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Best of 2023 Business Grant Official Rules

An initiative aimed at supporting and recognizing outstanding kids' activity providers. The contest offers a total of $15,000 in cash and awards,

OFFICIAL RULES


NO PURCHASE NECESSARY. A PURCHASE WILL NOT INCREASE YOUR CHANCE OF WINNING. THE ACTIVITYHERO BUSINESS BUSINESS GRANT CONTEST ("Contest") IS SPONSORED BY ACTIVITYHERO, INC. ("Sponsor"). 


CONTEST PERIOD: The ActivityHero Contest begins  March 1, 2023 at 12:00:00 AM Pacific Time (PT) and ends with the announcement of winners on May 16, 2023. The Contest consists of phases as set forth in the chart below:


Phase

Start Date (12:00 a.m PT)

End Date (11:59 p.m. PT)

Business Registration Period

February 1, 2023

February 28, 2023

Public Voting Period

March 1, 2023

April 30, 2023

March Finalists Announced

April 4, 2023

 

April Finalists Announced

May 2, 2023

 

All Finalists Submit Written Statements

May 2, 2023

May 8, 2023

Judging Period

May 8, 2023

May 15, 2023

Winners Announced

May 16, 2023

 

 


The Sponsor's computer, or that of its designee, runs the official clock for the Contest and will solely determine the time by which an entry is received.


ELIGIBILITY: The Contest is open to only legal residents of the fifty (50) United States and the District of Columbia. There are two types of eligibility 1) “Voter” Eligibility and 2) “Provider” Eligibility. In order to be considered an eligible Voter for purposes of the Contest, entrant must have voted for or reviewed the business of an eligible Provider. In order to be considered an eligible Provider for purposes of this Contest, the business must meet all of the following criteria:


The business owner is an independent owner/operator of a business that has been in continuous operation providing children’s camps, classes or activities at locations in the United States for not less than six (6) months at the start of the contest Submission & Voting Period;


The business owner’s ActivityHero business listing (no purchase required) has at least three (3) customer reviews published between June 1, 2022 - April 30, 2023 on their ActivityHero business listing page;


The owner who applies on behalf of the business must be at least eighteen (18) years of age at the time of Submission;


Entrant/owner must be an authorized agent of the registered business (Limit one Provider Entrant per business);


The business must be currently active, lawful, have all necessary and required licenses and registrations;


The business must be in good standing as of the date of Submission and must remain so through the end of the Contest;


The primary purpose of the business must not be in competition with ActivityHero or any Co-Sponsoring companies;


The business must not be under bankruptcy protection or have judicial liens or attachments.


Sponsor shall determine, in its sole discretion, whether an entry meets the eligibility criteria to participate in the Contest. Sponsor’s decisions regarding eligibility and all other aspects of the Contest, including cancellation, are final and binding


Sponsor, and affiliated companies, and each of their respective, officers, directors, employees, agents and persons engaged in the development, production or distribution of materials for this Contest (collectively, the "Contest Parties") and the immediate family members (i.e., parent, child, sibling, and spouse) of each and/or persons living in the same household of such individuals (whether related or not) are not eligible to participate in the Contest. This contest is subject to all applicable federal, state, and local laws and regulations, and is void in all geographic locations where prohibited by law.


GRANTS AND PRIZES: There will be three (3) Provider Winners selected from among eighteen (18) Provider Finalists. Six (6) Finalists and one (1) Provider Winner will be selected in each of the following location categories:

  • San Francisco Bay Area Businesses
  • Los Angeles and Orange County Businesses
  • All other U.S. Locations

Three (3) Provider Grand Prize Grant Winners will receive a U.S. $1,000 Grant in the form of a check, $1,000 in business services from ActivityHero and/or Co-Sponsors, and a $200 scholarship for a family to register on ActivityHero; three(3)  2nd Place Provider Grant Winners will receive a U.S $500 Grant in the form of a check, $600 in business services from ActivityHero and/or Co-Sponsors, and a $100 scholarship for a family to register on ActivityHero; Twelve (12) Provider Finalists will each receive $400 in business services from ActivityHero and/or Co-Sponsors. All Provider Winners and Provider Finalists will receive an ActivityHero Best of 2023 badge for use in their marketing materials.


Total value of all Grants and Prizes: $15,000.


HOW TO ENTER: 


To enter the Contest, Providers ("Provider Entrants") are required to log-in to their ActivityHero Business Listing and submit a Grant Application (the "Provider Entry") during the Submission Period between February 1, 2023 and February 28, 2023. A free ActivityHero Provider account and claimed business listing (no purchase necessary) is required to enter the contest. If chosen as a Finalist, Provider Entrants will be required to provide responses to the following questions: (1) Describe how your program serves the community (2) How would an ActivityHero Grant help your program grow? The narrative responses of the Provider Entry must be no more than 200 words in length per each response.


In addition to answering the questions listed above, each Provider Entrant will be required to submit or verify the following information:


Name of Business

Name of Business Owner / Authorized Agent

Phone Number

Position/Title at Business

Email Address

Street Address

City

State

Zip

Business Website 


At least one High-resolution digital image (see more information in DIGITAL IMAGERY section below) showing the Company Logo or optimal photo representing the business


All entries are subject to approval by Sponsor, in Sponsor’s sole discretion. Once submitted, all approved entries will be listed in a “Voting Gallery” with the ability to vote for a business from a link on their ActivityHero business listing page (no purchase required.) In addition, approved Provider Entrants will be able to access a voting badge for placement on their website and share their ActivityHero business listing page on social media and are encouraged to share the page with customers, friends and family to vote for their business during the Voting Period as described below. Entries are subject to disqualification at any time including after approval and posting to the Contest Voting Gallery.


Except where prohibited, entry in the Contest constitutes each Provider Entrant’s consent to the publication of her/his/its name, organizational information and completed Provider Entry, including the Digital Image, (to the extent applicable) in any media for any commercial or promotional purpose (including, without limitation, the Internet), without further compensation.


By entering the Contest and providing an email address, each Provider Entrant grants Sponsor express permission to send ActivityHero marketing and Contest-related emails, including, but not limited to notification of Finalists, Winners and a follow-up email in order to gather feedback regarding the Contest to be used in the planning and design of future Contests. Provider Entrants may unsubscribe at any time.


Limit: one (1) entry per business.


DIGITAL IMAGERY: Digital images and company logo must be in one of the following formats: .jpg, .png or .gif. Each digital image (including company logo) may not exceed 7MB. 


If any digital image contains any material or elements that are not owned by the Entrant and/or are subject to the rights of third parties, and/or if any persons appear in the video or image, the Provider Entrant is responsible for obtaining, prior to submission of the photograph, any and all releases and consents necessary to permit the exhibition and use of the image in the manner set forth in these Official Rules. If any person appearing in any photograph is under the age of majority in their state/province/territory of residence the signature of a parent or legal guardian is required on each release.


If a professional image is submitted, Entrant is responsible for securing usage rights from the photographer to reproduce, distribute, display, and create derivative works of the image by Sponsor in connection with the Contest and promotion of the Contest, in any media now or hereafter known.


Upon Sponsor's request, each Entrant must be prepared to provide (within seven (7) calendar days of receipt of Sponsor's request) such signed release from all third parties who (a) appear in the photograph submitted or (b) whose owned content appear in the photograph submitted, authorizing use by Sponsor and its licensees ("Authorized Parties") in accordance with these Official Rules. Failure to provide such releases upon request may result in disqualification at any time during the Contest.


VOTING PERIOD:


During the Voting Period, all persons who are eighteen (18) years or older and have a valid email address will be eligible to vote for providers that offer children’s camps, classes or activities in the United States. Limit: One (1) vote and one (1) customer review per person per provider. 


Each vote generates one (1) eligible entry for the Provider Entrant and corresponding Voter Entrant. Each customer review generates three (3) eligible entries for the Provider Entrant and corresponding Voter Entrant.


Votes or customer reviews received from any person using the same email address or multiple email addresses in excess of the stated number will be void and will not be counted.


Both Provider Entrants and Voter Entrants are prohibited from obtaining votes by any fraudulent or inappropriate means. Fraudulent or inappropriate means include, but are not limited to the following: (a) Using a customer email list, (b) Buying or knowingly receiving purchased votes in any manner from anyone, (c) Paying for and using an email address list, (d) Offering prizes or other inducements for votes to members of the public. However, Provider Entrants are allowed to run ads/sponsored posts or promotions related to the Grant Contest that do not require the winner of the Entrant’s promotion to have voted. (e) The use of any automated, robotic, repetitive, programmed or similar registration or voting methods. (f) Any questionable activity that increases votes for an entry, including without limitation any attempts to artificially increase vote totals or trade votes. Sponsor reserves the right, in its sole discretion, to disqualify any Entrant who is suspected of violating these terms or otherwise tampering with the entry, voting or selection process.


All eligible votes and entries will be collected, audited, and tallied by Sponsor at the end of each of the Finalist Selection Phases during the Voting & Submission Period. 


FINALIST SELECTION


Each Provider Entrant who received at least three (3) customer reviews published between June 1, 2022 - April 30, 2023 on their ActivityHero business listing page will be eligible for selection as Provider Finalists. The top one (1) Provider Finalist based on total points and two (2) Provider Finalists by random selection from among all eligible entrants will be selected at the end of each month of voting in each provider location category. 


JUDGING PERIOD:


During the Judging Period, the eighteen (18) Provider Finalists will be judged by a panel to select three (3) Provider Winners, one (1) in each business location category. Judging panel will use the following criteria in determining Provider Winners:


Provider Finalist’s 1) clear, compelling and engaging answers in their Submission 2) descriptions, photos and videos used in their ActivityHero listing (60%) 


Clear, compelling and helpful content in customer reviews published since June 1, 2022 (25%)


Total eligible Votes (15%) 


Sponsor will announce the Provider Winner on May 16, 2023. In addition, Winners may be featured on ActivityHero and any co-Sponsor websites, social channels and press releases. Winners may not issue their own press release without prior approval by ActivityHero


GRANT ACCEPTANCE AND TAX LIABILITY:


Grants are non-transferable. Sponsor reserves the right, in its sole discretion, to substitute a prize of equal or greater value if advertised prize becomes unavailable. All details of any prize not specified herein shall be determined solely by Sponsor. By accepting a Grant, each Winner acknowledges compliance with these Official Rules. All federal, state, local or other tax liabilities arising from this Contest are the sole responsibility of each Winner, respectively. Limit of one Grant per Entrant. All other expenses relating to acceptance of a Grant, including but not limited to taxes and any other expenses not specified herein are the sole responsibility of each Winner. Grant conditions may be added or modified by Sponsor, in its sole discretion. Acceptance of a Grant constitutes permission for the Sponsor and its designees to use each Winner’s name, photographs, entry material, other likenesses and biographical information for advertising, promotional or trade purposes, including but not limited to online announcements, in commerce and in all media worldwide without limitation or additional compensation, except where prohibited by law.


A Winner may waive its right to receive the Grant. The Grant is non-assignable and non-transferable. No substitutions may be made by the Winner. Winners shall pay taxes from any award as is required by law. Prior to receiving the Grant, Winners must execute a W-9 tax form verifying their tax identification number. Winners may be required, as instructed by Sponsor, to complete and sign (i) an affidavit of eligibility/liability certifying that such Winner has complied with the Official Rules of the Contest, and (ii) a liability and publicity release (except where prohibited by law). Failure to sign and return any of these documents or to comply with any term or condition of these Official Rules may result in an Winner’s disqualification, the forfeiture of its interest in the Grant, and, at Sponsor’s discretion, the presentation of the Grant to a substitute recipient. A Grant not won and/or claimed by a Winner and not awarded to a substitute recipient by Sponsor in accordance with these Official Rules will remain the property of Sponsor. Sponsor reserves the right to cancel the contest at any time.


Payment of Federal, State and Local taxes and fees due, if any, are the sole responsibility of the Winner.


DISQUALIFICATION:


Sponsor reserves the right, in its sole discretion, to disqualify any Entrant at any time that it finds to be tampering with the entry process, voting process or the Contest; to be acting in violation of these Official Rules; or to be acting in an inappropriate or disruptive manner, or with intent to annoy, abuse, threaten or harass any other person.


Submitted Entries must be consistent with the ActivityHero Mission, Strategy and Values and Sponsor reserves the right, in its sole discretion, to reject and/or disqualify any entries at any time that Sponsor deems to be hateful, slanderous, libelous, violent, obscene, defamatory, discriminatory (based on age, race, gender, religion, natural origin, physical disability, sexual orientation or political affiliation), profane, offensive, lewd, sexually explicit, pornographic, false, misleading, deceptive, self-mutilating (e.g. relating to murder, the sales of weapons, cruelty, abuse, etc.), illegal (computer hacking, underage drinking, etc.), threatening, harassing, or otherwise inconsistent with its editorial standards, audience expectations, or reputational interests or that contain images, words or symbols widely considered offensive to individuals of a certain race, gender, ethnicity, religion, sexual orientation or socioeconomic group, or that Sponsor believes may violate any applicable law or regulation or the rights of any third party or may subject the contest, Sponsor, or Sponsor's advertisers, clients, or customers to controversy, negative publicity, scorn, or ridicule. For purposes of this paragraph, Submitted Entries include content on the Entrant’s website and social media sites.


Should Sponsor determine, in its sole discretion, that any announced Winner has violated any of the prohibitions contained in these Official Rules or should be disqualified for any other reason, Sponsor shall have no obligation to award a Grant to such Entrant.


As a condition of entry, Sponsor reserves the right to conduct a background check on any potential finalist and/or winner and reserves the right in its sole discretion to disqualify any entrant based on such background check if in its sole discretion, the Sponsor determines that awarding the prize to such Entrant might reflect negatively on the Sponsor’s image and/or reputation.


GENERAL RELEASE/LIMITATION OF LIABILITY:


By participating in the Contest, each Entrant releases and holds Sponsor, its parent and affiliate companies and each of their directors, officers, employees, representatives, and agents harmless from and against any claims, costs, injuries, losses or damages of any kind arising out of or in connection with the Contest or with the acceptance, possession, use of or defect in any Grant (including, without limitation, claims, costs, injuries, losses or damages related to personal injuries, death, damage to, loss or destruction of property, rights of publicity or privacy, defamation or portrayal in a false light). Sponsor is not responsible for any incorrect or inaccurate information, whether caused by technical or human error or otherwise which may occur in the processing of entries or voting in this Contest or in the running of this Contest. Sponsor will not be responsible for typographical, printing or other errors in these Official Rules or in other materials relating to the Contest.


If for any reason, the Contest is not capable of running as planned, including but not limited to by reason of fraud, computer virus, worms, bugs, tampering, unauthorized intervention, technical limitations or failures, human error, mistake or any other cause that in the sole opinion of Sponsor could compromise, undermine, corrupt or otherwise affect the security, integrity, fairness, administration, or proper conduct of this Contest, Sponsor reserves the right, in its sole discretion, to cancel, terminate, modify or suspend the Contest at any time and without notice.


Notwithstanding anything set forth above, to the extent that the preceding release is determined by a tribunal of competent jurisdiction to be invalid, unenforceable or void for any reason, each Entrant agrees that, to the fullest extent permitted by law (i) any and all disputes, claims, and causes of action arising out of or in connection with the Contest, or any awards awarded shall be resolved individually without resort to any form of class action; (ii) any claims, judgments and awards shall be limited to actual out-of-pocket costs incurred by such Entrant, but in no event attorney's fees and no greater than $1,000; and (iii) under no circumstances will any Entrant be permitted to obtain any award for, and Entrant hereby waives all rights to claim, incidental, punitive or consequential damages.


CONSTRUCTION, WAIVER AND DISPUTE RESOLUTION:


The construction, validity, interpretation and enforceability of these Official Rules, and all issues and questions relating thereto, along with the rights and obligations of all Entrants and of Sponsor, shall be governed by, and construed in accordance with the laws of the State of California, without giving effect to any choice of law or conflict of law rules or provisions. In the event that any provision is determined to be invalid or otherwise unenforceable, such determination shall not affect the validity or enforceability of any other provision, and these Official Rules shall be construed in accordance with their terms as if the invalid or unenforceable provision was not contained therein.


Any specific waiver of any obligation hereunder by Sponsor does not constitute a general waiver of that obligation nor of any other obligation of Entrant.


Any dispute concerning this Contest shall be submitted to binding arbitration in California within one (1) year from the date that the cause of action arose (or, if multiple cause of actions are involved, from the date that the first cause of action arose), with such arbitration conducted pursuant to the then prevailing rules of the American Arbitration Association. To the fullest extent permitted by law, no arbitration brought pursuant to these Official Rules shall be joined to any other arbitration initiated pursuant to these Official Rules.


COPYRIGHT:


By participating in the Submission Process for this Contest, Entrant grants to Sponsor, its parent and affiliated companies an exclusive, assignable, royalty-free and irrevocable right and license to edit or otherwise use all materials submitted by Entrant in connection with the Contest, in whole or in part, for any purpose and in any manner or media (including, without limitation, the Internet) now known or hereafter devised, throughout the world in perpetuity, and to license others to do so, without notice and without compensation, royalty, accounting, liability or obligation of any kind to any Entrant. Each Entrant further agrees that it will use its best efforts to have its employees, consultants, volunteers, officers and directors sign any additional licenses or releases that Sponsor may require.


BY SUBMITTING SUBMISSION MATERIALS, ENTRANTS EACH ACKNOWLEDGE THAT THE SUBMISSION MATERIALS, AND ANY OTHER MATERIALS SUBMITTED IN CONNECTION WITH THIS PROGRAM, MAY BE POSTED ON THE SPONSOR’S WEBSITE(S), IN SPONSOR'S SOLE DISCRETION. Sponsor reserves the right to edit the Submission Materials and other materials prior to posting them to the website in its sole discretion.


WINNERS LIST:


The names of the Winners may be obtained following the end of the Contest on May 16, 2023, by visiting this url: https://activityhero.com/go/grant


SPONSOR/ADMINISTRATOR:


Sponsor: ActivityHero, 265 Cambridge Ave. #60923, Palo Alto, CA 94306. Attention: Business Grant Contest / Customer Engagement