--Winning Entries in the Bandage Art Contest Featured in New Line of Bandages ...

With 100% of Profits Donated to Help Fight Pediatric Cancer --

New York, March 2013-- Hundreds of children throughout the country have shared their messages of hope and inspiration for kids battling cancer - through a unique opportunity to create their very own line of Ouchies bandages.  After reviewing the hundreds of entries, and after thousands of people cast their votes for their favorite design via Facebook, the winners of the "Ouchies for Others" Pediatric Cancer Bandage Art Contest have been selected  - with five winning entries about to see their designs featured on a new line of Ouchies Bandages to be available this Summer.

The winners of the "Ouchies for Others" Pediatric Cancer Bandage Art Contest are:

• Amber Moosvi, Age 17, Des Plaines, Illinois

o   Name of artwork: "Broken Bear"

o   Story behind artwork: The picture that I made represents two things. The Teddy Bear with a bandage and the feel better soon balloon represents that I'm not completely better but soon I will be because my broken bear has a bandage.  The stars represent all of the people who support me in my battle with Brain Cancer. I couldn't fit everyone because I have so many people supporting me and I appreciate them so much.

• Sammy Smith, Age 13, Sandusky, Ohio

o   Name of artwork: "You're Almost There"

o   Story behind the artwork: Just remember that every time you get a poke or surgery that you are one step closer!  That's what keeps me going!

• Tenia Richardson, Age 9, Michigan

o   Name of Artwork: "Love is Cure"

o   Story behind the artwork: I believe with enough love you can cure anything to make a brighter day.

• Laura Vargas, Age 10, San Antonio, Texas

o   Name of Artwork: "You Can Be Pain Free"

o   Story behind the artwork:  I wanted to do this because I had cancer myself so I wanted other kids not to let themselves down and show them that you can have fun during cancer treatment and never give your hopes up and look cool with my bandage.

• Erin Lisk, Age 12, Howell, New Jersey

o   Name of Artwork:  "Never Give Up"

o   Story behind the artwork:  My Mom had cancer and even though it was painful, she never gave up.  Now she is happy and healthy.

Through the "Ouchies for Others" program, Ouchies gives 100% of profits from the sale of this unique line of bandages to varied not-for-profit organizations.  All profits from the sale of these new bandages will be going to benefit the important work being done by three national pediatric cancer organizations: The Childhood Leukemia Foundation, Cookies for Kids' Cancer and the American Childhood Cancer Organization.

More than 400 children submitted their designs for the "Ouchies for Others" contest, which gave them the opportunity to tell their own story about the fight against pediatric cancer or anything else uplifting - with the chance to have their designs featured in the new "Ouchies for Others" bandages and tin.  Some offered words of encouragement and a message to "Stay Strong."  Others drew intricate, colorful designs geared to make others smile.  A few know exactly what it's like for a child to have cancer because they have battled the disease themselves -- and many others know someone who has been impacted by childhood cancer and wanted to do whatever they can to help.  Each entry told its own special story - and deciding on a winner wasn't easy.

"We wanted to give children the opportunity to help other kids in need, whether its an encouraging word, uplifting picture or story," says Ian Madover, CEO of Ouchies, who developed the "Ouchies for Others" program as a way to raise awareness, and funds, for not-for-profit organizations serving the needs of children.  "Kids with cancer get pricked many times a day and we thought it only makes sense to put the two together."

All contest entries can be viewed online at www.ouchiesonline.com/bandage-art-contest.  The five winning entries were selected based on a panel of judges voting from a pool of 25 finalists that had received the most "likes" on Ouchies' Facebook page.

"We are thrilled that so many children entered our contest, and were truly touched by the beautiful designs and stories they created and shared with us," says Jennifer Saporta, Director of Sales & Marketing at Ouchies. "The 'Ouchies for Others' program has given us the unique opportunity to work with amazing organizations dedicated to making a difference in the lives of children with cancer. We are beyond honored to be able to partner with them and help to increase their tremendous efforts in the fight against pediatric cancer."

For more information on Ouchies for Others and the Bandage Art Contest, visit www.ouchiesonline.com. For more information on the partner organizations, or to make a donation, visit The Childhood Leukemia Foundation (www.clf4kids.org), Cookies 4 Kids' Cancer (www.cookiesforkidscancer.org), and The American Childhood Cancer Organization (www.acco.org).

Cathy Carton is an avid crafter and an experienced seamstress. She enjoys spending her free time working on new craft ideas and sitting at her sewing machine. Whether she's creating kitchen towels, placements, table runners or American Girl doll clothes, many of her craft ideas come from a passion to decorate her home for the holidays in new and unique ways. "This shop does a wonderful job of showcasing work like mine. I am so happy to have the opportunity to work with Peaceful River.  They really are a great find." says Cathy Carton.

Owner, Sheila Bosworth, is looking forward to the gallery opening. "Cathy is not only talented at what she does, but she truly loves being an artist. We are excited to have the opportunity to feature her work". Peaceful River Trading Co. offers a place for local artists and crafters to display and sell their creations.

Peaceful River brings visitors back to a simpler time and is housed in a beautiful, circa-1916 bank building, formerly the home of McCausland State Bank. They carry many items from arts and crafts to antiques, gifts, and collectibles. Peaceful River Trading Co. is open from 10am to 5pm Wednesday through Saturday and 11am to 4pm on Sundays.  McCausland is located about 20 miles northeast of Davenport, just off Utica Ridge Road on F33 and 5 minutes north of Scott County Park.  Explore Peaceful River Trading Co. at www.peacefulrivertradingco.com.

MOLINE, IL - WQPT, Quad Cities PBS, will air the new program, "Stop Bullying with Dr. Jennifer Caudle," at 8 p.m. Tuesday, March 18.

"After our community conversations with our 'Achieve Quad Cities' project, we discovered that the top reason given for dropping out of school was bullying," said Interim General Manager, Jamie Lange.  "As a result of those talks, we felt the next logical step was to see what we could do as a station to convene the many anti-bullying programs in our area and highlight their services."

WQPT, in conjunction with nonprofits addressing bullying - known as CARE QC (Connecting Anti-Bullying Resources and Education) - has provided community conversations, television programming and a performance of "The Ugly Duckling" by Ballet Quad Cities.

A panel discussion, which was taped Feb. 21, was moderated by Dr. Jennifer Caudle, an anti-bullying expert and an assistant professor in the Department of Family Medicine at the University of Medicine and Dentistry of New Jersey- School of Osteopathic Medicine. The discussion featured panelists Angie Kendall, community education program manager, Child Abuse Council; Robin Peterson of Genesis Psychology Associates; Ellie Hoeper, a student and member of "Stomp Out Bullying" Drama Team; and Jerry Jones, a parent and the Chief Operating Officer for the United Way of the Quad City Area.

Jill Myers, associate professor of law enforcement and justice administration at Western Illinois University, has created an interactive survey for parents and children to take together for further discussion about the topic of bullying. The Cyber Safe Cyber Savvy Survey can be found at www.wqpt.org/stopbullying, along with other resources.

WQPT is a media service of Western Illinois University-Quad Cities located in Moline, IL.

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A growing number of governors, including many Republicans, are choosing to expand Medicaid in their states, taking advantage of the extremely generous terms in the Affordable Care Act.

Under the Affordable Care Act, if states expand Medicaid to everyone up to 133 percent of the federal poverty line, the federal government pays the full cost of those newly eligible beneficiaries for the first three years and no less than 90 percent of the costs after that.  That is a great deal for our state, or for any state - which is exactly why so many governors are signing on.

There is no question that Medicaid expansion is the right choice for Iowa.  It would provide coverage for tens of thousands of uninsured Iowans.  And the more than 60,000 Iowans currently covered by IowaCare would get much better benefits and improved access to doctors and hospitals.

One Iowan told me in a letter how Medicaid enabled her to receive many mental health and rehabilitative services for a disability, and that this helped her to go to school, obtain a degree, and rejoin the workforce.  Another Iowan told me that IowaCare is not sufficient because the program does not cover mental health services.

Iowa's hospitals and providers, which are eager to save untold millions in uncompensated care, are also encouraged by an expansion of Medicaid.

Expanding Medicaid is also the right choice for our state's fiscal health.  Under the expansion, independent analysts project that Iowa Medicaid spending would decrease by 2.6 percent, and state and local governments would save more than $530 million over the next decade.

No wonder so many governors are signing up for Medicaid expansion.  Gov. Rick Scott of Florida said, "While the federal government is committed to paying 100 percent of the cost, I cannot in good conscience deny Floridians that needed access to health care."  Gov. Jan Brewer of Arizona argued that the savings to her state from expanding Medicaid would free up general-fund money for higher education.

Last November, Iowans voted to reelect President Obama and rejected the candidate who would have repealed the Affordable Care Act.  Since then, a growing number of governors have said that Medicaid expansion is not about "liberal" or "conservative," it's about common sense.

I could not agree more.  It's time to bring the full benefits of the Affordable Care Act to all Iowans.

For more information, please visit http://www.harkin.senate.gov/ or follow Senator Harkin on Facebook and Twitter.

A PDF version of this article is available by clicking here.

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