During the run of the new movie, \u201cWon\u2019t You Be My Neighbor,\u201d<\/em><\/strong> from June 22 through July 8<\/span> at the ArtsQuest Center\u2019s Frank Banko Alehouse Cinemas, people can drop off gently used and new shoes at the cinema or at PBS39 studios during regular hours. To show their appreciation, ArtsQuest will provide a free cinema pass for every pair of shoes donated, and PBS39 will also provide a gift. The shoes that PBS39 and ArtsQuest collect will be delivered to Soles4Souls.<\/p>\n Soles4Souls will convert every used pair of shoes collected by ArtsQuest and PBS39 into value-added social currency to achieve positive change, both humanitarian and economic. Gently used shoes will be distributed to micro-enterprise programs that create jobs in Haiti, Honduras, and other developing nations. The resulting revenue will help fund the free distribution of new shoes in the U.S., Canada, and developing nations around the world.<\/p>\n \u201cThis incredible support from Fred Rogers Productions and PBS stations nationwide is going to help us impact a lot of lives,\u201d said Buddy Teaster, President and CEO of Soles4Souls. \u201cJust one pair of used shoes sold by an entrepreneur in Haiti can provide five meals for a family, and 20 pairs can generate enough funds to send a child to school for an entire year in Honduras.\u201d<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n Since 2006, Soles4Souls has distributed more than 30 million pairs of shoes in 127 countries and all 50 states.<\/p>\n Tim Fallon, CEO of PBS39 said, \u201cThis is a great opportunity for PBS39 to work within our neighborhood to reach out and help affect the lives of people throughout the world. This is a wonderful and meaningful way for us to help celebrate the 50th Anniversary of Mister Rogers\u2019 Neighborhood.\u201d<\/p>\n PBS39 and ArtsQuest Mister Rogers\u2019 Neighborhood<\/em> Shoe Drive for Soles4Souls Information: <\/strong><\/p>\n Between June 22 and July 8<\/span>, bring your gently used or new shoes of any kind (during business hours) to:<\/p>\n <\/p>\n About PBS39<\/strong><\/p>\n PBS39 is a community-owned public television station licensed to Allentown, Bethlehem, and Easton, Pa., serving eastern Pennsylvania and New Jersey. PBS39 is owned and operated by the Lehigh Valley Public Telecommunications Corporation. PBS39 acts as the catalyst to promote civic engagement, and to fulfill the regional needs of the Greater Lehigh Valley through its dynamic communication platforms and resources. For more information, visit www.pbs39.org<\/a>.<\/p>\n ArtsQuest\u2122 is a Bethlehem, PA-based nonprofit dedicated to presenting music, arts, festivals, cultural experiences and educational and outreach programs that aid in economic development, urban revitalization and community enrichment. Through festivals such as its flagship event, Musikfest\u00ae; the Banana Factory\u00ae cultural arts and education center; and the ArtsQuest Center and SteelStacks\u2122 arts and cultural campus, ArtsQuest\u2019s programming reaches more than 1.8 million people annually. For more information on ArtsQuest, visit www.artsquest.org<\/a> or call 610-332-1300. Follow ArtsQuest on Facebook or Twitter @ArtsQuest and @SteelStacks!<\/p>\n <\/p>\n About Soles4Souls<\/strong><\/p>\n Soles4Souls disrupts the cycle of poverty by creating sustainable jobs and providing relief through the distribution of shoes and clothing around the world. Headquartered in Nashville, Tennessee, the organization repurposes product to supply its micro-enterprise, disaster relief and direct assistance programs. Since 2006, it has distributed more than 30 million pairs of shoes in 127 countries. A nonprofit social enterprise, Soles4Souls earns more than half of its income and commits 100% of donations to programs. Visit soles4souls.org<\/a> for more information.<\/p>\n About Fred Rogers Productions approach to other efforts in promoting children\u2019s social, emotional and behavioral health and supporting parents, caregivers, teachers and other professionals in their work with children. Today, Fred Rogers Productions continues to build on Fred\u2019s legacy in innovative ways through a wide variety of media, and engages new generations of children and families with his timeless wisdom. The company\u2019s highly rated, award-winning children\u2019s series include\u00a0DANIEL TIGER\u2019S NEIGHBORHOOD, <\/em>PEG + CAT, ODD SQUAD, and THROUGH THE WOODS. For more<\/p>\n information, visit\u00a0www.fredrogers.org<\/a> or follow us on Facebook<\/a> and Twitter<\/a>.<\/p>\n Information provided to TVL by: On behalf of Jim Macdonald, Director of Marketing, PBS39<\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n\n
\nAbout ArtsQuest<\/strong><\/p>\n
\n<\/strong>Fred Rogers Productions was founded by Fred Rogers in 1971 as the non-profit producer of\u00a0MISTER ROGERS\u2019 NEIGHBORHOOD\u00a0for PBS. In the years that followed, it not only created hundreds of episodes of this much-loved program, but also extended Fred\u2019s values and<\/p>\n
\nMark Demko, ArtsQuest
\nhttp:\/\/www.artsquest.org\/<\/a><\/p>\n
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