Lollipop Theater Network Partners with KIDS FIRST! to Bring Films to Hospitals Nationwide

Two Non-Profits Team Up to Bring the Magic of Movies to Pediatric Patients.

Washington, DC (PRWEB) March 24, 2006 -- Lollipop Theater Network (LOLLIPOP), the charity dedicated to bringing the magic of movies to children confined to hospitals due to chronic or life-threatening illnesses, is proud to partner with KIDS FIRST! to bring a continuous stream of quality children’s media to pediatric patients nationwide. The collaboration will debut on March 25th with a screening of Twentieth Century Fox Home Entertainment’s Little Manhattan at the Avalon Theatre in Washington, DC.

Outpatients and their families from Children’s National Medical Center and additional DC area hospitals will be treated to the special 10:00 a.m. screening. Additional group and isolation screenings of the film will be offered at all hospitals through April 7th.

Little Manhattan is a romantic comedy about life, the Big Apple - and that mysterious, maddening, and phenomenal thing known as "first love." The film takes place in New York City, a city known for excitement, where two young friends are about to embark on the greatest adventure of all. Gabe (Josh Hutcherson) and Rosemary (newcomer Charlie Ray) have known each other nearly all of their lives, but when they come face-to-face in a karate class, they see each other in a whole new light. Filled with all the marvelous (and sometimes maddening) moments of first love, this charming film is fun for the whole family.

Lollipop Theater Network

Founded in 2001, Lollipop Theater Network’s (LOLLIPOP) mission is to bring the magic of movies to pediatric patients suffering from chronic or life-threatening illnesses confined to hospitals nationwide. By working in collaboration with leading Motion Picture Studios, LOLLIPOP conducts private screenings of current G, PG and PG-13 film releases for these deserving children. The organization has screened nearly 100 films since its inception and offers its program to hospitals across the nation. For more information, please visit: www.lollipoptheater.org

KIDS FIRST!

KIDS FIRST! is an initiative of the 15 year old non-profit Coalition for Quality Children’s Media that evaluates, rates, and endorses children's feature films, DVDs, videos, audio recordings and television. The Coalition’s goal is to empower children to make wise media choices and to promote quality media products that enrich their lives. The KIDS FIRST! stamp of approval means no gratuitous violence, no inappropriate sexual behavior, and no bias in terms of race, gender, culture or religion. For more information, please visit: www.kidsfirst.org

Avalon Theatre

The Avalon is the District’s only non-profit, independent theater committed to offering quality first run films and unique family programming to the Greater Washington D.C. community. Every Saturday morning, Avalon presents a family-friendly program as part of their Weekend Family Matinee series. For additional information, contact 202-966-6000 or visit www.theavalon.org

Children’s National Medical Center

Children’s National Medical Center (CNMC) is the only exclusive provider of pediatric care in the Washington Metropolitan area, and is the only freestanding children’s hospital between Philadelphia, Pittsburgh, Norfolk and Atlanta. The components of the Medical Center include: Children’s Hospital, with 279 beds, 40 of which are level IV NICU bassinets, a Level I pediatric trauma center, serving three states, and a critical care transfer program via ambulance, helicopter and fixed-wing airplane; seven Regional Outpatient “specialty” Centers; a primary care program that includes owned practices throughout the metropolitan area, as well as the Children’s National Health Network, with 400 affiliated pediatricians. CNMC also provides pediatric hospitalists to three hospitals. Children’s is proudly ranked among the top 10 top children’s hospitals in the country. For more information, please visit www.cnmc.org

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