wfn.org | ELCA will Host 'Friends Of Davey And Goliath" this Fall

[NEWS@ELCA.ORG]

ELCA NEWS SERVICE

August 27, 2003

ELCA will Host 'Friends Of Davey And Goliath" this Fall
03-163-MR

     CHICAGO (ELCA) -- The Evangelical Lutheran Church in America
(ELCA) will host "Friends of Davey and Goliath" in special
receptions throughout the country this fall.
     At the receptions, guests will view a special presentation
of "Oh Davey ... History of the 'Davey and Goliath' Television
Series," a documentary produced by the ELCA Department for
Communication available for broadcast on ABC-TV starting Sept.
14.
     Friends of Davey and Goliath is a "group of individuals
dedicated to bringing the important moral and spiritual messages
of Davey and Goliath, the popular children's stop-motion
animation television series from the 1960s, back to broadcast
television for 21st century children and their parents," said the
Rev. Eric C. Shafer, director, ELCA Department for Communication.
     Shafer said Friends of Davey and Goliath is also a fund-
raising group with the goal of helping to raise $5 million to
produce new Davey and Goliath episodes. "We hope the group will
pray for this work, make donations, tell others about the work
and purchase Davey and Goliath products," he said.
     The dates and places for the receptions are:
+ Sept. 7 at the Lutheran Center, Chicago, 4 p.m.
+ Sept. 15 at the Wyndham Washington (D.C.) Hotel, 8 p.m.
+ Sept. 21 at California Lutheran University, Thousand Oaks,
Calif., 4 p.m.
+ Sept. 23 at the Interchurch Center, New York, N.Y., 5 p.m.
+ Oct. 19 at the Mary Baker Eddy Library, Boston, 4 p.m.
     The one-hour documentary showcases the development of Davey
and Goliath and how stop-motion animation is created.  It will
also include interviews with original program creators.  Clifton
Davis, actor, best known from the television sitcom, "Amen" and
Mary McDonough, actor, best known for her role as "Erin" on the
television show, "The Waltons," are hosts of the documentary.
McDonough will attend the reception in New York and Washington,
D.C.
     Information about Oh Davey! is maintained on the Internet at
www.daveyandgoliath.org -- the official Davey and Goliath Web
site maintained by the ELCA.
     Davey and Goliath products, such as lunch boxes, bobble-head
dolls, bendable toys, ties, shirts and more will be available at
the receptions. Revenue from the sale of these items will be used
for the development of new Davey and Goliath programs.
-- -- --
Reservations for the receptions are encouraged.  Please call
Wendy Blanck at 800-638-3522 extension 2951.

Reporters are welcome to attend the receptions.  For more
information about Davey and Goliath, please contact Melissa
Ramirez at 773-380-2956.

For information contact:
John Brooks, Director (773) 380-2958 or news@elca.org
http://www.elca.org/news