Brian Sumereau, 11, of River Vale, NJ Wins “Invention Dimension” National Competition
By Kids for Kids (BKFK), in collaboration with partners Toys”R”Us® and JAKKS Pacific, today announced that Brian Sumereau, 11, of River Vale, New Jersey has won the Grand Prize in the National “Invention Dimension” competition. “Invention Dimension,” which ran from Oct. 1, 2009 to January 29, 2010, sought to unleash new ideas in toys, games and sporting goods. Brian beat out thousands of other contestants for his highly original new game, ‘The Puzzler,’ which masterfully combines logic puzzles with board games. Yesterday, during a special Grand Prize Award Ceremony at the Toys“R”Us international flagship store in Times Square, Brian was honored and celebrated for his victory. Chris Byrne, AKA “The Toy Guy,” officiated at the ceremony. As the National Grand Prize winner of ‘Invention Dimension,’ Brian received a $1,000 JAKKS Pacific Prize Pack plus a $1,000 gift card for a shopping spree at Toys“R”Us. Brian will also be flown out to the JAKKS Pacific headquarters in Southern California this summer for an opportunity to pitch his game to JAKKS’ product team.
“It’s incredibly exciting to be here in New York City as the Grand Prize Winner of “Invention Dimension!” I really want to thank Toys“R”Us and JAKKS Pacific, and BKFK for this great honor,” said winner Brian Sumereau.
Norman Goldstein, the founder and CEO of By Kids For Kids Co., added: “We’d like to congratulate Brian Sumereau on his ingenious new game, ‘The Puzzler.’ This challenging and fun new game is yet another example of the power of youth to inspire, create and innovate. I’m certainly looking forward to playing!”
As the Grand Prize winner, Brian also had the opportunity to recognize the teacher who was most inspirational in his invention process. That teacher, Meryl Wolf, was present at the awards ceremony and received a $500 JAKKS Pacific School/Classroom Supply pack.
About Brian Sumereau
Though 11-years-old, Brian has already received recognition for his science fair exhibit, skillful handwriting, and poetry. He is a member of his school’s band, Scrabble and Math clubs, and the Supplemental and Gifted Education program. His winning idea indirectly came about when Brian first learned the game of Sudoku from his dad. He quickly became hooked on the challenging game and a further appreciation for puzzles and logic games naturally followed. “One day, I was sitting around my grandma’s beach house, bored. I decided to make my own board game from my love for puzzles. I was thinking, how can I combine the two?” says Brian. “The Puzzler” was thus born.
If he could spend a day with anyone, it would be Albert Einstein. Brian also gets inspired by Thomas Edison and his own parents for being so supportive. In the future, he wants to focus on engineering, stemming from his love of building complex structures: “I want to build a crazy rollercoaster, but I’ll probably not go on it!” The budding engineer in him loves K’nex, which he first got as a Christmas gift when he was seven: “With K’nex, you can let your imagination soar. You can make anything!” Someday, he’d like to build carnival rides that no one has ever seen before. But for the next five years, his plans also include starting a PowerPoint club and an Entrepreneur club at his school.
About Meryl Wolf
Ms. Meryl Wolf holds a BS in Education from Boston University- graduated Summa Cum Laude. Masters from NYU.
Ms. Wolf has been teaching for 18 ½ years, the last 13 have been in gifted education(SAGE) for the River Vale School System.(Roberge Elementary-Brian's School, Woodside Elementary, Holdrum Middle School)
Ms. Wolf has been teaching for 18 ½ years, the last 13 have been in gifted education(SAGE) for the River Vale School System.(Roberge Elementary-Brian's School, Woodside Elementary, Holdrum Middle School)
About JAKKS Pacific
JAKKS Pacific, Inc. (NASDAQ: JAKK) is a leading designer and marketer of toys and consumer products, with a wide range of products that feature some of the most popular children's toy licenses in the world. JAKKS’ diverse portfolio includes Action Figures, Art Activity Kits, Stationery, Writing Instruments, Performance Kites, Water Toys, Sports Activity Toys, Vehicles, Infant/Pre-School, Plush, Construction Toys, Electronics, Dolls, Dress-Up, Role Play, and Pet Toys and Accessories, sold under various proprietary brands including JAKKS Pacific®, Play Along®, Flying Colors®, Creative Designs International™, Road Champs® , Child Guidance®, Pentech®, Funnoodle®, Go Fly a Kite®, Color Workshop®, JAKKS Pets®, EyeClops®, Plug It In & Play TV Games™, Girl Gourmet®, Kids Only®, Tollytots® and Disguise. JAKKS is an award-winning licensee of several hundred nationally and internationally known trademarks including Disney®, Nickelodeon®, Warner Bros.®, World Wrestling Entertainment®, Ultimate Fighting Championship®, Graco® and Cabbage Patch Kids. JAKKS and THQ Inc. participate in a joint venture that has worldwide rights to publish and market World Wrestling Entertainment video games. For further information, visit www.jakks.com.
About By Kids for Kids Co.
By Kids for Kids® (BKFK®) is a platform that empowers youth invention, innovation and entrepreneurship. BKFK promotes youth social innovation and partners with leading corporations to inspire product development, crucial technology skills, invention, and innovation in young people from 8 to 22. BKFK provides a unique platform for young people to develop, showcase, and commercialize their products, inventions and entrepreneurship. BKFK's ‘cycle of innovation' develops critical 21st century skills in our nation's youth. The company provides educational resources- curriculum and challenges that promote social change, product development and entrepreneurial endeavors. Learn more: www.bkfk.com
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