To celebrate Moms' ingenuity, Whirlpool brand announced its third annual Mother of Invention Grant Program, a competition that recognizes the entrepreneurial spirit of moms by awarding them the tools they need to turn an idea into a viable business.

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Moms are invited to submit their ideas for an invention, business or service -- no matter where they are in the creation process. The grant program's judging criteria is based on Whirlpool brand's own product/innovation guidelines. Submissions will be weighted with scores in the following categories: creating a solution to an unmet need; uniqueness in the current marketplace; offering a practical business solution; and the story behind the creation. And for the third year, Julie Aigner-Clark, creator of Baby Einstein, will be a guest judge and program collaborator.

Joining Aigner-Clark as guest judges and entrepreneurial advisors are the co-founders of the first meal assembly franchise, Dream Dinners. Working mothers Stephanie Allen and Tina Kuna established their business with a mission to bring families around the dinner table by creating a timesaving method of healthy meal preparation. In less than five years, Dream Dinners evolved from making fix-and-freeze meals for one family into a multimillion dollar national franchise.

The Grant will provide five winning moms with the resources -- such as seed money and expert advice -- that are necessary to get a business up and running. The winners, one Grand Prize, two First Prize and two Second Prize winners, will receive:

  --  Grand Prize: $20,000 grant, Whirlpool® Duet® or Cabrio™ washer
      and dryer pair, a Whirlpool® Fabric Freshener and a $3,000 stipend
      for a new home office.

  --  Two First Prizes: (2) $7,000 grant, a Whirlpool Gold® PowerScour™
      dishwasher and a Whirlpool® Duet Sport™ washer and dryer pair.

  --  Two Second Prizes: (2) $5,000 grant and a Whirlpool® Duet Sport™
      washer and dryer pair.

In addition to receiving grant money and Whirlpool brand product prizes, all winners will attend a business boot camp led by Whirlpool brand experts in the areas of product development, business strategy, innovation and technology, legal issues, accounting and marketing. The boot camp will address important topics such as selecting and launching an idea, work/life balance, sales challenges, engaging investors, etc.

Moms interested in applying for the 2007 Whirlpool Brand Mother of Invention Grant are encouraged to visit http://www.whirlpool.com/moms. The program closes on July 30, 2007.

First Call Analyst:
FCMN Contact: angela_m_hersil@whirlpool.com

SOURCE: Whirlpool