WhiteFence Press Room

Millions of Households on the Move Now Have Access to Localized Area Services From One-Stop Shop, Movearoo.com

DALLAS, DENVER and NEW YORK – Moving just got a lot easier. With more than 20 million U.S. households (approximately 57 million people) expected to move this year, a new program and Web site — with the motto “You move. We Jump” — are being launched to reduce the stresses of moving for consumers coast-to-coast.

Beginning Wednesday (July 9), movers across the country can plan their move step-by-step at www.movearoo.com, a cost-free, interactive resource that delivers real-time assistance to consumers, while easing the entire moving process. By simply entering a home address, Movearoo helps consumers with everything from identifying the right moving company to conveniently setting up home-related services, such as phone, high-speed Internet, TV, electricity, natural gas and more.

Movearoo was established by a consortium of leading communications companies, including AT&T, Qwest and Verizon, and was developed and is managed by WhiteFence, the nation’s leading online comparison-shopping marketplace for residential home services.

When families across the country make the decision to move, they can count on Movearoo to help make that process easier. Movearoo.com is one of the most convenient and efficient places online to comparison shop and order more than a dozen critical move and home-related services – all from one place, according to the Movearoo consortium.

In addition to comparison shopping for essential home-related services, such as voice, high-speed Internet and video services on Movearoo.com, movers can:

• Set up gas and electric service.
• Change mailing address without a trip to the post office.
• Request mover quotes and order moving supplies.
• Find tips and manage the move process using an interactive checklist.
• Subscribe to newspapers delivery, and other home services, at a new address.
• Research and rent home appliances, furniture and more.

Future enhancements will also include a realtor and apartment finder, cost of living data, local amenities, mortgage and insurance information, as well as other tools to assist with the transition from one home to another. For customers who want extra help, Movearoo representatives are available to chat live with customers at www.movearoo.com. Movers can also call (877) 771-0771 for additional assistance.

About Movearoo

Movearoo is a powerful online marketplace for consumers to shop for, order and save money on home essential services such as phone, TV, Internet and utilities. Movearoo is established by a consortium of leading communications companies including AT&T, Qwest and Verizon. The Web site was developed and is managed by WhiteFence, the nation’s leading online comparison-shopping marketplace for residential home services.

Media Contacts:

Sarah Illingworth, AT&T

617-692-0516

sarah.illingworth@fleishman.com

Margaret Fogarty, Qwest

303-965-6950

margaret.fogarty@qwest.com

Bill Kula, APR, Verizon

972-718-6924

william.kula@verizon.com

Ellen Yu, Verizon

908-559-3496

ellen.yu@verizon.com

Chip Smith, WhiteFence

713-663-0154

csmith@whitefence.com

Houston-area Authors to Appear at Event to Benefit Children's Literacy Program

Houston, TX (PRWEB) June 18, 2008 -- Houston-area children will get a chance to hear popular children's stories read to them by the authors themselves at the first ever WhiteFence and Reach Out and Read Texas Book Fair at the Barnes and Noble at Westheimer Crossing Saturday, June 21. The book fair will give people a chance to have 10 to 20 percent of the proceeds of any purchase they make that day donated to the Reach Out and Read Texas region as well as to donate gently used books.
  
Reach Out and Read is an organization that encourages doctors to talk to parents about the importance of reading aloud and to give books to children at pediatric check-ups from six months to five years of age.
  
"Instilling a love of books and reading in our kids is one of the most important things we can do as parents and as a community," said Eric Danziger, CEO of Houston-based WhiteFence. "We hope this book fair can help encourage the love of books as well as raise awareness and provide support for Reach Out and Read Texas."
  
In addition to story time with local authors, there will be arts and crafts, treats, costumed characters, and local doctors there to talk about the importance of reading.
  
What: WhiteFence & Reach Out and Read Texas Book Fair
  
When: Saturday June 21 10:00 a.m.-9:00 p.m.
  
Where: Barnes and Noble Westheimer Crossing
            7626 Westheimer Rd, Houston, TX 77063 - tel: 713-783-1220
  
Who: Story time runs from 11:00-4:00 with the following authors/illustrators:
Dotti Enderle (author of Grandpa for Sale)
Jo Harper (author of I Could Eat You Up)
Randi Yocum (author of Cowpie Corgi)
Ellen Leventhal (author of Don't Eat the Bluebonnets)
Bill Megenhardt (illustrator of Don't Eat the Bluebonnets and Giraffe of Montana)
Kimberly Morris (author of 60 books for children and young adults including several popular series for Disney)
  
Why: To promote the importance of reading with children, and to collect donations of books and money for Reach Out and Read Texas. Gently used children's books can also be donated at the event and are appreciated.
  

About Reach Out and Read

Founded in 1989 at Boston City Hospital (now Boston Medical Center), Reach Out and Read is the result of the hard work and collaboration between pediatricians, family physicians, nurses and early childhood educators. Reach Out and Read serves 3.3 million children annually, distributing over 5.4 million books through more than 50,000 pediatricians, nurses, residents and health professionals. There are more than 3,797 ROR programs based on the ROR model at clinics, hospitals, and health centers in all 50 states, Guam, Puerto Rico, the United States Virgin Islands, and the District of Columbia.
  
Main - http://reachoutandread.org/index.aspx
Reach Out and Read - Texas - http://www.uth.tmc.edu/rortx/about.html
  

About WhiteFence

WhiteFence is the leading one-stop online comparison-shopping marketplace that helps consumers compare and order home services such as electricity, natural gas, phone, cable and satellite TV, high-speed Internet and more as a free service. WhiteFence's powerful online ordering system makes it easy for millions of U.S. households to find the best deals and conveniently set up their home services in minutes.
  
http://www.whitefenceshop.com
  

About Dotti Enderle

Dotti Enderle is a native Texan, a Houston resident and the author of numerous books for children and educators, including picture books, Grandpa for Sale and The Cotton Candy Catastrophe at the Texas State Fair. Dottie Enderle began publishing in 1995, writing for popular children's magazines with stories in Babybug, Ladybug, Children's Playmate, Nature Friend, Turtle and more.
  
http://www.dottienderle.com/index.html
  

About Jo Harper

Jo Harper is the award winning author of books for all grade levels, including the Western Heritage Wrangler award winning Delfino's Journey, Willa Award winner Prairie Dog Pioneers and the A.B.A. Pick List OUTRAGEOUS, BODACIOUS BOLIVER BOGGS. Her newest book, I COULD EAT YOU UP!, is a Book-of-the-Month Club winner. Jo Harper is a local resident and teaches classes at Houston Community College.
  
http://home.earthlink.net/~joharper/index.html
  

About Ellen Leventhal and Bill Megenhardt

Ellen Leventhal is a Houston area author/educator originally from the Northeast. Don't Eat the Bluebonnets, a collaboration with Ellen Rothberg, is the first published book from a woman who has more than 30 years of experience working with children. Ellen Leventhal holds a bachelor's degree in elementary education and a master's degree in special education.
  
Bill Megenhardt graduated from Kent State University with a BFA in Graphic Design, and has provided illustrations for children's books including Don't Eat the Bluebonnets, Giraffe of Montana, Grandma Spoils Me and Sad Sam, Glad Sam. Mr. Megenhardt currently resides in Houston with his son and works as a freelance graphic designer/ illustrator.
  

About Kimberly Morris

Kimberly Morris is the author of 60 books for children and young adults. Her large body of work includes popular series for Disney such as 'Fairies', 'That's So Raven', 'Mary-Kate and Ashley', 'Animorphs', 'Sweet Valley', and 'Generation Girl'. She has also produced read-aloud stories for the 'Muppets', 'Muppet Babies', and 'Fraggle Rock', and animated television scripts for the classic 'ThunderCats.' Kimberly Morris currently provides motivational writing workshops for students K-12 and adults, as well as serving as Director of Project Development for Publishing Matters, a Houston-based custom publishing company, producing content for corporations, schools, and nonprofits.
  
http://www.kimberlymorris.com/
  

About Randi Yocum

Randi was born and raised in Houston, attended the University of Arizona and received a BA in English from the University of Houston. She is a member of the Society of Children's Bookwriters and Illustrators. She has been actively involved for over 35 years with Appaloosa horses; breeding, training and exhibiting. Dogs are also a large part of her life and she is intimately acquainted with both corgis and cowpies. She lives on a ranch in Fayette county with her husband, 9 horses, 1 cat and 3 dogs, one of whom is a corgi.

###