Stephanie Horton has used Macaroni KID since her children were tiny and she was looking for things to do around town.
So when she saw her local site, Macaroni KID Tuscaloosa, was in need of a publisher, she decided to apply.
The year since she has become publisher has been a whirlwind ... and this homeschooling mama wouldn't have it any other way.
"I love the company so much, it's been an overall very positive experience and a great addition to our family because it just fits in so well with what I already do with my kids," she says.
She frequently takes her kids, now 8, 10, and 12, on "field trips" that double as work trips to promote local businesses or visit and review local attractions. This year, she's planning to incorporate writing for Macaroni KID into her homeschooling curriculum by making Ethan, Elliot, and Eliana "junior reporters."
I've made some amazing connections and we've been able to do things I don't know if we'd be able to do without Macaroni KID," she says.
Her husband, Joshua Horton, gets in on the action too: He makes balloon animals at events where Macaroni KID has a table.
"They call him Mr. Macaroni," Stephanie says.
A ribbon cutting to celebrate a year of publishing
Stephanie and her family marked their yearlong anniversary with Macaroni KID Tuscaloosa by partnering with the Chamber of Commerce of West Alabama. The chamber held a ribbon-cutting ceremony for Macaroni KID Tuscaloosa to celebrate the occasion.
Since Stephanie works from home, she asked if the ribbon cutting could be held at her locally-owned Rita's, one of Macaroni KID Tuscaloosa's advertising partners.
"One of my main goals is to help promote and support local business owners that partner with Macaroni KID Tuscaloosa," she says. "This seemed like the perfect opportunity for that."
Even the mayor of Tuscaloosa, Walt Maddox, showed up at the ribbon cutting to offer support.
 Tanya Winstead/Chamber of Commerce of West Alabama | ||
Tuscaloosa, Ala., Macaroni KID publisher Stephanie Horton, middle, is joined by local business owners and Tuscaloosa Mayor Walt Maddox, left, at her ribbon cutting. | ||
"It was a really great, a really special, day," Stephanie says. "I'm so glad to have had that opportunity and to be able to show in such a visible way what kind of support Macaroni KID is ready to bring to local businesses."
We're so proud of the ways our Macaroni KID publishers, like Stephanie Horton, are making an impact on their communities. Interested in finding out about joining our team and becoming a Macaroni KID publisher in your community? Get details at JoinMacaroniKID.com!
