News Release

“PreTeena” Joins AllyKatzz

Kansas City, MO  (06/25/2007)  Starting today, June 25, Teena and her friends from the comic strip “PreTeena” can be found on AllyKatzz.com (www.allykatzz.com) –a 100 percent safe blog site for girls ages 9 through 15. Creator Allison Barrows will post her profile on the site, as well as those of the characters Teena, best friend Stick, and sister Jeri. Girls on the site can post their opinions and ideas of the comic strip.

“I’m very excited to hear comments from the girls, gain suggestions, and really get into this age-group’s head,” Barrows says.

“A partnership with AllyKatzz is the first step in a strategy to build the “PreTeena” brand,” says Sarah DeCoursey, director of licensing at Universal Press Syndicate. Placing the characters in front of this much-sought after demographic will help grow readership and following for the comic strip. For AllyKatzz, the “PreTeena” content provides an engaging and entertaining medium to open discussion on the topics affecting the young audience today.

"This partnership between “PreTeena” and AllyKatzz is a wonderful opportunity for us,” adds DeCoursey. “PreTeena's topical humor speaks directly to the AllyKatzz tween audience. We could not be more excited about bringing this content and medium to the AllyKatzz community.”

AllyKatzz is a unique, mutually beneficial partnership and the first of its class for a Universal Press Syndicate feature. Both web site and comic strip offer wholesome, positive views for young girls today.

“AllyKatzz.com is the only SAFE, monitored social networking site for tween and young teen girls. It's a place where girls connect, where every girl is important, and every girl has a voice,” says AllyKatzz President and CEO Denise Restauri.

By relating to the characters and becoming involved with the topics, the bloggers on AllyKatzz become a focus group for future marketing and licensing opportunities.

“PreTeena,” created by Barrows, follows Teena Keene, an almost 11-year-old fifth grader through the hard transition of early adolescence. Teena is trying to find an equal balance between just being a kid and becoming a teenager. Boys and make-up are entering her life but she still tries to find the time to play with her dolls.

Barrows graduated Paier College of Art with a bachelor’s degree in advertising. After spending a few years in advertising she was ready to return to her true passion -- comic strips. Barrows has written and illustrated two children's books, "The Artist's Model" and "The Artist's Friends" (Carolrhoda, Inc). “PreTeena” was born when Barrows rediscovered, in a pile of papers, a children's book idea she'd developed. She thought it would make a good comic strip, and Universal Press Syndicate agreed, launching “PreTeena” in 2001. Barrows and her husband live in New Hampshire with their two children.

Creator(s): Allison Barrows

Contact(s): Kathie Kerr

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