Contest

Sponsored by
Our Essay Contest is currently on hold, due to losing our Sponsor for the Contest.
As soon as a sponsor is secured, the contest will resume.

32 FREE cruises will be awarded
16 regions, comprised of all 50 U.S. states,
will have an opportunity to participate in the contest between 2012 & 2013.
Regional announcements will take place as the promotion rolls out across the country.
Subscribe to our e-newsletter to find out when the contest is coming to your hometown!

Next Region

Region #4 Opening Soon....

To Be Announced Please check back

Click here to stay informed when the contest moves to your state!

Past Regions Click here for the winning essays and more info

Contest Region #3 Alabama, Georgia & Mississippi

Grand Prize
Carolyn Shepherd - Decatur, Georgia
Non-Profit Organization - Talk About Curing Autism, Georgia Chapter

Runner-up
Rachel Fleming - Oxford, Alabama
Non-Profit Organization - East Alabama United Cerebral Palsy Center in Anniston, AL

Contest Region #2 Florida PR Release

Grand Prize
Candy Rhodes - Fort Meyers, Florida
Non-Profit Organization - Peace by Piece Learning Center, Fort Meyers, FL

Runner-up
Jennifer Wright - Vero Beach, Florida
Non-Profit Organization - Surfers for Autism, Boca Raton, FL

Contest Region #1 Texas PR Release

Grand Prize
Omonpee Petcoff - Arlington, Texas
Non-Profit Organization - The ARC of Greater Tarrant County

Runner-up
Brooke Newman-Hawley - Tomball, Texas
Non-Profit Organization - Desperate for Respite in Houston

Write a 250-word (max) Essay on "Why I need a Special Vacation"
and enter to win:

Two Grand Prizes per Region
Free Group Cruise or Resort Stay with AotS Staff

Grand Prize #1 awarded to the winning Participant (family of four)
Grand Prize #2 awarded to the Autism Advocacy Organization of (the winning participants) Choice

Two Runner-up Prizes per Region
30% Discount - AotS Group Cruise or Resort Stay with AotS Staff

Runner-up Prize #1 awarded to the winning Participant (family of four)
Runner-up Prize #2 awarded to the Autism Advocacy Organization of (the winning participants) Choice

Are you affiliated with an Autism Organization?

Click here to request Contest Information to share with families.

Click here to request Contest Fliers to share with families.

Read below for more details... Enter Now Click here or scroll down

Featuring an Esteemed Panel of Contest Judges

Samir Patel President of OxyHealth, LLC
Dr. Stephen Shore Assistant Professor-Special Education, Adelphi University
Kim Stagliano Managing Editor, Age of Autism
Todd Tyler Vice President Marketing, Dynavox Technologies

Full bio's and pictures

Prizes are sponsored by
Our Essay Contest is currently on hold, due to losing our Sponsor for the Contest.
As soon as a sponsor is secured, the contest will resume.

Starting in Texas, over the next 12-18 months, Autism on the Seas (AotS) will run 16 in-region contests with participating autism and special needs advocacy organizations, local independent organizations, as well as local chapters of national groups such as Autism Speaks and the National Autism Association. Families interested in entering the contest are asked to write a 250-word essay on why they need a special vacation. Contestants will need to choose an organization of their own choice, and they are encouraged to also submit a family photograph with their essay submission.

The winner will receive a paid cruise or land resort vacation with AotS Staff, courtesy of Skyeward Bound Ranch (SBR). Additionally, the non-profit autism advocacy organization named on the entry form by the winner will also receive a paid cruise or land resort vacation with AotS Staff of their choice, courtesy of SBR. The organization may may use the vacation to raise funds or however they wish. Runner-up prizes will also be awarded.

As the promotion is rolled out in each region, AotS will make announcements via email and news release, as well as posting to the AotS and SBR websites. We encourage potential contestants to subscribe to our Email List to stay informed about the contest and news related to special needs on vacation.

Contact Prosper Communications if you have any questions.

Rules*

This contest is administered and managed by Prosper Communications, Inc., a Public Relations company.

Participant / Eligibility

Any Special Needs immediate Family member or Special Needs Adult (family member), 18 years or older, may participate.

Participant does not need to be the person who writes the essay.

One entry per family. Duplicate submissions from the same family will be notified of disqualification, and may re-submit entry.

Any participant who has booked a vacation with Autism on the Seas on or after January 1, 2011 is NOT eligible for the Grand Prize, but IS eligible for the Runner-Up Prize. All entries will be screened.

Each participant must reside in one of the Regional States listed above.

Participants must have a special needs person that will travel with them in the same cabin or room, if they win.

Participants may or may not have special needs.

Benefiting Organization

A special needs Autism organization must be selected by each participant.

The Benefiting Autism/Special Needs Organization must be a 501c(3) designated non-profit organization, located in the same regional U.S. state(s) the contest is open to at time of entry.

The participant does not need to be an official member of, or belong to in any way, the selected organization.

The selected organization may be either a local chapter of a national group or a local community autism advocacy group.

Essay entries

Entries can be submitted, starting with the date listed above (depending on which Region is currently open).

Entries received after the date listed above (depending on which Region is currently open). will not be accepted.

Each participant MUST complete the online form below.

Essays must be between 150 and 250 words.

Essays exceeding 250 words will be disqualified.

Selection Process

Prosper Communications, Inc., a Public Relations company, will screen all entries, and submit all qualifying entries to the selection panel.

The panel will select the winners within one month of the end of each regional contest period (submission deadline).

Each winner will be notified via email and/or phone, by Prosper Communication, Inc.

Essays will be judged based on the following categories:

Specificity to topic

Compelling effect

Originality

The selection panel consists of (Full bio's and pictures):

Prizes*

Grand Prizes
TWO - FULL VACATION GIFT CERTIFICATES
Awarded to: Participant Winner AND Benefiting Organization

There will be two Gift Certificates awarded, per Region. One to the person who's essay is selected as the Grand Prize winner, and another identical Gift Certificate to the Benefiting Organization the Participant names on the Submission Form found below.

The Vacation Gift Certificates from Autism on the Seas can be used on any Vacation with Staff posted on the AotS website, that begins (departs) from October 2012, through December 31, 2013.

The Gift Certificates will be good for a maximum of 4 people (in one cabin or room).

If a cruise is chosen, the least expensive Outside Cabin will be included. Upgrades will be allowed at guests expense.

If a resort stay is chosen, then the least expensive room option will be included. Upgrades will be allowed at guests expense.

Expenses covered are: Cruise/Resort Fare and Tax (as found on AotS website).

Expenses not covered are: Gratuities, Insurance, Ground Transfers, Airfare, pre or post hotel stays, cabin/room upgrades, excursions during vacation, onboard/resort expenses. All of these items are allowed to be added at the guests expense.

The winners are free to use the Gift Certificates themselves, or gift to anyone they wish.

Both the Grand Prize and the Runner-up prize will not be awarded to the same organization in each Region. Two different Autism Advocacy Organizations (and their Entry Participants) will be awarded the prizes, per Region.

Second Prizes
TWO - 30% DISCOUNT VACATION GIFT CERTIFICATES
Awarded to: Participant Winner AND Benefiting Organization

There will be two Gift Certificates awarded, per region. One to the person who's essay is selected as the Second Prize winner, and another identical Gift Certificate to the Benefiting Organization the Participant chooses on the From on this page.

The Vacation Gift Certificates from Autism on the Seas can be used on any Vacation with Staff posted on the AotS website, that begins (departs) from October 2012, through December 31, 2013.

The Gift Certificates will be good for a maximum of 4 people (in one cabin or room).

The discounts will be calculated based on the Cruise Fare only, and will not be calculated based on any other fee or cost (including Tax, Gratuities, Insurance, Ground Transfers, Airfare, pre or post hotel stays, excursions during vacation, onboard/resort expenses).

The winners are free to use the Gift Certificates themselves, or gift to anyone they wish.

Contact Prosper Communications if you have any questions.

Essay Entry Form

Essay
Please tell us anything unique or special as to why you would like to go on a vacation. Your essay should be between 150 and 250 words. Essays that exceed 250 words will be disqualified.

Essays will be judged based on the following categories:

Specificity to topic

Compelling effect

Originality

Choose one
Paste or Type your Essay in the section below.
Send a separate Email with your Essay, and include the information listed below with your email.

Contact Prosper Communications if you have any questions.

Family Photo* Request only, not required for entry

Please click here to email a family PHOTO to us. Please attach the photo to the email.

Participant*

Name:

Address :

Address (cont):

City State Zip Country

Phones:

Home Cell Work

Email Address: REQUIRED FIELD

Benefiting Autism/Special Needs Organization*

Organization Name:
Contact Person Name
Address :
Address (cont):
City State Zip Country

Phones:
Work Cell

Email Address REQUIRED FIELD

In order to Submit an Entry, you must reside in the state of "Next Region to be Announced soon". Thank you Click here to stay informed when the contest moves to your state!

*Rules continued

Contest rules

NO PURCHASE IS NECESSARY TO ENTER OR WIN. A PURCHASE WILL NOT INCREASE YOUR CHANCES OF WINNING. ALL FEDERAL, STATE, LOCAL, AND MUNICIPAL LAWS AND REGULATIONS APPLY. VOID WHERE PROHIBITED. Alumni Cruises (aka Autism on the Seas), and/or Prosper Communications reserves the right to alter the rules, and/or cease the contest, at any time with notice.

Odds of winning any prizes depend on the number of eligible entries received..

Eligibility: Contest is open to all legal U.S. residents 18 years of age and older at the Contest start date. Employees of Alumni Cruises, LLC (aka Autism on the Seas), and Skyeward Bound Ranch., its subsidiaries, advertising and production agencies and other companies directly involved in the implementation and/or execution of the Contest, and their immediate families and household members are not eligible. All federal, state, provincial and local laws and regulations apply. Void where prohibited or restricted. By entering this Contest, participants agree to be bound by these Official Rules and the decisions of the Sponsor and/or its agents. By participating, Contestants agree to allow Sponsor to periodically send notification of special offers and promotions via e-mail. If at any time you decide that you do not wish to be contacted further about special promotions via e-mail, follow the instructions in the e-mail.

Entry Submission: No purchase is necessary to enter the Contest. A purchase will not increase an entrant's chance of winning. No alternate form of entry will be honored in this Contest. Only entries submitted to this website will be eligible for judging. The Grand Prize Winner will be notified via e-mail or phone. If the Grand Prize Winner cannot be contacted or the Grand Prize Winner fails to confirm his/her eligibility and mailing address within 48 hours of notification, an alternate winner will be selected. Sponsor is not responsible for late, lost, incomplete, illegible, misdirected or misrouted entries. Contest entries become the property of Sponsor and will not be returned.

Prize Redemption/Conditions: Awarding of the Grand Prize will be conducted by the Prosper Communications. Inc., whose decisions are final on all matters relating to the Contest. Sponsor will notify the Grand Prize Winner via e-mail/phone and verify the Grand Prize Winner’s eligibility and mailing address. If the Grand Prize Winner cannot be contacted or the Grand Prize Winner fails to confirm his/her eligibility and mailing address within 48 hours of notification, an alternate winner will be selected from the remaining eligible entries. The Grand Prize winner will be required to sign a Statement of Eligibility and Liability/Publicity Release, or the Grand Prize may be forfeited and an alternate winner selected. The Grand Prize Winner will also be required to disclose his/her social security number for the purpose of issuance of a 1099 Form for tax purposes .

*Release of Liability: Prize acceptance constitutes express permission to use the Grand Prize Winner's first name, last name, and state of residence for publicity purposes without compensation and agreement to execute any required documentation. Sponsor and its promotional and advertising agencies, and all respective officers, directors, employees, representatives and agents of each, shall have no liability and shall be held harmless by winner for any damage, loss or liability to persons or property, due in whole or part, directly or indirectly, by reason of the acceptance, possession, use or misuse of prize or participation in this Contest. Sponsor reserves the right, in its sole discretion, to cancel, terminate, modify, or suspend part or all of this Contest should virus, bugs, unauthorized human intervention or other causes beyond the control of Sponsor corrupt or impair the administration, security, fairness, or proper play of the Contest. Sponsor and its promotion and advertising agencies, and all respective officers, directors, employees, representatives and agents of each, are not responsible for technical, hardware, software or telephone failures of any kind, lost, interrupted or unavailable network connections, fraud, incomplete, garbled or delayed computer transmissions, whether caused by the Sponsor, users, or by any of the equipment or programming associated with or utilized in the Contest or by any technical or human error which may occur in the processing of submissions which may damage a user's system or limit a participant's ability to participate in the Contest. Sponsor reserves the right at its sole discretion to disqualify any individual that the Sponsor reasonably believes to have tampered with the entry process or with the operation of the Contest, or who is found to be acting in violation of these Official Rules. By submitting this form, and sending us a photo of your family, gives AotS permission to use that photo in all promotional materials, electronic or print, relative to the contest without any other verbal or written permission from participants.

Contact Prosper Communications if you have any questions.

Autism on the Seas 1-800-516-5247 info@AutismontheSeas.com