GUMBO KIDS SPICE IT UP WITH AN EXCITING NEW PRODUCT LINE Diversity and Education together deliver a savory combination

Gumbo Kids Company was created by stay-at-home mom Monica Simmons, in an attempt to address a painful yet inspiring experience suffered by her three-year-old daughter Journey. Having recently moved from a very diverse neighborhood to the suburbs, Journey was told by a young classmate that she wouldnt play with her because of her brown skin." Unsuccessful in her search for products that addressed diversity issues creatively and realistically, Monica decided to produce the very products she could not find on the market.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Contact: Monica Simmons    
Tel: 303.683.5542
Email: Monica@gumbokids.com   

GUMBO KIDS SPICE IT UP WITH AN EXCITING NEW PRODUCT LINE
Diversity and Education together deliver a savory combination

DENVER -- October 2, 2002 -- Today, the Gumbo Kids Company, Inc., a Denver-based company, announces the launch of a new product line featuring the Gumbo Kids characters. The educational products produced by the Gumbo Kids Company integrate standard academic learning principles with cultural appreciation of people from diverse backgrounds.

Gumbo, the culinary masterpiece, is created by mixing several distinct flavors and ingredients together. The mixture creates a taste so spectacular that no one ingredient could have achieved it alone. Building on the traditional Cajun recipe and taking it one step further, the Gumbo Kids Company has conceptualized products that will represent all children from all backgrounds that are awesome on their own, but are stronger, smarter, and more creative when surrounded by others whose differences bring something special to the circle.

These educational materials are designed to give parents and educators a tool to encourage children to explore, accept and ultimately celebrate diversity. The products offer children a fun and creative way to learn standard academic fundamentals, like counting and reading, while broadening and inspiring an interest in children of all cultural origins.

The product line currently features 0-100 Number Flash Cards, available in English and Spanish and Alphabet Flash Cards. Each card is a unique piece of art. The stars of the Gumbo Kids are Marisol, Princess Umtata, Tamu, Izzy, Raji, Phoebe, James and Caleb.

Gumbo Kids Company was created by stay-at-home mom Monica Simmons, in an attempt to address a painful yet inspiring experience suffered by her three-year-old daughter Journey. Having recently moved from a very diverse neighborhood to the suburbs, Journey was told by a young classmate that she wouldnt play with her because of her brown skin." Unsuccessful in her search for products that addressed diversity issues creatively and realistically, Monica decided to produce the very products she could not find on the market. I was surprised by the lack of multicultural educational products out there that addressed the needs of parents like my husband and I, who try to raise our children with open minds and self-confidence," stated Monica Simmons.

Sharing her frustration with her sister Jamie Morgan de Pina and long-time friend Laura Johnson, the three set out to develop and create the learning tools that were so poorly represented in the marketplace. Combining their education, business know-how and experience with countless hours of research and preparation, Gumbo Kids Co. became a reality.

The Gumbo Kids Co. will unveil the new product line at a launch event at the Tattered Cover Book Store in Denver, Colorado on October 19, 2002 from 2:00pm -- 4:00pm MST. The Tattered Cover Book Store is located at 2955 E. 1st Avenue. The event will be a fun filled day of activities including a special introduction of the Gumbo Kids characters. For more information about the launch event or Gumbo Kids products visit http://www.gumbokids.com.

About Gumbo Kids
Gumbo Kids Company, Inc. (Gumbo Kids) produces an innovative line of educational products designed to encourage kids, in a fun and creative way, to explore, accept, and ultimately celebrate diversity. The Gumbo Kids line of learning products takes established and proven scholastic principles and augments them making them inclusive of all members of its intended audience-kids.

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