Ruckus Media Group is, in my book, one of those special, top-tier app development companies. They have been one of my favorite companies since I started reviewing iOS apps and have always been very cordial and open in their communications with me. You can always tell they have children in their thoughts and hearts as they develop their apps, some of which I’ve reviewed on here previously. However, Ruckus Media Group is now showing that my gut instinct is right on occasion and putting their money where their hearts are. This holiday season, until December 31st, Ruckus media will be donating proceeds they receive from purchases of their Read-Play-and-Record Along Rabbit Ears interactive storybooks to the St. Jude’s Children’s Research Hospital. So if you’re looking for a new app to entertain your child, or have been on the fence about purchasing an interactive storybook, now is the time to do it. Below is the press release:
(Wilton, CT) — Ruckus Media Group, the global children’s media company, announced today that it has partnered for the first time with St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital® for the annual Thanks and Giving campaign, a holiday program that asks shoppers to “Give thanks for the healthy kids in your life, and give to those who are not,” while shopping this holiday season.
Ruckus will donate to St. Jude 100% of the net proceeds ($1.39) of the company’s classic Read-Play-and-Record Along Rabbit Ears interactive storybooks from November 15 – December 31, 2011. Customers will be supporting the hospital’s lifesaving work of finding cures and saving children with deadly diseases with each app download of the following titles, all specially priced at $1.99 during the campaign:
- PECOS BILL, TOLD BY ROBIN WILLIAMS(Robin Williams is a long-time supporter of St. Jude)
- THE VELVETEEN RABBIT, TOLD BY MERYL STREEP
- NEW! THUMBELINA, TOLD BY KELLY MCGILLIS
- THE NIGHT BEFORE CHRISTMAS, TOLD BY MERYL STREEP
- JOHN HENRY, TOLD BY DENZEL WASHINGTON
- NEW! PAUL BUNYAN, TOLD BY JONATHAN WINTERS
- TOM THUMB, TOLD BY JOHN CLEESE
- GOLDILOCKS, TOLD BY MEG RYAN
- JOHNNY APPLESEED, TOLD BY GARRISON KEILLOR
- THE STEADFAST TIN SOLDER, TOLD BY JEREMY IRONS
- THE THREE LITTLE PIGS, TOLD BY HOLLY HUNTER
“By participating in our Thanks and Giving campaign, Ruckus Media Group joins an illustrious list of some of the most compassionate businesses and great brands in the country,” said Marlo Thomas, national outreach director for St. Jude. “The commitment of Ruckus Media and their customers to this campaign helps ensure that the children of St. Jude get the chance to enjoy many more holidays for years to come.”
The eighth annual St. Jude Thanks and Giving campaign unites normal business competitors with one goal during the holiday season – to build awareness and raise funds to support the vital research and treatment being done at St. Jude.
“Saying ‘Yes!’ to the St. Jude Thanks and Giving campaign was an immediate and easy decision, for Ruckus and our wonderful brand partners,” said Jim Young, Ruckus Media Group Co-Founder and COO. “We share a common goal – to better a child’s life. Children and families should enjoy Ruckus’s digital storybooks even more, knowing the proceeds will be going to help this great hospital and their mission. Thank you, St. Jude and thanks to all our fans for supporting this great cause.”
St. Jude is the nation’s leading pediatric research and treatment center devoted solely to children with cancer and other deadly diseases and the only hospital that covers all of the costs for treatment, travel, food and lodging for each patient and a family member.
Since it opened its doors nearly 50 years ago, St. Jude has developed protocols that have helped push survival rates for childhood cancers from less than 20 percent to 80 percent overall. In fact, the survival rate for the most common form of childhood cancer, acute lymphoblastic leukemia, has risen from just 4 percent in 1962 to 94 percent today.
To purchase Ruckus’ interactive storybooks for iOS mobile devices and help support this campaign during the holiday season, visit the Ruckus Media Group page at iTunes. To learn more about the St. Jude Thanks and Giving campaign or to make a donation visit www.stjude.org or call 1-800-4STJUDE.