10 Year Old “ENTREPENEUR” Wins Inaugural BANZAI Toy Tester Competition

Aug. 6, 2009 - PRLog -- ToyQuest, the category leader in seasonal outdoor products, is proud to announce 10 year old, Madison Lewandowski, as the winner of the BANZAI toy tester competition. Madison will spend a day this August testing and playing with BANZAI toys at the company’s U.S. headquarters.

This past February, ToyQuest launched a nationwide search for the first-ever BANZAI toy tester.  The deadline for applications, which included essays, business plans and self-produced videos, was May 31, 2009.  After careful review of hundreds of entries, six outstanding finalists were selected.

“Madison is a special high-energy individual who not only represents the elusive savvy tween consumer but also possesses natural business instincts,” states Peter Magalhaes, ToyQuest’s Vice President of Business Development.  “Madison’s video captured her creativity, athleticism, personality and a surprising level of entrepreneurial spirit.  We are thrilled to invite Madison into the ToyQuest toy lab!”

"I had seen a little blurb in the LA Times about ToyQuest looking or its first ever kid toy-tester. I asked Madison if she would be interested. Without hesitation, she jumped at the chance. Madison loves to have fun. She's active and a great kid. This is the perfect match for her,” states Madison’s father, Leon Lewandowski.

"I was so surprised when I found out that I won the contest. I started doing handstands and cartwheels in the backyard," exclaims Madison.

Madison Lewandowski is a fifth grade student from Santa Barbara, California.  She enjoys dancing, singing, drawing, and writing.  Madison started her own jewelry business and sells her products on-line at www.maddiesmonkeybusiness.com.  She has also started a non-profit organization, Kidz for a Cure, to help raise money to support pediatric cancer research.  For more information, visit www.KidzforaCure.org.

About ToyQuest
ToyQuest uses innovative technology to design products that are fun and safe for children and build on their natural creativity and athleticism. Under the BANZAI brand, ToyQuest is the industry leader in seasonal outdoor products due to their unique orange packaging, creative designs and innovation through a variety of formats including water blasters, pools, constant-air and flat water slides.  ToyQuest designs, develops and markets high quality proprietary toys and toys licensed from popular intellectual properties including The Walt Disney Company, Mattel, Fisher-Price, Nickelodeon, Rawlings, National Football League, Warner Brothers, Sesame Street, Marvel  and many others.  ToyQuest’s products have been seen on Good Morning America, Live with Regis and Kelly, The Late Show with David Letterman, KTLA morning show, The Ellen Degeneres Show, The View, Soap Talk, and at all major retailers nationwide. For more information, visit www.toyquest.com.

ToyQuest Contact:  Tonia Nessl
Public Relations and Licensing Manager
949.273.8826 / tonia@toyquest.com

Alternate Contact:  Leon Lewandowski
805-692-1903 / Lewski711@gmail.com