'Dancing With The Stars' Cameron Mathison Kicks off Hallmark's Search for America's No. 1 Dancing Dad

'Dancing With The Stars' Cameron Mathison Kicks off Hallmark's Search for America's No. 1 Dancing Dad

'All My Children' star hosts 'Daddy of All Dance-Offs' contests this Father's Day

KANSAS CITY, Mo., May 14 /PRNewswire/ -- Hallmark is inviting dads across the country to participate in its "Daddy of All Dance-Offs," a light-hearted competition aimed at "moving Dad" through music this Father's Day. The online and multi-city contests give dads of all ages (and dance ability) a platform to show off their best moves, rocking out to MC Hammer's "U Can't Touch This," as featured in one of Hallmark's popular Cards with Sound.

Teaming up with Hallmark is the star of ABC's "All My Children" and a top dancing dad in his own right, Cameron Mathison. As a father of two and former contestant on ABC's "Dancing With The Stars," Mathison hopes to get dads across the country excited about this opportunity to compete. He also will help judge the four finalists in a national dance-off finale to determine the best dancing dad in America.

"If I can do it, anyone can do it," said Mathison. "My wife and kids got a huge kick out of seeing me dance week after week on the show, and now dancing is something we do together as a family. Hallmark's "Daddy of all Dance-Offs" will give dads everywhere the chance to experience what I've experienced -- that dancing is a lot of fun and can connect families in a new way."

Mathison knows, however, that some dads may need more help than others in this area. So, starting today, consumers can visit http://www.hallmark.com/movedad to view Mathison's own dance tips and advice for overcoming stage fright, recovering from a botched dance move, and more. "I certainly wasn't a dancer before I competed on 'Dancing With The Stars,' so I know how daunting it can be to put yourself out there. If my hints can help move dads from the couch to the dance floor, I'll be happy."

Any dad brave enough to bust a move can enter the contest in one of two ways. First, they can participate in one of three live "Daddy of All Dance-Off" events, where they'll compete against other local dads for a chance to move on to the final round. The live events will take place in the following cities and locations:

Main Street Days
(Downtown Grapevine)
Grapevine, Texas

May 16:
Auditions 3 - 8 p.m.

May 17:
Auditions 10 a.m - 8 p.m.

May 18:
Auditions 11 a.m. - 1 p.m.
Finals from 3 - 4 p.m.

Indy 500
(Indianapolis Motor Speedway)
Indianapolis, Ind.

May 23:
Auditions 10 a.m - 7 p.m.

May 24:
Auditions 10 a.m. - 4 p.m.
Finals from 5 - 6 p.m.

Portland Rose Festival
(Downtown Portland)
Portland, Ore.

May 31:
Auditions 11 a.m. - 9 p.m.

June 1:
Auditions 11 a.m. - 2 p.m.
Finals from 3 - 4 p.m.

Dads who aren't able to compete in one of the local events can instead submit a 30-second video dance audition on http://www.hallmark.com/movedad where a 30-second clip of "U Can't Touch This" is available for free download, for audition purposes only. The finalists' videos will be posted on June 2, and voting will take place between June 2 and June 6. The online finalist will join the finalists from the three events and participate in a live dance-off finale just before Father's Day.

The prizes for each of the local events and the online contest are $1,000 for 1st place, $500 for second place, and $250 for third place. The national Grand Prize Winner will walk away with the "granddaddy" of them all: $5,000 and bragging rights as the 2008 Hallmark Number One Dancing Dad In America. Last year's winner, Dr. Craig Bythewood of Temple Terrace, Fla., danced his way to the top as Hallmark's first "Daddy of All Dance Offs" winner, and has since been dubbed "The Dancing Doctor" by his students at Florida Southern College for his spectacular moves.

Through this contest, Hallmark aims to "move dad" not only emotionally this Father's Day, but also physically through interaction with Hallmark Cards with Sound. This year, Hallmark offers Father's Day Cards with Sound, featuring favorite songs, classic movies, and television shows to memorable quotes from characters such as Homer Simpson and comedian Chris Rock. The Father's Day collection also includes new recordable Cards with Music which allows the sender to record a 10-second personal message before the pre-recorded music begins and Hallmark's Cards With Motion, which provide a fully animated two-second scene when the card is tipped from side to side. Some of the Cards With Motion also feature sound.

Hallmark's Father's Day Cards with Sound, Cards With Motion, and other Father's Day products are available in Hallmark Gold Crown(R) stores nationwide. For official contest rules and more information about Hallmark's Father's Day Cards with Sound, visit http://www.hallmark.com/movedad.

About Hallmark Cards, Inc.

Kansas City-based Hallmark has been helping people communicate, celebrate, and connect for nearly 100 years. Hallmark greeting cards and other products can be found in more than 43,000 places in the U.S. alone, with the network of Hallmark Gold Crown(R) stores providing the very best selection. The Hallmark brand also reaches consumers online at Hallmark.com, on newsstands through Hallmark Magazine, and on television through Hallmark Hall of Fame original movies and the top-rated Hallmark Channel. In addition, Hallmark publishes products in more than 30 languages and distributes them in 100 countries across the globe. The company's Crayola subsidiary provides fun and imaginative ways for children to colorfully express themselves. In 2007, privately held Hallmark reported consolidated net revenues of $4.4 billion. Charitable giving of $16 million a year focuses on the well-being of children and families, vibrant arts and cultural experiences, and basic services for people in need in the communities where Hallmark operates. For more information about the company, visit http://corporate.hallmark.com/.

First Call Analyst:
FCMN Contact:

Source: Hallmark Cards, Inc.

CONTACT: Deidre Parkes of Hallmark Cards, Inc., +1-816-274-5768,
dparke1@hallmark.com; or Angie Read of Fleishman-Hillard, +1-816-512-2322,
angie.read@fleishman.com, for Hallmark Cards, Inc.

Web site:

http://www.hallmark.com/movedad
http://newsroom.hallmark.com/

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