Miami HoJo Hosts Story Time Featuring the Harlem Globetrotters

MIAMI (March 1, 2010) – As part of Howard Johnson's The Give Happy Challenge, the Howard Johnson Plaza Hotel - Miami Airport and world-famous Harlem Globetrotters today treated students of Blessed Trinity Elementary School to snacks and story time while dazzling them with the team's signature ball handling moves.

The event was designed to encourage locals to help spread happiness by inviting them to participate in The Give Happy Challenge, a contest that combines competition with philanthropy in pursuit of a happier future. The challenge offers participants the chance to win $15,000 to help keep their happy efforts going plus a personal visit from the Harlem Globetrotters.

To participate in the challenge, do-gooders are tasked with finding fun and creative ways to bring happiness to those in their communities, either individually or as a group. Once they do, they visit www.thegivehappychallenge.com and submit a video clip or essay that illustrates how they were able to spread happiness.

"I'm extremely excited to have our hotel supporting this challenge and can't wait to see the creative and thoughtful ideas that result," said Armando Hernandez, general manager of the Howard Johnson Plaza Hotel - Miami Airport. "It is my hope that the entire community will rally around this effort and show the country what a happy place Miami truly is."

Entries for The Give Happy Challenge are being accepted through March 15, 2010 with eight finalists being selected on May 1st. The finalists will then be featured on www.thegivehappychallenge.com, where the public will vote for the winner. The winner will be announced on or about June 21, 2010—the first day of summer and traditionally the happiest day of the year.

The Original Harlem Globetrotters are embarking on their record 84th consecutive season of touring the world. The Globetrotters have played in 120 countries on six continents, entertaining more than 130 million fans and crossing barriers between cultures, societies and people from all walks of life. The Globetrotters are one of only six teams to be inducted into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame.