Partners with Gateway Film Center to Help Soles4Souls Fight Global Poverty
Contact: Meredith Hart, Marketing & Communications Director
614.247.2675, meredith.hart@wosu.org
To celebrate the 50th anniversary of Mister Rogers’ Neighborhood, WOSU Public Media is partnering with independent theater Gateway Film Center for a one-night shoe drive.
The drive coincides with the premiere screening of Won’t You Be My Neighbor, a new documentary that takes an intimate look at America’s favorite neighbor, Fred Rogers. As fans of Mister Rogers’ Neighborhood will recall, Fred Rogers opened every episode by changing out of his loafers into a pair of sneakers.
Gently used and new shoes can be dropped off at Gateway Film Center (1550 North High Street, Columbus, Ohio 43201) on Friday, June 29 beginning at 6:00 p.m. and the special screening of the documentary will be at 7:00 p.m. Tickets may be purchased through the Gateway Film Center’s website and patrons who make a shoe donation will receive a voucher for free popcorn and soda.
The shoes that WOSU Public Media collects will be delivered to Soles4Souls, a non-profit social enterprise that creates sustainable jobs and provides relief through the distribution of shoes and clothing around the world.
“To have the opportunity to extend the legacy of Fred Rogers in a small but significant way, and share his story through this screening with our community partner, Gateway Film Center, is meaningful to WOSU and the PBS audiences we impact every day,” said Tom Rieland, General Manager of WOSU Public Media.
“I believe movies, and specifically documentaries, play a new and vital role in educating our community,” shared Gateway Film Center President Chris Hamel. “We’re proud to partner with WOSU — an organization dedicated to lifelong learning — to offer this intimate portrait of a man who taught us all a thing or two about being a better person.”