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Fans voted for HOPELights Magazine in the American Express OPEN and Facebook Who Deserves a "Facebook Big Break for Small Business" July 27, 2011- HOPELights Magazine is one of five small businesses headed to Palo Alto, CA to meet with Facebook and to learn how to make social media work for them. Out of more than 11,000 entries, HOPELights Magazine has been chosen as one of five to win the "Facebook Big Break for Small Business" contest. The five winners will receive $20,000 to help them optimize their social media presence and grow their businesses. Background: American Express OPEN and Facebook teamed up to create the "Facebook Big Break for Small Business" contest to give five small business owners access to social media experts. Through one-on-one consultations in a classroom setting, the five winners will share their best practices and receive valuable insights from Facebook executives to help them better leverage Facebook in their marketing. The content will be available on OPEN Forum, American Express' award-winning online resource and networking site for small business owners. To enter the "Facebook Big Break for Small Business" contest, small business owners submitted answers to a short questionnaire describing how they would utilize the competition's winnings to better their business. From the more than 11,000 entrants, a panel of judges including Laura Fink of American Express, Adele Cooper of Facebook, Guy Kawasaki of Alltop and John Battelle of Federated Media chose ten finalists based on the following criteria: commitment to their business and growth; overall social media need where Facebook could improve their business; and energy and enthusiasm for small business. Fans of American Express OPEN's Facebook page then voted for their five favorite small businesses based on videos of the business owners explaining why they deserved to win. All ten finalists won $2,500 in Facebook advertising to help them target and acquire new customers. The HOPELights Magazine is the first of its kind developed specifically to support the sensory needs of "differently-abled" youth. Subscribers supply information about the child recipient's diagnosis of Autism, Down syndrome, Cerebral Palsy, MR, Spina Bifida, or Muscular Dystrophy including their reading comprehension level and name. Information collected via a secure web portal at the time of subscription is used to digitally print a customized and personalized issue monthly for each child. Most importantly, the child's name appears in large print on the cover and is included within the activities in each issue. The content includes a unique blend of real-world photography, gestalt learning methodology, sheet music integrated with color and reading trace, harmonic color synchronization that makes learning easier, easy exercises, which promote self-confidence and fun. Joyful inspirations for children with special needs and learning are generated with the anticipation of a monthly magazine built just for that them. The entire process is known as Gentle Methods™. The Digital Innovations Group, founded in 2003 and located in Richmond, Virginia is a technology infrastructure partner for HOPElights Magazine. DIG provides website and variable data programming for the monthly publication. DIG’s President Kate Dunn will make the trip to Facebook headquarters with HOPElights founder Dawn Grosvenor. The Digital Innovations Group works with organizations from around the world to achieve specific marketing and sales objectives. With more than 35 case studies published since 2003, DIG is a recognized leader in the development and execution of personalized communication for businesses, donors and employees.
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