Support Snoopy Plate & Support California Museums!
May 2010
Phil Kohlmetz, President of the California Associations of Museums, announced today at the State Capitol in Sacramento that an ambitious effort is underway across the state to establish a California special license plate featuring Snoopy. The Snoopy Special License Plate will be an entrepreneurial and sustainable source of funding for museums without establishing a new tax or fee or drawing from the state’s general fund. Each plate will feature a reproduction of an original Snoopy drawing by Charles Schulz, doing a happy dance, probably in anticipation of suppertime. The proceeds from sales of the Snoopy license plates will establish a competitive and sustainable grant program to support California museums, from art and history museums to zoos, aquariums, science centers, and natural history museums. Current license plate programs are generating millions of dollars annually for the arts, the environment, and children’s programs.
Iconix Brand Group, Inc. announced that it has signed a definitive agreement with United Features Syndicate, Inc. (UFS) and The E.W. Scripps Company to acquire the Peanuts brand and related assets in partnership with the Schulz family. As part of the transaction, Iconix will also acquire the licensing and character representation business of United Media Licensing (UM), a division of UFS, which, in addition to Peanuts, represents a number of character brands, including Dilbert and Fancy Nancy. The Peanuts brand and other acquired assets will be purchased through a newly formed subsidiary, which will be owned 80% by Iconix and 20% by the Schulz family.
"We are excited to embark on this transformative deal for our company," stated, Neil Cole, Chairman and CEO of Iconix. Cole added, "The Peanuts brand is iconic, with some of the most beloved and well known characters in history. Peanuts is considered one of the most influential comic strips of all time, and with its 60th anniversary this year the characters continue to be as popular as ever. Owning the Peanuts business moves Iconix well beyond fashion into a true global brand management entity with a wide variety of agreements that range from theme parks to media to financial institutions. ...We are equally excited to have the Schulz family as our partners and believe their passion and insight will be invaluable to the future success of the Peanuts brand."
Jean Schulz, wife of the late Charles M. Schulz, commented, "We are grateful and proud of the active partnership we have had with UM for the past 60 years. From the beginning, my husband worked directly with the people using his art to preserve the authenticity of his characters. Since his death, we have continued to do the same, working directly with our licensees to be true to my husband’s art." She added, “As we look to the future, it is a joy to partner with a company whose founder is at the helm. Neil and his team have great respect for who the Peanuts characters are and they honor all we have accomplished, and the spirit with which we do business."
Look out! An encore summer of Peanuts statues in Santa Rosa is brewing! Craig Schulz, son of the late Charles M. Schulz, has devised a plan with the help of the City of Santa Rosa and the Peanuts on Parade Committee to bring thirty Lucy Van Pelt statues to the sidewalks and store fronts of Santa Rosa, California.
This summer of Lucy statues, lovingly named, “Look Out, It’s Lucy!,” culminates as the final tribute to Schulz. The thirty 4-foot statues of Lucy will be placed in Santa Rosa beginning in June 2010 after being designed and hand-painted by artists chosen by the individual sponsors of each statue.
The paint-off for the statues will take place on May 20-23, 2010, at the Sonoma County Fairgrounds in the Kraft building. Public hours will be from 8am to 5pm; the public is encouraged to attend the event.
The National Cartoonists Society Foundation's annual Jay Kennedy Scholarship, in memory of the late King Features editor, was funded by an initial $100,000 grant from the Hearst Foundation/King Features Syndicate and additional generous donations from Jerry Scott, Jim Borgman, Patrick McDonnell, and many other prominent cartoonists. Submissions are adjudicated by a panel of top cartoonists and an award is given to the best college cartoonist. The recipient is feted at the annual NCS Reuben Awards Convention attended by many of the world’s leading cartoonists.
Interested applicants should visit the Jay Kennedy Scholarship web site to download the application form and read the entry rules.
In recognition of D-Day and Veterans Day, the Charles M. Schulz Museum honors the men and women who have given unselfishly in service to their country. This video of The Fondettes signing The Star Spangled Banner was recorded in June 2009 to honor World War II Veterans in acknowledgement of the 65th Anniversary of D-Day.
United Media is pleased to announce that the 60th Anniversary Peanuts Look-A-Like Contest has launched at PeanutsPhotoContest.com. From now until November 3, 2009, fans can submit their children in the contest by uploading a photo and explaining briefly why their son or daughter resembles one of twelve Peanuts characters. It’s a great site, and it’s a lot of fun.
Whether or not visitors submit a photo of their child, everyone is invited to register and check out the photo gallery! After November 3, a group of celebrity judges will narrow down the submissions, and on November 11 the voting will be opened to the public to decide who actually wins!
Look out! An encore summer of Peanuts statues in Santa Rosa is brewing! Craig Schulz, son of the late Charles M. Schulz, has devised a plan with the help of the City of Santa Rosa and the Peanuts on Parade Committee to bring thirty Lucy Van Pelt statues to the sidewalks and store fronts of Santa Rosa, California. 
The National Cartoonists Society Foundation's annual 
United Media is pleased to announce that the 60th Anniversary Peanuts Look-A-Like Contest has launched at 