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Contestant's Case to Win

My name is Deanna Bufo Novak and I am the mother of two beautiful children, the author of My Heritage Book, and the founder of kidsHeritage, Inc. My Heritage Book is a unique personalized children’s book celebrating heritage. Each hardcover book has the child’s name throughout and combines beautifully illustrated, fun, educational topics on up to four different countries. Pages for the child to fill in his or her own family’s traditions and family tree are also provided. Through the book, parents, grandparents, other relatives, or friends can offer a child the unique opportunity to journey through the countries of his or her ancestors, creating treasured memories along the way. My Heritage Book makes a wonderful keepsake gift for children of all ages.

My Heritage Book was launched in late 2005 with 20 countries available for inclusion in the book. We have now grown to over 65 countries, based on customer requests, and continue to add countries every few months. New products and books are also currently being developed.

Our Story
I would like to take this opportunity to share a little about myself and my reasons for writing My Heritage Book. First, my interest in heritage extends far beyond the book's timing. In fact, I have been intrigued by it for as long as I can remember. I am of Italian descent and have always been proud of it. As a child, I would ask my great-grandfather about life in Italy, what it was like coming to America, and why we ate macaroni every Sunday; among countless other questions. I adored his broken-English answers and my love for heritage began.

Things are different today. Families, like my own, relocate to different parts of the country. While modern technology helps us stay close to loved ones, e-mails and digital photos will never compare to the experience I had growing up. The word “family” is also more broadly defined than it was 30 years ago. There are more adoptions and remarriages, often times causing siblings to have entirely different heritages and bringing about an entirely new set of questions.

Shortly after the birth of my daughter, I felt a need for her to learn about being Italian and to be proud of it, as I am, but also wanted her to learn about and be proud of her Polish heritage from her dad. I knew it would be a balancing act, but one well worth the effort. When I couldn’t find a book to help me teach her, the idea for My Heritage Book was born.

I am thrilled that in running my own business, I have the flexibility to spend quality time with my children. I am also very proud that I have the opportunity to show them that they can do anything they set their minds to!

I believe I should be considered as one of the Leading Moms in Business because not only did I develop a completely unique product, but that very same product also provides a foundation to promote family values – something all of us moms want to do!

Thank you so much for taking the time to vote for us!