$100,000 Grant Provided by Verizon
Melissa Gilbert, Esai Morales, Elliott Gould, Mitchell Ryan, Barbara Bain, Bonnie Bartlett & William Daniels, renowned children’s authors Bill Martin Jr., John Archambault and Nina Laden, LAUSD Superintendents and Board members, LA City Council members scheduled to attend.LOS ANGELES — Screen Actors Guild Foundation will launch the second season of Storyline Online in a ceremony on June 5 at 11:30am in the Screen Actors Guild Cagney Room. This on-line streaming video program features SAG members reading children’s books. The program is made possible by a $100,000 grant from Verizon Foundation, philanthropic arm of Verizon Communications. Storyline Online’s 2003 line-up showcases readings by Elijah Wood (Lord Of The Rings), Melissa Gilbert (Little House on the Prairie & SAG President), Esai Morales (NYPD Blue), Bonnie Bartlett & William Daniels (St. Elsewhere) and former Vice President, Al Gore. This children’s literacy program offers books of various themes by award- winning authors.
Joining SAG Foundation Executive Director Marcia Smith for Storyline Online’s second season launch ceremony will be SAG President Melissa Gilbert, SAG Foundation President Mitchell Ryan (Dharma & Greg), SAG National Recording Secretary Elliott Gould (Ocean’s Eleven), BookPALS founder Barbara Bain, and Verizon Pacific Region President Tim McCallion.
Renowned children’s author Bill Martin Jr., “America’s favorite children’s author”, who has been writing for more than 50 years, will be making a special visit from his home in East Texas. Joining Bill will be prolific children’s authors John Archambault and Nina Laden.
“The SAG Foundation thanks Verizon for their generous underwriting of Storyline Online and is proud to bring the gift of storytelling to millions of children,” said Smith.
SAG Foundation is the charitable arm of the Screen Actors Guild offering financial, health and education assistance to SAG members. It has reached the community at large with its nationally recognized BookPALS program for which SAG members lend their talents of book reading to children in schools. Since its inception, BookPALS has garnered enormous success and provided literacy opportunities to millions of children. “This year’s Storyline Online is a very special one for us, as it also marks the 10th year of our BookPALS program, founded by SAG member Barbara Bain,” said Ryan.
The complete list of Storyline Online’s newest installments is:
Knots on a Counting Rope by Bill Martin, Jr. & John Archambault Read by Bonnie Bartlett & William Daniels
Me and My Cat by Satoshi Kitamura Read by Elijah Wood
My Rotten Redheaded Older Brother by Patricia Polacco Read by Melissa Gilbert
Private I Guana by Nina Laden Read by Esai Morales
Brave Irene by William Steig Read by Al Gore
“Verizon is proud to support Storyline Online to help encourage reading and improve literacy among our youth,” said Tim McCallion, Verizon Pacific Region president. “Literacy is a top priority for Verizon’s philanthropy with almost $20 million awarded in grants last year across the country to organizations working to improve literacy skills.”
Press is invited to attend the Storyline Online launch on June 5 and should RSVP to 323-549-6701. The Cagney Room at the Screen Actors Guild is located at 5757 Wilshire Blvd., Los Angeles, California 90036.
Lunch will be provided. Please RSVP to ensure a place. Parking will be validated.
Contact:
Ilyanne Morden Kichaven/Screen Actors Guild (323) 549-6701
Denise C. Seifried/Lumiere Events (310) 308-4737
Please contact us with your thoughts and input.
Contact SAG Communications Department Ph: (323) 549-6654 Fx: (323) 549-6656 communications@sag.org Screen Actors Guild Attn: Communications Department 5757 Wilshire Blvd. Los Angeles, CA 90036News
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