Hershey's for Heroism

On Memorial Day weekend Paul Swofford was awarded a Silver Star, the military's third-highest combat medal for gallantry in action.  Mr. Swofford was a pilot of the "Sweetest Rose of Texas," a B-24 bomber during World War II.  The Sweetest Rose of Texas was one of only four planes -- out of 35 -- that managed to return to the 445th Bomb Group's base after the Kassel, Germany mission on Sept. 27, 1944.

We received a very special request from Jan Sherwood to create a customized Hershey bar wrapper for the ceremony.  Paul and Sybil Swofford are her "adopted" grandparents and Jan was tasked with decorating for the small party after the award ceremony.  Afterward, she shared her experience with us, “I just knew I wanted something to 'wow' the invited guests and a special treat to remember this once in a lifetime occasion.  The candy bars were a huge hit!  Even the General that posted the award was really taken with the candy bars.” 

Tax Relief

Members of the Covenant Community Church in Fairfield, Ohio ordered 500 wrapped Hershey's bars to give to late income tax filers at the Fairfield Post Office on Tuesday, April 15. In one hour, church member Paul Zaffiro said they ran out of the candy bars, the custom wrappers of which said "Congratulations: The relief you feel today could be yours for eternity."

Chocolate Appreciation

Tuesday, May 6th is Teacher Appreciation Day.  My close friend since primary school, Molly, is an active parent and proud mother of Elena.  Molly is using CARSON wrapped Hershey's bars to thank the staff at at Irving Primary School in Highland Park, NJ  for their dedication to the children.  We added their school logo to our CTA07 design feature in the Teacher Appreciation category to add an extra personal touch.

by Michelle Beal

Happy Birthday, Grandpa

We recently created a very interesting wrapper to celebrate the life of a man named Elmer Jensen.  The back message read:

"Elmer's kids remember a Hershey's bar could always be found in his desk drawer -- so here's one for his posterity to enjoy on his 100th birthday!  Happy 100th Birthday Elmer Sigvart Jensen 1908-1953!"

 

My husband's grandpa, Elmer Jensen, died in 1953 when he was only 45, leaving his five young children who were orphaned just a few years later when their mother died also.  As they have grown up and had children and grandchildren of their own, they have tried to acquaint their posterity with their ancestors.  My mother-in-law, as the youngest child who remembers her father the least (she was only seven years old when he died), has in particular interviewed her siblings and relatives to remember any small details about her dad. And one thing that has been consistent is that everyone remembers how he loved Hershey's chocolate bars, and always kept one handy in his right hand desk drawer.  I thought it would be a fun surprise to her and the other descendants of Elmer Jensen to know that story and eat a Hershey's bar on the one-hundredth anniversary of his birthday this May, so I ordered these personalized bars to send to all of his descendants." Thanks-- Anita

Texas, Barbeque & Chocolate

When a customer asks if we can use their photos to create a special wrapper, the answer is always, "Of course!"  We never know exactly what we might end up receiving but when we opened this customer's photo files we couldn't help but agree that SpawMaxwell does indeed look like one of the best places to work.

Here's their story:

	"SpawMaxwell Company is a commercial General Contractor located in Texas.  The employees at our Houston location have voted SpawMaxwell Company one of the "Best Places to Work"; seven years in a row!  As the 8th year of the competition approached, we wanted to remind employees of the good times we have shared and why SpawMaxwell Company continues to be one of the "Best Places to Work".   We decided that the CARSON Wrapped Hershey Chocolate Bars would be perfect.  The wrapper we designed has pictures taken at our 2008 Annual Barbeque Cook-Off.  Here in Texas, we take our barbeque seriously!  The barbeque cook-off teams set up their booths on our parking lot, and a good time was had by all.  These pictures are two of our employee teams - "Last Chance Saloon" and "Hixsville".   We know the chocolate bars will be a big hit! - Leslie M., SpawMaxwell

Red Egg and Ginger Party

In Chinese culture, a baby's first month birthday calls for a celebration. Proud parents introduce their latest addition to friends and relatives by holding a red egg and ginger party. Traditionally, the baby's name is also announced at this time. 

Guests attending red egg and ginger parties bring gifts. Lysee or "lucky money" in red envelopes is often given to baby boys, while girls may receive expensive jewelry. The guests don't leave empty handed, either. The parents hand out red-dyed eggs, symbolizing happiness and the renewal of life.

Red egg and ginger parties have their origins in ancient Chinese culture. As in other countries, infant mortality rates in China were quite high prior to the medical advances of the twentieth century. A baby who reached one month of age was likely to survive, and so the event was celebrated.

Traditionally, this was also a time to reintroduce the mother to the world. The Chinese believe mothers are in a highly weakened state in the period immediately following birth. Just as English custom calls for new mothers to enjoy a brief period of confinement, Chinese mothers have traditionally been expected to rest indoors for one full month after giving birth.  This helped ensure they didn't become overtired, or contract any germs or illnesses from the outside world that could prove dangerous in their weakened state. Besides resting, they drank a nutritious broth made with pig's feet, eggs, vinegar and ginger. Many new mothers still follow this ritual today.

In recent years, some of the traditions surrounding red egg and ginger parties have been modified. Parents may choose to hold the celebration at a fancy restaurant, complete with costumed Chinese performers or even a children's magician. Also, the baby may be anywhere from one to three months old by the time the party is held. But the custom of passing out red-dyed eggs continues. Parents may also use the brightly colored eggs to announce the birth; an even number of eggs are sent out for a boy, and an odd number to announce a baby girl.

This customer placed an order for a baby party for her son and nephew that were born in 2007. They were both born in the Year of the Golden Pig, which is quite special, only occurring every 60 years.  A large celebration was planned as it was a particular sign of luck that two children were born to her family during the Year of the Golden Pig.

Chocolate in Northwest Ohio

September 28, 2007 was a big day for Carson in my family.  The day began with my mother, Kris Bottles, attending a career fair at The University of Toledo for Spilman, Hills & Heidebrink, Ltd. She is the tax manager there.  Spilman, Hills & Heidebrink, Ltd. had minis printed with their logo and contact info for the students.  She made a sign to sit next to the basket of minis saying “this product may contain nuts” to warn takers of the possible ingredient.  She said the minis were a hit and students kept on grabbing them.  Maybe the chocolate helped calm their nerves throughout the fair.  She used them again for the Bowling Green State University career fair and then put the extras in a basket in the front office at Spilman, Hills & Heidebrink, Ltd. where visitors to the office could see.  Apparently quite a few people have been inquiring about them.

”The minis at the Career Fairs were quite popular.  Who doesn't like chocolate?  Next time I think we might go with a flashy color to attract even more people.  The leftovers are now in our office candy jars and are proving to be even more popular!!”

ABBY’S BAR

Don’t get us wrong.  We love babies.  We are all about babies here at Carson.  Rest assured, a right and proper fuss is made over virtually all the darling baby pictures folks send us for their wrappers.  But they’ve got a little competition now.

Allow me to introduce Abby, the West Highland Terrier belonging to Governor and Mrs. Ernie Fletcher of Kentucky.  When Mrs. Fletcher commissioned us to make Halloween candy bars for them, we were honored.  When she sent this picture of Abby, we downright fell in love.  This email image flew through every inbox at a break-neck lightening speed.  One simply cannot keep this to oneself!

Judge the finished product for yourselves, friends.  We’ve all seen cute pictures in our lives, but this one is quite a show stopper! 

P.S. If you want to see an adorable video of Abby, click here.

Wrapped Hershey’s and NASA

On August 7, 2007 NASA’s Space Shuttle Endeavour will launch from Kennedy Space Center and personalized wrapped Hershey’s bars from Carson will be there to celebrate the day and send them off on a safe mission.

U.S. Navy Commander Scott J. Kelly will command the 7 person crew of STS-118, the 119th space shuttle flight.  Commander Kelly’s wife, Leslie, contacted Carson to assist her in creating special mementos for family member gift bags and favors for friends and service personnel.  We helped Leslie create 5oz and 1.55oz wrapper designs featuring official portraits of the crew, as well as Assorted Miniatures to be tossed to the expected crowd of on-lookers as the crew boards the shuttle.

Leslie said she ordered birth announcements from Carson for the birth of their last child and thought this would be a fun way to commemorate this special event.  We couldn’t agree more and are honored to be a part of the day.

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