Program is Inspired By Wonder, the Heartwarming Film
to be released on November
17th, based on R.J.
Palacio's Worldwide Bestseller
Lionsgate Teaming With Co-Producer Walden Media, Random House
Children's Books, and GapKids on Unique Educational Outreach
Program for Grades 3 – 6
SANTA MONICA, Calif., and
VANCOUVER, British Columbia,
Aug. 9, 2017 /CNW/ -- Lionsgate
(NYSE: LGF.A, LGF.B) today announced the launch of the educational
initiative THE WONDER CERTIFIED KIND CLASSROOM. The program is
inspired by R.J. Palacio's worldwide
bestselling children's novel and Lionsgate's upcoming film
Wonder, starring Academy Award® winner Julia Roberts, Jacob
Tremblay and Owen Wilson,
slated for release on November
17th. Wonder tells the heartwarming story
of Auggie Pullman, a boy born with
facial differences who can't blend in because he was born to stand
out.
In an extension of the program created by Random House
Children's Books, Lionsgate has partnered with Walden Media and
GapKids to bolster year's initiative as a core pillar of the film's
"Choose Kind" awareness campaign. The WONDER CERTIFIED KIND
CLASSROOM initiative will focus on bringing acts of kindness,
acceptance and inclusion to life for third to sixth grade students.
Serving as a resource for educators, the distributed materials will
embrace themes of empathy as part of a year-long lesson plan
through curated challenges, including art projects, group
discussions and class unity activities. Eligible teachers may visit
www.wonderkindclassroom.com to register their classrooms.
"Teachers have embraced Wonder's message to 'choose kind'
in such a big and powerful way, by making it a rallying cry against
bullying, social isolation, and the petty meanness that sometimes
passes for normal in our day-to-day lives," said Wonder
author R.J. Palacio. "It has been a
joy to watch classrooms spreading kindness, and I am honored to be
a part of a program that will help champion and reward that message
to schools across the country."
"With the book and its 'choose kind' message having
organically found its way into the classroom already, we were
inspired to embrace the opportunity to further encourage dialogue
and celebrate kindness in a fun and engaging way for teachers and
students," said Lionsgate Executive Vice President of Global
Franchise Management & Strategic Partnerships Kerry Phelan.
"While serving as a cornerstone of our marketing campaign for the
film, we are hopeful that the Certified Kind Classroom program
brings Wonder's central themes of acceptance and
inclusion to real life in meaningful and tangible ways."
Participating classrooms will be rewarded throughout the year
for their acts of kindness and, once activities have been
completed, ultimately earn the accreditation of being a "Certified
Kind Classroom." Lionsgate will team with Wonder's
co-producer Walden Media, the book's publishing company Random
House Children's Books, and clothing retailer GapKids on these
challenges and prizes, including:
- A T-Shirt Design Contest with 8-winning designs to be
produced and sold in select North America GapKids stores and
online. Proceeds will benefit charities myFace and Children's
Craniofacial Association, two non-profit organizations dedicated to
supporting children with craniofacial conditions. Eligible
classrooms must enter the contest by September 15, 2017 to qualify.
- A Precept Discussion Sweepstakes with the chance for
four hundred classrooms to win an exclusive screening of
Wonder ahead of its November
17th release including a live-broadcast Q&A session with
talent and filmmakers hosted by GapKids. In addition, the Q&A
will be made available worldwide via Facebook Live. Eligible
classrooms must enter the sweepstakes by October 2, 2017.
- A Fill-A-Jar With Kindness Challenge featuring the
opportunity to win a charitable donation to an organization of a
winning classroom's choosing and additional prizes. Eligible
classrooms must enter for the chance to win by April 1, 2018.
The WONDER CERTIFIED KIND CLASSROOM will run through
April 1, 2018. No purchase is
necessary and eligible schools must be located in the 50 United
States and the District of
Columbia. For more information on eligibility requirements,
official rules, prize descriptions and disclosure, please visit
http://wonderkindclassroom.com.
ABOUT LIONSGATE
The first major new studio in decades, Lionsgate is a global
content platform whose films, television series, digital products
and linear and over-the-top platforms reach next generation
audiences around the world. In addition to its filmed
entertainment leadership, Lionsgate content drives a growing
presence in interactive and location-based entertainment, gaming,
virtual reality and other new entertainment technologies.
Lionsgate's content initiatives are backed by a 16,000-title film
and television library and delivered through a global licensing
infrastructure. The Lionsgate brand is synonymous with
original, daring and ground-breaking content created with special
emphasis on the evolving patterns and diverse composition of the
Company's worldwide consumer base.
ABOUT GAPKIDS
Gap is one of the world's most iconic apparel and accessories
brands and the authority on American casual style. Founded in
San Francisco in 1969, Gap's
collections are designed to build the foundation of modern
wardrobes – all things denim, classic white shirts, khakis and
must-have trends. Beginning with the first international store
in London in 1987, Gap continues
to connect with customers online and across the brand's about 1,700
company-operated and franchise retail locations around the world.
Gap includes Women's and Men's apparel and accessories, GapKids,
babyGap, GapMaternity, GapBody and GapFit collections. The
brand also serves value-conscious customers with
exclusively-designed collections for Gap Outlet and Gap Factory
Stores. Gap is the namesake brand for leading global specialty
retailer, Gap Inc. (NYSE: GPS) which includes Gap, Banana Republic,
Old Navy, Athleta, Intermix and Weddington
Way. For more information, please visit www.gapinc.com.
ABOUT RANDOM HOUSE CHILDREN'S BOOKS
Random House Children's Books is the world's largest
English-language children's trade book publisher. Creating books
for toddlers through young adult readers, in all formats from board
books to activity books to picture books, novels, ebooks, and apps,
the imprints of Random House Children's Books bring together
award-winning authors and illustrators, world-famous franchise
characters, and multimillion-copy series. The company's website,
Kids @ Random (www.randomhousekids.com) offers an array of
activities, games, and resources for children, teens, parents, and
educators. Random House Children's Books is a division of Random
House LLC, a Penguin Random House Company.
ABOUT WALDEN MEDIA
Walden Media specializes in entertainment for the whole family,
creating movies, books and television series that spark the
imagination and delight all generations. A subsidiary of the
Anschutz Film Group, Walden Media movies include adaptations of
notable books, compelling biographies and thrilling accounts of
historical events. The company's films are entertaining and
commercial, while also telling stories that are inspirational,
aspirational and explorational. Past award-winning films include:
"The Chronicles of Narnia" franchise, the "Journey to the Center of
the Earth" franchise, "Nim's Island," "Charlotte's Web," "Bridge to
Terabithia," "Holes," "Amazing Grace," and the Sundance Audience
Prize Winning documentary "Waiting for 'Superman.'"
For more information, please contact:
Cristina Castañeda
Lionsgate
CCastaneda@lionsgate.com
(310) 255-5114
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SOURCE Lionsgate