Photo Contest: Toxic Toys -- A Photo is Worth a Thousand Words!

Grand Prize: Free visit to your home or classroom to test your toys for toxic chemicals using the XRF device used to create HealthyToys.org

The Ecology Center and the Michigan Network for Children's Environmental Health (MNCEH) are creating a collage of photos of parents, children and their toys. This collage will be used at public events, in email and web communications, in print media, and in other ways to promote the passage of the Children's Safe Products Act. Only with your help can we make sure parents have a right to know what dangers lurk in their children's toys.

How to Enter the Contest:

1. Compose an email to test49return@photos.flickr.com with the subject line "Am I Toxic?"

2. In the body of the email, please include the following:
First name, Last name, Zip code, the best way to contact you, as well as a personalized comment/caption for the photo expressing why this issue is of concern for you and your family. Note: If you don't want your contact information displayed on the site, send the entry to rob@ecocenter.org and we'll post the photo.

3. Attach an image of your children, yourself, your family, or your friends with toys, "Am I toxic?" signs, etc. -- and send!

All photos will appear at www.mnceh.org/photosubmissions.php.

Please visit the site to see an example of a complete entry. For more information, please visit www.mnceh.org/photocontest.php

Contest Rules:
1. You may submit as many photos as you want, but each photo must contain a different child or a different toy.
2. Anyone who submits a photo who is not the parent or legal guardian of the child appearing in the photo must obtain written permission from the child's parents or guardian before submitting the photo.
3. Winner will be determined by the staff of the Ecology Center and will be chosen from the 20 photos with the most views.
4. Contest deadline Midnight, July 31, 2009.
5. Grand Prize is limited to Michigan residents.
6. By submitting a photo you are giving the Ecology Center and the Michigan Network for Children's Environmental Health permission to use the photo in emails, on the web, in printed materials, etc.

Note: By submitting a photo you are giving the Michigan Network for Children's Environmental Health (MNCEH) permission to use the image in support of our campaign efforts.