Little Airplane Productions Partners with YMCA on PSAs
Press Release from Little Airplane Productions
NEW YORK, January 26, 2010 – Little Airplane Productions, the New York City based producer of acclaimed television programming for young viewers, including the hit series “The Wonder Pets!” on Nickelodeon, has partnered with the YMCA of Greater New York. Little Airplane will produce a series of new public service announcements geared towards supporting parents with their goal of raising healthy families and featuring award-winning actress Marcia Gay Harden.
The new PSAs will feature four core messages, all intended to foster family togetherness while promoting the YMCA’s free “starter kit” to build a healthy family home. The four spots will feature kids providing candid, unrehearsed commentary about a variety of topics, such as family dinners, play and how mom and dad can be role models.
“The messages at the center of this campaign are meant to support parents in one of their most daunting tasks: raising healthy, balanced children,” said Josh Selig, Little Airplane’s founder and president. “"We are pleased to be a part of the YMCA's initiative and their continuing commitment to children and families."
“We’re thrilled to have Little Airplane as our partner in bringing these critical messages to New York’s parents,” said Jack Lund, president & CEO of the YMCA of Greater New York. “We asked for a series of spots that were warm and honest, and Little Airplane delivered. Their years of experience in working with—and for—young children, thoughtfully and sensitively, is what will really make this campaign effective in reaching families.”
Harden, who has served as spokesperson for the YMCA of Greater New York since 2006, is also a longtime friend of Little Airplane Productions. She recently helped launch Little Airplane’s new book division, Little Airplane Books, with a reading of “A Book for You,” written by Selig. The reading event for parents and children took place at Little Airplane’s South Street Seaport studios.
The campaign will launch on broadcast television stations in the New York City market in February 2010 and the YMCA plans to share the spots for use by YMCAs across the U.S. and Canada in their local markets.
About Little Airplane Productions
Founded by Josh Selig in 1999, Little Airplane Productions created and produced “The Wonder Pets!” for Nick Jr., “Go, Baby!” for Playhouse Disney, “Oobi!” for NOGGIN (winner of a 2001 Gold Parents’ Choice Award) and “3rd & Bird!” for the BBC’s CBeebies. Additionally, Josh Selig was the Head Writer for “Little Bill” on Nick Jr. He has received ten Emmy Awards for his writing on “Sesame Street” and was the Resident Producer of the historic Israeli/Palestinian “Sesame Street” co-production (winner of the 1998 Japan Prize). Josh Selig also writes a weekly blog for Kidscreen Magazine called “Planet Preschool” which can be read at www.kidscreen.com. For more information about Little Airplane Productions please visit www.littleairplane.com.