Cindy W. Morrison

Your Daughter Could Win An American Girl Doll!

My love for American Girl began not in childhood (they weren’t around then), but instead 8 years ago. The Junior League asked me to emcee an American Girl Fashion Show. Having a son and an infant daughter, I had no idea what it was all about, but they convinced me it was very cool so I said “yes”. From that fashion show forward, I was hooked. I loved the historical dolls, the Just Like Me dolls and the wonderful message it sent young girls: You can be whatever you want to be. I immediately got my daughter her first Bitty Baby and in the years since, we’ve gotten several others and read the books often. I’ve also continued emceeing the fashion show.

I’ve also been impressed with the company as a whole. When Santa delivered my daughter’s Just Like Me doll one Christmas,  her nose, cheeks and fingers were way too pink. So, my daughter and I called Santa’s elf at the North Pole in charge of the American Girl dolls. She said it was frostbite from Santa’s sleigh and that we could send it back. Not only would Santa replace the doll, but the slightly damaged doll would be fixed and sent to a little girl who wanted an AG doll but couldn’t afford it and didn’t get one for Christmas. (That story still makes me smile!)

So when American Girl called and asked me to be an official Parent Partner for their Shine On Now Initiative, I couldn’t say “yes” fast enough! I love the concept: inspire our daughters to make a difference while American Girl gives money to charity. What more could you ask for?! So what does all this mean to you? A lot.

Just go to the interactive Shine On Now site with your daughter. For ever charitable act she does, she gets a FREE star. For every star contributed to the effort, American Girl will match it with a $1 donation. The goal is to collect a million stars by July 31st, 2010. That million dollar donation with pay for books, clothes, dolls and money for four charities: Kids in Distressed Situations, Save The Children USA, National Association of Children’s Hospitals and National Wildlife Federation. Plus, every time your daughter contributes a star (she can donate up to 100 each day),  her name will automatically be entered in a daily drawing to win a new My American Girl doll.

But wait… that’s not all!! As a Parent Partner, I will also give away a My American Girl doll!

Along with American Girl, I want to honor the girls who make a difference in their families, schools and communities.  So, up until July 31, you can nominate a deserving girl to win her very own My American Girl doll which she will have the opportunity to fully customize!  To enter this giveaway, tell me about a deserving girl, the wonderful things she does for her family, friends or community and why she is deserving of her very own American Girl doll. Please do not disclose the child’s name but do describe her life, her activities and the grand things she does for others! You can just put that information in the comments section of this blog.

Other ways to be in the running for my giveaway:

• Follow CindyWMorrison and AGShineOnNow on Twitter and Tweet this giveaway up to 3 times per day, please leave your twitter link each time, tweet a form of this message:  Win an AmericanGirl Doll and learn about #ShineOnNow @CindyWMorrison http://bit.ly/AGgiveaway
• Blog about this giveaway, including links to this post and the sponsor as well as a complete description of the campaign/contest and prize. Make sure to come back here and let me know where I can find your blog.

Got it?

Let’s encourage our daughters to MAKE A DIFFERENCE … in the meantime, she might just get a special surprise for giving back! Tell all your Girlfriends!!