Contest Rules:

• Contest period is from August 23, 2021 – September 24, 2021. All entries are due by 11:59 p.m. EST on September 24th, 2021.
• Winner Determination Date(s): October 5 – 11, 2021
• Entry is limited to one entry per IP address; however, more than one nomination may be received for the same nominee from different entrants.
• Contest entrants may only nominate another individual as a Hometown Hero. No self-nominations will be allowed.
• Nominees must be a resident of the designated Contest Area, which includes the following Ohio counties: Crawford, Hardin, Marion, Morrow, Knox, Franklin, Coshocton, Fayette, Pickaway, Guernsey, Hocking, Athens, Delaware, Ross, Pike, Licking, Madison, Fairfield, Perry, Morgan and Union.
• Entrants and nominees must be at least 18 years old.
• Total number of winners not to exceed 35. Final selection will be dependent on total number of entries and how closely finalist nominations meet the selection criteria.

How to Enter

To enter, fill out the Hometown Hero nomination form with your contact information, the contact information for the person you are nominating, and details on why the person deserves to be recognized as a Hometown Hero. By entering, entrants agree that the nominee is eligible to win the prize. No mechanically completed or reproduced entries will be accepted.

Sample Submission Form:

• Entrant’s name
• Entrant’s phone number and email address
• Nominee’s name
• Nominee’s phone number and email address
• About the nominee (300 words or less)
• Links to supporting posts on nominee’s social channels – limit to 3 links (ex: if nominating a teacher, link to a social post of the teacher in action!)
• Upload up to three photos to support submission
• Permission to use nominee’s name and photos on the website, in media and on social media (photo release form)

Eligibility

To be eligible to make a submission, entrants must be U.S. residents who are at least 18 years of age and reside within the Contest Area.

In order to be selected as a Hometown Hero, all nominees must be:

• At least 18 years of age
• U.S. residents who are at least 18 years of age, reside in the Central Ohio Area, and meet the criteria of the Nomination Topic. Proof of residency will be required upon selection.
  • “Central Ohio Area” includes the following Ohio counties: Crawford, Hardin, Marion, Morrow, Knox, Franklin, Coshocton, Fayette, Pickaway, Guernsey, Hocking, Athens, Delaware, Ross, Pike, Licking, Madison, Fairfield, Perry, Morgan, Union
• Currently involved with the organization / activity / role they were nominated for at the time of selection and must have been involved in the organization / activity / role before the announcement of the contest. Selected winners to provide proof of active participation at the time selection.

Employees of Worthington Industries and its subsidiaries and the immediate family members of each are not eligible to be nominated to win a prize. The term “immediate family” includes spouses, domestic partners, grandparents, parents, siblings, children, grandchildren and any other relatives who reside in the same household with the employee. Only one winner per household.

Criteria for Selecting Winners:

Each entry will be judged and scored by a panel of judges composed of Balloon Time personnel based on the Judging Criteria for the Nomination Topic.

On the Winner Determination Date(s), the judges will determine the Total Number of Winners with the highest score(s) based on the criteria set forth below. 

• Compelling Nature of the Story = 25%
  • Example: “After [nominee’s] grandmother passed away due to the coronavirus pandemic, [nominee] decided to volunteer at the local nursing home where she lived to feel closer to her. [Nominee] grew close with all of her friends and nurses and now goes every day.”
• Creativity =  25%
  • Example: “Last March when the lockdown began, [nominee] began drawing small chalk hearts all over the city of Columbus to remind citizens that they were not alone, and that even though the city was quiet, they were still loved. So many of [his/her] neighbors thanked [nominee] for brightening their day”
• Addresses a Specific Need =  25%
  • Example: “Instead of hanging out with friends after the school week was over, [Nominee] dedicated [his/her] weekends this past semester to tutoring K-3 graders who were struggling with math. The students’ assessment grades increased by 30%.”
• Leadership =  25%
  • Example: “[Nominee] rallied a group of friends and family last April to make extra masks for the people of Columbus. [They] made over 10,000 masks and donated them around the city.”

Prizes

Each Hometown Hero winner will receive a Celebration Kit. The kit will include:

• Balloon Time^® helium tank
• Balloon Time-branded reusable bag
• A variety of balloons
• Free treats from local businesses
• Party City gift card
• 4 Day Passes to the Columbus Zoo & Aquarium

In addition to our selected winners, we will be awarding one (1) Grand Prize to an individual who meets all pre-determined criteria. The Grand Prize Winner will receive all of the above, with a greater Party City discount and an annual membership to the Columbus Zoo & Aquarium, as well as a $1,000.00 donation on the winner’s behalf to a local charity of choice*.

* The organization must be a registered 501(c)(3) organization and be associated with the central Ohio region. A list of approved organizations to choose from can be made available to the Grand Prize winner upon request.

Balloon Time is partnering with Party City to help distribute the Celebration Kits. Selected Hometown Heroes will be notified with pick-up instructions.

FAQ:

Who is eligible to enter?

Entrants and nominees must be at least 18 years of age and U.S. residents living in the Contest Area. Nominees must be currently involved with the organization, activity or role that they were nominated for at the time of selection, and must have been involved before the official announcement of the contest (August 23, 2021). Entry is limited to one entry per IP address; however, more than one nomination may be received for the same nominee from different entrants.

What defines the Contest Area?

The Contest Area includes the following central Ohio counties: Crawford, Hardin, Marion, Morrow, Knox, Franklin, Coshocton, Fayette, Pickaway, Guernsey, Hocking, Athens, Delaware, Ross, Pike, Licking, Madison, Fairfield, Perry, Morgan and Union.

Who is not eligible to enter?

Entrants are ineligible and can only nominate someone else to be a Hometown Hero.

Employees of Worthington Industries and its subsidiaries and immediate family members of each are not eligible to be nominated to win a prize. The term “immediate family” includes spouses, domestic partners, grandparents, parents, siblings, children, grandchildren and any other relatives who reside in the same household with the employee. Only one winner per household.

How do I enter the contest?

To enter, fill out the Hometown Hero nomination form with your contact information, the contact information for the person you are nominating, and a description of why the person deserves to be recognized as a Hometown Hero. By entering, entrants agree that the nominee, not the entrant, is eligible to win the prize. No mechanically completed or reproduced entries will be accepted.

Who will select the winners of the contest, and how will they decide on a winner?

A select number of Hometown Heroes will be chosen by Balloon Time’s internal judges and awarded with curated Hometown Hero Celebration Kits. Within the finalists, one grand prize winner will also be selected. Winners will be selected based on the following criteria:

• Compelling Nature of the Story = 25%
  • Example: “After his grandmother passed away due to the coronavirus pandemic, John decided to volunteer at the local nursing home where she had lived to feel closer to her. He grew close with all of her friends and nurses and now goes every day.”
• Creativity =  25%
  • Example: “Last March when the lockdown began, Sarah began drawing small chalk hearts all over the city of Columbus to remind citizens that they were not alone, and that even though the city was quiet, they were still loved.”
• Addresses a Specific Need =  25%
  • Example: “Instead of hanging out with friends after the school week was over, Emily dedicated her weekends this past semester to tutoring K-3 graders who were struggling with math. The students’ assessment grades increased by 30%.”
• Leadership = 25 %
  • Example: “Steven rallied a group of my friends and family last April to make extra masks for the people of Columbus, and we made over 10,000 masks and donated them around the city.”

Can I nominate myself to be selected?

No.

What is the deadline for submissions?

All submissions must be received by 11:59 p.m. on September 24, 2021.

What are the prizes?

The Hometown Hero Celebration Kits include:

• Balloon Time^® helium tank
• Balloon Time-branded reusable bag
• A variety of balloons
• Free treats from local businesses
• Party City gift card
• 4 Day Passes to the Columbus Zoo & Aquarium

The Grand Prize Winner will receive all of the above, with higher Party City discount and an annual membership to the Columbus Zoo & Aquarium, as well as a $1,000.00 donation on the winner’s behalf to a local charity of choice.

Are there additional prizes for runner-up winners?

No additional prizes will be awarded.

Do I need to be a Balloon Time customer to enter?

No. No purchase is necessary to enter or win.

When will the winners be announced?

October 11, 2021.

How soon after being selected will I receive my prize?

Prizes will be available for pick-up beginning October 11, 2021. Winners will receive pick-up instructions.