Boulder, Colorado, August 15, 2006 -- Fractiles, independent toy manufacturer headquartered in Boulder, Colorado, is pleased to announce that its premier magnetic tiling toy, Fractiles 7, has been chosen by the Discover The Smile Foundation for inclusion in its Children’s Hospital program. Discover The Smile is a non-profit organization whose mission is to transform children’s health care facilities into magical, child-friendly environments. 

One hundred specially enlarged sets of Fractiles are being installed in treatment or examination rooms in several children’s health care facilities on Long Island. The initial 20 sets are scheduled for installation at Schneider’s Children’s Hospital in early August.  Discover the Smile Foundation is an entirely volunteer organization. The $12,000 needed for manufacture and installation were raised by donation. 

Fractiles-7 is a unique geometric design system.  Children create an endless variety of imaginative designs by placing red, yellow, and blue diamond-shaped magnetic tiles on a black steel board.  Lisa Martin, President of Discover The Smile Foundation, reported that her own children suggested Fractiles for the program after spending over an hour playing with the toy at FAO Schwarz last Christmas.

“We are very excited about introducing Fractiles into children’s hospital examination and treatment rooms.” Martin announced. “Medical facilities budget available funds to secure the best doctors, technology, equipment, and medical care they can provide their young patients. They typically do not have extra funding to create a non-institutional environment in which children feel comforted, calm and safe or which educate and entertain them. By playing with Fractiles in treatment or examination rooms, young patients will have the chance to use their creative energies rather than spending time worrying about what is going to happen when the doctor walks into the room. Our research suggests that if a child’s mindset is positive, they may very well respond better to treatment. Our goal is to help them relax and have something interesting that they are doing just prior to treatment. Not only will Fractiles be making the experience in the examination or treatment room less traumatic, but may very well be helping with treatment itself.”


Martin continued, “My organization is so grateful to Beverly Johnson for having the foresight to immediately say, ‘Absolutely I want to participate!’ She licensed us the right to create our enlarged version of Fractiles at no fee. Her designer, Charlie Bell of Tool Studios in Niwot, Colorado, donated his time to create graphics files for the project. Martin also stated, “Beverly understood implicitly that this project would benefit children who need help the most. We are very grateful for her willingness to share her product with children in the hospital.”

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About Discover the Smile Foundation, Inc.
The objective of Discover the smile Foundation, Inc. is to transform children’s healthcare facilities into magical, child-friendly environments through the design, procurement and incorporation of stimulating, innovative and diversionary artwork and interactive exhibits. The goal of the Foundation is to create atmospheres that put smiles on young faces to help relieve some of the emotional stress of hospital visits for children and their families, and to positively impact the outcome of treatment.

For more information on Discover the Smile Foundation, please visit: www.discoverthesmile.org or contact Lisa Martin, President & Founder, Discover the Smile Foundation, Inc., 195 South Road, Port Washington, New York, 11050, Tel (516) 944-5215 or e-mail:

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About Fractiles:
Fractiles, Inc. is a Colorado Corporation formed in 1998 by geometry fan Beverly Johnson of Boulder, Colorado. Beverly's mission in developing Fractiles is to help bring the beauty of geometry into the mainstream. Fractiles can be used to create an infinite variety of repeating and non-repeating aesthetically pleasing designs.  Beverly especially enjoys discovering the different ways that Fractiles can be of benefit to all kinds of people ranging from Alzheimer’s patients to gifted children. Fractiles received a prestigious Parent’s Choice Silver Honor Award for play value and ethical production.

For more information on Fractiles, please visit our website: www.fractiles.com or contact Beverly Johnson, President, Fractiles, 2525 Arapahoe Ave., Suite E4-110 • Boulder, CO 80302.  Telephone  303 541-0930.  e-mail

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