Big Idea Entertainment, a leading studio and producer of children’s and family programming, characters and brands, announced today that they have teamed up with long-term partner, Christian humanitarian organization World Vision, on the release of their new DVD, VeggieTales: The Little Drummer Boy.
Press Release from Big Idea Entertainment
FRANKLIN, TN (September 13, 2011) Big Idea Entertainment, a leading studio and producer of children’s and family programming, characters and brands, announced today that they have teamed up with long-term partner, Christian humanitarian organization World Vision, on the release of their new DVD, VeggieTales: The Little Drummer Boy. The Little Drummer Boy, the brand-new Christmas DVD title from VeggieTales, is a heartwarming twist on the classic The Little Drummer Boy tale that teaches kids about the joy found in giving gifts to others. With this DVD release, VeggieTales and World Vision are joining together to give people the opportunity to put the message of giving into action through the World Vision Gift Catalog.
World Vision’s Gift Catalog offers goats, chickens, clean water and more than 100 other unique and meaningful gifts that provide love, hope and joy to children and families in need. Selecting and giving gifts is a way for families to make the message of VeggieTales: The Little Drummer Boy come alive in their homes this holiday season, while helping to provide others with the tools they need to break free from poverty.
World Vision and VeggieTales have a shared goal of helping parents raise happy, healthy kids, and that is exactly what was experienced first-hand during a recent trip to Tanzania, Africa. World Vision welcomed a team from VeggieTales including Leslie Ferrell, General Manager, and Mike Nawrocki, co-creator and voice of Larry the Cucumber, among others to see how their work has impacted sponsored children, AIDS support groups, community banking projects, farming and irrigation sites, livestock programs, and a school that World Vision supports in Tanzania.
Each of these types of projects are represented in World Vision’s Gift Catalog. The trip to Africa inspired the VeggieTales team to come back to the United States and encourage friends and fans to join them in partnering with World Vision to help people in need by donating to the Gift Catalog this holiday season.
Upon returning from Tanzania, Mike Nawrocki, a long-time child sponsor through World Vision in Colombia, made the decision with his family to sponsor another child the team had visited while on the trip. Inspired by the community-based model of World Vision’s work, Nawrocki realized first-hand the impact that sponsorship can have on one child, their family, and their entire community.
“The work that World Vision has done and continues to support in areas like Tanzania is truly remarkable,” said Leslie Ferrell, General Manager at Big Idea Entertainment. “We are honored to continue our relationship with this organization as we approach the gift-giving season. We think our VeggieTales fans will be inspired by the message of this campaign and will do what they can to give to others in need.”
To learn more about the partnership and the World Vision Gift Catalog, visit www.VeggieTales.com/WorldVision.
VeggieTales: The Little Drummer Boy will be available on October 1 and October 4, 2011 in Christian and general market stores respectively. The DVD will feature multi-Grammy and Dove Award-winning artists BeBe and CeCe Winans, singing their version of the iconic “The Little Drummer Boy” song in addition to other original songs.
About VeggieTales: The Little Drummer BoyNot Rated-45 minutes-Color-5.1 Surround Sound-English & Spanish Subtitles Close-CaptionedFull Screen & Widescreen Format VersionsDVD UPC Codes CBA: 820413120399 $14.99 SRP and GM: 883476032894 $14.93 SRP
About Big Idea EntertainmentBig Idea Entertainment is a leading studio and producer of children’s and family programming, characters and brands. Big Idea’s best-selling series VeggieTales® is the #1 animated home video series in the US with moms of pre-schoolers*. Since 1993, VeggieTales® has sold 54+ million videos, 13 million books and more than 7 million CDs. VeggieTales® and Big Idea’s property, 3-2-1 Penguins!®, enjoyed four seasons as top-rated series on NBC Saturday mornings, Telemundo and ION TV via the qubo® children’s programming block. The studio's two theatrical releases, Jonah-A VeggieTales Movie® (2002), and Universal Pictures' and Big Idea's The Pirates Who Don’t Do Anything®-A VeggieTales Movie® (2008), are distinguished among the most successful faith-based films of all time. Big Idea also maintains an extensive presence in publishing, licensing and live entertainment arenas. For more information on Big Idea, visit: www.VeggieTales.com.*Spring 2010 Q-Score
About World VisionWorld Vision is a Christian humanitarian organization dedicated to working with children, families, and their communities worldwide reach their full potential by tackling the causes of poverty and injustice. They serve the world's poor — regardless of religion, race, ethnicity or gender. For more information on their efforts, visit www.WorldVision.org.
Rick DeMott
Animation World Network
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