Video: Bringing Sunshine to a Cloudy Day: New York City Kicks Off Sixth Annual Project Sunshine Week

NYC Mayor Michael R. Bloomberg Proclaims the Start of Project Sunshine Week

NEW YORK, May 12 /PRNewswire/ -- Today, Project Sunshine, a New York City-based charity, kicks off its annual week of service, Project Sunshine Week, which will run from May 12-19. Starting with a proclamation from Mayor Michael R. Bloomberg, the week will entail a number of service-oriented activities and events and will culminate on Tuesday, May 19th, with the Sixth Annual Project Sunshine Benefit.

To view the Multimedia News Release, go to: http://www.prnewswire.com/mnr/projectsunshine/38367/

(Photo: http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20090512/NY15242 )

"With so many organizations like ours struggling in the current economic climate, we are truly blessed to have such a dedicated corps of volunteers," said Beatrice Kernan, Executive Director, Project Sunshine. "Now more than ever, hospitalized children and their families appreciate the support from organizations like Project Sunshine, and this week aims to celebrate and honor the tireless efforts of the thousands of volunteers, sponsors and community members who strive to bring sunshine into the lives of these children and their families."

For over ten years, Project Sunshine has been bringing its own form of light to the city that never sleeps. During this special week, both national and local businesses will band together to raise funds and awareness for the organization. Born out of the vision of one college student, Project Sunshine has grown into a global network of volunteers who bring free educational, recreational and social programs to children and families in hospitals.

An Official New York City Celebration

The city will show its support for Project Sunshine with a proclamation from New York City Mayor Michael R. Bloomberg that May 12-19 is officially Project Sunshine Week.

New York Yankee center fielder Brett Gardner and Linda Ruth Tosetti, the granddaughter of baseball legend Babe Ruth, in conjunction with Project Sunshine, will be on hand to read baseball themed books to hospitalized kids at New York-Presbyterian Morgan Stanley Children's Hospital on Friday, May 15th.

Annual Star-Studded Benefit

On Tuesday, May 19th, Project Sunshine will host its Sixth Annual Project Sunshine Benefit at the 42nd Street Cipriani. The theme of the evening is "P.S. I Love You."

The night will include celebrity entrances on the Project Sunshine "Yellow Carpet," from the likes of NY Giant David Diehl, Miss USA 2009 Kristen Dalton, child actors Abigail Breslin of Little Miss Sunshine and Rachel Covey of Enchanted, Laila Ali and Sports Illustrated models Esti Ginzburg and Tori Praver. There will also be a live performance by six-time Grammy Award winner Burt Bacharach and his band.

During Project Sunshine Week, Our Exclusive Partners Raise Awareness and Support

In celebration of Project Sunshine Week:

• Helen Ficalora's jewelry reflects the art and beauty of nature, and conveys the elegance of simple organic form. She has designed a special 14k Yellow Gold Sunshine Charm which sells in her New York City, Beverly Hills, Chicago, and Palm Beach stores during Project Sunshine Week and throughout the year. 25% of proceeds from each charm will go to Project Sunshine. This year she is launching a very special Silver Sunshine Charm, available at www.projectsunshine.org, with 100% of the proceeds benefiting Project Sunshine.
• Leiber, American luxury brand, has created a Project Sunshine key chain for sale exclusively in her Madison Avenue store, with a percentage of sales to go to Project Sunshine.
• Stuart Weitzman has designed a casual 'Sun Serpent' colored sandal of which a percentage of proceeds from sales of the sandal this week will go to Project Sunshine.

About Project Sunshine

Project Sunshine is a nonprofit organization that empowers a dynamic and dedicated corps of over 10,000 volunteers to bring programming -- recreational (arts), educational (tutoring and mentoring) and social service (HIV and nutritional counseling) -- to over 60,000 children facing medical challenges and their families in 100 major cities across the United States, and in five international satellite sites: Canada, China, Israel, Kenya, and Puerto Rico. Project Sunshine is dedicated to bringing a ray of hope to these hospitalized children. Project Sunshine Week is a week dedicated to raising awareness and support for the organization through a series of events and programs. This year, Project Sunshine Week starts May 12th, with the annual benefit celebration at Cipriani 42nd Street as the culmination of the week on May 19th. For more information and ways you can get involved, visit www.projectsunshine.org.

    Press Contact:
    Media:
    Jetinder Dedyal
    Jdedyal@hillandknowlton.com
    212.885.0364

    Development:
    Lisa Stamm
    Lisa@projectsunshine.org
    212.354.2288