ARTHUR/All Kids Can Character Search
Monday, February 2nd, 2009
Calling all ARTHUR fans! Do you have an idea for a new friend for Arthur, D.W. or Buster? Well, here’s your chance to create a character for Elwood City. ARTHUR, the award-winning PBS KIDS GO! television series, and CVS Caremark All Kids Can, a program dedicated to making life easier for kids with disabilities, are teaming up to announce the “ARTHUR/All Kids Can Character Search”!Beginning February 1, 2009, the “ARTHUR/All Kids Can Character Search” invites children ages 6-12 to send in their ideas for a new character for Arthur. And not just any character–one who can show that having a unique ability, character trait, or disability might make life a little bit different, but not any less fun. Kids can mail in their entries, with a drawing of their character and a description of what makes them special, starting February 1, 2009. The child with the selected idea, along with their character, will be featured in a live-action segment on the ARTHUR show. In addition, he or she will receive a visit from ARTHUR creator and author Marc Brown at the child’s school, local library, or PBS member station.The character search is designed to educate children about the importance of inclusion and how children of all abilities can play together. It also encourages parents and children to think about what life is like for someone they know who has a disability.”We’re looking for an exciting new character, who can show the gang in Elwood City that children come in all shapes, sizes and abilities,” said ARTHUR Senior Producer Jacqui Deegan. “Over the years, ARTHUR has helped children to embrace other kids’ unique characteristics as well as their own, and this new character will continue that tradition.”CVS Caremark All Kids Can supports programs and services that help children with disabilities learn, play, and succeed in life. For over 11 years, ARTHUR has celebrated the importance of friendship and the value of accepting and including kids with different abilities from all walks of life. For instance, Buster shows that kids with asthma can do just about anything, Marina shows her friends what it’s like to be blind, George succeeds as a student with dyslexia, and Carl–in an upcoming season–will share what it’s like to have autism.”We’re thrilled to partner with ARTHUR,” said Eileen Howard Dunn, Senior Vice President of Corporate Communications and Community Relations at CVS Caremark. “For years, we’ve watched the series become a trusted resource for kids to learn valuable life lessons, by relating to its vibrant, loveable characters. This is a perfect way to further our mission of helping kids develop an understanding and acceptance of disabilities.”The selected character will be chosen by a panel of judges including the producers of the ARTHUR show, and colleagues from CVS Caremark All Kids Can. The panel includes Tolon Brown from Marc Brown Studios; Terri Mauro, About.com’s Guide to Parenting Special Needs; Matt Cavedon from Boundless Playgrounds; Katy Beh Neas, Vice President of Government Relations for Easter Seals; and Susan Kane, Editor-in-Chief of Parenting magazine’s “School Years” edition. Nine additional finalists will receive prize packages including CVS gift cards and ARTHUR merchandise.Fans can visit pbskidsgo.org/arthur/allkidscan to download the entry form beginning February 1, 2009. Entries must be postmarked by March 31, 2009.Funding for the “ARTHUR/All Kids Can Character Search” is provided by CVS Caremark All Kids Can.
If you are looking for a gift for a young one in your life that is sweet and teaches positive lessons on caring for others, than look no further than Nick Katspri’s book, “Loukoumi’s Good Deeds.” It comes with an audio CD narrated byJennifer Aniston and John Aniston and — even better — book proceeds go to benefit St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital®.Loukoumi, the fluffy, cuddly lamb, returns this spring with Loukoumi’s Good Deeds (Dream Day Press/NK Publications; April 1, 2009; $15.95), the third title in the award winning series of illustrated books by Nick Katsoris for children 4-8. Featuring a bonus CD narrated by Jennifer Aniston and her father Days of Our Lives star John Aniston, the new book follows Loukoumi through her day as she discovers how easy it is to make other people happy by doing something nice.”Loukoumi’s Good Deeds,” by Nick Katsoris, continues the adventures of Loukoumi and her friends Gus the Bear, Fistiki the Cat, Dean the Dog and Marika the Monkey. Whether it’s cleaning the house, lending a helping hand or showing your grandparents how much you love them, kids will find that each good deed is unique in its own special way and can make a huge difference in the lives of those around them.In addition to the Anistons, the CD also features the character voices of Oscar winner Olympia Dukakis, Gloria Gaynor (GRAMMY winner for “I Will Survive,”), American Idol’s Constantine Maroulis, Guiding Light star Frank Dicopoulos and CBS News anchor Alexis Christoforous as the voice of Loukoumi.The CD features a bonus story, Loukoumi’s Gift, narrated by John Aniston, in which Jennifer voices the part of Daisy the Giraffe, who teaches Loukoumi that a gift needs not cost a lot of money, but instead can come straight from the heart. Track 3 on the CD is a new version of the previous Loukoumi title, “Growing up with Loukoumi,” also narrated by Jennifer Aniston. The track includes the voices of the three winners of the national Growing up with Loukoumi Dream Day contest. Each winning kid received the chance to spend a day in their dream career, which included witnessing a Mars landing from NASA, playing soccer with the New York Red Bulls, cooking on CBS News with chef Tony Tantillo and meeting with TV chef Rachael Ray.Every time a child reads Loukoumi’s Good Deeds they too will be performing a good deed. $2.00 from the sale of each book will be donated to St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital®St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital® is internationally recognized for its pioneering work in finding cures and saving children with cancer and other catastrophic diseases. St. Jude is the first and only pediatric cancer center to be designated as a Comprehensive Cancer Center by the National Cancer Institute. Founded by late entertainer Danny Thomas and based in Memphis, Tenn., St. Jude freely shares its discoveries with scientific and medical communities around the world. St. Jude is the only pediatric cancer research center where families never pay for treatment not covered by insurance. No child is ever denied treatment because of the family’s inability to pay. St. Jude is financially supported by ALSAC, its fundraising organization. For more information, please visit 
“America’s ready for a black Santa!” says Snavely Claws, villain in “
“This fall is an especially crucial time for kids to learn the importance of voting and community involvement,” said Executive Producer Pierre Valette. “We’re so happy that Arthur and his friends–with the help of familiar faces like Lance Armstrong–continue to help bring awareness and understanding to kids about what’s going on in their world.”Additional episodes premiering this fall include “The Chronicles of Buster,” where Buster’s obsession with an epic film series on DVD starts to take a toll on his friendship with Arthur; “D.W.’s Stray Netikin,” where D.W. panics after a scary clown virus ruins the Read family computer; and “On this Spot,” where Arthur is thrilled to learn that the legendary Sitting Bull once passed through Elwood City–but wonders how he can get his friends to care more about local history than celebrity sightings.ARTHUR, based on Marc Brown’s best-selling books, is the highest rated weekday children’s series on PBS among children 6-11 (Source: For PBS, NTI Pocketpiece, October 2007-June 2008). ARTHUR has won numerous awards, including the George Foster Peabody Award, a BAFTA and six Daytime Emmys–four for Outstanding Children’s Animated Program. ARTHUR is produced by WGBH Boston and Cookie Jar Entertainment Inc. Executive producers are Pierre Valette (WGBH) and Toper Taylor (Cookie Jar), and Marc Brown (Marc Brown Studios). Directed by Greg Bailey.
For the second straight year, Twentieth Century Fox Home Entertainment (TCFHE) and MGM Home Entertainment (MGMHE) are joining forces with Susan G. Komen for the Cure on a multi-title, *DVDs for the Cure®* promotion to raise awareness for the breast cancer cause. One of the leading organizations in the fight against the disease, Susan G. Komen for the Cure’s promise is to save lives and end breast cancer forever by empowering people, ensuring quality care for all and energizing science to find the cures. Timed to hit shelves just before National Breast Cancer Awareness Month in October, the *DVDs For The Cure *promotion features 15 romantic comedies decked in special pink packaging. Each will be available for sale September 23 for $14.98 U.S. “ $16.98 Canada.Following the success of last year’s campaign which sold nearly 400,000 units, TCFHE and MGMHE have pledged to donate fifty cents from the sale of each specially packaged DVD, with a minimum cumulative donation of $100,000, to Susan G. Komen for the Cure. Upon completion of this year’s *DVDs for the Cure* program, TCFHE and MGMHE will have donated a cumulative of $350,000. With an aggressive marketing campaign targeting high-profile outlets including “O, The Oprah Magazine” and “Fitness,” among others, TCFHE and MGMHE hope to exceed last year’s sales, continuing to make *DVDs for the Cure* the divisions’ largest charitable campaign to date.“DVDs For The Cure is a great example of how anyone can easily support the promise to end breast cancer and add hope to many women’s lives,” said Katrina McGhee, vice president of marketing at Komen for the Cure. “Being a part of the breast cancer movement is easy, and there are many ways to get involved. Due to our partnership with Fox Home Entertainment, people can make a contribution by simply purchasing beloved movies.”“We were thrilled at the outpouring of support for last year’s campaign,” stated Steve Feldstein, Senior Vice President of TCFHE. “It’s great that we can provide individuals with the ability to support the fight against breast cancer by doing something so simple – offering them their favorite romantic comedies to watch.”The selection of best-selling DVDs will be available in distinct pink packaging that includes the Susan G. Komen for the Cure logo. This year TCFHE and MGMHE have added five new titles – “Edward Scissorhands,” “The Princess Bride,” “Just My Luck,” “Little Miss Sunshine”and “When Harry Met Sally,” to the 10 returning favorites from last year: “A Walk in the Clouds,” “An Affair to Remember,” “Ever After,” “In Her Shoes,” “Legally Blonde,” “Moulin Rouge,” “Never Been Kissed,” “Say Anything,” “Thelma & Louise” and “There’s Something About Mary.”
