The chocolate brand introduces limited-edition basketball themed packaging while inspiring families and kids to celebrate their love of the game with a chance to win exciting prizes

PARSIPPANY, N.J., May 5, 2025 /PRNewswire/ — This summer while school’s out, Kinder Chocolate®, a brand that celebrates simply wonderful moments for kids and families,  is reimagining the game of basketball with its new campaign Pass The Fun, featuring nine-time NBA All-Star and parent, Paul George. The campaign aims to bring families together to experience basketball the way it was meant to be played – full of fun and excitement.

As the most popular team sport in the U.S., basketball is played by more than 28 million children ages 6 and up. The Pass The Fun campaign seeks to inspire love for the game, noting that a majority of kids drop out of youth sports because of pressure and burnout. To bring the campaign to life, Kinder Chocolate is partnering with NBA All-Star Paul George, naming him the Commissioner of Fun. Together, Kinder Chocolate and George asked parents and kids to dream up ways to reimagine the sport by creating a one-of-a-kind basketball game filled with fun-first rules – designed by kids, for kids — to inspire families to get out and Pass The Fun.

“At Kinder Chocolate, we believe in the beauty of simple, wonderful moments—whether it’s playing a game with loved ones or enjoying our milk chocolate bar with a creamy milky filling,” said Catherine Bertrac, Senior Vice President of Marketing, Ferrero Mainstream Chocolate. “With Pass The Fun launching just as school lets out for summer, we hope to inspire kids and families to embrace basketball in its most fun form.”

To bring these rules to life, Kinder Chocolate hosted a special basketball game at the West Side YMCA in New York City, where George acted as referee using the imaginative, fun-focused rules created by kids featuring children from the YMCA’s youth basketball program. The game rewarded players with Kinder Chocolate for every three-point shot made, had inflatable seats instead of traditional benches, and featured a pop-up defender as an obstacle on the court. Putting a twist on traditional rules of the game, fouled players were able to choose between a free throw or a layup, and George even tapped his biggest fan, his daughter Olivia, to contribute her own rule: every player must touch the ball before taking a shot, promoting teamwork on the court.

“Basketball has given me so much, but at its core, it’s always been about having fun,” said Paul George. “As a dad, I see firsthand how important it is for kids to have the freedom to play, explore, and fall in love with the game in their own way – just like I did playing as a kid with friends and family. That’s why I’m excited to partner with Kinder Chocolate to inspire families to create simply wonderful moments of enjoyment and connection through basketball.”

Starting May 5, Kinder Chocolate is releasing limited-edition Pass The Fun single and share size packs at grocery and convenience stores nationwide. Each special pack will include a Pass The Fun basketball trivia card, with eight different options to discover. The packaging celebrates simply wonderful moments of play, reinforcing Kinder Chocolate’s commitment to bringing families together through basketball.

Fans can also enter the Pass The Fun Sweepstakes for a chance to win a virtual meet-and-greet with Paul George or instantly win prizes, including signed jerseys, custom basketballs, water bottles, mini hoops, drawstring bags, and custom headbands. To enter, visit https://KinderPassTheFun.com.

Kinder Chocolate is available in single and share packs, and minis, which can be found at retail, drug, convenience, and grocery stores nationwide.

About Kinder Chocolate
Michele Ferrero developed Kinder Chocolate, which has become a top-selling KINDER™ product. At the heart of Kinder Chocolate is the commitment to sparking, sharing and celebrating simply wonderful moments of togetherness between parents and kids. It is a delicious, sharable treat that proves less truly is more – with just a perfect milk chocolate coating and a creamy milky filling. It comes in small, individually wrapped bars, making it kid-friendly and perfect for families. Every bite is crafted to spark wonder and be Simply Wonderful, helping parents create quality moments of enjoyment and connection with their children.

About Ferrero 
Ferrero began its journey in the small town of Alba in Piedmont, Italy, in 1946. Today, it is one of the world’s largest sweet-packaged food companies, with over 35 iconic brands sold in more than 170 countries. The Ferrero Group brings joy to people around the world with much-loved treats and snacks including Nutella®, Kinder®, Tic Tac®, and Ferrero Rocher®. More than 38,000 employees are passionate about helping people celebrate life’s special moments. The Ferrero Group’s family culture, now in its third generation, is based on dedication to quality and excellence, heritage and a commitment to the planet and communities in which we operate. 

Ferrero entered the North American market in 1969 and has grown to more than 5,400 employees in 15 plants and warehouses, and eight offices in North America across the United States, Canada and the Caribbean. It has expanded its presence and portfolio with the addition of iconic brands such as Butterfinger®, CRUNCH®, Keebler®, Famous Amos®, Mother’s Cookies®, and other distinctive cookie and chocolate brands. Follow @FerreroNACorp on Twitter and Instagram. www.ferreronorthamerica.com.

Media Contact:
Keely Bennett Morgan
[email protected]

SOURCE Ferrero North America

The Fort Payne Wildcat track and field teams closed their seasons at the AHSAA state track meet in Gulf Shores last week. In the overall standings, Fort Payne girls finished fourth, while the boys finished 20th. 

Senior Cooper Garrett not only won the 6A girls Javelin Thursday – she also got her name in the record book with a throw of 150.04 feet. Garrett followed the Javelin with another title on Saturday in the 6A girl’s discus, with a throw of 128.09 feet. 

Fort Payne scored points in field events as Lydie Varnadore placed second in both girls’ 100- and 300-meter hurdles with times of 14.96 and 45.06. 

Hadlee Powell and Garrett both scored points in the shot put event. Powell placed fourth with a throw of 38-03.50, and Garrett placed eighth with a throw of 35.10.00. 

The remainder of the scoring in field events came from:

Audrey Pacini, fifth in pole vault 10.06.00

Ruthie Jones, sixth in 800 meters 2:18.06

Kyndal Hughes, eighth in 3200 meters 11:44.47 

Fort Payne scored points in track events, finishing second in the girls’ 4×800 meter relay with a time of 9:46.66 and sixth in the girls’ 4×400 meter relay with a time of 4:06.79. 

The Fort Payne boys’ scoring in field events went as follows:

Pablo Rodriguez, fifth in the boy’s 800 meters with a time of 1:58.36

Daniel Deleon, eighth in 800 meters with a time of 2:00.45

Kingston Orr, sixth in the boy’s 110-meter hurdles with a time of 15.32 seconds

Barron Sanderson, sixth in the pole vault at 13-00.00 feet 

The boys’ 4×800 meter relay team posted a sixth-place finish with a time of 8:18.50. 

The Fort Payne track and field teams may not have finished the season the way they planned, but the 2025 season produced great results. The team broke several school records, and the athletes set new personal bests throughout the season.

“Every meet has highs and lows, this one was no exception. 6A gets tougher every year and that was true again in 2025 with Chelsea joining the division. Still, our kids showed they can compete with anyone, finishing 4th overall and posting some great times” said Fort Payne Head Coach, Cole Peters.

“It is such special group of kids and a bunch that you just love to be around. They run together and run for each other. Sad to see this year come to an end and we will miss these seniors dearly. Their great accomplishments will continue on long after their track career has come to an end. Looking ahead, we qualified four middle schoolers and 3 freshman for the state meet. The future is bright for fort Payne track and field” said Peters. 

Proposed facility includes 410,000 square foot facility with 3,000 seat arena, ice hockey rinks, turf fields and more

After being proposed last year, an application has been submitted to the City of Folsom for state of the art sports complex within the Folsom Plan area, south of Highway 50. On Monday, business entity The Metal Shop, officially announced submission of their application for Folsom Ranch Sports Complex, a multi-use recreational facility.

The approximately 410,000-square-foot facility will be located on a nearly 21-acre site in south Folsom. The sports complex will include four components: a 3,000-seat arena with a National Hockey League-size ice sheet, two NHL-sized practice ice sheets, and a covered and lit outdoor turf field,” according to the applicant’s plans.

The facility will be designed to host tournaments, practices, and public recreational activities for ice hockey, figure skating, basketball, volleyball, pickleball, lacrosse, soccer, and many other sports. When not used for sporting events, the facility can accommodate conferences, art installations, family festivals, live music, and other community gatherings.

“We’re thrilled to reach this milestone in bringing a much-needed recreational facility to Folsom and the greater Sacramento region,” said Joe Wagoner, CEO of The Mettle Shop. “The Folsom Ranch Sports Complex will not only fill the regional void for ice sports but also provide flexible spaces for a wide range of indoor and outdoor athletic events, from basketball and volleyball to lacrosse and soccer. Our vision is to create a venue that strengthens community bonds through sports, recreation, and entertainment.”

The sports complex will be able to accommodate multiple configurations for various sports and events. The design includes three NHL-size ice sheets, which can be divided into nine youth hockey rinks. When converted, the interior can host up to 24 volleyball courts or 27 youth basketball courts. The outdoor area will include approximately 145,000 square feet of space, including a 126,000-square-foot covered and lit outdoor turf field. Additionally, the facility will offer approximately 20,000 square feet of medical treatment and office space, with a focus on sports rehabilitation.

“We have been eagerly awaiting a formal application for the proposed Folsom Ranch Sports Complex,” said Folsom Mayor Sarah Aquino. “A facility of this scale could bring exciting new opportunities for recreation, tourism, entertainment, and economic activity to our city. While the concept still needs to go through the city’s thorough review process, we appreciate the developer’s investment in Folsom and look forward to learning more as the proposal moves forward.”

An early economic impact report projects the sports complex to generate substantial benefits for the city of Folsom, including the creation of hundreds of jobs and an estimated annual economic impact of over $23.7 million from retail, lodging, food and beverage, and entertainment sales. At full capacity, the facility is projected to serve more than 1.3 million visitors per year.

“This project is a game-changer not just for tourism, but for our entire business community,” said Joe Gagliardi, CEO of Choose Folsom, which includes both the Folsom Chamber of Commerce and the Folsom Tourism Bureau. “The Folsom Ranch Sports Complex will drive new visitor spending, create jobs, and open doors for local businesses to grow alongside the city’s expanding infrastructure. It reflects the kind of visionary development that supports both economic vitality and quality of life for our residents.”

Currently, Sacramento County is the largest county in the United States without a year-round ice facility, and there are no full ice sheets within a 30-minute drive of the project site. The sports complex aims to address this gap while supporting the growing popularity of ice sports in California.

“Our local sports organizations have long advocated for additional high-quality facilities,” said Rich Francis, president of the Folsom Athletic Association. “The Folsom Ranch Sports Complex will dramatically expand opportunities for our youth and adult athletes alike, allowing us to host tournaments and competitions that were previously impossible in our area. Our association represents more than 15,000 young athletes and families through Recreational and Competitive teams, and this facility will only be a net positive.”

According to its company materials, The Mettle Shop team has extensive experience in professional and recreational sports, including managing and operating venues such as Golden1 Center, Sutter Health Park, Oakland Coliseum, and Heart Health Park The project application, including environmental analysis, is will now go under review by the City of Folsom.

Copyright © 2025, Folsom Times, a digital product of All Town Media LLC. All rights reserved. No portion of this publication may be reproduced, distributed, or transmitted in any form or by any means, without the prior written permission of the publisher.

Sports tourism is booming, and not just during big-ticket events. According to UN Tourism, sports travel accounts for 10% of tourism expenditure globally, and the sector is slated to grow 17.5% between 2023 and 2030. 

Though events like the Super Bowl and Formula 1 Grand Prix garner headlines for their significant boosts to city hotels — Las Vegas saw record-breaking performance from both events in recent years — the economic impact of sporting events is being felt across regions and hotel chain scales. 

Hotel Dive spoke to hotel marketers about how accommodations providers can attract and cater to sports tourists of all kinds — from those traveling to big-ticket city events to regional youth sports competitions.  

Supporting family travel

Las Vegas saw “remarkable” 22.2% year-over-year growth in meeting volume in 2024, “attributed significantly to sports entertainment,” according to a July Knowland by Cendyn report. 

But while large events like the Super Bowl or World Series bring mass crowds to major markets, smaller events can also have a notable impact on tertiary markets, a Knowland by Cendyn spokesperson told Hotel Dive. “In a market like Chicago or Orlando, a single little league or JV tournament would probably have very little impact on the overall data, while a large tournament in a much smaller market would probably register in a much bigger way.”

Extended stay brand My Place Hotels caters to many of those smaller markets, Megan Kukowski, the brand’s director of marketing, told Hotel Dive. 

“It’s definitely increasing,” she said. “And the ages for traveling sports [are] getting younger and younger. You’ll see families traveling hundreds of miles for children as young as first or second grade.” 

Kukowski — a former youth athlete herself — said she sees the simple, convenient amenities she preferred in her competition days reflected in the desires of My Place guests. 

“We don’t have some of the fancier amenities. Most of our hotels don’t have pools. We don’t have on-site gyms,” she said. “But what we’re learning from this segment is that these families aren’t looking necessarily for those amenities … you’re really looking for a comfortable place to crash after a long day.” 

Simple amenities, such as healthy breakfasts, laundry facilities and the ability to store and cook food in-room, go a long way when catering to these travelers, Kukowski noted. Pet-friendly policies also help when entire families hit the road. 

Multigenerational travel is on the rise, and more hotels and resorts are catering to large families, experts previously told Hotel Dive. According to Wanderland’s Kids Hospitality Report, released in November, kid-friendly hospitality could be a $175 billion opportunity for hotels globally. 

Providing memorable experiences

Nashville, Tennessee, is better known for music tourists than sports tourists. But according to Lisa Bush, Thompson Nashville’s director of sales and marketing, that’s about to change. 

“Music City in general has been doing so much better about all kinds of sports,” Bush said. 

The NFL’s Tennessee Titans are slated to move into a new $2.1 billion stadium in 2027. But this year, the city has emerged as a soccer destination, thanks to soccer stadium Geodis Park, which opened in 2022. The 30,000-seat venue is the largest soccer-specific stadium in the U.S., according to the team it hosts, Nashville SC. 

In June, Geodis will host club teams from around the world for the FIFA 2025 Club World Cup, an event that Nashville SC Vice Chairman Ian Ayre told local station News 2 will “bring so many people, fill hotel rooms, fill restaurants, fill stores and the spending is incredible.” 

As the closest hotel to the stadium, Thompson Nashville is expecting soccer fans aplenty. Bush and her team created a package to cater to these visitors’ needs, including a see-through tote guests can take into the stadium, portable minifans and drink deals for when they return to Thompson after the game. 

Unlike busy families crashing at a My Place, guests at the luxury Thompson want more from their hotel. 

Cape Coral City Council is expected to appoint members to its Youth Council, as well as a Youth Council advisor, on Wednesday.

There are seven junior vacancies. The applicants are from Cape Coral High School, Ida Baker High School, Mariner High School, North Fort Myers High School, Oasis High School, and one at large from home schooling, or other sources including, but not limited to private or virtual school.

There are three senior vacancies. The city received applications from Cape Coral High School, Island Coast High School, and North Fort Myers High School.

The potential candidate for the advisor vacancy is former city council member Tom Hayden.

In other business at the regular meeting set for 5 p.m.:

• The Multi-Family Impact Fee Deferral Program

Ordinance 17-25 was presented to council in June 2024, resulting in direction to bring a single-family and multi-family impact fee program forward. In August 2024, Ordinance 58-24 was adopted, which created Single-Family Impact Fee Deferral Program.

The key provisions for the Multi-Family Impact Fee Deferral Program include 10-year terms, rents subject to FHFC rental limits, minimum development size of 48 units, minimum set aside 40% of units, program ceiling of 250 units and lien/deferral agreement.

• Ordinance 22-25.

Ordinance 22-25, if passed, would allow for the “composition of the Youth Council to be temporarily increased to allow for all schools to have representation.” A public hearing would follow on May 21.

• Consent agenda.

Among the consent agenda items, approved without discussion unless pulled, is Resolution 114-25, an amendment to a contract between the city and Avalon Engineering, Inc. for additional final design services for the Oasis Sports Field project for a not to exceed amount of $1,062,941.57. This would increase the project amount to $1,359,996.06.

The City Council approved Resolution 102-24 on June 5, 2024, to authorize a 30% design services for the Oasis Sports Fields Project with a contract amount of $297,054.49. On Jan. 17, 2025, Avalon Engineering submitted a 30% design.

On Feb. 19, 2025, City Council and the Cape Coral Charter School Authority Governing Board granted Avalon Engineering, Inc. to “proceed with the final design and permitting phases for the football/track field and components, and the additional design of the baseball/softball field at the Oasis High School.

The amendment includes the “final design of the football/track field and components and the baseball/softball field at Oasis High School.” According to agenda documents, “it was determined that it is to the benefit of the city to add the services to the existing contract.”

Resolution, 123-25, is also on the consent agenda. The first amendment to the contract between the City of Cape Coral and Leon Younger Pros Consulting, Inc, for the Parks Master Plan Update and Development of a Financial Sustainability Strategy. The amendment will include the city-owned golf course on Palm Tree Boulevard in the Parks Master Plan and Financial Sustainability Strategy Project for $74,175, which will increase the amount to $292,755.

The meeting will be held at 5 p.m. Wednesday, May 7, in City Council chambers, 1015 Cultural Park Blvd. The meeting is open to the public.

To reach MEGHAN BRADBURY, please email news@breezenewspapers.com