PLAYSTUDIOS community recognizes those making a positive difference in and out of the classroom
LAS VEGAS – The post-holiday return to the classroom is going to be much brighter for five teachers who have been selected to receive $5,000 in school supplies and an all-inclusive Vegas vacation – all because of the difference they’ve made in the lives of students and their families. The five teachers have been chosen as part of PLAYSTUDIOS’ Nominate a Teacher campaign, which challenged players of the company’s free-to-play mobile gaming apps to redeem loyalty points earned during gameplay for a chance to show their favorite teachers how much they’re appreciated.
More than 20,000 entries were received during the weeklong campaign, which concluded on December 14. Five players were then notified that their entries were chosen, and they were asked to select a teacher whose commitment in and out of the classroom they wanted to be recognized with the $5,000 for school supplies and a trip to Vegas.
The winning teachers were Wendy B. of Silverdale, WA; Liliana C. of Whittier, CA; Annabelle R. of Naples, FL; and Staci F. of Honolulu, HI; and they teach elementary, middle, and high school students.
“This year has been tough, but we do it because we love these kids, and even on days when I think, ‘Ugh’, I think about all these faces that are here,” says Wendy, a seventh grade language arts and social studies teacher, mother of three, and grandmother of two. “All of us teachers, we’ve got this, we’ve got each other, and these are some amazing kids. This is why we do it.”
Wendy was nominated by a friend, Heather, who says the Middle School teacher has been a great influence on her son, who is autistic and has Sensory Processing Disorder (SPD).
“Even though she wasn’t his teacher, she played a huge role in getting him through school and built a relationship with him, and because of that I knew she was genuinely there for her students,” Heather says. “She’s just an amazing person that puts her heart into teaching.
“Because of her and teachers like her my son made it to high school. We need more teachers like her, and they need to know that we care.”
Each of the winning teachers will receive a three-night stay at an MGM Resorts International property on the Las Vegas Strip, a $500 airfare gift card, $250 in MGM free play, a $250 food and beverage credit, $250 spa credit, VIP check-in, two tickets to Cirque du Soleil’s MJ One show, and ground transportation to and from Harry Reid International Airport in Las Vegas.
“Time and again, our players have told us how much they care about their communities and they have been asking for opportunities to reward those that make a difference in their lives,” says PLAYSTUDIOS Head of playAWARDS Rob Oseland.
“What makes this campaign truly special is seeing so many of our players, literally thousands, who want to show their appreciation for the teachers in their hometowns,” adds Oseland. “It’s rewarding for our players, and for us, to know that these five teachers – all of them exceptional in their own way – will get to share in this experience.”
In addition to community-driven rewards such as the Nominate a Teacher campaign, PLAYSTUDIOS games allow players to exchange loyalty points earned during free gameplay for real-world rewards from more than 275 celebrated entertainment, travel, leisure, and lifestyle brands, including MGM Resorts International, Wolfgang Puck, Maverick Helicopters, Mandolin, City Winery, Bowlero, and more.
PLAYSTUDIOS games include the iconic Tetris® franchise for mobile devices, along with myVEGAS Bingo, myVEGAS Slots, myVEGAS Blackjack, my KONAMI Slots, and POP! Slots, all of which are available to download free on iOS, Android, Kindle, and Facebook.
About PLAYSTUDIOS
PLAYSTUDIOS (Nasdaq: MYPS) is the developer and operator of award-winning free-to-play casual games for mobile and social platforms. The company’s collection of original and published titles is powered by its groundbreaking playAWARDS loyalty marketing platform, which enables players to earn real-world rewards from a portfolio of global entertainment, retail, technology, travel, leisure, and gaming brands across 17 countries and four continents. Founded by a team of veteran gaming, hospitality, and technology entrepreneurs, PLAYSTUDIOS brings together beautifully designed mobile gaming content with an innovative loyalty platform in order to provide its players with an unequaled entertainment experience and its partners with actionable business insights. To learn more about PLAYSTUDIOS, visit playstudios.com.
Media Contact
Rossetti Public Relations
SOURCE: PLAYSTUDIOS
