IRON MOUNTAIN - The Daily News' Newspapers in Education Program has thought of another fun way to raise money and it's similar to the Pet Idol sweepstakes.
Aimee D'Amico, NIE Coordinator, said the new sweepstakes will be entitled "NIE Cute Kids" and will involve children from newborn to five years of age.
"We will be using the same concept as our current Pet Idol sweepstakes but with a few changes," D'Amico said.
There will be no fee to enter a child; however, there will be three voting rounds with a donation of 25 cents asked per vote. Photos will be displayed online. But this time, no pre-votes will be accepted.
The first place winner will get a $200 savings bond, but the next 11 children will also be included in an upcoming NIE calendar.
"We will only accept one photo of each child from newborn through five years of age," D'Amico said.
D'Amico added those submitting pictures must be the legal guardian of the child and sign a release giving The Daily News permission to use the photo for the sweepstakes and for the NIE calendar.
Submitted photos must not be copyright protected. To submit a photo, stop by the Iron Mountain or Iron River Daily News offices to pick up an official entry form or go to www.ironmountaindailynews.com and click on NIE Cute Kids. Forms can be printed and mailed to the The Daily News, P.O. Box 460, 215 E. Ludington St., Iron Mountain, MI 49801.
Photos can be black and white or color, should be of good quality and at least 3x5 inches in size.
"Also, you can choose to submit a photo online and fill out the entry form on the Web site," D'Amico said. "Please only include one child in a photo. If you have multiple children to enter, please submit a separate photo for each child."
The Daily News reserves the right to refuse any photo deemed of an unsuitable nature. Photos can be submitted online; however, those submitting photos must either fax, e-mail or drop off the signed entry form to The Daily News Office. The Daily News fax number is (906) 774-1285.
Pictures submitted online will not be posted on the Web site until the entry form that gives The Daily News permission to reproduce photos is included.
Photos will be cropped to emphasize the child's face. Printable voting forms will be available on the Web site or can be picked up at The Iron Mountain or Iron River Daily News offices.
Children of employees of The Daily News and Powers Printing are not eligible to win.
All voting ballots and donations must be received by the Iron Mountain Office either by mail or in person. Money will not be accepted online.
"Once official voting has begun, you can vote as many times as you like, but please remember to include 25 cents per vote," D'Amico said.
Photo submission starts today and continues through March 8. After that date, photos will not be accepted and voting for round one will begin.
All contestants will be in round one. At the end of each round, half the contestants will be eliminated. The contestants with the most votes will move onto the next round.
Votes for round one will be accepted until the close of business on March 22. Once votes are tallied for round one, voting can begin for round two, which will end on April 5.
The third and final round of voting will end on April 19. Also at the end of each round, votes do not carry over. At the beginning of a new round, all contestants start out with zero votes. At that time, the remaining votes will be tallied and the winner of the NIE Cute Kids sweepstakes will be posted.
"The winner will receive a $200 savings bond and will be our cover kid for an upcoming calendar for NIE. They will also be placed in the month of the calendar their birthday falls in if possible," D'Amico said.
All winners will receive a free copy of the calendar once it is printed. They will be contacted by phone at the sweepstakes end and posted on the Web site. At that time, photos will be available for pick up at the Iron Mountain Daily News office.
Lisa M. Hoffmann's e-mail address is lhoffmann@ironmountaindailynews.com
