RaccoonTales.com

INDIANAPOLIS—Sept. 25, 2007—Burkhart Network will launch the second in its series of four Raccoon Tales books for children at the Indianapolis Zoo on Saturday, Oct. 27 during Zoo Boo presented by The Sallie Mae Fund. The book Hip, Flip, Skip and Boo Go to the Zoo follows the successful premier of the first book in the series at The Children’s Museum of Indianapolis in August.

Indianapolis Zoo Book Launch deTAILs: 4 p.m. A reading by author Lorene Burkhart and a book signing at 4:30.

The event will include Halloween candy

and games in the spirit of the Zoo Boo event.

“We thank our non-profit partners in the Indianapolis community for providing us such wonderful venues to launch these books to parents and their children,” says Burkhart Network Founder Lorene Burkhart. “This event will be in conjunction with Halloween Zoo Boo and we can’t wait to see all the kids in their costumes!” Indianapolis is a test market for the company’s Raccoon Tales books. Over the last 60 days company representatives have successfully placed the first book Hip, Flip, Skip and Boo and their friend Stu into several retail outlets throughout Central Indiana including: The Indianapolis Zoo, Indiana Historical Society, Border’s-downtown Indianapolis, Earth Explorers Toys-Zionsville, Nana’s Flowers & Gifts-Zionsville, Helios-Carmel and BIG Hat Books-Broadripple. The company also is in negotiations with several large retail outlets who are considering distributing the children’s tales.

About Raccoon Tales: The Raccoon Tales book series and plush toys are intended for children ages 2 to 6 years old. The tales are based on stories Burkhart told her children when they were young. The 6 X 6-inch books come with a removable raccoon tail that hangs from the book spine. The first book in the series is titled Hip, Flip, Skip, and Boo and their friend, Stu. Plush 5-inch toy raccoons come in four striped tail colors (blue, green, pink and purple) to match the four raccoon characters in the stories. Books will retail for $8.95 and the raccoon toys will be $4.95 each.

About the Indianapolis Zoo:

The Indianapolis Zoo is located at 1200 West Washington Street in downtown Indianapolis. Admission is $13.50 for adults, $8.50 for children ages 2-12, and $8.50 for seniors 62+. Parking is $5 per car. Members and children 1 year of age and under are always admitted free of charge. For details, visit indianapoliszoo.com.

About Burkhart Network:

Based in Indianapolis, Burkhart Network LLC is owned and led by central-Indiana entrepreneur and philanthropist Lorene Burkhart. Burkhart’s first book, An Accidental Pioneer: A Farm Girl’s Drive to the Finish…, was released in September 2006 (retail $24.95). Burkhart serves as the center of the energy for the creativity and focus of the company. Her vision is to share her life experiences through books and related items. The rotating circles, stars and sunrays in the company logo are the projects, people and causes who benefit from the nucleus of energy. Current Burkhart Network projects in development include books for children and adults, toys and inspirational Girlfriends products. For more information visit www.BurkhartNetwork.com.

Raccoon Tales were featured in the “Rave Reviews” section of the September 2007 edition of Indys Child. View article.

Children’s Book to Debut at Children’s Museum of Indianapolis

InsideINdianaBusiness.com Report

The Children’s Museum of Indianapolis on August 11 will host the launch of a new children’s book by Indianapolis-based Burkhart Network LLC. The museum will be the exclusive seller of “Hip, Flip, Skip, and Boo and their friend, Stu” and all accompanying merchandise through August 25. The book was written by philanthropist Lorene Burkhart.

Read full article online >>

The book is the first in a series of four written by noted Central Indiana philanthropist and author Lorene Burkhart through her company Burkhart Network. At 73, Burkhart has combined her passion for writing and philanthropy to share what she’s learned in life and continue to give back to the community. The company’s tagline is Business for Causes and a portion of proceeds from future Raccoon Tales series licensing will benefit The Children’s Museum of Indianapolis.

Burkhart also has agreed to donate 200 Raccoon Tales series books to The Children’s Museum of Indianapolis, who will distribute the free reading materials to children through its various outreach programs.

The Children’s Museum of Indianapolis will be the exclusive Indianapolis seller of the book and accompanying plush raccoon toys for the first two weeks of the product test—through Aug. 25, 2007. Retailers in Indianapolis interested in purchasing books and product after this date can find information at www.RaccoonTales.com.

Highlight Video

About Hip, Flip, Skip, and Boo and Their Friend Stu
The Raccoon Tales series and toys are geared for children ages 2 to 4 years old. The tales are based on stories Burkhart told her children when they were young. The 6 X 6-inch books come with a removable raccoon tail that hangs from the book spine. The first book in the series is titled Hip, Flip, Skip, and Boo and their friend, Stu. Plush 5-inch toy raccoons come in four striped tail colors (blue, green, pink and purple) to match the four raccoon characters in the stories. Books will retail for $8.95 and the raccoon toys will be $4.95 each.

About The Children’s Museum of Indianapolis
The Children’s Museum of Indianapolis is a non-profit institution committed to creating extraordinary learning experiences that have the power to transform the lives of children and families. The 433,000-square-foot facility houses 11 major galleries. Visitors can explore the physical and natural sciences, history, world cultures, the arts, see how dinosaurs lived 65 million years ago in Dinosphere: Now You’re in Their World, and experience Fireworks of Glass, the largest permanent sculpture of blown glass by renowned artist Dale Chihuly. The Children’s Museum, situated on 13 acres of land in Indianapolis presents thousands of programs and activities each year. For more information about The Children’s Museum in English and Spanish, visit www.ChildrensMuseum.org.

About Burkhart Network
Based in Indianapolis, Burkhart Network LLC is owned and led by central-Indiana entrepreneur and philanthropist Lorene Burkhart. Burkhart’s first book, An Accidental Pioneer: A Farm Girl’s Drive to the Finish…, was released in September 2006 (retail $24.95). Burkhart serves as the center of the energy for the creativity and focus of the company. Her vision is to share her life experiences through books and related items. The rotating circles, stars and sunrays in the company logo are the projects, people and causes who benefit from the nucleus of energy. Current Burkhart Network projects in development include books for children and adults, toys and inspirational Girlfriends products. For more information visit www.BurkhartNetwork.com.

press-release_raccoon-tales-launch.doc

INDIANAPOLIS—June 18, 2007—Local entrepreneur, author and noted philanthropist Lorene Burkhart announces today the formation of Burkhart Network LLC. As founder and owner of the company, Burkhart is pursuing the development and release of books for children and adults along with themed products related to the written word. Burkhart believes everything in life has a positive moral story, so each book or product will instill a lesson and/or feeling of inspiration.

At 73, Burkhart has combined her passion for writing and philanthropy to share what she’s learned in life and continue to give back to the community. The company’s tagline is Business for Causes. “As our company logo demonstrates, I’m at the center, filled with energy and creativity providing focus for the company. That focus revolves around life’s experiences and continues to rotate via the books and theme items we’re developing and bringing to market. The rotating circles, stars and sunrays are the projects, people and causes who benefit from the nucleus of energy.”

A portion of profits from each of the company’s books or products will benefit a community non-profit or related cause.
Burkhart has tapped a number of local entrepreneurs to assist, counsel and guide her as products and books are launched in the marketplace. The project team currently includes Compton Strategies, Konfirst Consulting, Hostetler Public Relations, the WriteStuff iPR and Word Crafter, Inc.

First Product: Raccoon Tales
Burkhart Network will test market the company’s first product, Raccoon Tales, a series of children’s board books, in Indianapolis in August. Based on stories Burkhart told her children when they were young and she has decided to share with other families, the tales are about a raccoon family that lived in the woods next door to their home. The books bring the raccoons to life through stories and complementary plush animals.

The Raccoon Tales series and toys are geared for children ages 2 to 4 years old. The 6 X 6-inch books come with a removable raccoon tail that hangs from the book spine. The first book in the series is titled Hip, Flip, Skip, and Boo and Their Friend Stu. Plush 5-inch toy raccoons come in four striped tail colors (blue, green, pink and purple) to match the four raccoon characters in the stories. Books will retail for $8.95 and the raccoon toys will be $4.95 each.

About Burkhart Network
Based in Indianapolis, Burkhart Network LLC is owned and led by Central-Indiana entrepreneur and philanthropist Lorene Burkhart. Burkhart’s first book, An Accidental Pioneer: A Farm Girl’s Drive to the Finish…, was released in September 2006 (retail $24.95). Burkhart serves as the center of the energy for the creativity and focus of the company. Her vision is to share her life experiences through books and related items. The rotating circles, stars and sunrays in the company logo are the projects, people and causes who benefit from the nucleus of energy. Current Burkhart Network projects in development include books for children and adults, toys and inspirational Girlfriends products. For more information visit www.BurkhartNetwork.com.

burkhart-network-news-release.doc

Read the article in the Indianapolis Business Journal about the formation of the Burkhart Network.

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