FUN radio segment that aired 10/23 on the Not So Perfect Radio Show on 103.7 Lite FM.

http://notsoperfectparent.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/FINAL-SEG-3-1023.mp3
Here’s a FUN radio segment that aired 10/23 on the Not So Perfect Radio Show on 103.7 Lite FM. About 1/2 way through this clip, the show’s leaders Paige McCoy Smith and Jennifer Lanter interview Sarah (Southern twang and all!), This Side UP!’s Founder about the Center. Thank you Paige and Jennifer for a great time on your show and for spreading the word about the importance of FAMILY!

WFAA Channel 8 Story

By CHRIS FLANAGAN, WFAA

http://www.wfaa.com/news/daybreak/after-the-bell/After-the-Bell-This-Side-Up-113871909.html

PLANO — No matter where you live, working parents still need to find places to provide tutoring and supervision of their kids after school.

There’s a new non-profit in Plano called This Side Up! Family Fun Center.  It just recently held its grand opening ribbon-cutting ceremony.

What makes this facility unique and different from other after school sites is that it incorporates the entire family — it’s not just for children.

The goal? Helping parents recognize the importance of spending time together.

“There’s games and excitement and prizes and movies and things you can do with your kids, not having go pay for it, but getting out of your house,” said mom Erin Luhring. “Sometimes that’s important to just get out and hang out with your kids.”

Crystal Brewer agrees. “It kind of allows where the parents have to get involved so it builds that rapport between the parents and the kids, and I definitely think that’s what we need.”

This Side Up! is open to anyone — not just to families living in Plano.

If you’d like to learn more about North Texas after school programs or enroll your child in a program, you can contact the Dallas AfterSchool Network.

E-mail cflanagan@wfaa.com

 

Write up from the Plano Star Courier

By Kim Williams, kwilliams@acnpapers.com

Published: Tuesday, January 11, 2011 7:32 AM CST
Sarah Morris has a mission for Plano, and it involves moving families from surviving to thriving. She has spearheaded her dream of opening a nonprofit family fun center and saw her dream come to a reality Tuesday at the This Side Up! Family FUN Center open house and ribbon-cutting ceremony.

As founder and executive director, Morris wants to use her passion for strengthening families to better the community.

She’s spent many years working with families on a professional level, from her own challenging family upbringing and the unique challenges she experiences today as a parent.

These experiences have created a strong desire for inspiring families to turn their focus toward what Morris calls “together” time.

“My mission is to help parents recognize the importance of spending as much time together developing their family’s character as they spend time and money apart from developing their children’s abilities,” Morris said.

Sarah believes that a strong family and home are the foundation for a child’s success.

“I’m convinced that what families do together shape their future and that all family members experience happiness and fulfillment when parents prioritize character and integrity development through fun, quality together-time.”

Morris wants families who might be struggling to know that she believes there is hope.

“At This Side Up! Family FUN Center, we believe that every family can move from barely surviving to having a thriving family life with thought, care and action,” Morris said. “In thriving families, parents take an active role in the family’s well-being and posses the know-how to deal with what each stage of life brings. Thriving families spend time growing together, affirming each other and giving back to their communities, establishing a firm foundation of happiness and success that impacts future generations.”

The 8500-plus square foot fun center has a large family entertainment area where families can talk and learn together at tables, plus a snack bar, parent connection area, counseling services and book and resource center.

“Weekend activities like movie nights, live entertainment and parent/child date nights provide fun together-time, always including an opportunity for parents to teach kids about a value,” Morris said. “On weekdays, parenting education, coffee talks, book clubs and marriage enrichment offer opportunities for parents to learn from both the best outside resources and from the experiences of other parents. Also, planned community involvement activities will allow parents to model for their kids the importance of giving back to others.”

Morris said that the second Saturday of each month is “Thrive-In” Movie Night from 6 to 8:30 p.m. and fourth Saturdays will be Saturday Night THRIVE from 6 to 8:30 p.m. and will feature live entertainment.

“Tuesdays — day and evening — are full of parent education classes and opportunities,” Morris said. “This Tuesday from 10 a.m. to noon is M.O.M. Talk — Motivations, Opportunities and Munchies. Tina Ferguson will be speaking on ‘The Power of Dreaming Big: How to move your family from surviving to thriving.’”

Erin Luhring of Plano is a mom and stepmom with three children ages 10, 8 and 2.

“I think this is amazing for our community. I am planning on bringing my two oldest kids to the events — one being my stepdaughter, and I invited her mom,” Luhring said. “We have actually been looking for a neutral ground to meet and hang out with the kids. This Side UP will help keep our families communicating and at peace. I hope other blended families will get the idea, too.”

Micki Allnut of Frisco is a single mom with children ages 13 and 11.

“This Side Up Family Night was an incredible opportunity to bond with my 11-year-old daughter in a family-friendly environment,” Allnut said. “The entertainment and staff were amazing. Every family should take the chance to experience the unique venue that This Side Up has to offer our community.”

For information about the This Side Up! Family FUN Center, visitthissideupfamily.org.

 

Morris Family Selected as Winner of Pop-Tarts™ $25,000 FUNd Contest

The Family Will Be Sprinkling a Bit of Fun in Plano, TX this Year

NEW YORK, Sept. 1 /PRNewswire/ — The Morris family of Plano, Texas has been selected as the grand prize winner of the Kellogg [NYSE: K] Pop-Tarts$25,000 FUNd Contest, giving them the ultimate opportunity to bring fun back to their hometown community for all to enjoy.  On September 1, the winner announcement was made live at the Pop-Tarts World™ store in Times Square by Pop-Tarts® brand ambassador and celebrity comedienne Caroline Rhea. The Pop-Tarts™ FUNd Contest, part of the overall mission to bring fun into the lives of families across America, was created to support the individual or family who presents the best idea for creating and spreading fun within their family and community, and the Morris family prevailed.

(Photo: http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20100901/NY58659 )

(Photo: http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20100901/NY58659 )

The Morris family was selected as one of the four contest semi-finalists for their idea entitled “This Side Up!”  To create fun in their hometown area, the Morris family proposed using the $25,000 FUNd to create a non-profit family fun center for that will serve the community by providing parenting education and values-focused entertainment for the whole family.  As a semi-finalist, the Morris family received a trip to New York City to formally present their idea in person to Rhea along with the three additional semi-finalists at Pop-Tarts World™.

Pop-Tarts® toaster pastries have always been a great source of fun in the American household,” said Pop-Tarts® brand associate marketing director Scott Sundheim.  “This $25,000 FUNd contest is just another way that Pop-Tarts® brand is looking to spread fun far and wide, and we’re thrilled with the overwhelming response we received.”

The Pop-Tarts™ $25,000 FUNd Contest included one selected semi-finalist per week during the month-long contest and a final fourth candidate was selected live at the in-store casting call on September 1 at Pop-Tarts World™. Entrants needed to submit a two-minute original video at Pop-Tarts® Sprinkling’s Facebook page describing how their idea would sprinkle fun throughout their lives and communities.

For more information and to see the winning entry of the Pop-Tarts™ $25,000 FUNd, visit www.facebook.com/sprinklings. To learn more about Pop-Tarts World™ and more opportunities for fun, please visit www.PopTartsWorld.com, the official online gifting site for all offerings unique to Pop-Tarts World™.

About Kellogg Company

With 2009 sales of nearly $13 billion, Kellogg Company is the world’s leading producer of cereal and a leading producer of convenience foods, including cookies, crackers, toaster pastries, cereal bars, fruit-flavored snacks, frozen waffles and veggie foods. The Company’s brands include Kellogg’s®, Keebler®, Pop-Tarts®, Eggo®, Cheez-It®, All-Bran®, Mini-Wheats®, Nutri-Grain®, Rice Krispies®, Special K®, Chips Deluxe®, Famous Amos®, Sandies®, Austin®, Club®, Murray®, Kashi®, Bear Naked®, Morningstar Farms®, Gardenburger® and Stretch Island®. Kellogg products are manufactured in 18 countries and marketed in more than 180 countries.  For more information, visit www.kelloggcompany.com. Kellogg’s Corporate Responsibility report including its approach, progress and future direction in the marketplace, workplace, environment and community can be found at www.kelloggcompany.com/CR. For information on Kellogg Company’s commitment to nutrition, visit www.kelloggsnutrition.com.

SOURCE Kellogg Company

Click Here to watch the original video submitted for the Pop-Tarts™ FUNd Contest!

 

Taking families SURVIVING to THRIVING!