As 2011 draws to a close I’m taking a minute to reflect on all the amazing things that have happened this past year. It’s been an incredible year and so many good things have happened. Here’s a few of the highlights for me:
*In just one year, we have given away over 12,800 prizes to kids and families in West Michigan.
*We are blessed to have loyal viewers who join us each week for “Where You Live” where we have shared some incredible stories, explored some wonderful family fun destinations and weekly presented relevant information to help families live a little healthier and happier.
*Partnering with over 100 local libraries over 70,000 kids participated in the 2011 Summer Reading Club!
*This past summer over 42,000 kids and families enjoyed free food, free entertainment and free fun at our Park Parties.
*We were involoved in great community events like the Fifth Third River Bank Run, Beautiful U, Teacher Wish List, the grand opening of the Helen DeVos Children’s Hospital, the first ever Santa’s Pool Party, Cruiserfest, the Bethany Caring for Families shopping event at Meijer and so many other amazing events.
*We visited over 220 schools and non-profit events.
It’s been an amazing year and I’m so thankful to each person, organization, community and company that partnered with us to make it all happen! Happy New Year and here’s to an incredible 2012!
Looking for big family fun during Winter Break? This week on “Where You Live” we’ll give you dozens of ideas on fun adventures you can share together as a family! From go-karting at Craig’s Cruisers to swimimng at the Holland Aquatics there are great deals and winter break specials you’re not going to want to miss. We’ll also visit Air Zoo in Portage, The Double JJ Resort, The Shedd Aquarium, Echo Valley and Snowflake Break at the Public Museum of Grand Rapids! Catch all the fun Saturday at 7:30 a.m. and 7:30 p.m. on WOTV 4 and Saturday at 6:30 p.m. on WOOD TV 8-Where You Live!
Craig’s Cruisers is located in Wyoming, so they wanted to do something special to celebrate a Park Party right in their community. Check out how they super sized this party and what’s new at their Wyoming location.
We’re ready to Rock The Park as we kick-off the 2011 Park Party Season on Thursday, June 23rd at the Greenville High School Complex! Thanks to the Michigan Department of Education and the USDA we’ll have FREE lunches for everyone 18 and under. We’ll start serving those at 11:30 a.m. Park Party action will go from noon until 2 p.m. Here’s a few of my best tips for making the most of your Park Party experience:
1. Get in line early for the one large scale event your child really wants to do-climbing wall, super slide, dixie twister, etc. These lines will get long quick and it’s probably not realistic to think you’ll get on all the activities during the two hour event.
2. Bring a water bottle for each person in your group. We’ll be passing out FREE Ice Mountain Water, Milk with the lunches and 100% Apple Juice from Mc Donalds but you’ll want to have water with you at all times so bring some from home to be safe.
3. We have great corporate partners that are passing out cool things: Priority Health is giving out backpacks, AMWAY will be at the Art Area and Fifth Third Bank at the Super Slide handing out tattoos. Craig’s Cruisers will have candy, Ferris State University will be at the Climbing Wall with Pennants. Helen DeVos Children’s Hospital will have jump ropes, Meijer will have Michigan Apples and other goodies, Holland Aquatic Center will be doing a Safe Water Activity, the Bethany Christian Services Wheel of Prizes and Touchstone Energy Cooperative will have some great giveaways. The West Michigan Whitecaps will be there with Crash and two fun inflatables!
4. Special for the Greenville Party-be sure to pick up a special gift from the Meijer area as a thank you to the city of Greenville! You can even come to the grand opening of the Fred Meijer Flat River Trail in the Meijer Parking Lot at 10 a.m.
5. Bring a bag of new or gently used items to donate to Goodwill and you’ll get an Entertainment Book! Goodwill will be at the Greenville and Wyoming Park Parties.
6. Great food items include Cheese Kurls, Country Fresh Ice Cream, Ice Mountain, McDonalds Apple Dippers and Meijer local produce. Remember everything is WHILE SUPPLIES LAST!
7. We’re super excited to introduce the AMWAY One-By-One Art Area for kids. Work with artist Corey VanDuienen to create cool art that will be part of his 2011 Art Prize entry!!
8. Visit the WOOD TV tent to get your picture taken with your favorite WOOD TV on-air talent. Brett and Emily from DayBreak will be at our Greenville Party.
9. If you can’t make it to this week’s Park Party, log on to woodtv.com throughout the Party and we’ll be posting photos live from the event!
10. Watch all the Park Party Action on “Where You Live” this weekend to see highlights from the first big event! Catch the show Saturday at 7:30 a.m. and 7:30 p.m. on WOTV 4 and Saturday at 6:30 p.m. on WOOD TV 8.
HAVE FUN and feel free to post photos from the Party at facebook.com/marandatv!!
Spring Break 2011 is right around the corner and this weekend on “Where You Live” we’re giving you everything you need to know to make Spring Break super fun for your family! Find out what special events are taking place at some of West Michigan’s favorite family fun hot spots like Craig’s Cruisers, The John Ball Zoo, the West Michigan Whitecaps, The Holland Aquatic Center and Celebration Cinema! Plus, clever crafts and tasty treats to try at home. Plus, we’re giving away a great prize-it’s from my friends at Culture Pass GR and it’s an overnight stay at a local Holiday Inn Express, a gift card to Cinco de Mayo and great discounts at over 20 cultural organizations! And a huge BONUS—check out my Facebook page (facebook.com/marandatv) every day during Spring Break because we’re giving away amazing PRIZES everyday including tickets to Opening Day at Fifth Third Ball Park, Family Fun Packs to Craig’s Cruisers and the Holland Aquatic Center, tickets to the Grand Rapids Ballet’s Spring Break show and more!!! We truly are your headquarters for everything you need to make Spring Break in West Michigan super fun for your family!!
Ring in the new year spending time playing together as a family! My friends at Craig’s Cruisers are offering two great New Year’s Eve parties for you to choose from! The first event takes place New Year’s Eve from 4 – 8 p.m. and the second is New Year’s Eve from 9 p.m. – 1 a.m. For $24.99 per person or $125 for six people you’ll get Craig’s Special New Year’s Eve Feast at the All-You-Can-Eat Pizza, Pasta and Salad Buffet, unlimited go-karts, laser tag, bumper cards, high ropes course and frog hopper! If one of your New Year’s resolution is to make more time for family time-here’s just one great idea to kick-off 2011!!
The Teacher Wish List campaign is in full swing and it’s been amazing! We have 1,715 teachers from 525 different schools around West Michigan who have posted wishes for their students. Several of our partners including Amway, Fifth Third Bank, Meijer, Craig’s Cruisers and Priority Health have made very generous donations. But the needs are still great! If you and your family or business can grant a wish-big or small-I know teachers would greatly appreciate it! Thanks to everyone for stepping up and giving. There’s more work to be done. Together we can help our teachers help our kids in a big way!
