– Richard Scarry and Sears Portrait Studio click

A joint promotion by Sears and PolyGram Video gives a US$5 rebate to consumers who make a purchase at Sears Portrait Studio and buy any two of The Busy World of Richard Scarry videos at Sears stores.

The three-month promotion began April 1 in over 900 Sears locations across the U.S. To support the campaign, retail outlets will display The Busy World of Richard Scarry banners and feature counter cards with rebate coupon tear-pads. Each Sears Portrait Studio will custom decorate its shop with Richard Scarry plush items and licensed merchandise.

-Hallmark pitches promo at retailers

Hallmark Home Entertainment is promoting Double Play, a family video about baseball and mistaken identity, with a sweepstakes aimed at retailers. For each videocassette purchased, the retailer receives a sweepstakes entry form, which must be submitted by July 25. The grand prize is a baseball signed by the 11 players who have hit 500 home runs, including Reggie Jackson, Hank Aaron and Willie Mays. Instant-win giveaways, including Major League Baseball caps, limited-edition lithographs and a baseball signed by Jim Palmer, will go to double-, triple- and four-pack purchasers.

-Cartoon Network recruiting pit crew with NASCAR promo

Cartoon Network will invite viewers to devise clever and outrageous gadgets to help the NASCAR Wacky Racing Team outperform its opponents during on-air spots April 17 through May 1. The viewer who dreams up the most creative entry will win the grand prize of an all-expenses-paid trip for four to the NASCAR Coca-Cola 600 in Charlotte, North Carolina, on May 25. The lucky inventor also gets an official made-to-order race team uniform, tours the NASCAR pit and garage, rides in the official Pace Car, meets the Wacky Racing Team driver and becomes an honorary member of the Wacky Racing Pit Crew.

In addition, 100 entrants will win a customized Wacky Racing Team prize pack. Winners will be announced on-air during the three-hour Speed Racer minimarathon May 17. The contest is sponsored by Crayola and Mattel Hot Wheels.

-Clearly Canadian plays with Independence Day

Vancouver-based Clearly Canadian Beverage Company has partnered with Fox Interactive for the release of Independence Day: The Game (ID4). Until May 15, 60,000 retail outlets in the U.S. will offer shoppers a US$10 mail-in rebate with the purchase of Clearly Canadian’s Orbitz drink and the ID4 game. More than 2.4 million Orbitz bottle caps and four million bottleneck tags, as well as in-store Orbitz signage, will give details of the rebate. Cross-promotions will also run on Orbitz (www.orbitz.com) and Fox Interactive (www.foxinteractive.com) Web sites.

-Saatchi creates PSAs aimed at kids

In its first public-service effort targeted at kids, Saatchi & Saatchi’s Kid Connection has created a television ad campaign for Partnership for a Drug-Free America, in response to an increase in drug use among preteens.

The three 30-second animated television commercials are designed to help kids age six to eight understand the consequences of drug use. The first two spots debuted in March, and the third will air later this year.