Official Rules
SOS Children's Villages "Other Mothers" Contest
« "Other Mothers" - Donate - Judges - Prizes - eCards - Finalists »
NO PURCHASE/DONATION NECESSARY TO ENTER OR WIN. A PURCHASE/DONATION DOES NOT IMPROVE YOUR CHANCES OF WINNING.
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Nominate your Other Mother for “Other Mother of the Year” award!
Who are Other Mothers?
Other Mothers are the wonderful men and women who “mothered” you when your own biological parent or legal guardian could not. These unsung heroes are sometimes grandparents, sometimes uncles, aunts, other family members, friends, neighbors, teachers, mentors, or even distant acquaintances who took it upon themselves to help you when you most needed support.
Why is SOS Children's Villages celebrating Other Mothers?
At the heart of each SOS family is the SOS Mother who dedicates her life to raising a generation of orphaned and abandoned children as if they were her own. Between Mother's Day and Father's Day, we want to recognize the many men and women in America who do the same. |
How to enter
You can nominate your Other Mother through one of two ways…
1) A written nomination of 350 words or less
2) A video of 90 seconds or less
The first 50 qualified nominators will receive a Love Quotes scarf with a retail value $100.
Other Mothers contest rules
- Required Language: Include the following language in your written or video nomination:
My Other Mother is my (Uncle, Aunty, Neighbor, friend, sister, brother etc.) and this is why she/ he is like a mother to me.
Your written or video nomination must answer one or more of the following questions:
- How has your Other Mother helped you to realize your dreams?
- Where would you be without him or her?
- What life lesson has your Other Mother taught you?
Contact Information Required: You will be asked to provide your contact information and your nominee’s contact information along with your written or video nomination. If your nomination is selected as a finalist we will require your Other Mother’s contact information (your nominee’s contact information) to verify the story.
Contact information will be verified upon receipt of nomination. If nominator cannot be reached by email or phone within three days (72 hours) of submitting the nomination, the nomination will be considered disqualified.
Timeline for Other Mother Contest 2011
- May 8 at 12:00 pm through May 22at 12:00 pm: Submit your nomination following the directions provided on the entry form at http://www.sos-usa.org/othermothers. Judges will review nominations and identify 10 finalists based on Other Mothers contest criteria.
- May 23 through May 30: Written and video nominations will be validated.
- May 31: 5 video and 5 written finalists will be notified and posted to the http://www.sos-usa.org/othermothers.
- May 31: Finalist announced and public voting begins.
- June 12: Voting concludes.
- June 15: Winner announced.
- The winners of the Other Mothers Contest will be featured throughout the Web, including SOS-USA.org, the SOS Children's Villages blog, Facebook, Twitter, a press release sent to media nationwide and in an SOS eNewsletter!
Judging criteria
All video and written nominations will be judged based on the following criteria to select the top 10 finalists:
- Other Mother’s impact as described in the essay or video
- Sincerity of nominator’s appreciation
- The quality of expression and writing
- Emotional / most touching
By entering the Contest, entrants fully and unconditionally agree to be bound by these rules and the decisions of the judges, which will be final and binding in all matters relating to the Contest.
Judging panel
- Treena Glover, Professional Foster Parent, SOS Children’s Villages Chicago, Author
- Mike Gottfried, Founder, Team Focus, Author, College Football Game Analyst
- Vy Higginsen, Founder, Mama Foundation for the Arts and Gospel for Teens, Producer, Publisher, Motivational Speaker
- Heather Paul, Ph.D., CEO, SOS Children’s Villages-USA
- Michael Yaw Sam, Informational Technology Consultant, SOS Alumnus, SOS Children’s Village Tamale, Ghana
- Teresa Scanlan Miss America 2011
- Erik Zimmerman, Vice President of Strategic Partnerships, GenerationOn
- Staff of SOS Children’s Villages - USA
Public Voting Period and Winner Selection
To vote for a Finalist, go to http://www.sos-usa.org/othermothers and follow the directions provided.
You will have the opportunity to vote for one of up to ten (10) finalists based on the Public Voting Criteria below. Up to ten (10) finalists will be posted on http://www.sos-usa.org/othermothers and judged based on the following criteria (“Public Voting Criteria”):
- Other Mother’s impact as described in the essay or video
- Sincerity of nominator’s appreciation
- The quality of expression and writing
- Emotional / most touching
The public voting period (“Public Voting Period”) begins on May 31, 2011 at 12:00:01 am ET and will continue until June 12, 2011 at 11:59:59 pm ET. Each public voting day (“Public Voting Day”) begins at 12:00:01 am ET and continues for twenty-four hours until 11:59:59 pm ET. Limit one (1) vote per person/per finalist Submission each Public Voting Day. The use of robotic or automatic devices for voting is prohibited and Sponsor reserves the right to nullify any and all such votes and to disqualify from voting the responsible individual. One finalist with the highest number of votes between both categories (written and video) will be awarded the Grand Prize (subject to Grand Prize winner confirmation). The first and second place winners in each category will win first and second-runner up prizes. Sponsor may exclude any and all votes that it determines, in its sole discretion, were cast fraudulently.
In the event of a tie for any level of winner, the panel of judges will determine the winner based on the “Public Voting Criteria.”
Prizes
(1) Grand Prize
The grand prize winner will receive a 4-day / 3-night hotel stay at any Residence Inn by Marriott. Approximate retail value: $500.00
The grand prize winner will also receive an 8GB NOOK Color™ Reader's Tablet by Barnes & Noble.
Approximate retail value: $250.00
The grand prize winner will also receive an Amway Miss America Gift Basket.
Approximate retail value: $593
The Grand Prize winner will also receive an Amway Power of Positive Gift Basket.
Approximate retail value: $400
The grand prize winner will also receive a 7-Speed Gateway Bicycle by Schwinn.
Approximate retail value: $200.00
(2) First Runner-Up Prizes in both categories (Written and Video)
After the Grand Prize winner is chosen, the top winner in each category will receive an 8GB NOOK Color™ Reader's Tablet by Barnes & Noble.
Approximate retail value: $250.00
After the Grand Prize winner is chosen, the top winner in each category will also receive a 7-Speed Gateway Bicycle by Schwinn.
Approximate retail value: $200.00
After the Grand Prize winner is chosen, the top winner in each category will also receive an Amway Power of Positive Gift Basket.
Approximate retail value: $400
(3) Second Runner-Up Prizes in both categories (Written and Video)
After the Grand Prize winner and the first runners-up are chosen, the second place winner in each category will receive a 7-Speed Gateway Bicycle by Schwinn.
Approximate retail value: $200.00
After the Grand Prize winner is chosen and the first runners-up are chosen, the second place winner in each category will also receive an Amway Power of Positive Gift Basket.
Approximate retail value: $400
(4) Consolation Prizes
The five (5) remaining top ten (10) finalists will receive a Love Quotes scarf and an SOS “goodie bag.”
Approximate retail value of all consolation prizes: $125.00
First 50 Qualified Nominators Prize
The first 50 qualified nominators will receive a Love Quotes scarf. Approximate retail value $100.00 each.
Approximate retail value of all nominators prizes: $5,000.00
Total approximate value of Contest is $9,543. Prize Winners/Finalists will not receive difference between actual and approximate retail value.
Prize are non-transferable. No substitutions or cash redemptions. In the event a prize winner is unable to redeem the prize due to reasons beyond their control, no compensation or substitutions will be provided. In the case of unavailability of any prize, Sponsor reserves the right to substitute a prize of equal or greater value. All expenses not specifically listed herein are the responsibility of winners.
Notification
Finalists will be notified by phone or email between May 23rd and May 30, 2011. The winner will be notified by phone or email on or about June 14, 2011. Finalists and Winner will be required to sign and return, where legal, an Affidavit of Eligibility, Liability/Publicity Release and/or rights transfer document within 2 days of prize notification. Additionally, Finalists and Winner may be required to obtain releases from any and all third parties appearing in their respective Submissions. If any finalist is considered a minor in his/her jurisdiction of residence, Affidavit of Eligibility, Liability/Publicity and rights transfer document must be signed by his/her parent or legal guardian.
If any finalist/winner cannot be contacted with two (2) calendar days of first notification attempt, if any prize or prize notification is returned as undeliverable, if any finalist/winner rejects his/her prize or in the event of noncompliance with these Contest rules and requirements, such prize will be forfeited and may be awarded to the Submission with the next highest score. Upon prize forfeiture, no compensation will be given.
Supporters of the Other Mothers contest
Residence Inn by Marriott
Amway Corp.
Love Quotes
Barnes & Noble
Schwinn
GenerationOn
Rules and Terms of Entry
Entries must be suitable for display, publication, and viewing across all forms of media, including but not limited to Internet, broadcast television, satellite/cable television, and print. Entries must not be obscene or indecent and should not contain any language which deals with profanity, pornography, or any material (including words, statements, or symbols) of a defamatory nature that affronts any individual or group based upon gender, race, ethnicity, religion, or sexual orientation. Entries must not contain threats to any person, group, venue or business; nor shall entries invade the privacy of any individual or group in their essay. Based on the above, Sponsor and Judges reserve the right in their sole and absolute discretion, to disqualify any Submissions that are inappropriate for any of the reasons stated above.
Entrants are permitted to enter once for each Other Mother nominee. Each entry must be unique, must meet the requirements set forth in these contest rules, and must be submitted separately. By entering, each entrant warrants and represents the following with respect to his/her Submission: (a) entrant is the sole and exclusive owner of the Submission; (b) the Submission is entrant’s own creation and is 100% original; and (c) the Submission will not infringe on any rights of any third parties; and (d) any third party whose person or property appears in the Submission has given entrant appropriate written consent (which shall be provided to Sponsor upon request thereof) for such person or property to be filmed and used as permitted herein.
All entries, including Submissions, become the sole and exclusive property of the Sponsor and receipt of entries will not be acknowledged or returned. Sponsor is not responsible for lost, late, illegible, stolen, incomplete, invalid, unintelligible, postage-due, misdirected, technically corrupted or garbled entries, which will be disqualified, or for problems of any kind whether mechanical, human or electronic. Only fully completed entry forms are eligible. Proof of submission will not be deemed to be proof of receipt by Sponsor.
Employees, officers, directors and their immediate family members and any other individuals affiliated with SOS Children’s Villages-USA (the contest “Administrator”) are not eligible to win this contest. For the purposes of this contest, “immediate family members” means parents, spouses, children and stepchildren, siblings, in-laws, and grandparents.
By submitting a nomination in the Other Mothers contest, the Entrant hereby grants the Administrator, and any Partners a non-exclusive, irrevocable, and unremitting license to display, copy, edit, delete, distribute, transmit, publish, or otherwise use the entry in its totality or any portion thereof through any medium. Each Entrant authorizes the Administrator and all Partners to utilize the entry submitted in any manner they see fit. Any and all federal, state and local taxes are the sole responsibility of the winners.
The administrator will contact each finalist for the validity of the nomination and to obtain permission to publish the essay. However, entrant should secure permission from nominee to ensure agreement with publicity.
Sponsor reserves the right to cancel or modify this Contest in the event an insufficient number of entries are received that meet the minimum judging criteria.
Participation in Contest and acceptance of prize constitutes each winner’s permission for Sponsor to use his/her name, address (city and state), likeness, photograph, picture, portrait, voice, biographical information, Submission and/or any statements made by each winner regarding the Contest or Sponsor for advertising and promotional purposes without notice or additional compensation, except where prohibited by law.
Notwithstanding the paragraph above, you will retain ownership of the rights to: (i) Your Submission and (ii) the names, images, likenesses, sobriquets, and biographical information of the individuals appearing in your Submission ((i) and (ii) “Your Rights”). You hereby grant to Sponsor a non-exclusive, world-wide, perpetual, irrevocable, royalty-free license to all rights of every kind and character throughout the universe in and to Your Rights in any manner or media whatsoever including, without limitation, unrestricted use for purposes of publicity, advertising and sales promotion, exploitation of recordings or commercial tie-ups, merchandising, and for any other purpose known now or hereafter devised.
By participating, entrants and winners agree to release and hold harmless Sponsor and their respective advertising and promotion agencies and their respective parent companies, subsidiaries, affiliates, partners, representatives, agents, successors, assigns, employees, officers and directors (collectively, “Released Parties”), from any and all liability, for loss, harm, damage, injury, cost or expense whatsoever including without limitation, property damage, personal injury and/or death which may occur in connection with, preparation for, travel to, or participation in Contest, or possession, acceptance and/or use or misuse of prize or participation in any Contest-related activity and for any claims based on publicity rights, defamation, invasion of privacy, copyright infringement, trademark infringement or any other intellectual property-related cause of action.
Entrants who do not comply with these Official Rules, or attempt to interfere with this Contest in any way shall be disqualified.
Amway Corp. is not a sponsor of this Contest and is in no way responsible for its administration. By entering this Contest, participants agree to release Amway Corp. and its subsidiaries from any liability arising from or related to the Contest.
Barnes & Noble is not a sponsor of this Contest and is in no way responsible for its administration. By entering this Contest, participants agree to release Barnes & Noble. and its subsidiaries from any liability arising from or related to the Contest.
Residence Inn by Marriott is not a sponsor of this Contest and is in no way responsible for its administration. By entering this Contest, participants agree to release Residence Inn by Marriott and its subsidiaries from any liability arising from or related to the Contest.
Schwinn is not a sponsor of this Contest and is in no way responsible for its administration. By entering this Contest, participants agree to release Schwinn and its subsidiaries from any liability arising from or related to the Contest.
Love Quotes is not a sponsor of this Contest and is in no way responsible for its administration. By entering this Contest, participants agree to release Love Quotes and its subsidiaries from any liability arising from or related to the Contest.
Additional Terms
Any attempted form of entry other than as set forth above is prohibited; no automatic, programmed; robotic or similar means of entry are permitted. Sponsor, its affiliates, partners and promotion and advertising agencies are not responsible for technical, hardware, software, telephone or other communications malfunctions, errors or failures of any kind, lost or unavailable network connections, web site, Internet, or ISP availability, unauthorized human intervention, traffic congestion, incomplete or inaccurate capture of entry information (regardless of cause) or failed, incomplete, garbled, jumbled or delayed computer transmissions which may limit one’s ability to enter the Contest, including any injury or damage to participant’s or any other person’s computer relating to or resulting from participating in this Contest or downloading any materials in this Contest. Sponsor reserves the right, in its sole discretion, to cancel, terminate, modify, extend or suspend this Contest should (in its sole discretion) virus, bugs, non-authorized human intervention, fraud or other causes beyond its control corrupt or affect the administration, security, fairness or proper conduct of the Contest. In such case, Sponsor will select the winners from all eligible entries received prior to and/or after (if appropriate) the action taken by Sponsor. Sponsor reserves the right, at its sole discretion, to disqualify any individual it finds, in its sole discretion, to be tampering with the entry process or the operation of the Contest or web site. Sponsor may prohibit an entrant from participating in the Contest or winning a prize if, in its sole discretion, it determines that said entrant is attempting to undermine the legitimate operation of the Contest by cheating, hacking, deception, or other unfair playing practices (including the use of automated quick entry programs) or intending to annoy, abuse, threaten or harass any other entrants or Sponsor representatives.
CAUTION: ANY ATTEMPT BY AN ENTRANT TO DELIBERATELY DAMAGE ANY WEB SITE OR UNDERMINE THE LEGITIMATE OPERATION OF THE CONTEST MAY BE A VIOLATION OF CRIMINAL AND CIVIL LAWS AND SHOULD SUCH AN ATTEMPT BE MADE, THE SPONSOR RESERVES THE RIGHT TO SEEK DAMAGES FROM ANY SUCH PERSON TO THE FULLEST EXTENT PERMITTED BY LAW.
Limitation of Liability; Disclaimer of Warranties.
IN NO EVENT WILL THE RELEASED PARTIES BE RESPONSIBLE OR LIABLE FOR ANY DAMAGES OR LOSSES OF ANY KIND, INCLUDING DIRECT, INDIRECT, INCIDENTAL, CONSEQUENTIAL OR PUNITIVE DAMAGES ARISING OUT OF YOUR ACCESS TO AND USE OF THE SERVICE AND/OR THE CONTEST, DOWNLOADING FROM AND/OR PRINTING MATERIAL DOWNLOADED FROM ANY WEBSITES ASSOCIATES WITH THE CONTEST. IN NO EVENT SHALL THE RELEASED PARTIES’ TOTAL LIABILITY TO YOU FOR ALL DAMAGES, LOSSES, OR CAUSES OF ACTION EXCEED $100. WITHOUT LIMITING THE FOREGOING, THIS CONTEST AND ALL PRIZES ARE PROVIDED "AS IS" WITHOUT WARRANTY OF ANY KIND, EITHER EXPRESS OR IMPLIED, INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO, THE IMPLIED WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTABILITY, FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE OR NON-INFRINGEMENT. SOME JURISDICTIONS MAY NOT ALLOW THE LIMITATIONS OR EXCLUSION OF LIABILITY FOR INCIDENTAL OR CONSEQUENTIAL DAMAGES OR EXCLUSION OF IMPLIED WARRANTIES SO SOME OF THE ABOVE LIMITATIONS OR EXCLUSIONS MAY NOT APPLY TO YOU. CHECK YOUR LOCAL LAWS FOR ANY RESTRICTIONS OR LIMITATIONS REGARDING THESE LIMITATIONS OR EXCLUSIONS.
Disputes; Governing Law.
The parties waive all rights to trial in any action or proceeding instituted in connection with these Official Rules, including, without limitation, the Contest. Any controversy or claim arising out of or relating to these Official Rules and/or the Contest shall be settled by binding arbitration in accordance with the commercial arbitration rules of the American Arbitration Association. Any such controversy or claim shall be arbitrated on an individual basis, and shall not be consolidated in any arbitration with any claim or controversy of any other party. The arbitration shall be conducted in the District of Columbia.
THESE OFFICIAL RULES AND THE INTERPRETATION OF ITS TERMS SHALL BE GOVERNED BY AND CONSTRUED IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE LAWS OF the DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA WITHOUT REGARD TO ITS CONFLICTS OF LAWS RULES. For any matters which are not subject to arbitration as set forth in these Official Rules and/or in connection with the entering of any judgment on an arbitration award in connection with these Official Rules and/or the Contest, the parties irrevocably submit and consent to the exclusive jurisdiction and venue of the state and federal courts located in or closest to the District of Columbia. The parties agree not to raise the defense of forum non conveniens.
Use of Data.
SOS Children’s Villages- USA will be collecting personal data about entrants online, in accordance with its privacy policy. Please review SOS Children’s Village’s Privacy and Security policy at www.sos-usa.org. By participating in the Contest, entrants hereby agree to Sponsor’s collection and usage of their personal information and acknowledge that they have read and accepted Sponsor’s privacy policy.
List of Winners.
To obtain a list of winners, send a self-addressed, stamped envelope by August 31, 2011 to:
SOS Children’s Villages- USA
Attention: Other Mothers Contest
1001 Connecticut Ave, Suite 1250
Washington, DC 20036
Sponsor.
SOS Children’s Villages- USA
1001 Connecticut Ave, Suite 1250
Washington, DC 20036
202.347.7920, info@sos-usa.org