Coloring Card Company Encourages Kids To Say Thanks To U.S. Troops Stationed Overseas

"Hero Heart Cards" To Be Collected at Somerset Patriots' Home Games or Can Be Ordered Online

By John Mooney

The Coloring Card Company launched an effort on Flag Day (June 14) that enables kids to say thanks to U.S. troops stationed overseas. The company has produced "Hero Heart Cards" that children can color and inscribe messages of encouragement and thanks.

The cards will be collected at the Somerset Patriots minor league baseball games and sent overseas by Operation Shoebox New Jersey. People outside of New Jersey can order the greeting cards at www.coloringcardcompany.com.

"We are pleased to join forces with the Somerset Patriots on this exciting project to have children send greetings to soldiers abroad," said Dr. Paul Marciano, founder of the Coloring Card Company. "Since they typically only sign their names to store-bought cards, they have little personal meaning for the young card senders or for the adults who receive them. That's why the Hero Heart Card is so special."

The card was created by a 6-year-old girl named Jordan Pearson for her dad, an Air Force Intelligence officer stationed in the Middle East.

One day my daddy told me he had to go away. He said he had to keep me and my family safe. I missed him very much so I drew him this special heart to show him how much I love him. I colored it like the flag because my daddy says we love America and the flag. My daddy is my hero.

A child psychologist with a Ph.D. from Yale, Marciano began developing greeting cards featuring drawings submitted by child artists to stimulate children's creativity and engage them in a process that instills meaning into the card-giving process. Sold in 8-pack sets for $7.95, each individual card costs far less than the price of a standard greeting card, and is inherently more valuable.

Marciano began in 2003 with child-drawn birthday cards, thank you notes, and party invitations. He later expanded ColorMe™ products to include pillowcases, t-shirts, and Christmas stockings. Popular designs include horses, puppies, "Beach girl" and USA map pillowcases and Freedom Isn't Free t-shirts. Coloring Card donates 10% of gross proceeds to Book First, which provides books to children in low-income families, and The Marine Corps-Law Enforcement Foundation, which assists children of Marines and Federal law enforcement personnel killed in the line of duty.

Paul Marciano comes from a family with a rich heritage in child educational growth. He is the grandson of Ludwig Bemelmans, creator of the Madeline series of children's books. Marciano's personal theme is "Freedom Isn't Free, But Saying Thank You Is." He is hopeful the Hero Card will inspire children to express their gratitude to heroes of all types, and to instill core values in children, such as patriotism, and saying thank you.