Garland girl wins Hannah Montana tickets

[Capper]

A 6-year-old Garland girl won Hannah Montana tickets Friday with an essay that started, "My daddy died this year in Iraq …"

But the girl's mother now admits the essay, along with information she supplied about the supposedly deceased soldier, is false, said a spokeswoman for Club Libby Lu, which sponsored the contest.

Company officials notified Priscilla Ceballos that her daughter had won the contest and arranged to surprise the girl Friday at the Club Libby Lu in Garland's Firewheel Town Center.

Employees treated the girl to a Hannah Montana makeover, complete with blond wig, and danced with her as television cameras recorded the celebration.

Club Libby Lu spokeswoman Robyn Caulfield said Ms. Ceballos had told company officials that the girl's father, whom she identified as Army Sgt. Jonathon Menjivar, died in a roadside bombing April 17 in Iraq. Club Libby Lu took the information at face value and performed no background checks, Ms. Caulfield said.

But Department of Defense records show no one by that name has died in Iraq.

Ms. Ceballos refused to answer questions when confronted Friday at the store. She did not return repeated phone messages left later in the day. Ms. Caulfield said Ms. Ceballos later admitted that the story was false. Club Libby Lu officials said they still plan to provide the girl's prize - airfare for four to Albany, N.Y., and four tickets to the sold-out Jan. 9 Hannah Montana concert there.

"We told a 6-year-old today that she was going to see Hannah Montana, and we're not going to renege on that," Ms. Caulfield said.

Company officials have said they would release a more detailed statement tonight.

Garland girl wins Hannah Montana tickets, trip with false essay

So......instead of teaching her a lesson, that lying is wrong....they are going to reward her dishonesty......What a country!!!!!

[polobunny]

Originally Posted by Capper

Garland girl wins Hannah Montana tickets, trip with false essay

So......instead of teaching her a lesson, that lying is wrong....they are going to reward her dishonesty......What a country!!!!!

Wasn't the mom the liar?

[Stormcrow]

Not only just lying...but playing on sympathy is another form of manipulation I despise. Especially when it's serious like that. How many kids you see who really lost their fathers in the current "skirmish" say "My dad died in Iraq, can I have a dollar?"

"Dear Intel,
My dog was hit by a car this afternoon. Please send Yorkfields to the included address.."

[Zambini]

I don't see how the people who still give her the tickets and airfare represent this country as a whole.

[Dread]

Pathetic.

[Hitman]

Most of all this is disrespectful to the kids who have actually lost fathers in Iraq.

[halutzparilla]

as i share all your feeling towards this but does they have a rule against false essay?
if not then submitting a false or fictional essay as an entry entitles the kid the prize although its really offensive towards the people who are really suffering the real ordeal...

[Capper]

I guess I look at things differently.


I don't think they would have made an issue out of it if it were a fiction writing contest.

First, the prize shopuld be withdrawn, to teach the girl a lesson that lying is wrong (there is no way they should benefit from lying). The person handling the contest should also be fired, for not at least doing some simple fact checking.

I never said this represents the entire county, I just said "What a country".......well maybe it does represent much of this country....where politicians lie any time they open their mouths, athletes cheat to gain any advantage they can, and people will screw over anyone to get ahead.

[polobunny]

Originally Posted by Capper

I guess I look at things differently.


I don't think they would have made an issue out of it if it were a fiction writing contest.

First, the prize shopuld be withdrawn, to teach the girl a lesson that lying is wrong (there is no way they should benefit from lying). The person handling the contest should also be fired, for not at least doing some simple fact checking.

I never said this represents the entire county, I just said "What a country".......well maybe it does represent much of this country....where politicians lie any time they open their mouths, athletes cheat to gain any advantage they can, and people will screw over anyone to get ahead.

I agree with you. It sucks though that the kid has to suffer because her mom is a liar.
As you said though, have it been a fiction writing contest everything would be fine.

[Jokerswild]

I have no idea if they were suppose to write a true story and I wonder if it was even spelled out in the contest rules since their awarding the prize. Regardless it's just not right to use that story without it being true. Totally unfair to all the family that have lost loved ones in war period.