THIS WEEK OUR A PLUS GOES TO SOMEONE WHO ALSO DIDN’T SHY AWAY FROM HARD WORK.
RYAN LEVINE, A MIDDLE SCHOOL STUDENT IN CLEVELAND, TURNED HIS PASSION FOR MAKING MOVIES INTO A WAY TO RAISE MONEY FOR AN IMPORTANT CAUSE.
IN 2016, RYAN FOUNDED THE KIDS FILM IT FESTIVAL, WHICH RAISES MONEY FOR PARKINSON’S RESEARCH.
THIS CAUSE IS ESPECIALLY IMPORTANT TO RYAN BECAUSE HIS GRANDMA HAS PARKINSON’S. HE’S ALSO A BIG FAN OF MICHAEL J. FOX, WHO STARRED IN THE BACK TO THE FUTURE MOVIES AND WHO ALSO SUFFERS FROM PARKINSON’S DISEASE. IN FACT, ALL THE MONEY FROM THE FILM FESTIVAL GOES DIRECTLY TO THE FOX FOUNDATION.
AND LAST YEAR; THE FESTIVAL RAISED THIRTY-TWO THOUSAND DOLLARS!
(***SOT***)
LIZ DIEMER: “… ALL OF US AT THE MICHAEL J FOX FOUNDATION, WE’RE VERY VERY GRATEFUL.”
BIG NAMES LIKE SHAQUILLE O’NEIL AND HOLLY ROBINSON PEETE EVEN TOOK TO TWITTER TO ENCOURAGE KIDS TO ENTER THEIR FILMS IN THE FESTIVAL. AND FINALISTS GOT TO ATTEND A GRAND VIEWING EVENT AT THE ROCK AND ROLL HALL OF FAME IN CLEVELAND, COMPLETE WITH A RED CARPET!
(***SOT***)
RYAN: “MY GRANDMA IS REALLY PROUD.”
RYAN IS GEARING UP FOR ANOTHER GREAT FESTIVAL, AND HE HOPES SOME OF 'YOU' MIGHT EVEN ENTER. IT IS OPEN TO KIDS AGED 8-18, AND ENTRIES ARE DUE BY OCTOBER 16TH. YOU CAN FIND OUT DETAILS AT KIDS FILM IT FESTIVAL DOT COM.
Instructional Links
Website Article: verywell, An Overview of Parkinson's Disease | Includes interactive diagram of the brain