(Press Release) ChildCareGroup hosted its 7th Annual Great Adventure Hunt, presented by Alliance Data, this past Saturday. The fun and clever puzzle hunt at the Perot Museum of Nature and Science grossed nearly $360,000 to support CCG’s early childhood education programs. Following a cocktail hour and dinner, more than 320 guests competed on teams of six to decipher fun and wacky clues and solve mind-bending, unexpected puzzles throughout the museum’s 11 exhibit halls on five floors. This year’s puzzles featured edible clues, a Mother Goose actor, Twister and “The Hokey Pokey”. The masterminds behind the Hunt’s fun and challenging puzzles are Dallas’ own Puzzle Pros John Harris, Joe Mannes, Tom Nynas, Kemp Sawers and Bart and Elizabeth Showalter. This year is the first time they’ve written the Hunt puzzles; however, they’re no strangers to the Hunt. The Puzzle Pros collectively have won or placed in the event at least 10 times. Judges tallied the scores and teams who solved the most puzzles in the shortest time received prizes and bragging rights.
Best Team Name award went to Valet Sponsor Roach Howard Smith & Barton with the team name “CAN’7 50LV3 TH15”. Third Place and the Rookie Team awards went to the Meredith and Scott Wallace team, Second Place went to Kick-Off Party Sponsor Pegasus Bank and Bright & Bright, LLP and First Place went to Matthews Southwest. Alliance Data was the $50,000 Presenting Sponsor, and Lyda Hill was the $25,000 Puzzle Sponsor. The $20,000 Kick-Off Party Sponsor Pegasus Bank and Bright & Bright LLP allowed early registrants and long-time hunters to gear up for the Great Adventure Hunt last October by practicing fun puzzles designed by this year’s Puzzle Pros. Other major sponsors included Bank of Texas, Cox and Small families, M.C. Smith Interests and Republic Title.
“ChildCareGroup provides or manages early care and education programs for more than 12,000 Dallas-area children every day,” said ChildCareGroup President and CEO Tori Mannes. “Since children learn through play, the Great Adventure Hunt allows the community to support our work by playing as well.” ChildCareGroup is committed to building a stronger community by providing services that touch the lives of more than 50,000 children, parents and early childhood professionals each year. ChildCareGroup focuses on a two-generation approach to help lift families out of poverty. For more information, visit www.childcaregroup.org.
