FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

CONTACT:                                                    
Carey Kinsolving
956-433-1300
carey@KidsTalkAboutGod.org

Sonoma County Girl Wins Dude Ranch Vacation

Rohnert Park, Calif., June 11, 2008 -- A 7-year-old girl from Rohnert Park, Calif., has been named one of 12 winners of dude ranch vacations by the Children’s International Arts Festival.

And because the festival is ongoing until March 31, 2009, other local children are invited to send in entries for a chance to win a similar vacation in the summer of 2009. Entry forms can be downloaded at www.KidsTalkAboutGod.org.

As her prize, Hannah Grace Levin, 7, will spend a week with her family this summer at Latigo Ranch in Kremmling, Colo. (www.latigotrails.com).

“I'll get to ride horses and do different things,” said Hannah after hearing the news that she was a winner. That evening at dinner, Hannah’s parents told her they were very proud of her.

"Well, don't thank me, thank God!" said Hannah.

Hannah became a winner in the Children’s International Arts Festival by answering the question, “What does the Bible mean when it says Jesus was full of grace and truth?” (John 1:14-18). Her answer: “The Bible tells us that God's grace saves us through our faith in His Son. Jesus Christ is the Truth because He is the only Way to Heaven. In Psalm 1, we read that God's people obey and follow God (Jesus is the Way), and because we follow, we bear good fruit and are pleasing in God's eyes."

Hannah is a home schooled second-grader. She was born in a suburb of Cleveland, Ohio and moved with her family to Sonoma County in 2003. She is involved with her church and enjoys drawing, gymnastics, soccer and playing with friends. Hannah loves animals and finds documentaries about them fascinating. 

Her parents are Tom and Amy Levin. Tom is a civil engineer and Lieutenant Commander in the US Coast Guard. As a former elementary school teacher, Amy stays busy homeschooling her four girls and volunteering in the children’s ministry at her church. She has a master’s degree in speech-language pathology and recently obtained her black belt in karate.

Hannah recently spoke by telephone with Randy George of Latigo Ranch. She was thrilled to learn that Latigo has a special program for her age group that includes trail rides, square-dancing, nature walks, swimming, fishing and hayrides.

The Children’s International Arts Festival is sponsored by KidsTalkAboutGod.org and participating dude ranches. Festival organizer Carey Kinsolving writes a weekly Kids Talk About God column, distributed through Creators Syndicate, and has produced a series of popular TV spots for ABC affiliate that can be seen on the Kids Talk About God website.

Kinsolving said the response to his work has been enthusiastic and heartwarming. Readers are reminded of what Jesus meant when he said we must enter His kingdom with the faith of a child.

“Children have a way of touching our hearts and reminding us that we must come to God with childlike faith,” he said.

To enter the festival and become eligible to win a dude ranch vacation prize, children ages 5 through 12 are asked to answer Bible questions and draw art to illustrate their answers. Selected drawings and essays will be published in Kinsolving’s latest project, the “Kids Color Me Bible Gospel of John.”

Hannah said she has been encouraging other kids to enter the online arts festival for future prizes. When asked what advice she might give other children who might submit festival entries, Hannah said, “Thank God for all your blessings.”

For entry information, visit www.KidsTalkAboutGod.org and click on the “Children’s International Arts Festival” link. Information about the participating dude ranches also appears on the site.

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Click photo of Hannah to download:

Hannah Grace Levin, age 7, won a dude
ranch vacation in the Children's International
Arts Festival.