Winning jingle singer helps Sylvania school

12/10/2008

Seven-year-old Isabella Litzer has a winning singing voice.

The Maplewood Elementary School first grader beat out more than 300 children from Ohio and Michigan in the "Sing-a-Jing" contest sponsored by Hansons' Windows.

A home video of Isabella performing Hansons' jingle was the top vote-getter in an online competition for a prize valued at $8,000. She will receive a $5,000 savings bond as well as a $500 gift card to Toys "R" Us.

Sylvania's Maplewood Elementary also will benefit from her success. The school will receive a $2,500 donation from the windows, roofing, gutters and siding company based in Madison Heights, Mich.

For her entry, Isabella and her mother, Lori, produced a 15-second video. Isabella sang the Hanson's jingle: "Come on everybody, get it done, you know the one. Call 1-800-Hansons." Mrs. Litzer stood by with the video camera in the family's living room.

The mother-daughter team then began a campaign to win the vote race. They started appealing to their friends and family for support.

Mrs. Litzer e-mailed friends and co-workers.

Isabella passed out "cam-paign" flyers at Sylvania's Fall Festival.

When the phone call came, saying she had won, Isabella was thrilled.

"I put my hand over my mouth and I was so excited," she said. "I felt like I don't know, really happy and surprised."

She said she wants to buy a dollhouse-sized High School Musical set with her gift certificate.

Principal Ed Eding said the prize money will likely be used to make some permanent addition to the new Maplewood school when it's completed in the next few years.

Hansons officials are planning to host an awards ceremony at the school later this month.

To view Isabella's and other contest entries visit hansons

videocontest.com.