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Tackle Financial Literacy for Kids!

Multi-Media Initiative is Making :15 Promos Available to Broadcasters

Tackle Financial Literacy for Kids!

Multi-Media Initiative is Making :15 Promos Available to Broadcasters

Published 03-14-11

Submitted by Norm Hill Entertainment, Ltd.

Bank Employees by Day,

Superheroes by Choice

THE CENTSABLES, a national, multi-media initiative that promotes financial literacy in kids, is making six :15 animated promo spots available to broadcasters to shine a spotlight on educating children about financial matters. Each spot features one of the Centsables - Ursa Major (aka Grant), Aquatique (aka Susie B), Greenback (aka Franklin), Veloci-Rabbit (aka Penny), Hurlwind (aka Hamilton), and Toro-Nado (aka Jackson) - delivering kid-centric messages about saving money, earning interest, compound interest, credit cards, and sharing with others.

Targeted to kids in the 6-12 age group, THE CENTSABLES initiative includes an interactive website, www.centsables.com, comic books series, factivity workbooks, board game, mobile financial tour, plus a wealth of premiums including action figures, posters, trading cards and more. A proprietary Savings for Kids savings program, plus School Partnership Program, are currently being offered by 30 banks and credit unions in 18 states. The program is also being licensed directly to schools, as well as to other financial institutions including insurance and financial advisor companies.

The six :15 animated CENTSABLES promos are part of a television strategy which includes a weekly animated television series, currently in development with a target launch of early 2012.

The CENTSABLES are six bank employees by day and superheroes by choice, helping kids understand the concept of money and its importance throughout their lifetimes, while teaching positive values.

The CENTSABLES combine entertainment with education. Components of the project include an interactive website, comic book series, banking programs for kids, NIE (Newspaper In Education) inserts, school study guides including teacher lesson plans, an animated television series, and extensive merchandising including collectible action figures, games, trading cards, board game, clothing and other licensed products.

With today's kids spending more than $30 billion on purchases each year, promoting financial literacy is a priority for parents. However, research indicates parents don't teach their children the basic concepts of earning, spending and saving money. The Centsables program is designed to fill that need, giving kids the knowledge and skills they need to make smart financial choices and sound life decisions throughout their lives.

While many websites exist to help kids learn about financial literacy, only THE CENTSABLES provides a multi-media platform including an animated television series, interactive website, educational programs in schools, and a real banking program to educate kids about money and encourage them to save.

THE CENTSABLES website, www.centsables.com, enables kids to explore the concepts of money, how value is determined, basic economics and investing, without being too technical to understand. Using activity pages and downloadable forms, children can master banking skills such as check-writing and budgeting, preparing deposit slips and earning money. The site features action-comics based on the animated television series, an informative parent link, plus exercises and games that reinforce learning and keep kids coming back. All content will meet national learning standards and will be available in English and Spanish.

Currently in production is a series of 13 CENTSABLES comic books, in which the super-pals fight financially twisted foes and kids learn skills that will serve them for life. 32 activity pages have also been produced and running in local newspapers in the NIE (Newspapers In Education) section in print and online. Most recently, the Detroit Free Press licensed all 32 features and within the first month over 200 teachers representing 15,000 students signed up to receive them.

The Banking for Kids program is a turn-key opportunity for financial institutions to encourage savings and good financial management for youngsters, while building long-term relationships and cross-sell opportunities for sponsoring financial institutions. The welcome kit includes a special savings account, free gift, collectible action figure and personalized letter from the CENTSABLES. The proprietary program also includes personal appearances by CENTSABLES characters, all branch signage and rack brochures, plus a targeted advertising campaign for existing and potential members.

The classroom component leverages website material into downloadable lesson plans that are in alignment with national educational standards for mathematics. The program includes a teacher resource kit, posters for the classrooms, comic books, calculators and other student handouts.

The animated series, targeted to kids 6-11, features six super-hero friends who through their everyday adventures and examples teach sound fiscal responsibility and positive behavior. When the kids of Centsinnati are threatened by villains like Creditor and Liquidator, the CENTSABLES leap into action, fighting evil-doers with abilities that include super speed and powers over water and wind. Storylines highlight the Centsables' diversity and model pro-social behaviors. Narration for the series is being provided by ADAM WEST of Batman fame. The series will meet FCC educational and informational (e/i) guidelines, is currently in pre-production.

Norm Hill Entertainment, Ltd. logo

Norm Hill Entertainment, Ltd.

Norm Hill Entertainment, Ltd.

The Centsables is a multi-media, financial literacy program for kids 6 - 12. Elements include an interactive website www.centsables.com, books and comics available at Barnes & Noble.com, a turn-key banking for kids program, a financial fitness mobile tour, action figure toys, board game and other merchandise.

A 13 episode animated television series is scheduled for Fall 2011. The TV series trailer and six Public service announcements can be viewed at http://biz.centsables.com/pages/video.html.

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