s design featured a twine and button binding, as well as a handkerchief tied to the back of the program for all those happy tears. The handkerchief doubles as a sweet party favor. Victoria?s design focused on multi-colored brads. Both Sarah and Victoria will receive $ 500 Minted gift certificates.

The difference between Victoria Hudgin?s brads and Meg Gleason?s Washi on the same Charming Go Lightly by Cheree Berry wedding program demonstrates how one Minted program can be taken in different directions and create a truly personalized wedding experience.

Minted?s step-by-step DIY wedding program guide on creating your DIY wedding program and downloadable wedding program templates will make the bloggers' ideas easy for brides the world over to recreate.

About Minted?s Design Challenges:

Minted's mission is to allow consumers to discover design genius from all over the world, providing an opportunity for designers to build their careers on merit alone. Minted holds monthly design challenges to source designs from a large global community of designers. The Minted community selects the best designs in a highly competitive and meritocratic process, yielding a top selection of the freshest, finest cards in the world. To that end, Minted's 2010 holiday card competition was the company's biggest challenge yet: almost half a million votes were cast for 1,370 designs, and the top contenders were chosen by Minted's community for sale.

About Minted:

Minted is a venture-backed design community and online store, crowd-sourcing graphic designs and content from a global design community and selling those as premium printed paper products initially focused on the $ 10 billion stationery, invitations, and cards market.

Minted has radically transformed what consumers now expect in holiday cards, wedding invitations, save the dates, birth announcements, baby shower invitations, business cards, and other personal stationery. The company's paper and printing is of the highest quality and it leads the market with the freshest designs, newest formats and most coveted details. Minted's fresh, unique designs have been featured on The Today Show, The Early Show, in Real Simple, Town & Country, InStyle Weddings, Food & Wine and other major national magazines.

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